The academy yard emptied as students drifted home, laughter and chatter fading into the hum of Konoha's streets. The sun dipped lower, painting the rooftops in shades of gold and crimson.
Naruto sat alone on the swings outside the academy. The chain creaked as he swayed gently, eyes fixed on the ground. His fists were raw from the spar, his cheek bruised, but none of that mattered.
He had landed a hit on Sasuke.
Just thinking about it made his chest tighten with pride. And yet, that pride was drowned quickly by the memory of everyone's laughter—their certainty that he would lose.
"Luck," Sasuke had called it.
Naruto gritted his teeth. "Tch… next time, I'll show him. I'll show all of them."
---
At that same moment, inside the Hokage's office, the Third sat behind his desk, gazing into the crystal ball that floated above its stand. The swirling mist inside revealed the image of Naruto, still on the swing.
The Hokage puffed his pipe thoughtfully. "You've carried the village's burden longer than you even realize, Naruto… and yet, still, you smile."
A knock came at the door. Iruka stepped in, bowing slightly. "Hokage-sama. About Naruto…"
The Hokage raised a brow. "You're concerned?"
Iruka sighed. "He's reckless, unfocused… but there's something there. In today's spar, he stood his ground against Sasuke, even for a moment."
"Mm," the Hokage murmured. "Even a flicker of courage can one day become a fire."
Iruka hesitated. "Do you truly believe…?"
The Hokage exhaled smoke. His gaze never left the boy in the crystal ball. "I believe he must be given the chance to prove it."
---
The next morning, the academy was louder than usual.
"Did you hear? Naruto actually landed a punch on Sasuke!"
"Yeah, but Sasuke still wiped the floor with him."
"Still… it was kinda crazy."
Whispers followed Naruto as soon as he walked in. Some mocked, some marveled, but all eyes lingered on him differently now.
Naruto smirked, puffing his chest out. "Heh. Guess I'm finally getting some respect around here!"
"Don't get ahead of yourself, dead-last," Sakura snapped, flipping her pink hair over her shoulder. "Sasuke-kun went easy on you. You should be grateful."
"Grateful?!" Naruto sputtered. "I'll show you grateful! Next time, I'll beat him for real!"
Ino rolled her eyes. "Keep dreaming. Sasuke-kun is leagues above you."
"Oi! You'll see!" Naruto shouted, jabbing a thumb at his chest. "Believe it!"
From the corner, Sasuke leaned against his desk, silent. His dark eyes flicked briefly toward Naruto, then away again, as if he wasn't worth the effort.
That single look stung more than words.
Naruto growled under his breath. I'll make you look at me, Sasuke… not just as some fool, but as a rival.
---
Later that day, Iruka gathered the class in the training yard again. This time, instead of sparring, he unrolled a large scroll.
"Today we begin the basics of chakra control. If you ever want to use ninjutsu, this is the foundation."
The students murmured excitedly. Finally, the chance to practice real techniques.
Iruka explained, drawing diagrams in the dirt. "Chakra is the energy that flows through your body. To mold it properly, you need focus, balance, and discipline."
Naruto tilted his head, already lost. "Uh… mold what now?"
Iruka pinched the bridge of his nose. "Just… watch."
He pressed his hands together into a seal. Blue chakra flared faintly around him before vanishing. "That's how you channel it."
"Cool!" Kiba exclaimed.
"Easy," Sasuke said quietly, already forming the same seal with perfect control.
One by one, the students tried. Some managed to spark faint chakra, others failed.
When Naruto's turn came, he jumped forward, grinning. "Alright, time to show you all!"
He slammed his hands together in a random seal. "Chakra, come out! …uh, Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
A puff of smoke exploded around him. When it cleared—
A single, half-formed clone lay face down in the dirt, twitching weakly.
The class erupted in laughter.
"Pfft—what is that?!"
"Looks like a deflated balloon!"
"Dead-last strikes again!"
Naruto's face burned crimson. "W-what?! That was just practice!"
Iruka sighed, rubbing his temples. "Naruto… you need to focus. Shadow Clones are too advanced for now. Just concentrate on channeling chakra steadily."
Naruto clenched his fists. "I'll get it, you'll see! Next time, I'll summon a hundred clones and blow your minds!"
Sasuke walked past him, not even bothering to laugh. He muttered only one word: "Pathetic."
Naruto froze, the word stabbing deeper than any insult.
---
That night, Naruto sat alone in his apartment, staring at the ceiling. His body still ached from training, but it was the weight of humiliation that pressed hardest on him.
He punched his pillow. "Damn it! Why can't I do anything right?"
The room was silent, save for the creak of the old floorboards and the distant bustle of the village.
He thought of Sasuke's eyes—cold, dismissive. He thought of Iruka's disappointment. He thought of the laughter of his classmates.
Naruto buried his face in his hands. "No… I won't give up. I'll prove them wrong. I'll prove everyone wrong."
In the corner of the room, unseen by him, faint tendrils of crimson chakra stirred. They licked across the shadows, pulsing faintly before fading again.
The boy was still unaware of what slept inside him. But the Nine-Tails was stirring.
And soon, the world would too.
⚡ End of Chapter 4 ⚡