After discussing Naruto for a while longer, the Third Hokage asked, "You mentioned that Naruto frequently provokes Sasuke at the Ninja Academy and even challenges him?"
"Yes, Lord Third," Iruka replied.
Iruka sighed, placing a hand on his forehead with a wry smile.
"That Naruto... he's always like this. He acts like defeating Sasuke would make him the top student, but Sasuke always crushes him instantly."
"As I said, Naruto is a sensitive soul," the Third Hokage said. "Perhaps he senses the loneliness hidden deep within Sasuke's heart."
"Heh."
The Third Hokage chuckled softly, taking a puff from his pipe and revealing a warm, benevolent smile. "Iruka, sometimes bonds are forged in such unexpected ways."
Watching their interactions, the Third Hokage suddenly recalled his own disciples, Jiraiya and Orochimaru, as well as Kakashi and Uchiha Obito from Minato's Team.
Having grown up without parents or a family, Naruto deeply understood and empathized with the loneliness of someone who had also lost their family.
Moreover, Sasuke never seemed to reject or grow impatient with Naruto's challenges.
Perhaps, for Sasuke, two equally lonely souls were drawn to each other, finding resonance in their shared solitude.
Sometimes, bonds are forged inadvertently under such circumstances.
"Iruka," the Third Hokage murmured after a moment's contemplation, "it seems these two young ones are destined to be together. Let nature take its course. In the future, you must take extra care to nurture them into pillars of Konoha."
Iruka's body stiffened, his eyes blazing with a sacred resolve. "I will not fail your trust, Third Hokage!" he declared resolutely.
"Good. Go now. I believe in you!"
After Iruka left the office, the Third Hokage gazed intently at the portrait of the Fourth Hokage hanging on the wall, lost in thought. After a long silence, he sighed and retrieved two reports from his drawer.
One report detailed Naruto's daily life.
The other chronicled Uchiha Sasuke's activities.
When the Third Hokage saw that Sasuke had gone to the rear mountain that day, he merely furrowed his brow slightly before returning both reports to the drawer.
He then reactivated his crystal ball, focusing the image on certain... indescribable areas.
Sasuke, of course, remained oblivious to the conversation in the Hokage's office, nor would he have cared even if he had known.
He continued to carry out his daily routine as usual.
Sasuke understood that he was, in a way, under the joint protection of the Third Hokage and Uchiha Itachi.
As long as he didn't cross any red lines in the village, he wouldn't cause any major disturbances.
Moreover, compared to the original Uchiha Sasuke—who always wore an aloof, resentful expression, constantly muttering about revenge and hatred—Sasuke felt he was behaving remarkably well these days.
__
Ninja Academy.
"Uchiha Sasuke!"
"Here."
"Please come up and collect your report card."
Iruka called Sasuke's name, holding a report card in his hand.
"Thank you, Teacher," Sasuke said calmly as he walked forward to accept the document.
"Wait a minute, Sasuke!"
Iruka stopped Sasuke and pulled him aside to announce, "Class, let's congratulate Sasuke-kun! He's taken first place in this month's exam again. I hope you'll all learn from him!"
"Wow, as expected of Sasuke-kun!"
"Sasuke-kun is so cool!"
"Boring..."
"Damn that arrogant Sasuke!"
Iruka pointed at Naruto, who was sitting in the back row looking disgruntled, and shouted, "Especially you, Naruto! You should ask Sasuke for guidance more often!"
"Hmph!" Naruto slammed his fist on the desk and roared, "Who needs guidance from that guy, Teacher Iruka? Just you wait—I'll definitely beat Sasuke next time and become the strongest in our class!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, the classroom erupted in jeers and laughter. Naruto didn't even blush, standing his ground as if daring anyone to challenge his claim.
Seeing this, Iruka's eye twitched, and veins popped on his forehead.
Sasuke silently observed the emotional entanglement between the teacher and student before quietly returning to his seat.
"Sasuke-kun, you were amazing!"
As soon as he sat down, Haruno Sakura, her face flushed with infatuation, leaned in close.
"Thanks," Sasuke replied, his tone as cool as ever.
"By the way, Sasuke-kun," Sakura hesitated, twisting her fingers before continuing, "your Chakra control was outstanding during the Ninjutsu exam. Was it because—"
"Ah, I should thank you for that, Sakura."
Sakura's eyes lit up with stars as she blurted out, "Then... can I ask you for guidance now, Sasuke-kun?"
Sasuke pondered for a moment, remembering he owed the girl a favor. He replied, "For training Chakra manipulation, you can start with the basics: tree climbing and water walking. These techniques involve channeling Chakra to your feet, allowing you to stand on trees and water surfaces. Mastering these will significantly improve your Chakra control. With your talent and foundation, you should pick them up quickly."
"Is that so?" Sakura murmured thoughtfully, then pressed on, "What happens next?"
'As expected, Sasuke-kun likes talking to girls with good grades!' Sakura thought, her heart racing with excitement. She struggled to maintain a calm facade.
"Next..." Sasuke glanced at her and asked, "Sakura, what's your Chakra nature?"
'Chakra nature?' Sakura blinked in surprise, then quickly replied, "Earth and Water!"
Unlike Naruto, the academic slacker who wouldn't discover his Chakra nature until after his sixteenth birthday, Sakura—who consistently ranked first in theory at the Ninja Academy and whose parents were both shinobi—had determined her Chakra nature long ago using Chakra paper.
'Earth and Water, huh?' Sasuke's eyes narrowed in contemplation.
Given Sakura's later mastery of Medical Ninjutsu, she now possessed at least three Chakra natures: Earth, Water, and Yang.
'What a coincidence...' Sasuke couldn't help but feel suspicious about Sakura's family background.
In the original storyline, Shizune, who had followed Tsunade for over a decade, never managed to learn Tsunade's Monstrous Strength or inherit her mantle.
Yet Sakura had mastered it in less than three years.
Spring wildflowers, a forest of a thousand hands!
The original story provided no explanation for the Senju Clan's disappearance, and Konoha's records offered no further clues.
However, through the Shrine's ancient texts, Sasuke learned the true reason behind the clan's mysterious vanishing: after founding Konoha, the First Hokage disbanded the Senju Clan, merging all its members into the village to ensure unity.
This explained why Konoha has produced so many exceptional civilian ninja and geniuses throughout history.
Moreover, Lady Tsunade's ability to return after over a decade of self-imposed exile and immediately ascend to the position of Fifth Hokage with unstoppable momentum stemmed not only from her past reputation but also from the Senju Clan's vast popular support.
Thoughts racing like lightning, Sasuke spoke: "If your Chakra nature is Water, you could try this..."
In the distance, Ino, who had just received her exam results, witnessed this scene.
Furious, trembling, and freezing!
'Why has Sasuke never spoken to me voluntarily?'
'Why?!'
'Am I not standing high enough yet?'
Ino glanced at the fifth-place results slip in her hand, a fierce determination simmering in her heart.