A week had passed since the political turmoil in the Hokage's office, and Konoha was slowly settling into a fragile peace. At the hospital, Kiba and Choji were discharged, their faces beaming with relief. Teammates and friends are all gathered around them, offering congratulations and well-wishes.
"Finally!" Kiba exclaimed, stretching his limbs. "I was going stir-crazy in there!"
Choji, his cheeks flushed, nodded in agreement. "Me too," he mumbled, reaching for a bag of chips. "Though the food wasn't half bad."
Sakura and Ino, their eyes occasionally drifting towards the absent Sasuke, offered their congratulations. "We're glad you're both better," Sakura said, her voice soft.
"Yeah," Ino added, her expression thoughtful. "It's good to have you back."
Meanwhile, at the training grounds, Sasuke was pushing his body to its limits. He ran alongside Lee, his breath ragged, his muscles screaming in protest. Lee, his youthful energy seemingly inexhaustible, bounded ahead, his green jumpsuit a blur of motion.
"Ten thousand push-ups!" Lee declared, his voice booming. "We will not stop until we reach our goal!"
Sasuke, his face pale, managed a weak glare. "I barely made it through two thousand," he gasped, his voice strained. "And the 100 laps around the village this morning nearly killed me."
He paused, his hands braced on his knees, his chest heaving. 'Physical training is… different,' he thought, his mind reeling. 'I can train for hours with Ninjutsu and Genjutsu, but this… this is torture.'
A subtle sensation prickled at the back of his neck, a faint awareness of being watched, or thought about. He dismissed it, focusing on the immediate challenge of keeping up with Lee.
_______
Another 1 week later, as the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the training grounds, Neji Hyuga approached Sasuke and Lee. His expression was serious, his Byakugan pulsating faintly.
"Sasuke," he said, his voice calm and measured, "I challenge you to a spar tomorrow."
Sasuke, his eyes narrowed, considered the challenge for a moment. "Alright," he replied, his voice flat.
Lee, his eyes wide with surprise, exclaimed, "A spar? Splendid!"
_______
The next day, the training grounds transformed into an arena. Kakashi, Lee, Guy, and Sakura stood as observers, their eyes fixed on the two figures facing each other.
"Begin!" Guy declared, his voice booming.
Neji activated his Byakugan, his veins pulsing around his eyes. He moved with a fluid grace, his Gentle Fist strikes precise and powerful. "Eight Trigrams: Sixty-Four Palms!" he shouted, his hands a blur of motion.
Sasuke, his 2-tomoe Sharingan blazing, countered with a combination of Taijutsu and Shurikenjutsu, his movements swift and calculated. He weaved through Neji's attacks, his shuriken whistling through the air.
"Genjutsu: Demonic Illusion: Double False Surroundings!" Sasuke muttered, momentarily disorienting Neji with illusory duplicates.
Neji, his Byakugan piercing through the illusion, retaliated with his Revolving Heaven, deflecting Sasuke's attacks. The force of the technique sent shockwaves through the air.
Sakura, watching from the sidelines, her cheeks flushed, whispered to Kakashi, "Sasuke-kun looks… little more muscular today."
Kakashi, his single visible eye narrowed, replied, "He's been training with Lee. Physical training, mostly."
Lee, his eyes shining with admiration, nodded in agreement. "Indeed! Sasuke is showing great determination!"
Guy, his thumb raised, declared, "Lee! You are showing excellent camaraderie!"
The spar continued for twenty minutes, a clash of wills and techniques. Neji, despite his skill, was gradually overwhelmed by Sasuke's relentless attacks and strategic use of Genjutsu.
Neji, his chest heaving, his body exhausted, offered a small, respectful smile to Sasuke. "You have improved," he said, his voice strained.
Sasuke, his expression soft, extended a hand to Neji. "Get up," he said, his voice low.
Neji, surprised by the gesture, took Sasuke's hand and rose to his feet. Lee and Guy rushed to Neji's side, offering words of encouragement.
"You fought valiantly, Neji!" Lee exclaimed. "You are stronger than ever!"
Kakashi, his expression thoughtful, said to Sasuke, "You fought well, Sasuke. Your Genjutsu has improved significantly."
Sakura, her eyes sparkling, added, "You were amazing, Sasuke-kun!"
Sasuke, his gaze fixed on Neji, felt a flicker of… something. Respect? Camaraderie? He remembered their shared experience during the Konoha Crush, how Neji and Lee had come to his aid.
'He's… a good person,' Sasuke thought, his mind racing. 'A good friend.'
He then thought about the caged bird seal. 'Can I help him in removing that seal,' he decided. 'When I am strong enough, I will eliminate the main family elders of hyuga clan. Then maybe Hiashi will not argue about tradition at that point. That might also solve the problem.'
As the group walked towards Ichiraku Ramen, a sudden etching sensation spread through Sasuke's eyes. He felt a surge of power, a shift in his perception. He quickly activated his system stats.
(Name: Sasuke Uchiha)
(Age: 13)
(Chakra Reserves: 6339/21900 [Elite-Chunin])
(Chakra Control: 48%)
(Ninjutsu: Advanced)
(Genjutsu: Proficient)
(Taijutsu: Proficient)
(Shurikenjutsu: Intermediate)
(Sharingan: 8/100 [Level 3])
His eyes widened. 'Three tomoe…' he thought, his heart pounding. His Sharingan had evolved. He also noted the increase in his Ninjutsu and chakra control. 'Advanced Ninjutsu… and my chakra reserves are still rising. But my Taijutsu…' He frowned slightly. 'It hasn't changed. But my body feels more toned.'
He closed his eyes, savoring the surge of power, the newfound clarity of his vision. The world seemed sharper, more defined. He was one step closer to his goal.