Chapter 1 : Uzumaki Naruto

'Thoughts/dreams'

'Faint voices'

"Dialogues/Conversations"

'Forgive me Sasuke. Some other time, Okay?'

'You probably hate me, huh? Its alright'

'You will become a rival for me to measure my vassal against'

'You aren't even worth killing, foolish little brother'

'if you want to kill me, despise me, hate me, and live in a unsightly way... Run, and cling to life...'

In a dimly lit chamber, a man and woman were seated when, without warning, a shadowy figure materialized behind them.

The figure hoisted his blade high above the pair, poised to deliver a fatal blow.

With a swift motion, the sword plunged downward, culminating in a gruesome splatter.

" AAAAAAGHHHHH!" Someone screamed as they woke up in their bed. Upon closer inspection, the screaming individual was revealed to be a 12-year-old boy with jet-black hair and crimson eyes that gleamed malevolently in the dark. Each eye was adorned with two tomoe, spinning entrancingly.

Slowly, the crimson color and tomoe faded away from his iris , transforming into a regular black ones.

Uchiha Sasuke cast a glance at the nearby timepiece, noting it was 6:00 AM, and arose to ready himself for his concluding day at the Shinobi Academy.

Shinobi Academy – Konohagakure no Sato.

A man dressed in the standard Konoha shinobi attire stands at the front of a spacious classroom. The room is a large hall with neatly arranged wooden desks and chairs. Each desk accommodates three students.

"I have meticulously balanced the capabilities of each cell," declared Umino Iruka, the Shinobi Academy Instructor, as he surveyed his students. Umino Iruka is an average-height man of his age with dark hair and brown eyes. His hair is tied into a ponytail, and he wears the standard chunin outfit of Konoha.

"And now, for cell number seven," he continued.

"Haruno Sakura," he called out. Sakura Haruno is a 12-year-old girl with bright green eyes and long pink hair. She wore a red and black outfit.

"Uchiha Sasuke," called Iruka, which was met with an enthusiastic 'Oh yeah' from the one called Haruno Sakura. Uchiha Sasuke is a 12-year-old boy with dark eyes and black hair. He wears a blue T-shirt with a ridiculously high collar and white shorts.

"And Uzumaki Naruto," he added, though with a hint of confusion. 'Uzumaki? The Nine-Tail kid? But he isn't a student at the Shinobi Academy,' pondered Iruka.

'There must be some mistake,' thought Iruka as he looked at the piece of paper he was holding once more. 'I guess I have to look into this.' With that, he continued with his class.

"Attention, everyone. This afternoon, I will introduce you to your senior ninjutsu instructor," he informed them before departing for the lunch interval.

A few hours later - Shinobi Academy

Presently, two graduates remained in the classroom. Haruno Sakura was attempting to engage her teammate, Uchiha Sasuke, in conversation, to no avail.

Sasuke, for his part, seemed to ignore not only Sakura's words but nearly everything else around him.

Abruptly, the door swung open, and a tall man with silvery hair and a cobalt mask stepped inside.

"Are you our Jonin-sensei?" Sakura asked the newcomer, while Sasuke sat in silence, his impatience for their Jonin teacher mounting internally.

'If this guy is our Jonin, then he appears utterly worthless,' Sasuke assessed silently, scrutinizing the seemingly unremarkable shinobi.

"Yes, I am Hatake Kakashi, at your service," the man replied, introducing himself. "Based on my first impression, I'd have to say—where is the third one?" he asked confused as he couldn't spot a third student there.

"What?" Sakura was taken aback, her gaze sweeping the room, which, aside from themselves and their Jonin teacher, was empty. Sasuke remained expressionless.

"I would not have expected the Rookie of the Year to be so unaware of his surroundings," Kakashi observed, directing a pointed look at Sasuke.

"It's hardly my concern if some loser is absent," Sasuke countered sharply, his glare intensifying at the insinuation of his inattentiveness.

"Fair point," Kakashi conceded, then added, "However, Sasuke-kun, you do realize that you need that 'loser' as part of this team for the upcoming test," he explained, a smile playing on his lips at the surprise etched on his prospective students' faces.

"Another test? But we've already been promoted, haven't we?" Sakura interjected, her confusion mirroring Sasuke's unspoken thoughts.

"Not quite," Kakashi corrected, his sole visible eye crinkling in amusement. "To officially become a Genin, you must also earn the endorsement of your Jonin instructor."

"So, now what?" Sasuke asked, his tone conveying a mix of curiosity and impatience.

"As I mentioned, you will need your third teammate for the upcoming test. Given my busy schedule, you have two days to find him," Kakashi said as he handed out several papers to the teenagers. "Locate Naruto and meet me at the location specified in these documents two days from now. Should you fail, do not bother to appear; return directly to the academy." With that, Kakashi departed the room, leaving behind an irate Sasuke and a perturbed Sakura.

The following day, morning - Outside Umino Iruka's apartment.

The doorbell buzzed.

"Coming," a voice called from within the apartment.

Iruka opened the door to discover Sasuke and Sakura waiting outside. "Ah, Sasuke, Sakura, greetings," Iruka welcomed his former students.

