Naruto: When Sasuke Got Self-AwareEpisode ?1: The Uchiha Identity Crisis
It had been exactly one week since "The Incident" - what everyone in Team 7 now called Naruto's brief but memorable transformation into a brooding, black-clad emo ninja. Life had returned to normal: Naruto was back to wearing blindingly orange clothes, shouting about becoming Hokage, and inhaling ramen at alarming speeds.
But something unexpected was happening to Sasuke Uchiha.
It started during a routine training session. Naruto had just failed spectacularly at a basic jutsu and was rolling on the ground laughing at his own mistake.
"What an idiot," Sasuke muttered reflexively, assuming his standard pose: hands in pockets, shoulders slightly hunched, eyes narrowed in perpetual disdain.
"Hn," Kakashi replied from behind his book, perfectly mimicking Sasuke's signature grunt.
Sasuke's head snapped up. "What was that supposed to mean?"
"Hmm?" Kakashi peered over his book innocently. "Oh, I was just agreeing with you. You know... 'hn.'" He performed the grunt again with surprising accuracy.
"I don't sound like that," Sasuke insisted, crossing his arms defensively.
"Sure you do," Sakura chimed in. "That's like your catchphrase."
"I don't have a catchphrase!"
"BELIEVE IT!" Naruto shouted from across the training ground, then dissolved into laughter again.
"See? Naruto has a catchphrase," Sakura explained. "And yours is 'hn.'"
"That's not a catchphrase. That's just... efficient communication," Sasuke argued.
Kakashi lowered his book slightly. "Is it though? Is it really communicating anything?"
Something about the question lodged uncomfortably in Sasuke's mind.
Later that day, Sasuke found himself standing in front of a shop window, catching his reflection in the glass. He paused, really looking at himself for perhaps the first time in years.
The high collar that covered half his face. The meticulously arranged hair that somehow always fell perfectly over one eye despite intense training sessions and battles. The permanently furrowed brow. The hands that seemed physically unable to leave his pockets.
"Do I really look like this all the time?" he wondered aloud.
A passing child pointed at him. "Mommy, why is that ninja dressed for a funeral?"
The mother hushed her child quickly. "Don't stare, dear. He's obviously going through something."
Sasuke frowned deeper, then caught himself doing it. Was he really this... obvious?
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of familiar laughter. Naruto was at Ichiraku again, loudly recounting his "emo phase" to anyone who would listen.
"And then I was like 'the puddle represents the tears of my soul,'" Naruto howled, slapping the counter. "I can't believe I actually said that out loud!"
Teuchi and Ayame were doubled over with laughter. Even Iruka-sensei, who had stopped by for dinner, was wiping tears from his eyes.
"The best part," Naruto continued, "was trying to walk like Sasuke. You know, all hunched over like this—" He demonstrated an exaggerated slouch. "—like he's carrying the weight of the world AND a really heavy backpack!"
More laughter erupted. Sasuke felt his face growing hot. Was that really how people saw him?
Worse, was that really how he actually was?
That night, Sasuke couldn't sleep. He kept replaying moments from the past few years, seeing them through new eyes. All those times he'd responded with just "hn" when actual words would have worked better. All those dramatic exits he'd made, walking away with his hands in his pockets while his coat flapped dramatically in the wind (even when there was no wind—how did he even do that?).
He got up and stood in front of his mirror, trying some expressions other than scowling. A normal smile looked alien on his face. He couldn't even remember the last time he'd genuinely laughed.
"This is ridiculous," he told his reflection. "I'm an avenger. I don't have time for... emotions."
Even as he said it, the words sounded hollow. And frankly, a little embarrassing.
"An avenger?" he repeated to himself. "That's so... dramatic."
He tried saying it in different tones: "I'm an AVENGER!" "I am an avenger." "Avenger here, nice to meet you."
Each version sounded more absurd than the last.
"I need to rethink some life choices," Sasuke decided, flopping back onto his bed.
The next morning, Team 7 gathered at their usual meeting spot. Kakashi was, as always, running late.
Naruto arrived first, followed by Sakura. They both did a double-take when Sasuke approached.
"Uh... good morning?" Sasuke said hesitantly, raising a hand in an awkward wave.
Naruto's jaw dropped. Sakura's eyes widened in alarm.
"What?" Sasuke asked defensively.
"You... you..." Naruto stuttered, pointing at Sasuke's face.
"You're smiling," Sakura finished, looking concerned. "Are you feeling okay?"
Sasuke consciously relaxed his face back to neutral. "I'm fine. It's just a nice day."
"A nice... day?" Naruto repeated slowly, as if Sasuke had spoken in an alien language.
"Yes. The weather is... pleasant." Sasuke gestured vaguely at the sky, immediately regretting drawing attention to his hands, which were conspicuously NOT in his pockets.
