In an instant, two forces destined to collide with each other—Sharingan Sasuke and the Nine-Tailed Naruto—roared out simultaneously. Their eyes blazed with emotions they themselves could no longer fully recognize.Both charged forward, their killing intent crashing together like two storms meeting head-on.This strike would decide everything.Either you die… or I live.There was no room for hesitation, no other path.The surrounding ANBU, who had been lurking in the shadows, immediately prepared to act. But their faces paled at the realization—if they moved even a fraction of a second too late, blood would spill, and the fragile bond between Konoha's two young prodigies would be destroyed forever.Cold sweat trickled down the masked operatives' temples.Just as the tension reached its breaking point—A figure appeared.Not with the booming entrance of a hero, but with the quiet, unshakable authority of someone who had carried the weight of a village on his shoulders for decades.He didn't shout. He didn't brandish weapons.He simply extended one arm.In a motion that seemed almost effortless, he intercepted both Naruto's feral Nine-Tails-driven assault and Sasuke's Sharingan-charged strike. The next moment, he flung them both aside like children throwing pebbles.Pat—!The two landed hard against the dirt with a resounding thud.Both Naruto and Sasuke froze, stunned by the sudden shift. Their bodies trembled, not from impact, but from the terrifying realization of what they had been about to do.They had truly tried to kill each other.---The Horrifying RealizationNaruto gasped for breath, his chest rising and falling violently. His blue eyes, clouded with remnants of the Nine-Tails' chakra, flickered in confusion."What… what was I just doing?"He stared at his hands, trembling uncontrollably. "This isn't a dream… this is real. Was I really trying to kill Sasuke?!"Fear and regret surged within him, flooding his veins with a suffocating dread.Across from him, Sasuke's eyes were wide with horror, his Sharingan slowly fading back to black. His own breathing was ragged, as though his lungs had forgotten how to function."What was I thinking…?" he whispered hoarsely."Did I really… want to kill Naruto? Was it because of this restlessness… this gnawing anxiety in my heart?"The shadow of his brother, Uchiha Itachi, loomed in his mind like a nightmare."Am I… turning into a monster like him?"The thought alone was unbearable.For a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath. Then the tension finally eased.The ANBU, who had been prepared to intervene at the cost of their lives, exhaled collectively. Their leader spoke with relief trembling in his voice:"Lord Hokage…""Thank the heavens…"---The Third Hokage AppearsNaruto and Sasuke forced themselves to rise, still shaken, when they finally noticed the figure standing between them.An old man, his back slightly stooped, yet radiating an aura of unwavering authority. His face was marked by deep wrinkles, his eyes clouded yet sharp, carrying the weight of countless decisions and sacrifices.The Third Hokage of Konoha—Hiruzen Sarutobi.At this moment, his expression was darker and heavier than either boy had ever seen.His brows furrowed, his jaw set like iron. Even the faint glow of his pipe's ember could not soften the severity in his gaze."Naruto. Sasuke. What are the two of you doing?!"His voice cut through the night air like the swing of a blade.Naruto and Sasuke exchanged a glance, both lowering their heads in shame. The adrenaline drained from their bodies, leaving only exhaustion, guilt, and fear in its place.Their hearts still pounded violently, but now the sound was drowned beneath waves of regret.---Words of a Teacher"As comrades of this village," Hiruzen said, his voice low but firm, "you raised your hands against one another. Not with the intention to spar. Not to test your strength. But with the intent to kill."The weight of his words pressed down on them like a mountain.Naruto's pale face reflected the terror of someone confronting his own shadow. His hands still shook as he whispered, "Lord Third… I… I don't know what came over me…"His voice cracked with despair.Beside him, Sasuke's silence was deafening. His Sharingan had vanished, leaving only his dark, haunted eyes. His lips tightened, but no words came forth.Hiruzen closed his eyes briefly, inhaling deeply. His wrinkles deepened, carved further by the grief of seeing the children of Konoha tear at each other."I am not saying I cannot understand your hearts," he murmured, his tone heavy with both compassion and sternness."But you must engrave this truth into your souls: no matter how strong you wish to become, no matter what dreams you chase, power must never be turned against your comrades."His gaze sharpened."If you wish to determine who is stronger, then