Chapter 13 (Patreon)

By sunset, Sasuke still hadn’t reached the top of his tree. The repeated failures had dealt a serious blow to his pride.

In the original story, he and Naruto had spent a long time working on this exercise during their mission in the Land of Waves.

This time, however, Naruto was taking the initiative to become stronger. He had started this basic training much earlier.

Sakura already had a talent for precise chakra control. Unfortunately, its full potential wouldn’t be brought out until Tsunade became Hokage.

“Sasuke-kun, I... I have to go home,” Sakura said apologetically. “My mom will be angry if I’m late.”

Sasuke was breathing hard. He didn’t answer.

Sakura sighed. After a moment’s hesitation, she started toward home, glancing back every few steps.

“Hey, Sasuke! Still holding up? I’m getting worn out over here!”

Naruto’s voice came from a distance.

He ran up the outside wall of the Academy building, reached the roof, and jumped onto a nearby tree.

Then he bounded from treetop to treetop until he landed beside Sasuke.

“Keep at it, Sasuke.” Naruto patted his shoulder. “After tomorrow’s training exercise, how about we go to your place and look through those ninjutsu scrolls?”

He had already made the same request that morning.

Sasuke hesitated. He glanced around to make sure no one else was nearby before answering.

“Fine. But first, tell me the trick to climbing these trees.”

“You want to learn? I’ll teach you!”

Naruto grinned.

“Oh, and Sasuke... mind if I borrow your appearance for a bit?”

…

As Sakura walked home, she thought back over everything that had happened that day.

Naruto’s face kept coming to mind.

First, he had beaten Sasuke at the training ground with his shadow clones. Then he had mastered the tree-climbing exercise so quickly.

‘Have I been wrong about him all these years? Maybe he isn’t stupid. Maybe he just doesn’t like studying.’

Remembering how coldly Sasuke had treated her, she sighed and sat on a bench beside the path.

It was a quiet corner of the Academy grounds. Whenever she came here, the stillness helped her feel a little calmer.

‘What do I have to do to make Sasuke-kun like me? Well, there’s no need to rush. We’re on the same team now. I’ll have plenty of chances.’

“Sakura.”

A familiar voice called softly from behind her.

Her heart skipped, and she turned at once.

Sasuke was leaning against a tree, a small bunch of red flowers in his hand. He was looking at her with an affection she had never seen from him before.

For a moment, Sakura could only stare.

Then she clasped her hands against her chest, her earlier worries forgotten. Her face warmed as she watched him approach.

Sasuke sat beside her and took her hand.

Her heart began racing.

“S-Sasuke-kun... did you come to tell me you like me?”

Hope filled her voice, and her imagination immediately ran ahead of her.

She closed her eyes and leaned toward him, expecting a kiss.

The disguised Naruto smiled and gave her a brief kiss.

In the original story, Naruto’s attempt to approach Sakura as Sasuke had been interrupted by a stomachache from expired milk.

That wouldn’t happen this time.

He told himself he was fulfilling something the original Naruto had always wished for. After years of chasing after Sakura, surely getting a little affection in return wasn’t too much to ask.

And Sakura had always wanted Sasuke’s attention, hadn’t she? In his mind, he was giving her what she wanted, too.

They spent the next half hour sitting together on the bench and talking.

Eventually, Sakura glanced at the darkening sky.

“Sasuke-kun, I really have to go,” she said reluctantly. “Otherwise, my mom will be searching the whole village for me.”

“Alright.”

He gently straightened a stray lock of her hair and spoke softly.

“Sakura, tomorrow I might seem distant again. That’s just how I act around other people.”

“Huh?”

She looked at him in confusion.

“Naruto’s the boss now. He’s stronger than me. Better-looking, too. I’ve got to act cold so people still take me seriously.”

“Sasuke-kun, what are you—”

“Shh. Don’t ask. I’ll come find you when we can talk privately.”

He raised a finger to his lips before continuing.

“Remember, don’t tell anyone about today.”

Sakura nodded, blushing. She was far too embarrassed to imagine telling anyone about this anyway.

Covering her flushed face with her hands, she hurried away.

“Sasuke” watched her go with a pleased smile, then took a deep breath and started home.

A moment later, a puff of smoke surrounded him. He released the Transformation Jutsu and returned to his own appearance.

[Ding! Congratulations! Special mission completed: Heroine Mission.]

[Rewards: Skill Upgrade Scroll ×1 and Bloodline Upgrade Scroll ×1.]

Naruto’s eyes lit up.

“A Bloodline Upgrade Scroll and a Skill Upgrade Scroll? Both of those are useful!”

First, he opened his status panel.

…

Host: Naruto Uzumaki (wearing sunglasses)

Age: 12

Combat Level: Genin

Chakra Natures: Wind, Water, Earth (granted by the Uzumaki Sage Body)

Bloodlines:

Uzumaki Sage Body — Level 3

Deidara’s Explosion Release Kekkei Genkai — Level 1

Skills:

Uzumaki Sage Body Abilities — [Proficient]: Vast chakra reserves, Adamantine Sealing Chains, Kagura’s Mind’s Eye, Heal Bite, sealing aptitude

Explosion Release Abilities — [Novice]: Clay Ants

Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu — [Proficient]

Transformation Jutsu — [Expert]

Clone Jutsu — [Proficient]

Enhanced Chakra Control — [Beginner]

Flying Thunder God Jutsu — [Untrained]

Reanimation Jutsu — [Untrained]

Tandem Paper Bombs — [Untrained]

Bringer-of-Darkness Technique — [Untrained]

Hashirama Senju’s Wood Style Jutsu — [Untrained]

Tobirama Senju’s Water Style Jutsu — [Untrained]

…

The panel listed two bloodlines: his Level 3 [Uzumaki Sage Body] and Level 1 [Deidara’s Explosion Release Kekkei Genkai].

Naruto studied them, considering his options.

Explosion Release had already helped him cause two explosions. It offered excellent offensive power and the potential for an advantage in aerial combat.

The problem was that he couldn’t use it openly. Not yet.

The Uzumaki Sage Body, meanwhile, gave him a remarkable range of supporting abilities. They were useful, but they didn’t offer the same direct increase in offensive power, and he couldn’t reveal them carelessly either.

Still, the Uzumaki Sage Body had one enormous advantage.

One more upgrade would bring it to Level 4.

That meant a [Divine Bloodline].

“A Divine Bloodline...”

Naruto drew in a breath.

“That has to be more than just a small improvement.”

His decision made, he addressed the system.

“System, use the [Bloodline Upgrade Scroll] on my [Uzumaki Sage Body]!”