Iruka had long known about Naruto's bad temper—and Sasuke's intimidating calmness. Today, as the Ninja Academy's sparring matches began, tensions rose, and Sakura's heart felt heavier than usual."Both sides, form the Seal of Opposition," Iruka instructed calmly.Sakura's eyes widened slightly as she stared at the boy who had dominated so many of her thoughts—both waking and dreaming. Her chest tightened. Memories of Iruka's advice flashed through her mind: If you like someone, you should improve yourself to be worthy of standing by their side.Yes… Iruka was right. She had to give it everything. Especially because it was Sasuke, she had to earn his acknowledgment.Determined, Sakura clenched her fists and formed the Seal of Opposition. Her voice was steady, yet full of resolve."Sasuke-kun… please guide me!"Sasuke, as usual, didn't respond. His expression was unreadable, cold as ever. Iruka gave the final command."Sparring match, begin!"With a yell, Sakura lunged forward, throwing a powerful punch aimed straight at Sasuke. Her body moved with the speed and precision she had practiced countless times.But Sasuke didn't even flinch.With a subtle shift of his body, he dodged her strike and delivered a clean elbow to her back. The force sent Sakura crashing to the ground in an instant.Before she could even process what had happened, it was over."Sakura…" Ino's voice broke through her daze. The sight of her friend defeated so easily made her heart ache, yet she could not deny the reality before her eyes.Naruto, too, was stunned. His gaze lingered not on Sakura's fall but on Sasuke's effortless dominance.That strike… it was perfect… every movement precise… the timing, the technique, the raw power… Sasuke really is incredible…Naruto's fists clenched as a mixture of admiration and frustration surged through him. Even if he didn't want to admit it, Sasuke's strength was undeniable.Iruka stepped forward to help Sakura to her feet. "Are you alright, Sakura?" he asked, concern evident in his voice.Sakura shook her head, embarrassment and sadness mingling in her eyes. "No… I'm fine."Iruka sighed, acknowledging the inevitable. "Sasuke wins. Form the Seal of Reconciliation!"But Sakura had already fled, unable to face him, and Sasuke, indifferent as ever, ignored the command, walking away without a backward glance. Iruka could only shake his head helplessly."The next person to draw lots is…" he called."Shikamaru!" someone shouted."Shikamaru! Wake up!" Iruka's voice carried, drawing a groggy response."…Eh?!"While Sakura's battle ended in humiliation, Naruto had stolen the spotlight entirely. His match with Hinata had captured everyone's attention. Even as they left the arena, Naruto felt like a conquering hero, chest puffed out, strides long and confident."Naruto!" Iruka called after him."Hmm? Iruka-sensei!" Naruto's eyes lit up. "Didn't you see my performance? Wasn't it amazing today?!"Iruka chuckled. "Yes… very good."Naruto beamed with pride. But Iruka's expression turned serious."However, don't get too arrogant. There's still a long way to go."Naruto waved a hand dismissively. "Ah, I know, Iruka-sensei! School's over, why are you still being so long-winded?""Hmm? What did you just say, Naruto?!" Iruka scowled, pretending to be stern, but a small smile tugged at his lips."Ah… nothing, nothing," Naruto mumbled, scratching the back of his head sheepishly.Iruka's expression softened. "By the way, Naruto… to celebrate your progress, how about I treat you to Ichiraku Ramen?"Naruto froze for a moment, then leaped in excitement. "Really? You mean it?!""Yes," Iruka said with a smile."Long live Iruka-sensei!" Naruto cheered, fists pumping the air. But he quickly remembered the system's warning. I'll have to make it there with weighted frog jumps, he muttered to himself.Iruka raised an eyebrow, silently acknowledging Naruto's unique challenges.Meanwhile, Ino and Hinata watched from a distance. Ino's arms were folded, her face contorted in a mix of irritation and disbelief."Iruka is really biased towards Naruto, isn't he? He's never treated me to ramen!"Hinata's soft smile carried a hint of sadness. "Because… Naruto is alone. Besides Iruka-sensei, there's no one else who can treat him."Ino's expression softened slightly. "That's true… But Hinata, Naruto stole the spotlight today, and you ended up being his stepping stone…""I did my best," Hinata said, her voice gentle. "Naruto-kun is indeed stronger than me. I'm happy with the outcome."Ino patted her head affectionately. "Oh, you silly girl."Their attention shifted as Sakura walked silently past them, her head lowered, dejected. She had lost more than just her match—her confidence seemed to have been crushed under the weight of Sasuke's gaze, or rather, the lack of it."She was defeated by Sasuke in a single move… it must have been a huge blow," Ino whispered.Hinata shook her head. "I don't think she's upset about losing. Sasuke is incredibly strong; anyone would struggle against him."Ino furrowed her brow. "Then… what is it?"Hinata's voice was soft, almost a whisper. "Sakura might be upset because Sasuke didn't even look at her once… not from beginning to end."Ino's eyes widened as realization dawned. "But… Sasuke doesn't care about anyone, anyway…"Hinata smiled faintly, a complexity in her expression. "No… Sasuke is concerned about someone, but only one person.""You… you mean…?" Ino stammered."Yes," Hinata replied. "Naruto."Ino's mind raced, connecting the dots. "So Sasuke only cares about Naruto?"Hinata nodded quietly. "And… the person Naruto cares about most is also Sasuke."For a moment, silence fell over the two girls, the realization heavy and undeniable. Bonds of friendship, rivalry, admiration, and perhaps more, intertwined between these young ninjas. Each step they took in the academy was more than just training—it was the foundation of their futures, of the people they were becoming, and the connections that would define them.Naruto, meanwhile, continued forward, oblivious to the whispers and glances behind him. He had tasted victory, even in small moments, and it fueled his determination. Every step toward Ichiraku Ramen was another step toward growth, toward strength, toward acknowledgment—not just from Iruka-sensei, but from everyone he cared about, and everyone he wanted to protect.Even as he approached the ramen shop, ready to celebrate, Naruto's thoughts wandered back to Sasuke—his unyielding rival, his friend, and perhaps the only person who could truly challenge him.The journey to become Hokage wasn't just about strength. It was about perseverance, about understanding others, about earning respect—and sometimes, it was about knowing the unspoken connections between people that words could never fully capture.And Naruto knew, deep down, that he wasn't walking this path alone.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)