Naruto approached cautiously, circling Sasuke like he was examining a suspicious package. "What happened to your collar?"
"What do you mean?"
"It's... normal height. We can see your whole face!"
Sasuke tugged self-consciously at his shirt. He had deliberately chosen one with a standard collar today. "The high one was... impractical. It got in the way during training."
"And your hair!" Sakura exclaimed, noticing it was brushed back instead of artfully arranged over his eye. "You can see with both eyes now!"
"Turns out depth perception is useful for a ninja," Sasuke replied dryly.
Naruto squinted suspiciously. "Who are you and what have you done with the real Sasuke?"
"I'm still me," Sasuke insisted. "I just realized some of my... choices... might have been a bit..."
"Emo?" Naruto supplied helpfully.
"Overdramatic," Sasuke corrected, though he flinched slightly at the accuracy of Naruto's suggestion.
"Is this because of my impression of you?" Naruto asked, a grin spreading across his face. "Did I ACTUALLY make the great Sasuke Uchiha self-conscious?"
"No!" Sasuke snapped reflexively, then caught himself. "Maybe. A little. Your stupid act made me realize how I might look to other people."
"This is the greatest day of my life," Naruto declared, clutching his heart. "I, Naruto Uzumaki, have changed Sasuke Uchiha for the better! BELIEVE IT!"
"Don't push it," Sasuke warned, but without his usual menace.
Sakura studied him curiously. "So what now? You're just going to be... normal?"
Sasuke shrugged. "I'm going to try talking more. Maybe use full sentences occasionally. Possibly even laugh at something if it's funny enough."
"Whoa, let's not get crazy," Naruto teased.
A puff of smoke announced Kakashi's arrival. "Sorry I'm late, I got lost on the—" He stopped mid-excuse, staring at Sasuke. "Did I miss something?"
"Sasuke's having an identity crisis," Naruto announced cheerfully. "He's renouncing his emo ways!"
"I wouldn't go that far," Sasuke muttered.
Kakashi's visible eye crinkled in amusement. "Well, well. Character development. How unexpected."
"It's not a big deal," Sasuke insisted, feeling increasingly uncomfortable with all the attention.
"Sure, sure," Kakashi nodded indulgently. "Now, for today's mission—"
"Actually," Sasuke interrupted, "I have a question about the mission."
Everyone froze, staring at him again.
"What?" Sasuke asked, annoyed.
"You never ask questions," Sakura pointed out. "You just say 'hn' and figure it out yourself."
"Well, today I'm asking," Sasuke replied firmly.
"This is so weird," Naruto stage-whispered to Sakura.
"I think it's an improvement," she whispered back.
"Okay, Sasuke," Kakashi said carefully, as if speaking to a wild animal that might bolt at any sudden movement. "What's your question?"
Sasuke opened his mouth, then closed it again. "I... actually forgot what I was going to ask."
"That's fine," Kakashi said soothingly. "Baby steps."
Their mission that day was to help rebuild a section of fence at a local farm that had been damaged in a recent storm. Simple, straightforward D-rank work that normally would have had Sasuke brooding silently while the others chatted.
Today, however, Sasuke made an effort to join the conversation.
"So... nice farm," he commented awkwardly as they worked.
Naruto nearly fell over in shock. "Did you just make small talk? VOLUNTARILY?"
"I'm trying to be more... sociable," Sasuke admitted through gritted teeth.
"This is amazing," Naruto declared. "Quick, Sakura, what's your favorite color?"
"Um, red? Why—"
"Sasuke! What's YOUR favorite color?" Naruto demanded.
Sasuke blinked. "I... don't know."
"You don't KNOW?" Naruto looked scandalized. "How can you not know your favorite color?"
"I never thought about it," Sasuke admitted. "Black, I guess?"
"Of course it's black," Naruto rolled his eyes. "So predictable."
"Actually," Sasuke said slowly, surprising himself, "maybe blue. Dark blue."
"Progress!" Naruto cheered, waving his hammer dangerously. "He's evolving beyond black!"
"Will you shut up and work?" Sasuke grumbled, but without his usual venom.
As the day wore on, Sasuke found himself relaxing slightly. He answered Sakura's questions with more than one word. He even cracked the tiniest smile when Naruto accidentally hit his thumb with the hammer and danced around the field howling.
It felt... strange. But not entirely bad.
After the mission, instead of immediately heading home alone as usual, Sasuke hesitated.
"Do you guys want to... get something to eat?" he asked awkwardly.
Naruto looked like he might faint from shock. "Are you asking us to hang out? Socially?"
"Never mind," Sasuke said quickly, turning to leave.
"NO WAIT!" Naruto lunged, grabbing his arm. "Yes! Food! Team bonding! Let's go!"
