The late evening sun stretched its final rays across the streets of Konoha, dyeing the village in warm shades of amber and crimson. The air was cool, carrying with it the faint scent of blooming flowers and the earthy aroma of soil that had soaked in the warmth all day. For most villagers, it was a time of winding down—shopkeepers were closing stalls, children were being called home, and the gentle hum of the village promised peace.But for some, tonight was not peaceful at all.---Hinata and Ino's ConversationHinata's soft voice trembled like the evening wind."I… I… I know what it means to like someone," she whispered, her fingers nervously twisting together.Ino blinked, startled by her quiet courage. "To… like someone?"Hinata nodded faintly. Her pale eyes glistened with sincerity. "It means… wanting them to be better, stronger, and happier. But also… wanting yourself to grow alongside them, so you can stand beside them, not behind."Ino flinched. Her heart was unexpectedly struck by the words."Becoming a better version of yourself, huh…""Yes." Hinata's voice grew a little steadier. "Hoping that they are doing well, and hoping that you are improving too. That's… what I think it means."Ino let out a long sigh, lifting her hand to pat Hinata's small head. "You really surprise me sometimes, Hinata. For someone who looks so timid, you can be… mature in ways even I didn't expect."Hinata's cheeks burned crimson. The warmth of Ino's words seeped into her heart, giving her a comfort she rarely felt."Th-thank you, Ino.""Thank me? What are you thanking me for?" Ino tilted her head."N-no reason…" Hinata quickly lowered her gaze.Ino exhaled helplessly. "You're too roundabout. If you keep hiding your feelings like this, you'll regret it. Naruto is dense—so dense he won't understand even if it's staring him in the face. If you don't tell him, he'll never know."Hinata shook her head violently, her face flaring red. "N-no… This is enough for now. I don't mind watching from the side…""What a stupid girl," Ino muttered, though her tone wasn't cruel. It carried a trace of envy, of bitterness even. "But maybe… we're all equally stupid."As her voice trailed off, her thoughts wandered to Sasuke and Sakura. She and Sasuke had barely spoken before, but that one short conversation at dusk on their way home… it had felt strangely significant, like two souls brushing against each other.Neither Hinata nor Ino noticed that, not far away, Sakura was hiding behind the trunk of a tall tree, her emerald eyes peering out from the shadows. She stared blankly at them, her lips pressed tightly together, the emotions in her chest too tangled to name.---Naruto's TrainingAt the same time, Naruto was far from idle."Seventy-five! Seventy-six! Seventy-seven!" His voice rang out as he forced his body through weighted frog jumps, sweat dripping from his forehead, soaking his orange training suit.But this was no ordinary training. He was attempting something that no one else had dared before: splitting his concentration, dividing his attention between physical exertion and chakra refinement.Balancing Taijutsu and Ninjutsu at the same time was nearly impossible. Refining chakra while still, in meditation, was already difficult. But doing so while training the body? It was madness.Yet Naruto believed in the impossible.His body trembled, his muscles burned, but he continued. Again and again, he failed. The chakra would collapse, the flow would scatter, and his legs would nearly give way. But each time, he gritted his teeth, refused to despair, and tried again.Hours slipped by. The sun lowered itself toward the horizon, shadows stretching longer across the training ground.And then—Just as he prepared to head home, his body exhausted but his spirit unwilling to surrender, it happened.For a brief instant, he managed it.He balanced chakra refinement while still continuing his frog jumps. It lasted only a heartbeat, but to Naruto, that moment was enough.His blue eyes lit up with unshakable determination."This path… is possible!"For him to reach the top ten of his class within a month, what he lacked most wasn't talent. It was time. Pure, relentless time.If he could master Divided Attention, he would double his efficiency. While others trained one skill, he would train two. That was the edge he needed. That was the only path forward.Even if it killed him, he would master it.---Sasuke AppearsAs Naruto celebrated his small victory, the fading light of dusk stretched a long, solitary shadow across his path."Hm?" He looked up.There, against the backdrop of the setting sun, a figure slowly approached. The golden light behind him turned his face into a dark silhouette, impossible to read, but Naruto instantly recognized him."Sasuke…"The name left his lips before he realized it."What the hell are you doing here?!" Naruto demanded. His house was close by, and unless Sasuke came here on purpose, there was no reason for him to appear.Sasuke's shadow stretched longer, swallowing the ground beneath Naruto's feet. His hands were buried deep in his pockets, his walk slow, deliberate.When he finally spoke, his voice was calm but heavy with challenge."Fight me."Naruto's eyes widened. "What did you just say?""I won't repeat myself," Sasuke said, his cold gaze fixed on him.For Naruto, those words were like a thunderclap. His heart roared inside his chest.Of all the recognition he craved, the one he longed for most came from Sasuke. He worked desperately not just to become Hokage, not just to be acknowledged by the entire village—but to one day stand before Sasuke as his equal, to face him head-on and force him to acknowledge his strength.And now, the chance had come.Naruto clenched his fists, his body shaking with anticipation. "Why me, huh? Because of this morning? Don't tell me you're still sore about running away then!"Sasuke's expression shifted. A flicker of irritation, of vulnerability, cracked through his cool mask."…What did you say?"Naruto crossed his arms, smirking with a confidence he didn't fully feel."I saw it. You stepped back. Just a little, but enough. That's why Sakura came between us and I accidentally punched you instead. You… were scared, weren't you?"The words hit Sasuke like a knife. His pride—the one thing he clung to—was being questioned.Naruto's voice was sharp, cutting. "You can deny it all you want, but your body doesn't lie. You hesitated."Sasuke's teeth clenched, his handsome features twisting with frustration. The shame of that single moment of retreat had eaten at him all day. He wasn't here because he hated Naruto—he was here because he hated himself.If he couldn't defeat Naruto completely, he could never move forward."Damn it! You think I'm afraid of you?!" Sasuke roared. His voice cracked with hysteria.Naruto shrugged, unfazed. "Say whatever you want, but I know what I saw. Your body already admitted it."Sasuke's fists trembled at his sides, his anger boiling over."Naruto… I'll show you the difference between a genius and a fool like you! I'll show you the gap you can never cross!"Naruto's eyes burned with fire. He stepped forward, refusing to back down."Bring it on, Sasuke! I'll prove to you that I'll never lose to you—not now, not ever!"The evening sun cast its golden glow on them both, their figures outlined against the horizon like two warriors chosen by fate. The gentle wind stirred their hair, the world holding its breath as they prepared to clash.This wasn't just a fight between two students.It was a duel of destiny—one that would echo across their entire lives.---Watching EyesOn the sparsely populated street in front of Naruto's house, the two boys stood facing each other, tension crackling in the air.Villagers who passed by froze, whispers rippling through the crowd."Isn't that the demon fox boy…?""And the other one… Uchiha Sasuke, the last of his clan.""Don't get involved. Just walk away."One by one, people pulled their friends and families along, unwilling to interfere. Both Naruto and Sasuke carried names too heavy to provoke.But the two of them were not truly alone.Hidden in the shadows, masked figures observed silently. The ANBU had been keeping watch."That's Uchiha Sasuke," one muttered under his mask. "What is he trying to do?""Report to Hokage-sama at once," another ordered."Yes, sir!"The village itself seemed to hold its breath, waiting to see what would unfold.And there, beneath the fading light of dusk, Naruto and Sasuke prepared to begin the battle that would mark the start of their true rivalry.A clash neither could walk away from.
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