The Last Week of July.
Konoha was heating up fast—it was full-blown summer now.
"Sasuke! Breakfast's ready!"
Uchiha Mikoto's voice called out from behind the door.
"I'm coming, Mom!"
Sasuke sat up, replying as he got dressed. Once he was ready, he opened the door and dashed out—only to suddenly stop after a couple steps.
Sitting at the entrance, lacing up his shoes in full Anbu gear, was none other than Uchiha Itachi. Looked like he was heading out again.
"Seriously, you're not even gonna wait to eat breakfast with me?" Sasuke walked up, frowning.
"Sorry, Sasuke," Itachi said calmly. "I just got an urgent mission. Can't be helped."
"It's always like this…" Sasuke muttered with a pout.
"I'll come find you once I'm done," Itachi said, tapping his forehead with a faint smile. "Promise."
"Well, you'll have to meet me at the training field then," Sasuke said. "I've got special training with Kitazawa-sensei this month."
"Oh? What kind of training? New Fire Release jutsu?" Itachi offered. "You've already got three—maybe it's time to work on your chakra nature transformation."
"Nope. And I bet you won't guess," Sasuke grinned. "Not telling. I'm saving it for a surprise."
A surprise? Don't tell me it's about the Sharingan… But Kitazawa's not even Uchiha. What does he know about the Sharingan?
Itachi chuckled. "Alright then. I'll be waiting for that surprise."
"Sasuke, come eat!"
Mikoto was already setting two bowls of ramen on the table.
"Coming!"
Once Itachi left, Sasuke hurried back to the living room.
After breakfast, Mikoto handed him two bento boxes.
"Here's your lunch."
"Why are there two?" Sasuke blinked. "There's no way I can eat all that."
"One's for Kitazawa-sensei," Mikoto explained. "He's helping you train. Show some appreciation."
"Right." Sasuke nodded and took the boxes. "I'll give it to him at lunch."
"Are you training alone?"
"Not sure." Sasuke thought for a moment. "No idea if Hinata or Naruto are coming too."
"Well, let me know when you get back," Mikoto said seriously. "If you're bringing lunch, everyone gets one. No playing favorites."
"But…"
He almost said that Hinata would need more than one bento to feel full—but figured Kitazawa would probably bring extras anyway.
"Alright, that's settled." Mikoto gave him a gentle pat on the head.
"Mm-hmm."
Just then—knock knock knock.
"That's gotta be Kitazawa-sensei!"
Sasuke ran to the door and flung it open.
"Sensei!" he greeted.
"Let's go, Sasuke."
Kitazawa nodded politely at Mikoto. They'd seen each other plenty, so no small talk needed.
As soon as they stepped outside, Sasuke asked eagerly, "So, what's today's special training?"
Kitazawa gave him a serious look. "Sasuke, how far are you willing to go… to awaken your Sharingan?"
"I'll do anything!"
"Good." Kitazawa nodded. "Then here's your mission—just keep training with Guy for the next two days."
"…What?" Sasuke blinked. "What does that have to do with awakening my Sharingan?"
He couldn't imagine how Might Guy's crazy physical workouts would help with that.
"Don't ask. Just do it. After two days, you'll understand."
Kitazawa had a plan—what he called "Youth Shock Therapy." But the green jumpsuit alone wasn't enough. Public embarrassment was essential.
"…Fine." Sasuke gritted his teeth. Just two days. He could tough it out.
They soon found Might Guy, Naruto, and Lee already training.
"Kitazawa-sensei!"
Naruto, fully suited in a green spandex jumpsuit, ran over excitedly.
"Knew I'd find you here," Kitazawa sighed. He'd checked Naruto's house first—empty.
"As soon as I woke up, my legs just brought me to Guy-sensei. That's the power of youth!" Naruto gave a proud thumbs-up.
Kitazawa shook his head. This kid's a lost cause.
"Kitazawa! Long time no see!" Guy jogged over.
"Guy, you got any spare green jumpsuits?"
