Konoha: The Honored One

"Tch, you b*****d." Naruto buried his face in his hands before breaking into a sunny grin. "You're really strong now, Sasuke. Congratulations."

"Congratulations, Sasuke!" Sakura chimed in cheerfully, her voice warm with genuine happiness.

Both Naruto and Sakura were sincere in their praise for Sasuke's newfound power. They hoped that achieving this strength would bring him some peace and ease his relentless pursuit of his goals.

Neither realized the storm brewing beneath the surface.

"Sakura," Sasuke said coolly, turning his head to look at her with the piercing gaze of his Mangekyō Sharingan. "Didn't you once say... you were better than me?"

"Uh... just kidding," Sakura replied, nervously scratching the back of her head.

"Don't smile. It's disgusting," Sasuke retorted, raising his chin with a disdainful smirk. As he did, his Susanoo evolved to its second stage, its immense form radiating power and malice.

"In the face of my power, how long do you two think you'll last?" Sasuke's voice dripped with arrogance as blood trickled from his eyes. He was dead set on reclaiming his pride—one loss to Naruto and even a momentary defeat by Sakura had been more than enough humiliation. He was an Uchiha, after all, and he would not let anyone forget it.

"What a terrifying chakra!" one of the Anbu muttered as a wave of oppressive energy washed over the area. The sheer intensity of Sasuke's power was suffocating, even to seasoned shinobi.

"Sasuke..." Sakura's face paled as she instinctively took a step back, overwhelmed by the cold, malevolent aura emanating from him.

"The power of the Mangekyō..." Kakashi's normally unshakable demeanor faltered, and his visible eye widened. Even with his own Sharingan, he could barely fathom the strength Sasuke was displaying.

"Sasuke, are you serious about this?" Naruto's grin vanished as he frowned, sensing Sasuke's simmering rage.

"Serious?" Sasuke scoffed. "Don't make me laugh. It's insulting to even suggest I need to be serious to deal with you."

Kakashi stepped forward, his tone calm yet firm. "Sasuke, remember that you're teammates. Ninjas are supposed to cherish their comrades."

"Cherish?" Sasuke raised an eyebrow, Susanoo's massive fist clenching and stirring a fierce wind. "Your pirated Sharingan doesn't qualify you to lecture me. Compared to my eyes, yours are barely functional."

Kakashi didn't respond. His Sharingan was never about power—it was about a promise.

From the sidelines, Gojo—their eccentric teacher—watched with an amused smile, his hand covering his mouth as if to stifle laughter. "Ah, classic Uchiha behavior," he quipped. "Someone's feeling extra spicy today."

Sasuke's sharp ears caught that. He turned, raising his chin to meet Gojo's gaze, the remnants of his arrogance intact. "Teacher Gojo," he began, voice proud yet respectful—a rare combination for him.

Gojo's gaze was calm but carried an undercurrent of playful danger. "What? You can try posturing with me if you want."

Sasuke wisely closed his mouth, opting for silence. Even he knew better than to test Gojo's limits.

"Sasuke," Gojo said, "you really want to fight your teammates? Go ahead, but just so you know—I'm taking bets!" With a dramatic flourish, he produced a shiny iron basin. "Place your wagers, everyone! Who's going to win? Sasuke? Or the dynamic duo of Naruto and Sakura?"

The Anbu present exchanged uneasy glances, knowing where this was headed.

"We're not betting," one of them said flatly, crossing his arms.

Gojo smirked, his hand moving in a blur. Suddenly, wallets materialized in the basin, pilfered with precision. "No need to lie. You all have plenty of funds to spare!"

"Wait, when did he—?" one Anbu sputtered, frantically patting down his pockets. "That was my savings! I was going to buy a ring for my girlfriend!"

"Girlfriend?" Gojo's brow arched mischievously. "You? With that face? Please."

The Anbu bristled. "What do you know, you smug bastard?"

"I know you're all broke unless you start betting," Gojo said nonchalantly, shaking the basin. "Now, let's not waste any more time. Sasuke's chakra isn't going to last forever. He's burning through it faster than he can pretend he's untouchable."

Tsunade sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Gojo, are you really making a mockery of this?"

"Mockery?" Gojo grinned. "It's called character development, Tsunade. Relax."

"Fine. If there's a gamble involved, I'm in," she said, tossing a wad of cash into the basin. "20,000 on Sasuke."

"What?!" Naruto's face turned red with indignation. "You're betting against me, Granny Tsunade?"

"You'll get over it," she shot back, waving dismissively.

Naruto clenched his fists. "That's it. I'm going to wipe that smug look off Sasuke's face! Believe it!"

"Teacher Gojo," Sakura said nervously, "are you sure this is okay? Shouldn't we stop them?"

"It's fine," Gojo assured her, his tone light but commanding. "This is the perfect opportunity to see what you're all made of. And don't worry about Sasuke. Despite his attitude, he's not malicious—just dramatically overconfident."

"Let's get started," Sasuke announced, his voice carrying a mix of pride and impatience. "I can't wait to show you the difference in our strength."

"All right," Gojo said, raising a hand. "The match begins... now!" He dropped his arm like a referee at a wrestling match, his grin widening as the three teammates squared off.

"Naruto! Sakura! Give it everything you've got!" he called out cheerfully. "And Sasuke... try not to faint from chakra exhaustion. I'd hate to have to carry you to the infirmary."

Sasuke's eye twitched, but he remained focused.

Naruto cracked his knuckles, his confidence back in full force. "Let's see how high and mighty you are after I'm done with you, Sasuke!"

Sakura took a deep breath, steadying her nerves. "You're not going to beat us that easily, Sasuke. We're your teammates—and we've come a long way."

As the trio prepared to clash, Gojo leaned back, enjoying the chaos with a satisfied smile. "Ah, nothing like some friendly competition to strengthen bonds. Or break them. Either way, this is going to be fun to watch."