#Author's Perspective
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The day after Naruto's encounter with Imoral Scarlet.
In the terrifying Uchiha Clan's mansion, where the main Uchiha family resides—ruling the clan under the leadership of the elder Uchiha Indra.
As mentioned before, the main family consisted of three sons.
The eldest was Uchiha Kizuna, who had two sons—Obito, the older, and Shisui, the younger.
The middle son was Uchiha Fukago, the father of Itachi and Sasuke.
And the youngest, who had yet to marry… was Uchiha Madara.
This was the family that lived in the Uchiha Clan's main estate and also headed Konoha's security force as a whole.
Sasuke left the mansion, heading for school. On the way, he spotted his pink-haired classmate waiting outside.
He wasn't sure when it had started, but the two of them had begun going to and from school together.
In the past, Naruto used to accompany them, but about a year ago, he stopped—choosing instead to leave with Kiba unless either Sasuke or Sakura explicitly invited him to join.
Sasuke felt that something had changed since the day Naruto was kidnapped by Mizuki.
He sensed that their trio's friendship bond had…
"Sasuke-kun??"
Sasuke didn't dwell too long on those thoughts—he was snapped out of them by Sakura's concerned voice.
"Ah, Sakura… Sorry, what were you saying? I wasn't listening."
"I was telling you about yesterday's lesson."
"Oh, that..."
They continued their conversation as they approached the school gate.
"Look, that's the girl I told you about."
"You mean the one from the Haruno clan?"
Sasuke caught some whispers and raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah, she used to flirt with Naruto–kun when he was top of the class, and now that Sasuke–kun surpassed him, she's doing the same with him."
"What a flirt."
"Such a filthy girl."
Sasuke's eyes widened in shock at what he heard. He turned toward Sakura, who kept walking as if she hadn't heard a thing.
(What's going on here?)
In the past, he didn't pay attention to his surroundings, too focused on Sakura. But now that he was looking around…
He saw those dangerous looks—the venomous gossip slipping from students' lips like poison.
They reached the classroom and saw Naruto and Kiba chatting with other students.
"Good morning."
Sasuke greeted them with a smile, but as soon as he spoke, the others quickly stepped away from Naruto and Kiba.
"Good morning, Sasuke," Kiba and Naruto responded with a smile.
(That's strange… Did I do something wrong?)
Sasuke doubted himself, wondering what was going on.
"We're starting club training today. I'm looking forward to it!" Naruto beamed, addressing Sasuke.
The latter was clearly distracted.
"Oi, Sasuke!!"
Still lost in thought, Sasuke muttered blankly, "Huh??"
"Dude, what's up with you today?"
Naruto had noticed the change in Sasuke's behavior and asked with concern.
"Ah, nothing. Just tired from yesterday's training."
"Yeah, I kinda get that. The club captain was a total demon with me just 'cause I'm new!" Naruto complained.
"No, you're just weak," Kiba sneered.
"What did you say, you bastard?!"
"I said sports don't suit a bookworm like you!!"
Naruto smiled bitterly and shouted, flushed with irritation: "This bookworm passed the soccer test on his first try!"
"Tch… That was just luck."
"Enough, both of you!"
Sakura spoke nervously, trying to calm them. The two glared at each other for a few more moments before turning away at the same time.
"Alright, everyone to your seats."
The teacher entered, and the students headed to their places in an orderly manner.
---
#Scene_19
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First Real Match
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#Naruto's Perspective
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Sasuke was acting really strange today—distracted and spaced out. Something must've happened.
I wanted to ask, but I haven't found the chance yet.
I hope I'm just imagining things and that everything's fine.
After school, we headed to the club room, where I saw Sasuke changing.
"Hey Sasuke!"
I smiled as I greeted him.
"Oh, Naruto. Hey."
"Today's our first joint practice. I'm super excited, honestly."
"Me too. I can't wait to play alongside you," Sasuke replied with a cheerful smile, holding the soccer ball in his hands.
"Then let's go show them what the Sasuke–Naruto duo can do!!"
"Yeah!!"
We left the room fired up, walking slowly toward the field.
Although it was my first day, it coincided with a friendly match against another team that had agreed to play ours today.
I headed to the bench while Sasuke entered the field.
He played as a forward, along with Tooru—they were a terrifying duo.
The match began, and both teams played well, with our team holding a slight edge.
The first half ended with no goals.
We gathered as the coach gave us instructions for the second half.
"Naruto, get ready. You'll be playing this half."
The coach looked at me as he spoke, shocking me.
I swallowed hard and nodded.
Both teams returned to the field. This was completely different from the training I had gone through.
That terrifying atmosphere, the heavy tension that made you feel sick…
I didn't realize how scary stepping onto a real field could feel—like walking into a war zone!
Sasuke placed a hand on my shoulder, snapping me out of it with a smile.
"Don't worry or overthink it. Those thoughts are just illusions meant to rattle you. Once you overcome them, you'll unlock your real potential."
His words cleared my nerves—like someone wiping dust off glass.
I smiled confidently and replied calmly, "You're right. Thank you."
"No need. Aren't we friends? It's my duty to support you," Sasuke returned my smile with an even kinder one.
We walked onto the field with determination and overflowing confidence.
I played midfield—I preferred supporting the strikers rather than being one.
One of our defenders passed the ball to me after stealing it from the opponent, and I sprinted forward with shocking speed.
Sasuke didn't need to look at me—he instantly understood what I wanted and charged toward the goal, much to everyone's surprise.
As he neared the last defender, I passed him the ball beautifully and dashed forward myself.
Sasuke received the ball, skillfully turned around the defender, and on the opposite side—I had already bypassed him as well.
