"Classmate Sasuke, um, you sit alone, and I also sit alone. I have something I want to consult you about, Sasuke. So, how about it, Sasuke, let's sit together!"
Aburame Shino, who sat in the same row as Uchiha Sasuke, showed an expression of being left out. He pushed his sunglasses up with one hand, trying to assert his presence.
*I've been sitting with Uchiha Sasuke all along. Why do you say Sasuke sits alone? Can't you see me?*
Ino and Sakura's eyes flashed with astonishment. *No way, no way!*
*Sasuke-kun, please don't agree!*
*If you move to the back, we'll be behind you every day, admiring your magnificent back!*
*Damn you, Uzumaki Naruto!*
Sasuke frowned, not immediately agreeing.
"Classmate Sasuke, the things the teachers teach in the academy are basically useless to you, right?
If you want to get stronger, to conceive new techniques, it's better to sit in the back.
Plus, I can help you arrange a match with that guy Hyuga Neji!"
Sasuke's eyes lit up. Being able to fight Hyuga Neji, a genius, would be great.
Hyuga Neji was a genius of the Hyuga clan. He, Uchiha Sasuke, was a genius of the Uchiha clan.
If he could defeat Hyuga Neji, then Father and Brother would surely look at him differently, right!
*Hey! At least ask for my opinion!*
Aburame Shino felt sorrowful. He didn't think sitting alone was bad; he just felt a bit hurt being completely ignored like this.
*I'm a living person sitting right here, you know! Can't you notice me?!*
"Fine!"
After Uzumaki Naruto brought up Hyuga Neji, Uchiha Sasuke quickly agreed.
Moving from the front row to the very back row, he sat together with Uzumaki Naruto.
Sakura and Ino in front, along with a large number of girls in the class, were furious.
Originally, with Sasuke sitting in front, they could easily admire his handsome face. But now? Now during class, they'd have to turn their heads back to see Sasuke!
*Damn you, Uzumaki Naruto!*
Naruto could naturally feel the malice emanating from the large number of girls, but he didn't care.
After inviting Sasuke to sit beside him, Naruto also took off the goggles on his head. A gentle breeze blew into the classroom from outside, causing his flattened, short blonde hair to flutter in the wind.
Within his deep blue pupils, a kind of indescribable hesitation and loneliness seemed to slowly overflow.
Uzumaki Naruto's looks at this moment were no worse than Sasuke's. It was just the six whisker marks on his face, seen by everyone as the symbol of the fox demon, that made people instinctively feel a trace of fear and disgust when looking at him.
"That jerk Uzumaki Naruto, making Sasuke-kun sit in the back. I'll... I'll..."
"I'll... he..."
"He actually looks quite handsome too..."
"...No way! I... I feel like I'm falling in love again!"
The voices of dissatisfaction grew much quieter.
After Naruto comprehended the nature transformation of Wind Release chakra for the day, the two of them sneakily and quickly left the classroom. This left Iruka, with a complex expression wanting to talk to Naruto, ultimately unable to call out to Naruto's retreating back.
Naruto very easily took Sasuke to find Hyuga Neji, who was about to leave school, then easily provoked him, letting Sasuke continue the unfinished contest with Hyuga Neji from last time.
Of course, this time it wasn't a private brawl, but a sparring match and challenge sealed with the *Opposing Signs*.
Then, unsurprisingly, both Sasuke and Naruto at this time were defeated by Hyuga Neji.
Although Sasuke had also received training from his father, Uchiha Fugaku, since childhood and had been striving forward with his brother, Uchiha Itachi, as his goal, he, Uchiha Sasuke, while the top student in his year, was far from reaching the heights of Uchiha Itachi.
Hyuga Neji was also the top student in his year, one year older. At this grade level, aside from those with exceptional physical gifts, differences in physique and strength became an insurmountable chasm for Sasuke against Neji.
Moreover, although Sasuke had also learned the Great Fireball Technique at this time, both its power and the hand seal preparation time meant he currently had no way to use this jutsu against Hyuga Neji.
After all, among ordinary genin, combat primarily relied on shuriken, taijutsu, various traps, terrain advantages, and such to fight opponents.
The Gentle Fist, a secret technique particularly effective against close-combat taijutsu specialists, was far too oppressive against the current Sasuke and the Naruto who was holding back!
Even with Sasuke and Naruto challenging one after the other, they were both quickly knocked to the ground.
"Damn it!"
Uchiha Sasuke's face showed unwillingness, his eyes even turning slightly red.
His challenge was witnessed by others. Soon, word might spread through Konoha that he, Uchiha Sasuke, was inferior to Hyuga Neji.
How disappointed would Father be if he knew?
How disappointed would Brother be?
This time, hadn't he completely disgraced the Uchiha clan's reputation?
"Don't worry, Sasuke. He's a year older than us, with an extra year of training. Losing to him isn't shameful!
What's shameful would be losing the courage to challenge him again because of this! What's shameful would be failing to find our shortcomings from this and correct them, to become stronger!
Sasuke, with your talent, as long as you keep working hard, one day that guy will be no match for you!
You must understand, even among geniuses, there are completely different levels!"
Encouraged by Naruto, Sasuke regained his confidence. His expression improved a lot, and his eyes weren't so red anymore.
"You're right, Naruto. I won't admit defeat. Help me train from now on!"
Sasuke indeed had an innate quality of growing stronger from setbacks. This was also one of the reasons he would continuously strive, never truly defeated, and eventually reach the pinnacle of power in the ninja world.
Although Sasuke also had a special talent: after making significant progress, he would start to get cocky, thinking no one was his match, only to be brutally beaten up by all sorts of people who jumped out.
But it was undeniable that one day, in this ninja world, those capable of beating up a cocky second son like him would be few and far between—perhaps not even human.
The resilience shown by the never-give-up second son was terrifying. Like Sasuke would say: Don't use mere words like 'genius' to erase my efforts!
In the following days, Sasuke still trained with Naruto, improved together, challenged Hyuga Neji together, suffered defeat together, and got beaten black and blue together.
The consecutive failures caused all sorts of voices to start emerging.