Uchiha Sasuke stood in silence, head lowered, shadows hiding his face.
Several seconds passed before he raised his head; there was no defiance left in his eyes, only the cool clarity of someone who'd been awakened.
He looked at Tejima Shinichi and dipped his head slightly.
"Thanks."
Before Tejima could reply, Uchiha Sasuke pressed on.
"But I still have to ask," Sasuke said, meeting Tejima's gaze, "why help me? It's not just because we're comrades, is it? You normally… don't do this sort of thing!"
Tejima raised an eyebrow: 'So that's how low you all think of me!?'
"That's one reason."
"And the others?"
"I need you to grow stronger."
Uchiha Sasuke frowned. "Meaning?"
Tejima's mouth curved upward in a faint smile.
"You know I have another identity now, right?"
Sasuke blinked at the grin. "Disciple of the Third Hokage."
"Exactly." Tejima nodded. "The Third Hokage said I'm to shoulder Konoha's burdens… I agreed. Everything I do—including guiding you—is part of preparing for that future duty."
Uchiha Sasuke's pupils shrank slightly.
He stared at Tejima Shinichi as though seeing him for the first time.
The weight behind the phrase "shoulder Konoha's burdens" sent a tremor through his heart.
"I see."
Uchiha Sasuke murmured, as if the recent shift in Tejima's behavior suddenly made sense.
"Of course," Tejima added, cutting short his thoughts, "there's another idea I have…"
"Another idea?" Sasuke asked.
Tejima's gaze locked onto him. "If I do become Hokage one day, I hope… you'll be one of my personal guards."
That was the real reason Tejima was pouring effort into training Uchiha Sasuke —so Indra and Ashura would stand as his left and right bodyguards when he became Hokage!
"Hmph…"
Sasuke instinctively scoffed, his usual pride surfacing.
"Be your guard? Only if you stay stronger than me your entire life… otherwise, forget it."
"Then work hard to surpass me," Tejima replied, unfazed by the attitude —everyone knew the kid was a classic tsundere. "Or a spot in my future guard will be waiting for you anyway."
Uchiha Sasuke clicked his tongue and offered no further retort.
If Tejima kept to this path and actually became Hokage, then as one of the strongest of their generation, Sasuke would find it nearly impossible to avoid becoming a direct guard to the Hokage.
Tejima watched the subtle shift in his expression and went on:
"I know your dream, I know what you intend to do. Until then, if you want to grow stronger, come find me. I'll help you right up to the moment you achieve your goal —after which…"
He paused, then voiced his final aim:
"…you'll settle down and become my guard!"
At those words Uchiha Sasuke fell silent, lips pressed tight; the pride on his face faded, replaced by gloom.
Looking at Tejima again, something deep in his eyes seemed to loosen.
After a few seconds he averted his gaze, voice lower than before.
"If that's all there is to it… you helping me grow stronger, and once I've done what I must… becoming your guard isn't out of the question."
Tejima wasn't surprised by the answer.
He knew exactly where Uchiha Sasuke's weakness lay at this moment.
Revenge, power, killing that man—those obsessions still coiled around Sasuke's heart.
Seize that thread and you held the reins that guided him.
'Perfect.'
With that thought, Tejima's smile crept back.
Having the reincarnations of Indra and Ashura at his side as bodyguards… just imagining it was amusing!
As for Uzumaki Naruto… Tejima didn't need to waste words.
As long as Uchiha Sasuke stood on his side, that single-minded "Ashura" would naturally follow!
There's even an internet meme—push Uchiha Sasuke off a cliff and you can effortlessly destroy Konoha!
—the true Konoha Collapse Plan!!!
So defection was out of the question!
Sasuke had to be held firmly in place, raised along the track Tejima laid out, until he submitted completely to his will.
A long-term "training" plan for Uchiha Sasuke was taking shape in Tejima's mind.
'Call it the pretty-boy grooming project…'
The very thought made even Tejima feel a bit… sick!
'Tch… why couldn't you have been Uchiha Sarada instead! Everyone would be happy and I wouldn't feel so gross!!!'
Those thoughts flashed through his head as he looked at Sasuke, his gaze turning oddly sinister.
The stare sent an inexplicable chill down Sasuke's spine, the hairs on his back bristling.
He frowned at Tejima and stated with certainty:
"My gut says you were just thinking something incredibly rude—and…"
Uchiha Sasuke struggled to get the words out:
"…and the person you were thinking about was me!"
Tejima snapped back to his senses, looked away with an unruffled expression, and replied in a flat tone:
"You're imagining things. I was simply planning a more effective training regimen."
He added after a beat:
"After all, a future Hokage's guard can't afford to be weak."
Sasuke eyed him suspiciously for a few seconds, found nothing, and gave a cold snort to suppress the unease.
Tejima met the lingering doubt in Sasuke's gaze, then casually tossed out:
"If I remember right, Uzumaki Naruto stole your first kiss… what interest could I possibly have in you? Even if I did, it should be him, not me!"
The remark detonated like an Explosive Tag, instantly igniting Sasuke's nerves.
His face went black, veins faintly throbbing at his temples.
The memory he'd shoved to the bottom of his mind surged back —chaotic classroom, out-of-control bodies, and… those soft lips?!
"Urgh—!" Sasuke gagged, fists clenched as he glared murderously at Tejima. "You planned that whole thing on purpose!"
"All right, don't sweat the details."
Tejima waved a hand as though brushing off something trivial.
"Instead of wasting time on nonsense, focus on the now. Get stronger fast, Sasuke. Otherwise, if Kakashi-sensei enters you in the Chunin Exams, you might not even clear the first stage."
The words doused his anger like cold water; Sasuke's face turned grave once more.
'Chunin Exams… I can't afford to fail.'
Tejima said no more. He turned and walked off the Training Ground, leaving one last instruction:
"For the next few days, forget about tinkering with Ninjutsu. Polish that flimsy Taijutsu of yours. Only when your body is tough enough can what you grasped today truly serve you."
With that, his figure vanished beyond the tree line.
Uchiha Sasuke stood alone, fists slowly unclenching. He looked at his palm, recalling the faint yet real surge when Lightning Release Chakra had coursed through his fingertips earlier.
He drew a deep breath, forcing every stray thought from his mind.
Then he dropped into a Taijutsu stance and began to punch and kick the tree Tejima had leaned against, again and again.
His form was textbook, his strikes powerful; sweat soon plastered his bangs to his forehead.
Only the whistle of fists and feet and those dark eyes blazing with the will to grow stronger remained on the Training Ground!