Before he knew it, Haruno Den had listened attentively to another class. He sighed.
"Big brother."
Suddenly, a cute voice sounded in front of him. Sakura smiled sweetly at Den.
What a dangerous smile, Den thought, instantly on guard.
"What's up?"
"Ugh, you're so cold, brother. I just wanted to talk."
"Is that so?"
"Wait, what's this about?" Naruto poked his head toward Sakura, curious. Sakura glanced at him, her face instantly shifting to one of disgust. Naruto recoiled, stung by her coldness.
"Brother, let's talk outside."
Sakura pulled Den along, despite his reluctance, and they left the classroom.
They walked around the school building to the playground. Sakura hadn't said a word. Den glanced at her, his patience wearing thin.
"Speak already. No one's around."
Sakura turned to him, her gaze complex—cold and resentful.
"How long are you going to keep hanging out with Naruto?"
"That's my business."
"Even if it's your business, can't you have a better attitude?"
"Miss Sakura, what's wrong with my attitude?"
"What's wrong?"
Sakura's anger flared, her breathing quickening, her eyes growing more hostile.
"What's right about it? You're not even my real brother. Don't think I haven't noticed. At Mom's birthday, you picked her gift so carelessly, like it was just a task to check off. You didn't care about celebrating her. And at home, it's like everything revolves around you. Mom and Dad can't do anything about you, but I won't let it slide. I won't. And I won't acknowledge you as my brother anymore."
Tears welled in Sakura's eyes as she turned and ran off.
Den stood frozen, reaching out but unable to call after her.
"I'm not your brother anyway. Who wants this world? I'd rather be back where I was. Who needs all this effort?"
He muttered, his mood souring.
He came here to have fun, but every day was just studying or training—nothing fun about it.
Besides, they were Sakura's parents, not his. He was just dragged here by the system, born into the Haruno family by chance.
"Sakura seems hurt by your coldness. Please comfort your dear sister."
"Ugh, again? I want the Sharingan, the Rinnegan—not this!"
"Every task revolves around these people. Why? Doesn't the system serve me, the host?"
But the system didn't respond. It was like a game where only key characters mattered, and the host existed just to complete their tasks.
If this were a game, he might keep playing. But it wasn't. He wanted an easy path to power, not to live catering to others' feelings.
He opened the system panel. The list of key characters included Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura Haruno, and Hinata Hyuga. Every task was tied to them, always prioritizing their needs.
And him, the host? Daily tasks were just study and train, with main missions to help these four.
This system was too mechanical, devoid of humanity. Refusing a task brought immediate threats.
"Damn it. If I'd known it'd be like this, I wouldn't have—"
Would he really have stayed on Earth? Even with effort, would he have succeeded? He wasn't smart. Did he hate studying because he couldn't learn, or because he didn't try?
These negative thoughts echoed like a devil in his mind. Gritting his teeth, he stormed back to the classroom, unwilling to give in.
"Where's Sakura?" he asked.
"Huh? Didn't she go out with you?" Ino looked at him, puzzled, then noticed his anxious expression and smirked knowingly. "Go apologize already."
"Why do you assume I'm apologizing?"
"Come on, it's obvious you upset her again, right?"
Den huffed and walked off. Ino smiled at his back, unfazed.
Everyone thought it was his fault?
Why was it his fault?
He wasn't wrong. It was all the system's fault. If it had given him the Sharingan outright, none of this would've happened.
Den ran outside, frowning. He channeled chakra to his feet and dashed onto the rooftop.
He planned to scan the area for Sakura, but there she was, standing by the blue sky—next to Sasuke.
Sasuke's eyes widened as Den ran up, his gaze turning resentful.
Sakura jumped, glancing at Sasuke, her anger seemingly gone.
"Hmph, Haruno Den. Spar with me," Sasuke challenged, his voice dark, freezing the air around them.
"Sasuke!" Sakura tried to intervene.
"Shut up!" Sasuke snapped at her.
Den scratched his head. This was unexpected. Sasuke's temperament was growing harder to predict.
And because of him, Sakura's dislike for Naruto seemed to have intensified.
Butterfly effect?
Sakura's eyes teared up again. Den frowned. Seeing someone scold his sister to her face was a first, and it left him in an unprecedentedly bad mood. Even if it was Sasuke, he couldn't let it slide easily.
"Apologize."
"What? You're telling me to apologize to Sakura?" Sasuke scoffed.
"You made her cry. I'll say it again—apologize."
"Heh, beat me first."
Sasuke's cold laugh set him apart from typical students. He was like a delinquent, not above fighting, though usually under a teacher's supervision. Clearly, Sasuke had no such intentions now.
"Good. I was thinking the same."
Sakura was stunned, frozen in place. She hadn't expected things to escalate like this. Already upset, she'd come to the rooftop and saw Sasuke, who ignored her greeting. Then Den charged in, and Sasuke seemed to despise him.
What should she do? Her brother on one side, Sasuke on the other—if they fought, what could she do?
Sasuke rushed at Den, swinging a fist at his face. For a student not yet a genin, his movements were decisive.
It was Den's first real fight, but thanks to the system's training, Sasuke's moves seemed only slightly fast. He caught Sasuke's fist with his left hand, planning to counter with a right punch, but Sasuke's kick came flying.
That was close—his moves are too fast! Den stepped back, inwardly shocked.
Sasuke was equally surprised. He'd expected Den to be strong, but blocking his attack so easily was unexpected.
Sasuke reached for his kunai pouch. He carried kunai, but Den didn't seem to have any ninja tools. Still, Sasuke abandoned the idea of using kunai and charged again.
The two fought evenly. Sakura watched, recalling how Den and Sasuke's grades were equally excellent. Compared to them, her own skills felt insignificant, and she couldn't help but feel discouraged.