"Hello, Iruka-sensei, could you help us with something?" Sakura asked courteously.

"Certainly, if it's within my power," Iruka responded.

Sakura continued, "I can't remember anyone named Uzumaki Naruto from our class. Why is he is in same team as Sasuke-kun and me?"

"That puzzles me as well, Sakura," Iruka admitted. "It has come to my attention that Uzumaki Naruto was dismissed from the Academy five years ago for the theft of the Scroll of Sealing. And i have been teaching at the academy for only four years."

"Why would he be part of a squad with Academy graduates if he was kicked out of the academy?" Sakura inquired, her confusion evident.

"The selection of genin teams and their instructors is a decision made directly by the Hokage," Iruka explained. "However, the rationale behind the Hokage's choice of an expelled student for your team eludes me." Sasuke, too, was now bewildered by the Hokage's decision to include a dismissed student in their team.

"Could you provide us with his address?" Sakura asked.

"Regrettably, I am unaware of his current residence," Iruka confessed. "However, he has been seen near Ichiraku Ramen on occasion. You might gather some information there."

"Thank you, Sensei," Sakura expressed her gratitude. She and Sasuke then set off towards Ichiraku's.

A few hours later, in front of an apartment.

"Knock, knock,"

Sasuke and Sakura had been waiting at the door for a considerable fifteen minutes to no avail.

"What's taking this guy so long? It's already been fifteen minutes, Shannaro," Sakura exclaimed, her arms crossed in exasperation after a morning spent running from place to place. 'But Ichiraku Ramen was good, though,' Sakura mused as she stole a glance at Sasuke, feeling a blush warm her cheeks.

"Let me try," Sasuke offered, lifting his hand to knock. 'This guy is really testing my patience,' Sasuke thought, his annoyance growing.

Abruptly, the door swung open before Sasuke's knuckles could land, revealing eyes with blood-red irises, each glowing with a vertical slit pupil.

Sakura stepped back, alarmed by the sight, but Sasuke's thoughts raced. 'Could that be a dojutsu?'

'Konoha is known for only two dojutsu,' Sasuke pondered before asking, "Are you, by any chance, Uzumaki Naruto?"

An orange-haired teenager, wearing a black T-shirt and green cargo pants, stepped out from the shadows, confirming, "Yes."

Sakura swallowed hard, taking in the full sight of the boy before her. Though slightly shorter than Sasuke and seemingly around the same age as both of them, his presence was far from ordinary.

His skin was tanned with an orange tint, his hair a wild shade of the same color, black markings framed his eyes, which held blood-red irises and slitted pupils. Thick whisker-like marks adorned his cheeks, and his teeth and nails were sharp and claw-like. The aura he exuded was one of unmistakable danger and fury.

Sasuke was further unsettled by the visible chakra radiating from Uzumaki.

"What do you want?" Naruto asked, addressing Sasuke and Sakura.

With Sakura too frightened to speak, Sasuke stepped forward. "I'm Uchiha Sasuke, and this is Sakura. You've been selected as the third member of our Genin squad," he declared.

Naruto gave a nod and responded, "Not interested," before withdrawing into his apartment, leaving Sasuke and Sakura stunned.

'What just happened?' Sasuke wondered, his mind reeling from the swift rejection, his fists clenching in frustration.

Sasuke moved to knock again, but Sakura interjected. "Sasuke-kun, we should leave. There's something off about him," she said, her voice quivering with unease.

"If you want to leave, go ahead, Sakura, but I refuse to return to the academy over some loser," Sasuke countered, knocking once more.

The door reopened to reveal an irritated Naruto. "Are you people deaf? I've already said—" He was cut off as Sasuke seized the collar of his T-shirt, pulling him close.

"Listen up, you loser. I don't care about your issues. Your presence is required for our team, and I won't let you be the reason I'm sent back to the academy," Sasuke growled, drawing Naruto in even closer. "Do you understand?"

Sakura was taken aback by Sasuke's demeanour. Normally cool and detached, he now seemed like a rogue from the streets.

Naruto met Sasuke's gaze and said calmly, "Uchiha, I'd advise you to let go of my shirt," unfazed by the threat.

"Do you understand or not, Uzumaki?" Sasuke pressed, his voice rising as he hoisted Naruto by his black T-shirt.

"I suggest you release me now, Uchiha," Naruto warned, his anger rising from Sasuke's provocations.

"To hell with your sugges—" Sasuke's retort was cut short as a powerful punch sent him crashing against the railing behind him.

"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura cried out, rushing to aid her fallen comrade, but Sasuke's attention remained unwaveringly on Naruto.

Sakura was in disbelief. Sasuke, the top student of their class, had been effortlessly repelled? By someone they had only encountered today? 'This Naruto guy seems too strong. I don't think Sasuke-kun can win against him,' she thought, concern etching her features as she stood beside Sasuke.

"Take this as your final warning. Try this again, and there will be no mercy," Naruto declared, retreating into his apartment and shutting the door firmly.

However, Sasuke was deaf to both Sakura and Naruto. Echoing in his mind was a haunting voice from the past and his nightmares : 'If you want to kill me, despise me, hate me...' it repeated, over and over.

