Inside Konoha, Emiya Shirou had a little problem of his own.
Black Zetsu was buzzing in his ear again. It didn't trust Emiya's loyalties and was busy bad-mouthing Asura's reincarnation, trying to make sure Emiya wouldn't be "deceived" again.
"Alright, alright," Emiya said, cutting it off. "I get it. I won't believe them anymore."
He even offered an example to placate the creature. "Asura failed. Senju Hashirama failed. Why the hell would I put my faith in a third one?"
"Good," Black Zetsu said, though it still sounded reluctant. It hissed a suggestion, "Then let's find a chance to make it clear. Let that brat know that we were never on the same side."
"He is the Nine-Tails' jinchuriki. Sooner or later, the Nine-Tails must become part of the Ten-Tails. We are destined to be enemies."
"And Asura's chakra will only make him more stubborn. With a personality like his, he'll never willingly hand his fate over to Kaguya."
"I understand," Emiya said with a nod, his expression unreadable. "When Naruto is strong enough to protect himself, I will leave Konoha."
That time wasn't too far off. After seeing the fight between Emiya and Jiraiya, Naruto's enthusiasm for training had skyrocketed. Aside from running around telling everyone how Emiya beat Jiraiya with only one hand, he was completely focused.
"That would be for the best," Black Zetsu finally relented, though it was still on edge. It tried to change the subject. "Perhaps you should pay attention to another child..."
"Uchiha Sasuke."
"That child is quite gifted. His chakra might also be special."
"Didn't you once hope he would grow up to replace his brother, Uchiha Itachi, as our ally?"
The truth was, Black Zetsu already suspected Sasuke was the reincarnation of Indra's chakra.
Indra's reincarnations never lingered long after death; a new one was always born soon after. Based on when the last one, Madara Uchiha, died, Sasuke was the most likely candidate.
"Uchiha Sasuke?" Emiya saw right through Black Zetsu's little game but played along. "I noticed him last time. He trains very hard."
And he did.
Even though people called him the top genius of his generation, Sasuke worked harder than anyone. He was obsessed with training, constantly pushing himself to remain number one in his class. Calling it all "genius" was unfair; it ignored the sheer effort he put in.
He was always alone, training by himself. With no one to guide him, he could only follow the faint traces left by the Uchiha clan, searching for a path to get stronger, a path to get revenge.
The cruelest part was his burden. His own brother had slaughtered their parents and their entire clan. Now, whenever anyone paid him the slightest bit of attention, it was with looks of pity or scrutiny.
But the Uchiha were a proud clan. Sasuke couldn't stand their pity. It just made him retreat further into himself, pushing away anyone who tried to get close.
He didn't want friends. He didn't want sympathy.
All he wanted was revenge.
Evening fell. By the lake at the old Uchiha training ground, a black-haired boy stood on the shore, a sheen of sweat covering his face. He was exhausted, but his fingers still flew through a series of hand seals.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
He gritted his teeth and spat a ball of fire, but his body gave out. He couldn't control the chakra. The flames erupted, scorching his clothes and burning his arm bright red.
"Still not enough..." he muttered, collapsing in frustration. The jutsu was too much for his exhausted body.
His eyes, however, were still full of stubborn fire. He glanced at his burnt arm, planning to rest for just a moment before starting again.
"I can't fall behind," the boy clenched his fist, ignoring the stinging pain. "That dead-last is getting stronger. If this keeps up, I might actually lose to him..."
If he couldn't even beat a loser like Naruto, how could he ever kill Itachi and get his revenge?
As if on cue, he heard that loser's voice ringing in his ears.
"Emiya, Emiya! Can you train with me tomorrow?"
Naruto Uzumaki was tugging on Emiya Shirou's hand, a troubled look on his face. "Jiraiya-sensei just makes me sit and refine my chakra all day. It's so boring..."
"Is it effective?" Emiya asked, not questioning Jiraiya's methods.
"It is!" Naruto immediately perked up, gleefully bragging about his progress. "During sparring today, I finally got chakra into my fist! I was this close to knocking down that arrogant jerk!"
"Hmm?" Emiya's brow furrowed.
Naruto knew that look all too well.
He quickly let go of Emiya's hand and crossed his arms. "Don't give me that speech about how chakra is for protecting people, not for fighting!"
He understood Emiya's views on conflict, but the academy forced them to spar. And he had almost, almost beaten Sasuke.
But Naruto didn't completely disagree with Emiya's ideas either.
Seeing Emiya's expression stay firm, he pouted. "Look, if we run into danger when we're older, I'll definitely protect that guy Sasuke too. He's my rival! But right now, there's no way I'm gonna lose to that arrogant prick!"
Emiya's face remained calm.
Over by the lake, the black-haired boy gritted his teeth.
That self-righteous dead-last... does he really think he's so great?
Fine. Naruto wasn't completely useless. But he was getting way too cocky.
Did he really think having some fancy teacher meant he could win their spars?
"Eh? Sasuke?" Naruto finally spotted the boy by the lake. His determined expression immediately soured. "This guy's here again... Hmph!"
"Hmph!" Sasuke shot back, turning his head away.
"Emiya, let's go!" Naruto said angrily, tugging on Emiya's sleeve.
But Emiya didn't move. He reached out and ruffled Naruto's blond hair, his gaze fixed on Sasuke's burnt arm.
Sasuke instinctively tried to hide it. Having his own jutsu backfire on him was embarrassing enough, especially for an Uchiha, a master of Fire Style.
But for it to happen in front of Naruto? Unforgivable.
He didn't want anyone to see him like this. He trained until he was injured all the time, but he would never show that weakness.
He was an Uchiha. Even if he was the last one in Konoha.
But Emiya's gaze was different. It was calm, neutral. He wasn't looking at Sasuke with pity for being the last Uchiha, nor with admiration for his name.
He was just... looking at him. Like he was any other person. The attitude was strangely relaxing, and at the same time, incredibly annoying.
Doesn't he know who I am? His attitude is way too calm!
Lost in thought, Sasuke shifted, and the movement sent a fresh wave of fire across his burnt skin.
"Hiss..."
He sucked in a sharp breath, biting his lip to choke back a groan. He would not show pain.
A spring breeze rippled across the lake. As the boy gritted his teeth against the burning, a calm voice reached his ears, a voice that seemed to soothe the very air around it.
It was a voice that, for a thousand years, had meant the end of pain and the beginning of healing.
"I'm a medical ninja. Do you need help?"