Reincarnated as Itachi Uchiha at the Start

"Oh? So you're late," Hiruzen Sarutobi chuckled. "Sasuke just went to challenge the Hyuga prodigy, Neji, and got taught a harsh lesson."

"As expected," Itachi said, a bit disappointed. "Sasuke without his Sharingan still can't beat Neji with his Byakugan."

He wasn't surprised Sasuke lost—he was just annoyed he missed the show. It would've been fun watching his younger brother get humbled.

"It's fine," Hiruzen said. "If he can't beat Neji, he might still have a shot against Shikamaru. Let's wait and see."

Itachi nodded calmly.

—

By the tall school building, near a large tree, Sasuke had just blocked Shikamaru's path.

Shikamaru raised an eyebrow and rubbed his forehead. Has Uchiha Sasuke gone nuts today? Why is he picking fights with everyone?

Did he not get beaten badly enough by Neji just now?

"You—dare to fight me?" Sasuke, still bruised and battered, crossed his arms and stood arrogantly, as if he were invincible.

He didn't lose to Neji because of his strength—he told himself—it was because Neji had activated his Byakugan, while he hadn't awakened his Sharingan yet.

So that match didn't count.

"I'm really weak. I forfeit," Shikamaru said without hesitation. He knew that beating Sasuke would only mean Sasuke would bother him every day afterward—and that would be such a drag.

The best way was to surrender immediately.

"You—can't you fight me fair and square?" Sasuke snapped, furious.

Before leaving home this morning, his dear older brother Itachi had told him: "There are three people in the Academy you can't beat right now—Neji Hyuga, Shikamaru Nara, and Naruto Uzumaki."

Sasuke had sneered at that. Me? A genius from the Uchiha clan? Losing to those three? Impossible.

He was born to dominate the Ninja Academy!

Those three? Just minor obstacles!

Neji Hyuga—first target. He had the Byakugan, sure, but Sasuke thought it would be a good challenge.

Result: before he could even unleash his Fire Style, Neji had already landed a heavy internal blow. His jutsu hand signs took too long, and Neji capitalized on the opening with brutal precision.

His Fire Style and Uchiha shuriken skills were useless against him.

Sasuke figured taijutsu would do the trick. After all, he sparred with Itachi just the night before!

What he didn't count on was that the Byakugan could not only see chakra flow but also had long-range vision, x-ray sight, and the ability to detect pressure points.

Every movement and expression he made—Neji saw them all. Memorized them. Then dismantled him.

Sasuke was beaten badly. His face was still swollen and bruised. If Neji hadn't held back and avoided hitting his tenketsu, Sasuke probably would've limped home in tears.

But losing the fight didn't mean losing his pride.

Even lying on the ground, Sasuke grit his teeth and shouted, "It wasn't strength—I just haven't awakened my Sharingan yet! When I do, I'll come back and make you regret it!"

"Oh? That's it?" Neji had replied coolly, not even looking back as he walked away, leaving only a cold, admired figure in his wake.

Humiliated and half-dead, Sasuke nearly sprang up to fight again—but his injuries were too severe. Otherwise, he swore he would've made Neji beg on his knees for mercy.

What goes around comes around. Never underestimate a determined underdog.

Since he couldn't beat Neji, Sasuke moved on to his next target: Shikamaru.

He'd observed Shikamaru in class—always napping, barely trying on exams. Just a lazy bottom-dweller?

Sasuke could crush ten of him easily.

"Let me make this clear," Sasuke declared under the tree. "Even if you don't want to fight, you will. Or are you saying I'm not even worth your time? I'm standing right here—try walking past me! If you beat me, I won't bother you ever again!"

He posed like a delinquent with a chip on his shoulder, looking like a one-man army. The girls nearby squealed.

"For real?" Shikamaru's eyes lit up.

"More real than gold," Sasuke sneered.

Learn from your mistakes.