Suddenly, Sasuke's eyes ignited, and two commas materialized within each iris. "Sasuke-kun, your eyes," Sakura gasped, witnessing the transformation of Sasuke's gaze.

Driven by an unseen force, Sasuke rose from the ground, charged towards the door, disregarding Sakura's desperate entreaties, and forcefully kicked open Naruto's apartment door.

'What was that guy's problem?,' Naruto thought as he closed his door. Glancing at the clock, he realized it was already 11 : 30 am. 'Missed my breakfast because of those assholes,' he grumbled, heading to his kitchen.

Suddenly, sound of a loud 'SMASH' resounded.

Turning, Naruto saw fragments of his door flying past, and Sasuke standing in his apartment, his eyes glowing red and two comma spinning in each eye. 'Sharingan, huh' Naruto thought, his anger rising. 'That's it.'

Naruto strode towards Sasuke, his anger palpable, but was met with a punch to his right face. Sasuke's left fist followed, striking Naruto's other cheek. Then, grabbing Naruto's hair, Sasuke slammed his head into his knee.

Naruto's head snapped back from the knee strike, and Sasuke delivered a powerful uppercut to his chin.

As Sasuke prepared for another punch, his wrist was suddenly caught by Naruto. Surprised, Sasuke looked at his immobilized fist, then at Naruto. "My turn," Naruto declared, pushing his fist into Sasuke's chest, sending him flying.

Sasuke, propelled by Naruto's punch, crashed through the railing of the apartment, fell to the streets below, skidded across, and collided with a Departmental store.

Mr. Takeda, owner of the Departmental store, was tending to his usual tasks when a thunderous crash from outside startled him. He spun towards the entrance, only to witness a figure hurtling through it and slamming into the store's far wall.

Recovering from the initial shock, Mr. Takeda surveyed the wreckage. On the brink of an exasperated outburst, his gaze fell upon Sasuke, sprawled on the floor, clutching his chest, struggling for air. Curbing the urge to scold, concern took over. "Are you okay, kid?" he inquired.

Sasuke thought, 'Do I look like I'm ok?' as he attempted to stand up with the shop owner's assistance. However, a searing pain shot through his chest, causing him to collapse back onto the ground.

Then, an explosive sound shattered the silence outside.

Mr. Takeda's attention snapped to the storefront where Naruto descended like a comet, carving a crater into the pavement. 'Damn it, Nine-Tails,' he cursed silently, torn between the plight of Naruto and the injured Sasuke. As Naruto strode into the store, eyes locked on Sasuke, Mr. Takeda feared for the young man's well-being.

Torn between the advancing Naruto and the vulnerable Sasuke, Mr. Takeda muttered a resigned "To hell with it," and fled the scene.

Inside, Naruto, indifferent to the fleeing shopkeeper, found Sasuke cornered, writhing in agony. Approaching, Naruto scrutinized him.

"Had enough, or do you want more?" Naruto challenged, fist ready. Abruptly, he caught sight of Sasuke waving some hand signs. "Motherfu-" Naruto's thought was cut short.

Katon: Gokakyu no jutsu.

[EXPLOSION!]

Sakura could only think 'Holy shit' as she watched Sasuke get hurled from Naruto's apartment, crashing into a store across the street. Bystanders and neighboring shopkeepers converged around the impact site, curious about the commotion.

Footsteps drew Sakura's attention, and she turned to see Naruto exiting his residence, utterly disregarding her nearby presence. 'He doesn't even see me as a threat,' Sakura thought, her pride wounded. Despite her admiration for Sasuke and her status as a Konoha kunoichi, she felt dismissed as insignificant. Even Sasuke, the object of her affection, seemed to overlook her.

Resolute, she leaped in front of Naruto, intent on stopping him from further assaulting Sasuke. "I won't let you hurt Sasuke-kun anymore, do you hear me, you jerk?"

Naruto paused, an eyebrow raised at Sakura's defiance. 'Playing the hero now, are we?' he thought, a scoff escaping him.

"Girl, you're brave. I'll give you that."

Before Sakura could brace herself, she was struck by a forceful slap to the right side of her face, sending her crashing into a nearby wall and into unconsciousness.

"But you're too damn weak to play the hero," Naruto remarked, having incapacitated Sakura with a single slap.

Naruto then pinpointed Sasuke's landing site and leaped from his balcony to the street below.

Reclining on the ground from the previous blow, Sasuke fixed a piercing glare on Naruto, who was now looming nearby. 'Take this, you son of a bitch,' Sasuke thought bitterly, as he fired a colossal fireball and hurled it towards Naruto, directly in his path.

"Katon: Gokakyu no Jutsu."

Naruto, reacting swiftly, infused his fist with a surge of chakra and punched towards the incoming fireball.

[EXPLOSION!]

The store erupted in a fiery explosion as the fireball detonated within, scattering flaming debris in all directions. Some fragments landed on adjacent buildings, igniting them.

The confined space amplified the force of detonation, causing the explosion to completely obliterate the store where both combatants stood.

End of Chapter 1

To be continued...