"I'm free," Sakura added quickly, beaming.
"I suppose I could join you," Kakashi said, tucking away his book. "This I have to see."
They ended up at Ichiraku, of course. Sasuke couldn't remember the last time he'd eaten there willingly. As they sat down, he became acutely aware that several people were staring at him.
"What's the Uchiha kid doing here?" "Did he lose a bet?" "Is he being forced to socialize as some kind of punishment mission?"
Teuchi actually did a double-take when he saw Sasuke. "Well, this is a surprise! What can I get you?"
"Whatever's good," Sasuke replied, trying to sound casual. "I trust your recommendation."
More staring. Even Ayame paused in her work to gape at him.
"This is so weird," Naruto whispered loudly. "But also kind of awesome?"
As their food arrived, Sasuke made a conscious effort to engage. He asked Naruto about his training (and regretted it immediately as Naruto launched into a 20-minute monologue). He complimented Sakura on her chakra control. He even asked Kakashi a question about his Sharingan.
It was exhausting. But also... not terrible.
"So what brought this on, really?" Kakashi asked quietly while Naruto was distracted arguing with Sakura. "It wasn't just Naruto's impression, was it?"
Sasuke considered the question. "When I saw him acting like me... it looked ridiculous."
"It was pretty over-the-top," Kakashi agreed.
"But then I realized—that's actually how I act all the time." Sasuke stared into his ramen bowl. "And if it looked that stupid on him..."
"It's not so much that it looked stupid," Kakashi mused. "It's that it looked... performative. Like he was playing a character."
The word hit Sasuke like a lightning bolt. "That's it exactly. I've been playing a character too. The brooding avenger, the sole survivor, the tortured genius."
"You are those things," Kakashi pointed out gently. "But you're also just Sasuke."
"Just Sasuke," he repeated quietly. "I'm not sure I remember who that is."
"That's what friends are for," Kakashi nodded toward Naruto and Sakura. "To remind you."
Over the next few days, the village of Konoha was abuzz with rumors about Sasuke Uchiha's strange new behavior.
"He said 'good morning' to me yesterday!" "I saw him SMILE when a puppy ran past!" "He helped an old lady with her groceries!" "I heard he's started a book club!"
That last one was an exaggeration, but Sasuke had been spotted reading something other than jutsu scrolls for once—a novel, of all things.
For Sasuke himself, the transition wasn't exactly smooth. Years of habit were hard to break. He still caught himself slipping into his old brooding posture, still sometimes responded with "hn" when asked a question. But he was trying.
And to his surprise, it was getting easier.
The real test came a week later, when Team 7 ran into three genin from another village while on a mission. One of them, a boy with spiky green hair and an oversized sword, immediately zeroed in on Sasuke.
"So you're the famous Uchiha," the boy sneered. "Last of your clan. Mr. Big Shot with the Sharingan."
In the past, Sasuke would have glared silently before either ignoring the boy entirely or demolishing him in a fight. Today, he tried something different.
"That's me," he agreed pleasantly. "And you are...?"
The boy faltered, clearly thrown off by Sasuke's friendly tone. "I'm... Kazuki of the Hidden Grass."
"Nice to meet you," Sasuke replied, extending a hand. "Cool sword."
Completely disarmed, Kazuki shook his hand automatically. "Uh... thanks?"
Behind them, Naruto was losing his mind trying not to laugh. Even Sakura looked like she was struggling to keep a straight face.
"You're supposed to be this dark, dangerous guy," Kazuki complained, regaining some of his bravado. "What's with the nice act?"
Sasuke shrugged. "I'm trying something new. Less brooding, more living. You might want to try it too—that whole 'chip on your shoulder' thing gets old fast. Trust me, I would know."
Kazuki opened and closed his mouth several times, completely at a loss for words.
As they walked away, Naruto finally burst into laughter. "Did you SEE his face? He had no idea what to do with Nice Sasuke!"
"It was pretty funny," Sasuke admitted, allowing himself a small smile.
"You know," Naruto said thoughtfully, "you're much harder to make fun of now that you're not so emo all the time."
"That's definitely a bonus," Sasuke replied dryly.
"I might have to find a new hobby," Naruto sighed dramatically.
"I'm sure you'll manage," Sasuke said. Then, after a pause, he added something that would have been unthinkable just weeks ago: "Want to train together later? I could help you with that fire jutsu you've been struggling with."
Naruto's face lit up like the sun. "REALLY?! You mean it?!"
"Don't make me regret offering."
"This is the BEST DAY EVER!" Naruto shouted, tackling Sasuke in a hug.
"Get off me, loser," Sasuke grumbled, but he was smiling slightly as he said it.
Some things would never change completely. But maybe, just maybe, they could change enough.
The end.