I'M NARUTO UZUMAKI

Chapter 59: CHAPTER 59



The Evil Naruto Imp

At dawn, Sasuke Uchiha, woken by his mother Mikoto, groggily ran to wash up.

With heavy "panda eyes," the aftermath of another restless night was apparent. The conversation he overheard between his father Fugaku and elder brother Itachi replayed incessantly. Fugaku sought to weaponize the Nine-Tails sealed inside Naruto Uzumaki to initiate a coup d'état, overthrowing Konoha's ruling elite and disrupting the fragile peace of the village.

Sasuke struggled to comprehend his father's motivations. Why would he risk the clan's safety for revenge? Why involve Naruto, an outcast who bore the burden of the village's disdain? Was befriending Naruto part of his father's strategy? And where did his brother, the prodigious and distant Itachi, fit into this treacherous web of rebellion and betrayal?

These thoughts haunted Sasuke. What troubled him most was the family's secrecy. They deliberately excluded him, and this realization sparked resentment. He resolved to guard his own thoughts as fiercely as his family guarded theirs.

After breakfast, Sasuke hurried to the ninja academy, slid his schoolbag into the desk drawer, and prepared for the final exams with his classmates.

The exams were divided into written and physical evaluations. The written section covered history, strategy, and mathematics, while the physical exam tested practical ninjutsu. Normally confident, Sasuke found himself distracted during the test, frequently glancing at Naruto. The image of his father's cold, calculated plans involving the jinchūriki unnerved him. He handed in his paper just as the bell rang, lacking his usual composure.

Naruto noticed Sasuke's wandering eyes but remained unfazed, focusing on the test with quiet determination. He was intent on proving himself, striving to outperform his peers despite the stigma attached to him as the Nine-Tails' host.

During the lunch break, Sasuke sought Naruto beneath a shaded tree, his expression conflicted. "Naruto, do you think the village or the family is more important?" he asked, hesitantly. Realizing the weight of his words, he quickly added, "Don't take it the wrong way—I'm just curious about your opinion…"

Naruto narrowed his eyes but didn't react defensively. "Why choose?" he replied after a pause, a faint smile on his lips. "The village and the family—both are important. I'd rather find a way to protect them both than sacrifice one for the other."

Sasuke fell silent, mulling over Naruto's response. Naruto's answer was rooted in a strength and resolve that Sasuke envied. If he possessed similar strength, perhaps he wouldn't feel so powerless under his family's shadow.

Naruto sensed Sasuke's turmoil and added, "What matters isn't the choice itself but making a decision you won't regret."

Sasuke's gaze sharpened, understanding Naruto's point. Even if his voice was small in the Uchiha clan, he couldn't stay silent. He resolved to confront Fugaku and Itachi, determined to make his feelings known, regardless of the risks.

Before leaving, Sasuke warned Naruto, "Be careful. Something feels off in the clan. You should stay away from us for now."

Naruto watched Sasuke walk away, shaking his head in mild amusement. Returning to his book, Customs of the Ninja World, he pondered his next steps. Should he head to the Land of Water, an isolated archipelago known for its brutal ninja practices? Or perhaps the Land of Iron, a neutral samurai nation? He even considered the Snow Country, shrouded in obscurity.

Inside him, the Nine-Tails stirred. "That brat knows more than he's letting on," Kurama growled. "The malice in him… it's almost as heavy as yours was a year ago."

Naruto frowned. "Was I really that full of malice?"

Kurama smirked. "If you hadn't had my power shielding you, the hatred of the villagers would've broken you. Most humans crumble under such pressure."

Naruto sighed, recalling his dark, lonely childhood. Isolation and scorn had once poisoned his heart, but he'd worked to rebuild himself into someone stronger. "That's all in the past," he said with a grin. "I'm the picture of optimism now—Will of Fire, full marks!"

Kurama rolled his eyes. "Right. Says the kid who manipulated Shisui into stopping his suicide so you could use him against the Uchiha and Konoha."

Naruto scowled. "It was for the greater good. Shisui deserved better than dying for political schemes. I gave him another chance to fight for what he believed in."

Uninterested in arguing, Kurama closed his eyes and feigned sleep. Naruto shrugged, shutting his book and heading to the training grounds for the physical exam.

To his surprise, the academy had merged grades for this year's assessment. Older students from upper grades stood alongside the first-years, sparring nervously. The Third Hokage, monitoring through a crystal ball in his office, had introduced the changes to challenge Naruto while avoiding the appearance of favoritism.

Naruto smirked. He knew this was just another ploy by the Third to delay his graduation. But no matter how the rules changed, Naruto was determined to excel. As the actual combat trials began, Naruto strode into the ring, ready to dominate.

Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi puffed on his pipe, watching Naruto's every move with quiet interest.

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