"Hey. Dead last."
The voice was flat, unhurried.
Naruto's shoulders stiffened. Whatever moisture lingered at the corner of his eyes vanished at once, replaced by a scowl that snapped into place as if rehearsed. He looked up.
Uchiha Sasuke stood a few paces ahead, hands in his pockets, dark eyes studying him with mild curiosity.
"…Were you crying?" Sasuke asked.
Naruto bristled. "I wasn't!"
Sasuke tilted his head, as if piecing something together. "So it wasn't because you lost to me today?"
Naruto's face flushed. "Don't get full of yourself! I just felt sick, that's all. Next time I'll beat you for sure!"
Sasuke watched him for a moment, then gave a short, quiet laugh. Not mocking. Amused.
Naruto clenched his fists. "Listen to me! I just haven't been serious yet. When I start training for real, I'll leave you in the dust!"
"Is that so." Sasuke met his gaze. "Then don't take it back later, Uzumaki Naruto."
"Hah!" Naruto stood up straight. "That's my nindo. I say it, I do it."
A brief pause.
"Have you eaten?" Sasuke asked.
Naruto blinked. "…What?"
"If you haven't," Sasuke said, already turning away, "I'll treat you. You look pathetic enough."
"Who asked for your pity!" Naruto snapped.
"All right." Sasuke didn't stop walking.
Naruto froze, then hurried after him. "Wait! Sasuke!"
Sasuke glanced back. "I thought you said no."
Naruto looked away. "Well… since you're insisting, I guess I'll accept. But if it tastes bad, I'm not eating it."
Sasuke didn't respond. His eyes flicked briefly to the rooftops above, then back ahead. The feeling lingered, thin as a thread across the skin. Unwelcome.
Naruto ate like he hadn't seen food in days.
Inside the Uchiha compound, bowls emptied one after another. Sasuke watched in silence.
So that's how it is.
His own appetite had grown lately. Training demanded it. Even so, Naruto matched him bite for bite, if not more.
Sasuke looked away.
"Seriously," Naruto said at last, satisfied. "This is amazing. Only Ichiraku beats it."
Sasuke gave a noncommittal hum.
Naruto glanced around the hall. Too quiet. Too empty. "Hey, Sasuke… why is it so deserted here?"
Sasuke answered without hesitation. "They're dead."
Naruto's breath caught. "What?"
Silence settled between them.
"…I'm sorry," Naruto said awkwardly, unsure where to look.
Sasuke didn't respond. Instead, he asked, "You want to be acknowledged by the village, don't you."
Naruto nodded. "That's why I want to become Hokage."
"You have it backwards," Sasuke said. "You don't become Hokage to be acknowledged. You're acknowledged first. Then you become Hokage."
Naruto frowned, scratching his head. "Then… how do I get them to acknowledge me?"
Sasuke studied him. "By becoming someone they can't ignore."
Naruto laughed weakly. "If only I were a genius like you. Teachers like you. Everyone does. Even Sakura…"
"There are two kinds of genius," Sasuke said. "Those born with it. And those who earn it."
Naruto's eyes lit up. "So you're the first, and I can be the second?"
"No," Sasuke replied calmly. "You're an idiot."
Naruto sagged.
"And I'm neither," Sasuke continued. "I'm both."
Naruto stared at him.
After a moment, he straightened, fire returning to his eyes. "Fine! Then I'll just work ten times harder. A hundred times!"
Sasuke nodded. "That's the minimum."
Naruto grinned. "My nindo doesn't include giving up. One day I'll beat you flat!"
Sasuke closed his eyes briefly.
"Then I'll teach you a technique," he said.
Naruto froze. "You will?"
"Yes." Sasuke opened his eyes, the faint curve of a smile on his lips. "It's called…"
He paused.
"Shadow Clone Technique."