Ōnoki nearly lost his mind.
What kind of kid was this?
Didn't care about his parents, yet claimed his greatest dream was to be with his brother?
A full-blown brother complex?
Absolutely insane!
In the Akatsuki hideout, Itachi Uchiha remained silent. Beside him, Kisame Hoshigaki let out a laugh.
"Oh? Itachi-san, your little brother really worships you. But you're a cold one, sending him away like that..."
Itachi narrowed his eyes, and Kisame quickly stopped talking.
He shrugged. "A brother-obsessed Uchiha... sick."
Meanwhile, Kakashi Hatake examined the glowing card in his hand.
Tsukuyomi?
An Uchiha illusion technique.
He slid it into his pouch. It might be useful someday.
Back in the Valley of the End, Naruto had no time to think of cards, systems, or rewards.
All he saw was Sasuke.
Nothing else mattered.
[Video Footage]
Naruto's eyes trembled.
He couldn't believe what he was seeing.
This cold, distant version of Sasuke couldn't be real.
He charged forward, drawing a shuriken from his pouch.
Sasuke easily sidestepped and threw a kunai in return.
Naruto ducked behind a rock just in time, but two more kunai followed. One struck the other mid-air, altering its path.
It hit Naruto dead-on.
Or rather, it hit a clone.
The real Naruto leapt out from behind the rock, only to be pinned to the boulder by a shuriken tether.
He gritted his teeth. "Sasuke... you're really serious, huh?"
Up above, Sasuke stood tall, spitting out fresh blood.
"I told you already. I won't share the future with you."
His hands flashed through seals.
"Fire Style: Dragon Flame Technique!"
A raging inferno roared down the metal wires toward Naruto.
For a moment, it seemed like nothing could stop it.
Then Naruto burst through the flames, his fist landing cleanly across Sasuke's cheek.
"You bastard!"
Sasuke barely flinched.
Naruto didn't stop. A second punch followed. Then a third.
His fists flew until his hands were raw and bloody.
"Is that all?" Sasuke's voice cut through the fury.
"If that's all you've got... then I don't even need the Sharingan."
He wiped the blood from his lip.
"What?" Naruto's eyes widened.
"You didn't notice, did you?" Sasuke sneered. "I haven't used my Sharingan this whole time."
He caught Naruto's next punch with one hand.
"Don't underestimate me."
Sasuke's gaze was clear and focused.
In his mind, Itachi's voice echoed.
"You are too weak."
"If you insist on this comradeship nonsense..."
He hurled Naruto aside, sending him crashing across the battlefield.
Without hesitation, Sasuke jumped into the air.
Twin lightning kicks rained down.
Naruto was slammed deep into a crater.
Sasuke landed smoothly and stared down at him.
"You'll never reach this level."
He tossed Naruto's pouch at him with disdain.
"If I want to surpass him... I need power. I need hatred."
He turned his eyes to the sky.
Naruto clawed his way out of the crater.
"You said you were the clear-headed one now, right?"
"That day on the balcony... you hesitated. But not this time."
His fists clenched.
"I'll show you... the real power of the Sharingan."
Red light bloomed in Sasuke's eyes. Two tomoe spun like blades in blood.
Author: Remember to Smile
Naruto took a deep breath, then formed a seal.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
In a flash, dozens of Narutos filled the field.
System Notification:System initiating question...How many clones did Naruto create?Correct answer rewards a one-time Shadow Clone Technique Card.Incorrect answer will result in an unknown penalty.Time-sensitive question. Submit your answer now.
[Group Chat Reactions]
[Tsunade]: What kind of question is this?
[Fourth Raikage Darui]: Count them? Are you serious? I can't even blink before they get knocked out!
[Mizukage Mei Terumi]: I feel a migraine coming on...
[Chiyo]: At my age, I can't even tell which one's real, let alone count them!
Everyone turned to their respective aides, eyes desperate.
[Gaara]: I'll try.
[Temari]: He moves too fast. It's impossible to get an exact count.
[Killer Bee]: One, two, three, four... wait, was that the same guy again?
[Video Footage Resumes]
Sasuke charged.
Each punch, each kick erased another clone.
One. Two. Ten.
The numbers dropped with every breath.
Soon, only one Naruto remained.
He stood, trembling, but defiant.
"How...?"
Sasuke stepped forward and placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder.
"With the Sharingan, the real one stands out like a sore thumb."
"I was just playing around."
"No more mercy."
He grabbed Naruto's wrist.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
A massive sphere of fire erupted, turning the battlefield to cinders.
Ash drifted in the wind.
Only charred stumps remained.
Sasuke looked down coldly.
"Is that it?"
"This... this is the strength of your so-called ninja way?"
Naruto wiped the blood from his lips, breathing hard.
"You think I'm just playing at comradeship?"
His eyes burned.
"Then you're the one who's truly hopeless!"
End of Chapter 3