"Impossible…"
Tooru and the club president muttered in awe at our perfect coordination.
Sasuke lifted his leg and fired a powerful shot.
The goalkeeper leapt for it, but the ball veered off course—outside the goalpost.
The crowd gasped at Sasuke's miss.
But they had forgotten—I was already there. The ball was at my feet, and I immediately redirected it straight into the empty net.
Shock filled the field. Silence fell. No one knew what to say.
I smiled at Sasuke, stepped toward him, and we high-fived.
"Nice job, Sasuke! I didn't think you'd leave the goal to me."
"Your setup on that last pass was brilliant."
"Whoa, Naruto–kun! That was amazing—I didn't know you could score like that!" Tooru approached excitedly.
"Yeah, hehe. Sorry I didn't say anything, but I prefer midfield play."
"You'll be a powerful addition to the team, Naruto–kun!"
The match continued after my goal, and we added another after the opposing team equalized.
The referee blew the final whistle, and we won the match 2–1!!
It was such an exhilarating feeling—victory is truly addictive.
After the other team left, we celebrated in the clubroom. I became the center of attention for my performance.
On the side, I saw Sasuke looking a little down, so I approached him and said, "If not for Sasuke, I wouldn't have done anything today. All the credit goes to him!!"
We continued celebrating, and soon, the spotlight shifted to honoring Sasuke's brilliant performance as well.
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#Scene_19
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First Real Match (End)
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#Author's Perspective
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Sasuke walked home with Naruto after school, glancing around at the same strange looks from this morning.
The stares weren't hostile—more like… pity.
He didn't need to hear what they whispered to know what they were talking about—he'd heard plenty that morning.
All the gossip revolved around Sakura.
"Naruto, sorry—I need to take care of something urgent," Sasuke said, rushing off.
"Uh… sure. See you later," Naruto replied in confusion.
Sasuke made his way to the classroom. Sakura wasn't there.
He rushed to Kiba and asked urgently, "Kiba, have you seen Sakura??"
"Ah, yeah. She was with me a while ago. Said she needed the restroom and left," Kiba replied.
He paused, frowning. "Strange… she's been gone a long time."
But he was talking to empty air—Sasuke had already dashed off.
"Damn him—left me talking to myself," Kiba muttered angrily.
Sasuke sped toward the girls' restroom—actually, the whole girls' wing where the bathrooms were.
It was a restricted area for male students, but Sasuke didn't care. He burst in.
(He didn't enter the bathroom itself—but the corridor that led to the girls' restrooms.)
Inside, he saw a group of girls surrounding someone—and his fears were confirmed. Sakura was in the middle.
"Whore. Just 'cause you're a Haruno, you think you can flirt with Sasuke–kun?"
"And toy with Naruto–kun's feelings?"
"Filthy."
"Shameless."
Sakura couldn't respond to all the abuse. Her head was bowed low, and she whispered, "That's not true… You're wrong…"
"Hah?? I can hear you, you bitch."
One girl grabbed Sakura by the collar, ripping a few buttons and exposing her undergarments.
"That's enough…"
Someone placed a hand over the girl's arm.
The girls all froze in fear.
"S–Sasuke–kun…"
They stepped back instinctively.
Sakura's teary eyes widened when she saw Sasuke there to save her. She ran into his arms, hugging him tightly.
"Don't worry, Sakura. Everything's okay now."
Sasuke smiled gently, stroking her hair softly.
"Sasuke–kun, don't let that girl fool you! She's a tramp who seduces boys!!"
The same girl from before shouted in frustration, seeing Sakura in the place she so desperately wanted for herself.
"Shut up."
Sasuke's expression turned dark as he glared at her, terrifying everyone. For a moment, she thought she was looking at a demon—not a human.
"Who gave you permission to speak?"
He let go of Sakura and looked down at the girl who stepped back in fear, the others completely silent under his gaze.
"That's the difference between you and Sakura—you're not even worthy of speaking to me as an equal."
Sasuke leaned closer, his voice deathly cold. The girl trembled and collapsed on her rear in panic.
"Is that clear?!"
She couldn't say another word.
Sasuke took off his jacket and handed it to Sakura to cover herself, then said as he gently led her away, "Let's go."
Sakura's tears continued to flow, her face beet red. She didn't say a word—just followed him obediently.
The girl trembled with rage and hatred.
"Just because he's an Uchiha, he thinks that's the end of it? You'll regret this, Sasuke Uchiha."
She stood, pulled out her phone, and dialed a number.
"Yeah, I need you for something important. A student from our school—yes… I don't care about the cost. I want you to teach him a lesson he'll never forget!!"
She hung up and slipped the phone into her pocket.
"You'll see, Sasuke Uchiha…"
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Meanwhile, elsewhere—
A pitch-black room, barely lit except for nine chairs and the glow of a massive TV screen. The darkness swallowed everything else.
Three seats were empty. The other six were occupied.
"The Akatsuki Project will begin soon."
A voice came from the screen—a computer-generated one. The person behind it remained unknown, only referred to as the head of the organization that secretly controls all of Konoha.
"You want us to start the Akatsuki Project with just four members?"
"Of course not. Once we're complete, the project will begin. For now, observe the individuals I've marked. They may achieve great things in the future."
There were many folders containing photos of various people.
Among them were photos of Sasuke, Naruto, and many others destined to shake this nation.
"These are the chosen ones. Once I get my hands on them… I'll rule the world!"
The screen turned off, leaving the three in the room with only the files.
"There's a lot to watch… This will be a pain," one sighed.
"Just do your job and shut up."
Another picked up a photo—one of a blond-haired boy with blue eyes beside his younger sister, a small blonde with green eyes.
"This one's my first target, then…"
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#To_Be_Continued.