"Plenty!" Guy's eyes sparkled. "Wait… you joining the power of youth?!"
"Not me. Sasuke."
"I'm not wearing that!" Sasuke panicked, waving his hands.
"Sasuke." Kitazawa turned to him. "Don't you want to awaken your Sharingan?"
"…But…"
"It's part of the process," Kitazawa said, clapping his shoulder. "Trust me."
"…Fine." Sasuke looked like he'd swallowed a bitter pill. But he caved—for the Sharingan.
In front of everyone, he pulled on the green jumpsuit over his clothes.
"Sasuke, that's perfect!" Naruto said, eyes sparkling. "You've unlocked the true path of youth!"
"I'm just doing this to awaken my eyes, not to follow your youth cult."
Sasuke looked like he wanted to die.
"Sasuke, stay here and train with Guy. Meet us by the school lake at noon."
Kitazawa held back a laugh and turned. "Naruto, let's go."
"Coming!"
As they walked, Naruto recognized the route. "Wait, we're going to Ichiraku Ramen, aren't we?"
"Bingo."
"But I already ate! Let's just start the Rasengan training!"
"Easy there." Kitazawa chuckled. "The Rasengan's an A-rank jutsu—it's not something you just pick up before lunch."
"No problem! You're teaching me, so I'll get it for sure!"
Kitazawa smiled wryly. He's more confident than I am…
Honestly, it would be tough for Naruto to learn Rasengan this early. But it was worth a shot.
"Teuchi-ossan!"
Naruto practically sang as they stepped into Ichiraku.
"Hey Naruto—what do you wanna—oh, Kitazawa's here too?"
"We're not here to eat," Kitazawa said.
"…Huh?" Teuchi blinked. Coming to a ramen shop to not eat ramen? What kind of madness—
"I've got a business proposal," Kitazawa said. "I want to sponsor a Big-Eater Contest."
"Sounds fun. But what do you mean by sponsor?"
"Branding," Kitazawa explained with a grin. "Call it the 'Kitazawa General Store × Ichiraku Ramen Big-Eater Showdown.'"
"Ahh, so an ad for your shop." Teuchi nodded in understanding.
"I'll put up 500,000 ryo."
Kitazawa had already set the budget. He was going all in to help Sasuke awaken his Sharingan—even if he had to get the Uchiha clan to reimburse him later.
"Sounds good." Teuchi agreed after thinking it over. No downside for him—more business either way.
Only the winners got rewards; everyone else still paid for what they ate.
"I'm joining!" Naruto piped up.
"You're full after two bowls," Teuchi laughed. "You've got no chance."
"How about two days from now?" Kitazawa asked.
"Two days is perfect," Teuchi nodded. "I'll be ready."
"See you then." Kitazawa turned to leave. "Let's go, Naruto."
"Later, Teuchi-ossan!"
Naruto skipped along behind him, practically glowing with excitement. Rasengan training was finally starting!
They arrived at the Ninja Academy in no time.
"Before we start Rasengan," Kitazawa said, stopping at the artificial lake, "I'm teaching you another jutsu first."
"Huh?" Naruto looked disappointed. He was ready to jump straight in.
"This one's called the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu. It's also A-rank."
"Really?! Let's go!"
In the original timeline, Naruto had picked it up super fast—maybe within an hour or two. Once he had it, Rasengan was doable. This was his core cheat-code jutsu.
Kitazawa figured Naruto would do fine. After all, this version of Naruto had much better fundamentals—Transformation, Sexy Jutsu, regular clones, and solid taijutsu.
"I'll let my shadow clone teach you," Kitazawa said, forming a seal and creating a clone.
"Wait—where are you going?"
"I'm heading to the Hyuga compound. Hinata's getting special training too—not just you and Sasuke."
"Ohhh, I see."
Naruto turned to the clone, fired up again. "Alright, Kitazawa-sensei! Let's get started!"
Kitazawa chuckled and walked off toward the Hyuga district.
~~~
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