Losing to Neji was tolerable. Losing to Shikamaru?

Not happening.

"Then—bye." Shikamaru clapped his hands together.

Sasuke froze in place, unable to move.

"What… what did you do to me?!" Sasuke's face twisted in panic.

"Shadow Possession Jutsu. You seriously don't know?" Shikamaru replied with a sigh. "You lost. Can I leave now?"

"I—" Sasuke's face turned bright red.

Against Neji, at least he had exchanged some moves. But with Shikamaru? He lost without even realizing what happened.

He looked down at the shadow on the ground, connected to the school building and the tree's shade.

Sasuke trembled with frustration. He didn't lose to power. He lost to terrain.

"No way… You wouldn't go back on your word, would you? A proud Uchiha?" Shikamaru said mockingly.

Sasuke's expression froze.

"Hmph. A loss is a loss. I, Uchiha Sasuke, keep my word. I said I won't bother you again—and I won't." He turned away with a blackened expression.

Shikamaru sighed in relief.

"That Nara boy is impressive," Hiruzen Sarutobi murmured, having watched everything. "Already mastered Shadow Binding at his age."

An Uchiha without his Sharingan really was no big deal.

"You're right," Itachi said. "I heard Shikamaru's IQ is over 200—higher than even Shikaku-senpai."

"Oh? Another genius from the Nara clan? Seems they have a strong successor." Hiruzen nodded with satisfaction.

Looks like the new generation of Konoha is shaping up nicely.

All of them are real talents.

—

"Naruto! Get over here!" Sasuke shouted after being released from the Shadow Possession. He turned toward Naruto, who had been laughing from the sidelines.

"I've had enough of you! Aren't you always saying you want to challenge me? What, chickening out now? I'm giving you your chance today! Just don't cry when you lose!"

I couldn't beat two bloodline limit freaks, but you?

This time, there's no way I can lose.

Naruto had always wanted to spar with him, but no matter what—Transformation Jutsu, Substitution, grades, running—he'd always been crushed by Sasuke.

There's no way Naruto's secretly some hidden prodigy, right?

Impossible.

With Naruto's loud, brash personality, if he had awakened a kekkei genkai, the whole school would've known by now.

Suddenly, Sasuke realized Itachi's plan—he must've left Naruto for last to help him regain his confidence after the other two losses!

"Huh?" Naruto blinked in confusion. Normally, he'd be pumped to fight. But last night, his parents had told him not to use the ninjutsu they taught him to bully people.

So he hesitated.

"Hurry up and get over here! If you don't, don't blame me for being rude!" Sasuke barked.

"Sasuke, maybe we shouldn't. I'm afraid I might kill you," Naruto said in the softest voice—delivering the hardest words.

"What did you say?! You think I'm weak?! You don't see me as your rival? Then prove it! If we're friends, fight me already!" Sasuke was practically jumping with rage. Afraid of killing me? Hah, you wish!

"Seriously?" Naruto asked, uncertain.

"Dead serious. And if you don't use full power, don't talk to me ever again. I don't want to see your face!" Sasuke snapped.

"Alright, then… here I come." Naruto looked panicked now. Anyone else could ignore him, but not Sasuke.

Plus, if he beat Sasuke… maybe Sakura-chan and the other girls would notice him!

Right. Just hold back a little bit.

"Come on!" Sasuke yelled again.

"Okay, okay—here I go!"

"Bring it on!" Sasuke smirked. Time to erase today's shame—starting with you!

"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" Naruto pressed his middle and index fingers together in a cross seal—Shadow Clone Jutsu, activated.

Poof! Poof! Poof!

Hundreds of Narutos appeared all at once—on the ground, on rooftops, in the trees!

"SASUKE?! I'M COMING FOR YOU!" they all shouted in unison, loud enough to shake the school!

Sasuke: "..."

What the hell?!

PS: Read Advance Chapters at https://www.patreon.com/c/ReadJin