"He Just Wants to Control My Life"
On his way home, Naruto heard the system's notification and smiled in satisfaction.
"Uchiha Sasuke's recognition of you has reached the required threshold. You have unlocked the 'Uchiha Interweaving Dance,' a taijutsu style mastered by elite Uchiha jonin. Those who perfect this technique are granted the title of 'Dance King.'"
A month of effort had not been in vain. Naruto had successfully gained Sasuke's acknowledgment and acquired the elegant Uchiha-style taijutsu. Now, he had learned the taijutsu of both the Uchiha and Hyūga clans—the two major martial arts powerhouses of Konoha.
Extracting the Uchiha Interweaving Dance, Naruto's mind was flooded with training memories—stances, footwork, and counters flashed before his eyes. Even the Uchiha's renowned shuriken techniques were included, making up for his shortcomings in ranged combat. With this, he had reached the pinnacle of his academy's students, leaving him unrivaled among his peers.
Unconsciously, Naruto arrived at his apartment complex, only to see the Third Hokage standing outside his door.
Why is the old man here again? Naruto frowned in confusion.
The Third Hokage turned, spotting him with a gentle smile. "Naruto, you're finally back. If you had taken any longer, these old bones of mine wouldn't have lasted."
"What's wrong, Grandpa Hokage?" Naruto asked as he led him inside.
Hiruzen sat on the worn-out couch and sighed. "It's about the Academy… Iruka told me that you're too withdrawn. You don't interact much with your classmates and seem indifferent to others."
Naruto tilted his head, puzzled. "But I do have friends. Hinata, Shikamaru, and Chōji… They're my friends. Why should I care about the others?"
He hesitated for a moment before continuing, "It's not that I don't want to make friends, Grandpa Hokage. It's just that whenever I tell someone I'm the 'demon fox,' they run away. I'm not going to beg for their approval."
The Third Hokage's expression stiffened. After a pause, he spoke in a slow, measured tone. "Naruto, you will be a shinobi in the future. Clients won't care about your past. Sooner or later, you'll have to accept reality and take the initiative to connect with others."
Naruto remained silent, contemplating.
Seeing this, Hiruzen played his trump card. "If you make an effort to get along with your classmates, I'll increase your living allowance and give you access to more ninjutsu scrolls."
Naruto hesitated, then reluctantly nodded. "Fine, I'll listen to you. I'll try to make more friends."
Hiruzen smiled approvingly. "Good boy. This is next month's living expenses. Don't be too frugal. Buy yourself something nice."
With his mission complete, the Third Hokage left, returning to his office with a satisfied expression.
Naruto watched his retreating figure, his fists unconsciously clenching. His doubled allowance sat in his hands, but his face darkened.
The old man doesn't actually care if I make friends or if people call me a demon fox. He just wants to keep me under control. He never truly cared about my feelings…
---
Meanwhile, at the Uchiha compound, Sasuke sat at the dinner table with his family.
He was focused on his meal, his body exhausted from training. He didn't notice the heavy atmosphere around him.
Just before he returned home, his father, Fugaku, and his older brother, Itachi, had a heated argument. The topic: Itachi's refusal to disclose ANBU intelligence regarding Konoha's leadership.
As the Uchiha Police Force's captain, Fugaku saw this as an act of betrayal. He was furious.
Itachi, however, remained firm. His father cared only about the clan's interests, but he cared about the entire village. The Uchiha were planning a coup—one that would lead to their downfall. If they acted against Konoha's leadership, they would be crushed. The village would be left vulnerable to enemy nations.
The clan only saw themselves as victims of injustice, but they refused to consider the bigger picture.
Fugaku, though seething with anger, could do nothing against Itachi's quiet defiance. Without ANBU intelligence, the Uchiha had no way to counter Konoha's leadership.
Their argument had ended in a cold silence.
Caught in the middle, Mikoto, Itachi and Sasuke's mother, didn't take sides. She loved both her husband and her son. All she could do was remain neutral.
Hoping to ease the tension, Mikoto forced a smile. "Sasuke, how is the Academy? Have you made any new friends?"
Fugaku crossed his arms and looked at Sasuke. "You didn't disappoint me, did you? You placed first in the class ranking, right?"
Sasuke stiffened, his eyes flickering with unease. He hesitated before replying, "…No, I didn't get first place."
Fugaku's gaze sharpened.
Sasuke quickly added, "But I did make a friend. His name is Uzumaki Naruto. He beat me in our last sparring session, so I ended up second."
Itachi raised an eyebrow in interest. He knew Sasuke's abilities well. His younger brother was strong—nowhere near his own level at that age, but still a leader among his peers. For Naruto to surpass him was unexpected.
Mikoto, sensing Sasuke's discomfort, smiled warmly. "It's okay, Sasuke. If you placed second, that just means you have more room to improve."
Fugaku, however, remained unimpressed. "It doesn't matter. I never expected you to surpass Itachi. But at the very least, you should be able to follow orders."
Sasuke clenched his fists. His father had always compared him to Itachi. No matter what he did, it was never enough.
Trying to change the subject, Mikoto asked, "Your friend, Naruto… He has blond hair and whisker-like marks on his cheeks, right?"
Fugaku nodded in recognition. "Ah… So it's him."
Sasuke looked between them, confused. "You both know Naruto? But isn't he the 'demon fox' everyone talks about?"
Mikoto hesitated before speaking softly. "I've heard about him. He lost his parents at a young age and has been treated unfairly by the villagers ever since. Sometimes… I even thought about adopting him."
Sasuke blinked in surprise. "Adopting Naruto?"
Fugaku shot Mikoto a warning glance, silencing her. "This is an adult matter. Stay out of it. That said… if the one who ranked higher than you was Naruto, then it's not entirely unacceptable."
Sasuke's curiosity deepened. His parents knew more about Naruto than he did. But he held his tongue, remembering his father's strict upbringing.
Instead, he hesitantly asked, "Father, Mother… Can I invite Naruto over sometime?"
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