Naruto: Saving the Uchiha

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"Don't talk nonsense." 

Shooting a disapproving glare at Jiro, Kazuki expressed his thoughts. 

"Having you both stay in the Police Force Department is for your own good. As for anything else, don't worry about it. That's not something you should concern yourselves with! Oh, by the way, at this month's clan meeting, the clan leader is going to propose making me a clan elder." 

"There are some things you should know but not share. Until the Hokage's office officially transfers my duties, I'll remain in the Police Force Department. Once you two are familiar with the responsibilities of a squad leader, I'll leave." 

After much persuasion—and a bit of intimidation—Kazuki finally got Jiro and Kaze to agree to stay. 

It hadn't been easy for Kazuki, who found himself stuck in a tough position. 

Disobedient subordinates are a big problem, but sometimes, overly loyal ones can be just as troublesome. 

--- 

"Teacher." 

As Kazuki walked out of the Police Force Department, a small figure ran up to him, holding a notebook. 

"Don't be so quick to call me teacher, Sasuke. You shouldn't use that title until I've acknowledged you." 

Taking the notebook Sasuke handed him, Kazuki glanced at the anxious boy and opened it. 

First glance. Hmm, lots of typos, poor word choices, and awkward phrasing. On second glance. The handwriting is a bit ugly. And on the third glance. Kazuki couldn't help but feel the kid needed some tough love. No wonder Sasuke's path in life alternated between getting beaten up and striving to grow stronger just to get beaten up again. 

"You did well. I can see you put effort into it. Take it back to your brother and have him review it for you." 

Handing the notebook back to Sasuke, Kazuki patted him on the head and walked off. 

"???" Sasuke was bewildered. 

Was that a compliment? 

Tucking the notebook away, Sasuke skipped home happily. When he arrived and saw Itachi, he excitedly ran over and handed the notebook to him. 

"Brother, Kazuki-senpai said my battle summary was great and told me to bring it back to you for review." 

"Oh, did he?" 

Itachi, surprised, patted Sasuke on the head and took the notebook. 

"Since the captain said so, I'll review it for you." 

Smiling, Itachi opened the notebook while Sasuke eagerly looked up at him. 

First glance. Itachi's smile faded a little. 

Second glance. The smile disappeared entirely. 

Third glance. The way he looked at his younger brother carried a hint of danger. 

With his smile gone, Itachi stared blankly at Sasuke and shook the notebook in his hand. 

"So, Sasuke, your battle summary boils down to. 'The captain is too strong, and I'm too weak,' right?" 

"....." 

Did I write something wrong? 

Feeling the weight of his brother's unflinching gaze, Sasuke swallowed nervously and cautiously replied. 

"But Kazuki-senpai is too strong. I see no hope of ever defeating him..." 

"Sasuke, only the incompetent complain. What you need to do is face yourself honestly so you can identify your weaknesses and know where to improve." 

"Go put on your training gear." 

After some thought, Itachi decided to give Sasuke a serious lesson. 

Perhaps that was why Kazuki had told Sasuke to bring the battle summary back to him for review. 

"Okay." 

Still unaware of the gravity of the situation, Sasuke obediently changed into his training outfit and went to the yard. 

And then... in the next second, he was sent flying to the ground with a kick from Itachi. 

"???" 

Did changing into training gear mean preparing to get beaten up? 

Sasuke burst into tears, wailing loudly. 

It wasn't just the pain—he felt wronged. His loving older brother had scolded and beaten him, leaving him heartbroken. 

--- 

"What's this...?" 

Mikoto returned home with groceries to find her youngest son crying loudly and her eldest son standing expressionless nearby. 

"Can someone explain to me what's going on?" 

"Mother," Itachi said, holding Sasuke's notebook as he recounted everything. 

Mikoto looked at the contents in surprise. Meeting Sasuke's tearful, pleading eyes, she smiled and nodded. 

"Kazuki is right. The children in our family learn too little at school. Itachi, from now on, I'll leave it to you to spend more time with your brother and teach him." 

"I will, Mother." 

"Good. I'll go cook now. Don't take too long." 

Smiling, Mikoto headed into the house with her basket, leaving behind a squinting, stern-looking Itachi and a speechless, tearless Sasuke. 

--- 

That evening, Sasuke, bruised and sore, sat at the dinner table, red-eyed and full of hope as his father returned from work. 

Fugaku, having changed into his house clothes and taken his seat at the head of the table, glanced at Sasuke's pitiful face and said calmly. 

"Let's eat." 

In that moment, Sasuke's heart shattered. 

He felt as if the world had abandoned him. 

Thus, Sasuke's world of pain was born! 

Ignoring his sulking youngest son, Fugaku turned to Itachi. 

"Itachi, Kazuki will be transferred out of the Police Force Department. When he leaves, you will go with him." 

"Yes, Father." 

--- 

The next morning, still baffled about why his brother had been so harsh, and why his mother hadn't even applied medicine to his wounds, Sasuke painfully put on his clothes and carried his school bag to the ninja academy. 

When Sasuke arrived, his classmates were stunned. 

As he walked into the classroom, the noisy room fell silent. 

Iruka, who had come early to prepare for an outdoor lesson, was startled when he saw Sasuke's appearance. 

"Sasuke, did you get into a fight on your way to school?" 

Oh, dear... this kid looks like he's been through the wringer. 

Leave me alone, all of you!!! 

That day during the outdoor lesson, feeling abandoned by the world, Sasuke unleashed his frustration, beating every sparring partner he faced until they cried. 

He even ended up having a fierce fight with Naruto, his usual rival. 

Watching Sasuke's swift, decisive strikes, Iruka's eyelids twitched. 

This child's combat skills seem to have improved significantly. Is that why he got beaten up? 

"Hey, you two troublemakers, stop it right now!!! Naruto, Sasuke!!!" 

Naruto, having grown stronger under Jiraiya's guidance, and Sasuke, fueled by frustration and improved combat experience, clashed fiercely. 

In the end... Iruka, trying to break up the fight, got caught in the crossfire and ended up injured. 

--- 

Hokage's office. 

Tsunade stared in disbelief at Iruka, who had one black eye and tissue stuffed in his nose. 

"So, you got hurt trying to break up a fight between those two brats?" 

"I'm sorry, Lady Hokage. I've let you down," Iruka said, bowing repeatedly. 

For Iruka, being injured while breaking up a student fight was a first. 

He never imagined that Naruto and Sasuke, locked in such a heated battle, wouldn't even listen to reason.