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Sasame noticed Yamanaka Ino's gaze.
Ever since mastering Sage Mode, his natural perception had sharpened considerably.
How should he put it?
Right now, Ino was merely cute—far from the stunning beauty she'd become.
Especially after marriage, her looks and figure would undergo an explosive transformation.
Her best friend, Haruno Sakura, on the other hand… Well, let's just say she resembled a certain "flat-as-a-board" stereotype.
Sasame flashed her a bright smile.
Ino immediately shivered, her cheeks flushing as she averted her eyes, suddenly shy.
"Are you okay?" Sakura turned to her, looking like she'd seen a ghost.
"I'm fine."
Ino was about to glare at her, but remembering the handsome guy nearby, she forced herself to respond softly, like a proper lady.
"You're definitely not fine!" Sakura's eyes widened, as if asking, Did you get hit by a genjutsu or something?
"Brother!"
Uchiha Sasuke immediately ran up.
Only then did Sakura notice Sasame.
She froze.
So… handsome.
She'd thought Sasuke-kun was the pinnacle of good looks, but this guy was even more striking. Who is he?
"Big bro!"
Uzumaki Naruto stepped forward with a grin. "Long time no see!"
"There's an entrance exam today. Do your best." Sasame patted his shoulder. "First place is yours for the taking."
"I'll be first!"
Sasuke suddenly turned, his expression dead serious. "I will defeat him today!"
After a grueling training session over the break, his skills had improved significantly—hence the confidence.
Naruto wasn't fazed. Instead, he grinned even wider. "I'm looking forward to it, Sasuke!"
Sasuke scoffed and ignored him.
"Naruto, is this your brother? You never mentioned him before."
Ino sidled up, wearing a sweet, lively smile—though her eyes kept darting toward Sasame.
From afar, he was handsome. Up close? A literal work of art.
No way they're blood-related, Ino thought.
(To be fair, with Minato's genes, Naruto wasn't bad-looking—he just didn't put in the effort.)
"I'm Sasame."
He introduced himself. "Back when Naruto was little, some bullies picked on him. I helped out."
"Wait—"
Naruto was too late. His dark history had been exposed.
"Wow, I never knew that!" Ino looked genuinely surprised.
Naruto's performance at school was nothing short of stellar. Even the chunin instructors admitted they couldn't beat him. The idea that this same guy had once needed saving from bullies was… unexpected.
Nearby, Uchiha Sasuke—who'd been chatting with Itachi—subtly perked up his ears.
Interesting.
He mentally filed this away. To him, Naruto was annoyingly perfect—kind, cheerful, talented, with no visible flaws.
"Alright, kids, hurry to school before you're late." Sasame clapped his hands.
Naruto bolted. Any longer, and more embarrassing stories might surface.
Sasuke quickly followed, eager to test his training results.
Sakura instinctively chased after Sasuke but paused to yell, "Ino, come on!"
Ino reluctantly dragged herself away.
"And you?" Sasame turned to Itachi. "Wanna watch?"
"Sorry, no time."
Itachi's gaze lingered where Sasuke had disappeared. "The ANBU are swamped lately."
"Oh? Something happen?" Sasame asked casually.
Itachi hesitated—this was technically classified. But considering Sasame was Tsunade's apprentice, he relented.
"The Hokage's son, Sarutobi Seinoshuke, has gone missing."
"Missing? Who'd dare?" Sasame feigned shock.
"Unknown." Itachi frowned. "We've searched for days. No traces."
"Then get to it." Sasame waved him off.
After parting ways, he headed to the academy's training grounds—just in time to hear Hiruzen Sarutobi's endless droning.
"Good morning, students! Today, I'll cover six key points—"
Despite his son's disappearance, the Will of Fire took priority. Traditions must be upheld.
Sasame recalled how Hiruzen gave this same speech every year. After six years, students could probably recite it in their sleep.
An hour later, the real event began: the entrance exams.
Naruto and Sasuke had advanced to fourth year.
Hinata, Ino, and Sakura were second-years.
And Neji's group? Third-years.
Normally, exams were grade-specific, but cross-grade challenges were encouraged.
Thanks to Naruto, however, it had turned into a downgrade challenge.
Spectator seats lined the field's edge. Sasame sat among the parents, here to watch multiple matches.
Thankfully, they weren't simultaneous.
After Sasame's intensive training, Hinata's progress stunned her teachers and classmates.
Her timid nature had previously kept her out of the top five in Class 2-A—a roster packed with Konoha's future elite (Ino, Shikamaru, Shino, etc.).
But today? She swept through them all, claiming first place.
As for Class 4-A? The final match was, unsurprisingly, Naruto vs. Sasuke.
Their duel represented the academy's peak, drawing everyone's attention.
"Wonder if Sasuke can finally shake off his 'eternal second-place' curse?"
Nara Shikamaru yawned. "Fighting a monster like Naruto sounds like way too much trouble. I'd just forfeit."
"Hah! Sasuke-kun isn't a coward like you!" Sakura clenched her fists. "Go, Sasuke-kun!"
Her outburst triggered a chain reaction.
"Sasuke's really popular with the girls," Choji mused between potato chip bites.
"Tch. That stuck-up jerk," Kiba muttered. "He's still gonna lose to Naruto."
Meanwhile, Ino scanned the crowd for Sasame—but the stands were too packed.
Hinata, however, spotted him easily with her Byakugan.
Sasuke kept a cool facade but internally sighed.
So noisy. It's messing with my focus.
He took a deep breath. "Naruto. Prepare to lose."
The rain had stopped. The skies cleared.
And Sasuke, once again, deluded himself into thinking he stood a chance.
Note: So far this story is published up to chapter 175 on my patreon, go check it out and remember that if we reach the goal of 35 power stones I will publish the next chapter.
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