It had been six months since the academy started, and Sasuke was well on his way to becoming the top of the class. His hard work and dedication were paying off, and he was determined to uphold the Uchiha name. But what about Naruto, you ask?

Flashback

A month after the academy started, Sasuke had approached Naruto during their lunch break, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Hey, Naruto," he began, glancing around to ensure no one was eavesdropping. "I overheard one of the older students from my clan who's about to graduate talking about how the formations will happen for the teams. Apparently, the best student will be paired with the worst student."

Naruto's interest piqued. "Really? That's kind of interesting. How does that work? I mean, wouldn't that just create a bunch of mismatched teams?"

Sasuke shrugged, taking a bite of his rice ball. "I guess it's supposed to create balance. The best student can help the worst student improve, and they can learn from each other."

Naruto nodded, contemplating the idea. "So, if we want to be on the same team, one of us has to be the best and the other the worst, huh?"

"Exactly," Sasuke replied, smirking. "I'll be the top of the class since I'm an Uchiha. I have a standard to maintain."

Naruto rolled his eyes, a grin spreading across his face. "Rank doesn't matter to me, Sasuke. I wouldn't mind being the class dobe if it means being on the same team as you."

Sasuke chuckled, shaking his head. "You're such a dobe, Naruto."

Their conversation shifted to Mizuki, the chunin who had been particularly harsh on Naruto. "What do you think we should do about Mizuki?" Sasuke asked, a hint of annoyance in his voice.

Naruto's eyes sparkled with mischief, the familiar glint appearing whenever he was about to pull a prank. "I have an idea," he said, leaning closer to Sasuke. "I just learned a level 3 seal that swaps colors on anything it's put on. I could tweak it so that every part of Mizuki changes colors every day for the next three weeks."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "That sounds like it could be fun. You should do it to Sakura too, just for good measure. I still can't believe she cursed you like that."

Naruto nodded enthusiastically. "Alright! I'll make it happen!"

Three days later, the moment of truth arrived. Mizuki walked into the classroom, and the students froze in shock. His hair was a shocking neon green, his skin a bright red, and his clothes a vibrant yellow. The sight was so ridiculous that even the most serious students couldn't help but snicker.

But the laughter didn't stop there. A few moments later, Sakura entered the classroom, her hair a bright orange, and nothing else had changed. Naruto had decided not to punish her too harshly, much to Sasuke's disappointment.

Iruka turned to Mizuki, his eyes widening in disbelief. "Mizuki, today we will—HA HA HA!" He burst into laughter the moment he saw Mizuki, falling to the floor in a fit of giggles. When he caught sight of Sakura, he lost it completely, rolling on the ground with laughter.

Mizuki and Sakura exchanged annoyed glances, both clearly irritated at being the butt of Naruto's prank. Sakura stormed over to Naruto; her face flushed with anger. "You did this, didn't you? I know it was you!"

Naruto feigned innocence, pulling out a pair of earplugs from his pocket. "If you mean buying earplugs to cancel out your noise, then yes. Although they don't work much. Do you have a bloodline screech release?" he said, waving the earplugs in front of her.

The classroom erupted in laughter, and Sakura's face turned a deep shade of crimson. "You're going to pay for this, Naruto!" she screeched, raising her fist to punch him.

But before she could land a hit, Sasuke caught her arm, his grip firm. He stared at her with cold, piercing eyes, and she immediately sat down meekly, her anger dissipating under his intense gaze.

The color-changing prank continued for three weeks, with Naruto ensuring that only the most ridiculous colors would show. Mizuki's hair would turn bright pink one day, then a shocking blue the next, while Sakura's hair would shift from purple to green. The entire academy was in on the joke, and it became a running gag among the students.

Flashback Over

As Naruto walked home after training, an uneasy feeling settled in his stomach. For the past few months, both Itachi and Shisui had been rarely seen, and when they were around, there was an unmistakable tension in the air.

He recalled Sasuke mentioning something troubling just a few days ago—Itachi had lost his cool on some clan members, an event that seemed highly unlikely for someone as composed as him. The thought gnawed at Naruto, making him feel restless.

Meanwhile

On a cliff overlooking the village, Itachi and Shisui stood in silence, the wind whipping around them. Shisui had one eye shut, blood trickling down his face. Itachi's expression was grave as he looked at his friend. "We can go to the Hokage and tell him everything," Itachi urged, desperation creeping into his voice.

Shisui shook his head, his expression resolute despite the pain. "There's no time, Itachi. It will be my word against Danzo's, and we don't have any proof."

With a heavy heart, Shisui reached up and removed his remaining eye from its socket, holding it out to Itachi. "Take it. Use it to stop the Uchiha clan from causing a civil war. You know what must be done."

Itachi's eyes widened in shock. "No, Shisui! I can't—"

"I'll miss you, Itachi," Shisui said softly, a bittersweet smile on his face. "But this is the only way." He pulled out a scroll from his pocket, handing it to Itachi. "Give this to Naruto. He's the child who will change the world."

Before Itachi could protest further, Shisui smiled one last time and leaned backward, falling off the cliff. Itachi lunged forward, reaching out to catch him, but he was too late. Shisui disappeared from view, leaving Itachi standing at the edge, his heart heavy with grief.

The Namikaze estate

Naruto arrived home, still feeling the weight of his unease. As he approached the gate, he noticed a package with his name on it lying on the ground. Curiosity piqued, he picked it up and opened it, revealing a letter inside.

