Sasuke stared up at the figure on the rooftop. His grip slackened-the longbow slipped from his hands and hit the ground with a dull thud. His fists clenched, eyes burning red as grief and hatred surged through him, twisting his handsome features into something unrecognizable. His nails dug deep into his palms, drawing blood, yet he felt nothing.
"Sasuke, what's wrong?"
The voice that drifted down was gentle, full of concern.
Sasuke bent down, snatched up the bow, and in one smooth motion drew a sharp arrow from the quiver. The string tightened. The cold arrowhead aimed straight at that familiar silhouette.
"Do not be afraid. It's only a wild boar."
A long howl split the air. The figure on the roof turned and leapt, releasing several kunai mid-air.
The feral rage in Sasuke's eyes faltered. He staggered back, knees buckling.
"Why… why didn't I shoot?"
Boom. Boom. Boom.
Explosions shattered the silence. Sasuke blinked at the wooden house before him, dazed and lost.
"What's happening…?"
He remembered being-.
A deafening thunderclap cut his thoughts short. The house exploded outward with a single roar. Sasuke rolled backward by instinct. When he looked up, dust was sweeping over him like a brown wave.
"Dreaming… am I dreaming?"
Everything felt too familiar. He knew what was coming.
The ground trembled. A boar the size of a wagon burst through the haze.
Sasuke's gaze sharpened. The beast threw up its head with a shriek, hooves pounding the dirt as it charged.
His hands moved to draw and nock another arrow. --Too slow. The boar was already upon him.
"If this is a dream…"
The world shook. The beast crashed to the ground, sending a new storm of dust spiraling upward.
When the air cleared, Sasuke's pupils shrank.
Uchiha Itachi stood before him, calm as ever.
"Sasuke, your training is still lacking."
As the figure approached, Sasuke's face contorted again. Hatred blazed in his voice. "I will kill-"
Two fingers tapped his forehead.
His body froze. His voice caught in his throat.
"Let's go home, Sasuke. It's nearly noon. You followed me here in secret again. Mother will worry."
"Mother…"
Sweet memories surged back. Sasuke's focus wavered as he wrestled with himself.
"Is this really… a dream?"
Sunlight pierced his eyes. Itachi was already walking away. Sasuke followed, unaware.
They walked through the Uchiha compound, one behind the other. Clan members greeted them warmly. Confusion deepened on Sasuke's face. He kept telling himself this wasn't real—yet he couldn't stop responding.
At home, Sasuke reached for the straps of his armor. Uchiha Mikoto came over, smiling as she stroked his cheek."Sasuke has grown-but he still loves clinging to his brother."
Itachi chuckled softly. "Mother, Sasuke joined me on a mission today."
"Is that so?" A steady voice entered the room. Uchiha Fugaku stepped forward. "As expected of my son."
"He did well," Itachi said, standing beside Sasuke, his voice warm. "There are no more missions today. Sasuke, shall we practice shuriken together?"
Sasuke's eyes widened. Pain surged through him. Blood welled at the corners of his eyes and slid down his cheeks."Nii-san… why?"
"You are my only brother in this world."
Time froze.
Crack.
A clean snap echoed.
"No-!"
Sasuke's hand grasped at air as the dream shattered into fragments of light.
Splash.
He hit the river.
Cough! Cough!
He choked, thrashing until he reached the bank. Each breath burned his lungs.
"How pathetic," came a cool voice nearby. "You let yourself drown in a trick this simple. If I hadn't thrown you into the river, would you have stayed trapped forever?"
Sasuke lifted his head sharply.
"You-"
Across the water, a blond boy stood upon a reef, the wind in his hair.
"Of course it's me."
Naruto's expression was calm, almost amused. "Your performance was poor-but the result is good. You finally stirred the eye that had already awakened. I was about to use a few more illusions to brew your emotions further."
"What…?"
Sasuke glanced into the water. Staring back were his own scarlet eyes. In each, a single black tomoe spun slowly.
"The Sharingan…""I finally awakened the Sharingan!"
His expression twisted again. He fell to his knees, laughing and crying all at once, hysteria tearing through his voice.
Kurama's voice rumbled within Naruto, thick with disdain."I think this Uchiha brat might go mad like this. One tomoe and he's already losing it."
Minato sighed softly. He had studied the Second Hokage's notes-he knew the Sharingan was born from extreme emotion. Sasuke's reaction was no different from the countless Uchiha before him.
Naruto stepped closer, looking down at the boy lost in his own storm."Are you going to keep lying there?"
Water splashed.
Sasuke's mind snapped back. He rose, Sharingan glowing red."Do you even know what the Sharingan means?"
Naruto answered with a punch.
Thud.
Sasuke crossed his arms to block and vaulted to the bank, glaring furiously."What are you doing?!"
Naruto darted forward with a burst of speed-fists and feet in perfect rhythm, every strike faster than the last.
Sasuke's eyes widened. His new vision strained to keep up. Each second, the pace grew more brutal. In moments, he was already losing ground.
Crack!
Naruto's fist slammed into his left cheek, lifting him off the ground.
"Impossible!"
He roared and lunged again. But as soon as he reached Naruto-his vision blurred.
The next thing he knew, he was airborne once more.
Naruto had punched his left cheek again.
"Damn it! I don't believe it!"
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