“Uchiha?!”
The few children looked at each other, then burst into laughter: “What’s so great about the Uchiha, hahahaha!”
“The Uchiha are finished!”
“Your Uchiha clan head ran away, and you’re still showing off here.”
“Damn it!”
Sasuke was furious.
“I’m going to teach you brats a lesson today!”
Sasuke charged forward with a punch, knocking down the child who was riding on Naruto.
Naruto took the chance to get up. He was covered in dirt, but seemed unharmed.
The two teamed up to deal with the other three children.
Sasuke, being from the Uchiha clan, was different from Naruto’s wild punches.
His taijutsu was already taking shape, with a trip and a punch to the elbow.
He knocked down two, while Naruto was still holding off the remaining two.
Naruto punched one of them to the ground.
Seeing that they couldn't get the upper hand, the children pulled each other up and ran away: "A demon fox, a traitor family. We'll get you...”
Naruto, covered in dust and with streaks of tears on his face, was left alone in the forest.
Sasuke, though his clothes were clean, didn’t look good.
Sasuke put his hands back in his pockets: “Hey, crybaby, why are you so messy?”
Naruto pushed away his sadness: “Hmph, cocky brat, where have you been lately? I haven’t seen you by the lake.”
Sasuke and Naruto had known each other since childhood. Sasuke often practiced Fire Release by the lake, but Naruto hadn’t seen him lately.
During this time, rumors about the Uchiha had been spreading.
For children, negative news always spreads the fastest.
No matter what world, these little guys are always the same.
“My father sent me out on a trip. I’ve been locked up in my room, it’s been so annoying.”
Sasuke said casually.
Naruto asked cautiously, “Sasuke, did something happen in your family?”
Sasuke wanted to get angry.
But seeing Naruto’s cautious expression, he just coldly snorted: “Nothing like that, we Uchiha are doing fine!”
For Naruto, he had been bullied since he was little. He envied Sasuke, because Sasuke’s family was always with him.
He was an orphan without a father or mother, only the Third Hokage grandpa would come to see him occasionally.
He didn’t understand many things. He didn’t understand why people called him a demon fox.
He also didn’t understand why people didn’t want to be friends with him.
But Sasuke, Hinata, and Shikamaru never bullied him, they were friends he could be close to.
He was worried that his friends' families might have problems and become like him, becoming orphans without anyone caring for them.
At this moment, while Naruto and Sasuke were talking, a few ANBU members were standing quietly on the branches of a tree not far away.
They were assigned by the Hokage, monitoring the Nine-Tailed Fox Jinchūriki Naruto 24/7.
Naruto’s every move, every meal, every word and deed was recorded and reported to the Third Hokage.
Although Sasuke and Naruto knew each other before, the Uchiha clan then was different from the present.
Therefore, when Sasuke approached Naruto, ANBU members had already gone to report to the Hokage.
While Naruto was being monitored, there was also another person on the tree beside him – Uchiha Kawasaki.
He accepted Fugaku’s request to take Sasuke as his apprentice, but wanted to see for himself first.
What kind of child was Sasuke, who hadn't yet experienced the night of his family's extermination.
From the fight just now, Uchiha Sasuke was just a bit arrogant, but a kind-hearted little guy.
Sasuke received an elite education at home. Now he practices throwing shuriken every day, and even knows Fire Release.
However, he just used taijutsu to get rid of those children.
Later, he even comforted Naruto.
Kawasaki observed for a while, stroking his chin and pondering, it seems his previous impression of Sasuke was off.
After the Sasuke clan was destroyed, their property was taken over by Konoha Village. No one guided him, it’s not entirely his fault that he became so extreme later on.
Little Sasuke, who hasn’t experienced the tragedy of his clan’s extermination, is actually a pretty cute kid.
Well, it’s not too late to change my opinion now.
Kawasaki jumped directly from the tree, startling Sasuke and Naruto.
“Sasuke, do you remember me?”
He displayed his Sharingan.
Sasuke was a little nervous at first, protecting Naruto behind him. He relaxed only after seeing Kawasaki’s Sharingan.
Those who possess the Sharingan are members of the same clan.
“I’m Kawasaki, you’ve met me before.”
Kawasaki said with a smile.
Sasuke looked carefully at Kawasaki, and gradually the image of Uchiha Kawasaki from his memory overlapped.
No wonder he couldn't remember clearly, because Kawasaki had only met Sasuke a few times when he was in a different position.
“Ah! You are Senior Kawasaki!...”
Sasuke suddenly recognized Kawasaki.
Then he said hesitantly: “I heard that you are the Deputy Clan Head now, Senior Kawasaki?”
Kawasaki wasn’t used to putting on airs. He was serious in the clan to establish his authority.
But there was no need in front of Sasuke. He replied helplessly: “What Deputy Clan Head, just call me Senior.”
Sasuke said happily: “Yes, Senior Kawasaki.”
Kawasaki looked around and asked: “Didn’t I tell you to go home after you return to the village? Why are you still here?”
“Er...ah...I...”
Sasuke had just entered the village and heard a lot of rumors.
So he was in a bad mood and came here.
“Don’t just say ‘I ah I’. You must be hungry. I’ll take you to eat.”
Kawasaki rubbed Sasuke's head.
“Okay.”
Sasuke was a little restrained, but couldn’t avoid Kawasaki’s hand.
Naruto stood aside, his eyes filled with envy, but also a hint of sadness.
“Well, Sasuke, I’m going home to eat too!”
Naruto tried to cheer up, not wanting Sasuke to notice his sadness.
He might still have a pack of instant noodles at home to fill his stomach.
“Wait a minute.”
Kawasaki showed a friendly smile: “You’re Sasuke’s friend, aren’t you.”
Naruto sniffed: “Yes, uncle! My name is Uzumaki Naruto! The man who will become Hokage!”
“Uncle?!”
Kawasaki was really speechless. He was the same age as Kakashi.
In this world where people can go to war at the age of ten and get married early, being called uncle at nearly twenty is normal, but Kawasaki didn’t like it.
He didn’t pay attention to Naruto’s last words. He had already quietly observed Naruto, wearing torn clothes, his face pale and haggard.
If it weren’t for the Uzumaki clan’s strong physique, with Naruto’s lifestyle of often eating one meal and going hungry for a long time, and drinking expired milk.
He wouldn’t die, but he would definitely get sick.
Sarutobi Hiruzen is really awful.
He secretly cursed in his heart.
Kawasaki said with a smile: “Since you are Sasuke’s friend, how about I treat you to ramen?”
“Oh! Really, uncle!”
Naruto was full of surprise. The Third Hokage didn’t give him much money.
He could only eat ramen once in a while.
Kawasaki saw Naruto’s happy expression and despised the Third Hokage again.
“Of course it’s true. But don’t call me uncle, call me Senior Kawasaki.”
Kawasaki squatted down and rubbed Naruto’s head...