He unfolded the letter, his heart racing as he read the familiar handwriting. Naruto's breath caught in his throat, and he felt a wave of dread wash over him.

If you are reading this, then I am dead.

I regret not being there to watch you grow up. You are the child who will change the world, Naruto. Please, take care of Sasuke. He needs you now more than ever.

In this box, you will find my brown chest vest. The second, is a scroll that contains the jutsu that gave me the nickname, 'Shunshin no Shisui'. It also contains my notes on its improved version, what I liked to call 'Teleportation Jutsu'. I had hoped to give it to you when you graduated, but it seems I won't get the chance.

Do not trust the elders of the Hidden Leaf, especially an old cripple named Danzo. He may look weak, but he is hiding things beyond anything you can imagine.

Don't forget, I always have, and always will love you, my little brother. Train hard and become as awesome as me.

Goodbye Squirt,

Naruto shut the letter, his heart pounding in his chest. He felt a mix of sorrow and anger, the weight of Shisui's words pressing down on him. Without a second thought, he dashed out of his home, releasing his seals and sprinting toward the Uchiha compound at top speed.

As he reached the Uchiha compound, panic surged through him. The streets were eerily quiet, and an unsettling feeling settled in his gut. He turned a corner and froze. There, in the middle of the street, lay Sasuke, unconscious, surrounded by the bodies of Uchiha clan members. Blood splattered against the walls, painting a gruesome picture of chaos and violence.

"Sasuke!" Naruto shouted, rushing to his friend's side. He quickly checked for any signs of life, relief flooding through him when he felt Sasuke's heartbeat, albeit weak. Without hesitation, he scooped Sasuke into his arms, determination fueling his every move.

"I'll get you help!" he promised, sprinting toward the Hokage's office.

Hokage Office

Naruto burst through the doors of the Hokage's office, ignoring the secretary's protests. "Hey! You can't go in there!" she called after him, but he paid her no mind.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, looked up from his desk, his expression shifting from surprise to concern as he saw Naruto enter with Sasuke in his arms. "Naruto!" he exclaimed, immediately signaling for the ANBU to assist. "Get him to the hospital!"

As the ANBU rushed forward to take Sasuke, Hiruzen's gaze turned serious. "What happened, Naruto?"

"I don't know!" Naruto replied, his voice trembling with urgency. "I found this letter that Shisui left for me," he said, handing the letter to Hiruzen. "I found Sasuke like this at the Uchiha compound. I don't know what happened!"

Hiruzen took the letter, his expression darkening as he read the contents. He understood the implications of Shisui's words and the urgency of the situation. "Naruto, I need you to stay calm. We'll get Sasuke the help he needs, but I need you to tell me everything you know."

Naruto nodded, trying to steady his breathing. "I don't know much! Just that Itachi and Shisui have been acting strange, and then I found Sasuke like this. There were bodies everywhere!"

As the ANBU whisked Sasuke away, Hiruzen turned back to Naruto, his eyes filled with concern. "You need to be careful, Naruto. The Uchiha clan is in turmoil, and we don't know who is behind this attack. You must stay close to your friends and be vigilant."

Naruto felt a surge of determination. "I won't let anything happen to Sasuke! I'll protect him, no matter what!"

Hiruzen placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder. "I believe in you, Naruto. But you must also listen to me. There are forces at play that are beyond our understanding. We need to gather more information before making any moves. Go home for now, I will send someone to call you once Sasuke wakes up."

The next day, as the sun rose over the Hidden Leaf Village, Naruto was jolted awake by a sudden knock on his door. He opened it to find an ANBU member standing there, their mask hiding their expression but their voice steady. "Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha has woken up."

Without a second thought, Naruto rushed past the ANBU, his heart pounding in his chest. He sprinted through the village, his mind racing with worry and hope. He had to see Sasuke; he needed to know that his friend was okay.

At the Hospital

Bursting into the hospital, Naruto navigated the sterile hallways until he reached Sasuke's room. He pushed the door open, his breath catching in his throat at the sight before him. Sasuke lay in the hospital bed, his expression cold and lifeless, one eye staring blankly at the ceiling while the other remained closed.

"What do you want?" Sasuke's voice was flat, devoid of emotion.

Naruto swallowed hard, trying to mask his concern. "I just want to talk, Sasuke. I'm here for you."

"Go away," Sasuke replied, his tone sharp. "I don't want to talk to you."

"Please, Sasuke," Naruto pleaded, stepping closer. "I want to help you. You don't have to go through this alone."

But Sasuke interrupted him, his voice rising in anger. "HELP? HE KILLED EVERYONE—MY MOTHER, FATHER, EVEN SHISUI! YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT I'VE BEEN THROUGH BECAUSE YOU NEVER HAD ANY PARENTS! GET LOST, DOBE!"

The words hit Naruto like a physical blow, leaving him stunned. He stood frozen, the weight of Sasuke's pain crashing over him like a tidal wave. He had known that Sasuke carried the burden of loss, but hearing it laid bare in such a raw, hurtful way was overwhelming.

Realizing that Sasuke was in deep emotional turmoil, Naruto felt a pang of sorrow for his friend. He took a step back, his heart aching. "I… I'm sorry, Sasuke," he whispered, his voice barely audible.

With that, Naruto turned and walked out of the hospital room, leaving Sasuke alone to stare out the window, the world outside moving on while he remained trapped in his grief.