Sasuke was disappointed. More than he expected.
When he first entered the Academy, he had looked forward to sparring with Naruto. Not because he needed an easy opponent, but because he expected something more. Naruto was reckless, yes, but never empty. In battle, he should have flashes of instinct, strange timing, improvised tactics that broke patterns.
Instead, there was nothing.
A month of sparring passed. Naruto charged the same way every time. No adjustments. No reflection. No effort outside of class. Defeat came fast, and was forgotten just as fast.
Failure itself didn't bother Sasuke. Refusing to learn did.
If anything, Sasuke found himself respecting Lee far more. Rock Lee lacked talent across the board. No ninjutsu. No genjutsu. Even his taijutsu had started below average. All he had was stubborn effort, repeated until it hurt, then repeated again.
That kind of resolve carried weight.
Naruto didn't have it. Not yet.
Sasuke needed pressure. Someone close enough to matter. Someone whose effort would force him to stay sharp. The Academy offered none of that. Even upperclassmen and most genin fell short, and that was without him pushing himself.
Without a rival, complacency crept in. That was unacceptable.
He accepted Naruto's challenges for a reason. Not for amusement. Not even for the fleeting satisfaction of winning. He was waiting for Naruto to change.
It hadn't happened.
As class ended, Sasuke glanced sideways. Sakura sat nearby, trying to look composed, eyes fixed on him with transparent admiration. Her recent interest in training wasn't resolve. It was proximity. She would awaken later, through pain and loss, not now.
Everyone had their own timing.
Evening settled over the Academy. Parents gathered their children. Laughter drifted across the grounds.
Naruto sat alone on the swing.
He stared at the families leaving together, shoulders hunched, the sunset stretching his shadow long behind him. When a father and daughter passed nearby, the man's expression hardened. His voice dropped. They walked faster.
Naruto lowered his head.
His grip tightened on the ropes.
"I'll become Hokage," he whispered. "I'll make you all acknowledge me."
A tear threatened to fall.
"Oi. Dead last."
Naruto froze.