Uchiha Sasuke stood in the crowd, eyes fixed on Naruto standing proudly atop the Hokage platform.
Five years.
Five long years since that boy had become his goal, his rival, and the one mountain he could never climb.
Under the brutal, relentless training of ox from the Red Sun Society, Sasuke's growth had been explosive. Even Kakashi—who rarely praised anyone—had called him a monster.
But no matter how fast he rose, no matter how many sleepless nights he spent training until his hands bled—
Naruto was always higher.
Always faster.
Always stronger.
Every challenge ended the same way.
Defeat.
He couldn't even count how many times he'd lost anymore.
All he remembered was the sting of it—the word defeated etched into his bones.
Yet instead of bitterness, Sasuke smiled faintly.
Maybe this was what made Naruto worth chasing.
Maybe this was what made him truly alive.
The old rage that once consumed him—the blood-soaked memory of the Uchiha massacre—had long since faded into the background.
He still remembered who did it.
He still remembered Shimura Danzo.
But vengeance no longer ruled him.
Life had become bigger than hate.
"I'll catch up soon," Sasuke murmured, clenching his fists. "No matter how far ahead he gets."
"Uzumaki Naruto," the Third Hokage declared, his voice solemn and proud, "from this day forward, you are a Jonin of Konoha. I hope you'll continue to serve this village—protect it, guide it, and honor the Will of Fire."
Hiruzen's speech began to stretch—again.
"Lord Third," Naruto interrupted with a grin, scratching the back of his head, "maybe keep it short this time? I think everyone's starving."
Laughter erupted below the stage.
Even the old Hokage chuckled awkwardly before sighing in defeat. "Alright, alright… this brat never changes."
Naruto raised his arms to the crowd. "Alright everyone—barbecue's on me! Eat till you drop!"
The square exploded with cheers.
From Choji and Shikamaru to Kakashi, Asuma, and even Guy—half the village followed Naruto toward the barbecue shop, their laughter echoing through the streets.
Villagers watched as he passed, faces full of warmth and awe.
"That's the new Jonin, right? He's so young!"
"I still remember when he was a little prankster running around with paint buckets!"
"If my kid turns out half as good as Uzumaki Naruto, I'll thank the gods!"
"Mark my words—he's gonna be Hokage one day."
"The Third's old, isn't he? Maybe it's time…"
"Who else could be the Fifth Hokage? Tsunade? Jiraiya? They're ancient!"
"What about Kakashi?"
"Please! That guy spends more time reading Icha Icha Paradise than doing missions!"
"Ha! Spoken like a true Naruto fanboy!"
"And what's wrong with that? You want a piece of this?"
Within seconds, a playful argument turned into an actual scuffle, and the sound of fists joined the laughter of the crowd.
Naruto ignored it all.
He smiled, chatted with his friends, shook hands with the elders—warm, bright, easygoing.
The old scars, the lonely years, the cold stares—gone.
He'd moved beyond them.
He was free.
Inside the restaurant, laughter and smoke filled the air.
The scent of grilled meat and spice mixed with the crackle of burning charcoal.
"Boss!" Naruto called out, grinning wide. "Bring everything you've got! No limits tonight!"
The owner nearly dropped his tongs.
"As you say, Jonin-sama!"
Naruto clapped Kakashi on the back, playfully dodged Guy's bear hug, and stole a skewer off Choji's plate with a grin.
"Eat up, everyone! It's on me!"
In that moment, surrounded by friends and laughter, Naruto felt it deep in his chest—
This was the life worth fighting for.
Outside, in the shadow of an alley, a man stood watching the party through the restaurant window.
"Fifth Hokage?" he hissed under his breath. "That twelve-year-old brat?"
His face twisted with hatred.
"The only Hokage… will be me."
Naruto's sharp eyes caught the faintest glimmer of killing intent. He turned his head slightly, smiling faintly into the darkness.
The watcher froze, his blood running cold.
He quickly turned away and disappeared into the night.
Inside a small, dim courtyard on the edge of the village, that same man's figure shifted and changed—his form distorting into the bandaged face and single cold eye of Shimura Danzo.
"The boy's power is too dangerous," he muttered. "If he stays in the village, everything we've built will fall apart. He must be removed."
He turned toward the house behind him.
"Orochimaru. How long do you plan to hide in there?"
A slow, serpentine laugh echoed from the shadows.
"oh my… Danzo, you've fallen far. once the elder of Konoha, now a rogue like me."
Orochimaru stepped out, his pale face gleaming in the lantern light, golden eyes full of mockery.
Danzo's jaw tightened, but he didn't rise to the bait.
"The Konoha Collapse Plan," he said coldly. "How is it progressing?"
Orochimaru sighed. "Not well. I hate to admit it, but destroying Konoha now isn't as easy as it used to be."
His voice turned bitter.
"Five years ago, I could've done it in a night. But this… this new Konoha? It's different. Naruto Uzumaki changed everything."
Danzo's single eye narrowed.
"Go on."
"After his rise, every ninja here started training like their lives depended on it. Taijutsu, ninjutsu, genjutsu—everyone's competing, pushing themselves beyond limits. The younger generation is terrifyingly strong. Even I would think twice before attacking head-on."
Konoha had become a fortress—not through politics, but through sheer willpower and unity.
Even Orochimaru, the man who once called it home, could barely recognize it.
"So what now?" Danzo asked.
Orochimaru smiled faintly. "You tell me. You're the one still obsessed with this place."
Danzo's voice dropped to a growl.
"I loved Konoha more than anyone. But this village… this version of it… isn't the one I swore to protect. The old order has been replaced by weakness disguised as peace. only through destruction can we rebuild true strength."
He looked to the sky, eyes blazing with madness.
"The Konoha that rises from the ashes—that will be the perfect village. And I… will be its Hokage."
Orochimaru tilted his head, a sneer curling at his lips.
"Still the same delusional fool."
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