Chapter 16: *The Follower!*

*Forbidden Jutsu?*

Naruto stared at Sasuke, his face a mix of curiosity and confusion. The phrase "forbidden jutsu" echoed in his mind like an enigma.

What does it mean?  

But he chose not to ask.

Even if I did, I wouldn’t understand it anyway.  

Sasuke was his only friend—his best friend. Whatever Sasuke said must be true. That was enough.

"I'm going home," Sasuke said flatly, glancing briefly at Naruto.

Without further explanation, Sasuke strode away from the Ninja Academy. There was no need to force anything today. If the Shadow Clone Jutsu was what Naruto needed, then Sasuke would find a way to make it happen.

Naruto stood there for a moment, staring at Sasuke’s retreating figure, the fading rays of the sun casting a long shadow over his friend.

"Sasuke…"

Naruto clenched his fists tightly.

"I’ve been alone my whole life."

"You’ve been the first person to make me feel like I wasn’t invisible, like I wasn’t a nobody."

"But I can still feel it—that loneliness inside you."

Naruto’s determination burned brighter. He wouldn’t let Sasuke stay lonely. Friendship was supposed to work both ways, right?

---

*On the Road to the Uchiha District*

Sasuke walked slowly through the quiet streets toward the Uchiha district. The familiar scenery blurred in the fading light.

Familiar, huh?  

Sasuke sighed softly. This wasn’t his original world, yet here he was, occupying Uchiha Sasuke’s body. While everything looked familiar thanks to the anime, he couldn’t shake the feeling of being an outsider in a foreign land.

Still… power is what I need most.  

The desire for strength surged through him. Without it, he couldn’t make his place in this world. Right now, even a low-level Jonin could crush him effortlessly, let alone the more powerful figures he hoped to face in the future.

What’s the point of acting cool in front of academy students? There’s no thrill in it!  

He sighed again, frustrated. His mind wandered to the Third Hokage and the forbidden scrolls. If he could gain access, not only could he acquire the Shadow Clone Jutsu for Naruto, but perhaps he could also learn the legendary Flying Thunder God Technique.

But how do I fool the Third Hokage into letting me see those scrolls?  

His thoughts briefly turned to the infamous scene where the Third Hokage had used his crystal ball to spy on Naruto.

Wait… crystal ball?!  

Sasuke stopped dead in his tracks.

Does that mean the old man has been watching me these past two days?  

The realization sent a jolt through him. If the Third Hokage had been using the crystal ball, then every act of "coolness" Sasuke had performed might have been under surveillance.

---

"Who?"

Sasuke’s voice broke the silence. He stopped walking and scanned his surroundings.

"I know you’re there," he said, loud and confident. "There’s no use hiding."

It was a gamble. He wasn’t sure anyone was actually following him, but as the last Uchiha in the village, it wouldn’t be surprising if he were being monitored.

No response.

But Sasuke smirked, feigning confidence. "Don’t think you can fool me. My eyes have already seen you."

---

*+3*

The system's notification flashed in his mind.

Someone is really there!  

Sasuke’s pulse quickened. The system’s judgment was never wrong. If he gained points, that meant someone was watching—and they were shaken.

He casually sat down on a bench by the road, crossing his legs with an air of superiority.

"Come out already," he said, his tone dripping with arrogance. "You’ve been caught. Don’t embarrass yourself by pretending otherwise."

---

*+5*

The numbers jumped again.

Sasuke fought to keep his excitement hidden. Whoever was tailing him wasn’t just skilled—they were rattled.

---

"If you come out now, we can have a civil conversation. Otherwise, I’ll assume you have something to hide. Perhaps it’s about the incident back then..."

Sasuke let the words hang, lowering his voice to a grim, ominous tone.

"Besides Itachi… was there anyone else involved?"

---

*+6*

The increase in points confirmed it. His words had struck a nerve.

Gotcha.  

Sasuke leaned forward slightly, a wicked grin spreading across his face.

"I wonder…" he said slowly, "if the Leaf Village still trembles at the mention of this name."

He paused dramatically before delivering the final blow.

"Madara Uchiha."

---

*+15*

The number shot up.

Sasuke’s heart raced. He’d taken a wild gamble, and it had paid off spectacularly. The name of Madara Uchiha carried a weight that could unsettle even the most composed shinobi.

---

Swoosh!  

In an instant, a figure appeared before him.

It was an old man, his face lined with age, a pipe in his mouth, and the kanji for "Fire" emblazoned on his Hokage hat.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage.

The weight of his presence was palpable, but his face was serious, his eyes sharp as they locked onto Sasuke.

"Sasuke," Hiruzen said, his voice calm but firm, "how much do you know about what happened back then?"

Sasuke’s smirk widened slightly.

---

*End of Chapter*