face each other openly—in training grounds, in fair and honorable combat. But never… never again fight in the shadows with the intent to kill."Naruto lowered his head, his eyes vacant with shame."I… I understand…" he whispered.Though regret gnawed at Sasuke's heart as well, his pride forced him to conceal it."Hmph."With a sharp turn, he walked away. But once out of sight, his expression contorted, the pain and guilt written plainly across his face.Naruto's earlier strike still throbbed across his body, but what hurt more was the thought of how close he had come to becoming the very monster he despised.He wanted to turn back. He wanted to speak to Naruto, to say something—anything.But his pride chained him. His fists clenched, his teeth ground together, and his legs carried him further and further away.Watching Sasuke's back disappear into the night, Hiruzen exhaled deeply. His pipe glowed once more as he took a drag, releasing the smoke into the cold air.The ANBU quickly moved to restore order. With swift hand seals, a water release jutsu quenched the flames left behind by Sasuke's fireball. Soon, the only light remaining was the faint flicker of Hiruzen's pipe.---Returning Home"Come, Naruto," Hiruzen said gently."…Yes, Lord Third."The Hokage accompanied Naruto home, supporting the boy whose leg still bore the wound of a kunai. With calm precision, Hiruzen removed the weapon, applied a hemostatic technique, and wrapped the injury.Yet even as he did, his sharp eyes noticed something unusual.The wound, though severe, closed rapidly, the flesh knitting together at an astonishing pace."Is this the Nine-Tails' power…?" Hiruzen thought, unsettled. "Or perhaps Naruto's body itself…?"Naruto winced, but moments later, he was already attempting to stand.Though pain lingered, his vitality seemed unshakable."Ha! That's great! I thought this injury would mess up my lessons and training."Hiruzen almost dropped his pipe.Was this really the same boy who had once been a lonely, mischievous child craving attention?Naruto's recovery, both physical and emotional, stunned him.---A Meal Together"Thank you, Lord Third! You must not have eaten yet. Let me cook dinner for you!"The idea of being hosted by Naruto made Hiruzen raise his brows. But Naruto bustled around, cheerful despite his exhaustion. His cooking was clumsy, his techniques unrefined, but the mere fact he could cook for himself was already surprising.Yet Hiruzen noticed something peculiar.Every so often, Naruto would pause mid-motion, standing strangely still as though his mind had drifted elsewhere."Naruto," Hiruzen asked, his tone cautious, "what are you doing?"Startled, Naruto laughed sheepishly. "Ah—just multitasking! I'm practicing my chakra refining technique while cooking."Hiruzen blinked, pipe forgotten. "Such a thing is possible?"Naruto scratched the back of his head with an awkward grin. "Haha, not really. I can only do it for a while before losing focus. Then I stop, reset, and try again. Compared to you, Lord Third, it's nothing."For once, the Hokage nearly choked on his own smoke.Even among Konoha's most gifted shinobi, he had never heard of such an idea.Could it be… Naruto was truly a natural-born genius, though hidden beneath layers of mischief and chaos?---Naruto's Confession"Tell me, Naruto," Hiruzen finally asked, "why have you suddenly become so desperate in your training?"Naruto didn't hesitate."Because I want to be stronger. I want everyone to acknowledge me!"Hiruzen exhaled smoke slowly. "Especially Sasuke?"The mention of Sasuke made Naruto's hands tremble slightly as he set down the food."…Yes.""Sasuke is the one I want to surpass. Maybe the one whose acknowledgment I want the most."Hiruzen tasted the ramen Naruto had prepared. It wasn't perfect, but it was filled with sincerity."Then tell me, Naruto. Was that why you just tried to kill him?"The boy froze, his face darkening."No!" he burst out. "I didn't want to kill him! I just… I couldn't control myself. Something inside me snapped."His eyes wavered with fear. "Lord Third… what should I do?"Hiruzen took another bite before replying, his voice solemn."Naruto… that is what we call an obsession. Yours is to become Hokage, to gain recognition. Sasuke's is revenge, to defeat the one he hates most. Neither of you will yield, and so you will always view each other as rivals."He sighed deeply, setting his bowl down."Obsession and rivalry are not always evil. They can be the fuel that drives us forward. But if you let them consume you… they will destroy you."Naruto sat in silence, the weight of the Hokage's words pressing down on him.And in that quiet moment, both teacher and student realized—this was only the beginning of a struggle far greater than either of them could yet comprehend.
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