Konoha:Live Comparison: Naruto

Chapter 9: Uzumaki Naruto's "Teacher"

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This is truly the heifer ringing the doorbell—a scenario too unbelievable to comprehend.

Naruto in the black-framed world is not only not the "dead last" of the class, but his performance rivals that of Sasuke, the top student in the class.

In fact, he even surpassed Sasuke's level.

Naruto's contemporaries were left puzzled, shocked, and utterly dumbfounded.

Illusion! These images on the screen must be some kind of hypnosis messing with our minds, they thought.

[Ding!]

[Congratulations to Uzumaki Naruto for answering correctly, and congratulations to Uzumaki Naruto for receiving the award: Uchiha Shuriken Throw.]

Uchiha Fugaku: "..."

Uchiha Obito: "..."

Uchiha Sasuke: "..."

-Alright, Naruto now has reached the same level of shuriken throwing as Sasuke.

Senju Hashirama: "Oh? Madara, is your Uchiha clan really this good at throwing shuriken?"

Uchiha Madara: "Hashi, stop talking nonsense! Our Uchiha clan is known for much more than just shuriken throwing."

In the Pure Land, Uchiha Madara frowned.

How far has the Uchiha clan fallen? Has it really come to the point where their only claim to fame is shuriken throwing?

Uchiha Sasuke: "It can't be… Naruto, he…"

Uchiha Fugaku: "Sasuke, don't dwell on it too much. This is a different world's Naruto, after all. You performed just as well."

["You performed very well, that…"]

[Iruka laughed awkwardly.]

[As a teacher, he liked talented children like Naruto very much, but Naruto's identity made him feel conflicted.]

[For a moment, Iruka was in a dilemma. Without giving too much praise, he could only let Naruto step back into the crowd.]

[Naruto didn't mind and slowly returned to his spot.]

["Not bad! I didn't expect you to be so powerful."]

["I thought you were like us—one of those guys who lack motivation."]

[Nara Shikamaru and Akimichi Chōji approached Naruto, surprised by his performance.]

["I thought you were just like us, but I didn't expect you, the so-called sixth child, to be a master."]

Yamanaka Ino: "Pfft! The Shikamaru and Chōji in that world are almost identical to the ones here—no, they're exactly the same."

Nara Shikamaru: "Isn't that obvious?"

Akimichi Chōji: "I feel like, aside from Naruto, none of the others have changed much."

Temari: "So, you two have always been the unmotivated type?"

Nara Shikamaru: "That's not necessarily true. Maybe, in that world, we'll be inspired by Naruto and become more motivated."

Yamanaka Ino: "No, no, no, that's completely impossible. Sasuke in this world has always been excellent, and I've never seen you two show much motivation."

Nara Shikamaru: "..."

Nara Shikamaru: "Can't you at least save me some face?"

[Naruto just politely smiled back at Shikamaru and Chōji.]

[In his mind, he couldn't help but recall the image of himself learning how to throw a shuriken.]

[To Naruto, he had no sense of belonging to his small, broken house.]

[Since the Third Hokage had eaten his grilled fish, the money sent by those masked guys had increased slightly.]

[However, Naruto was frugal.]

[The forest behind Konoha Village felt more like his home. It was there that he practiced and ate.]

[Until one day, he happened to encounter a man with braids.]

[Good grief!]

[That man's shuriken throw was so impressive that Naruto's eyes lit up.]

[He was the only person Naruto had ever seen who could make shurikens bloom like flowers.]

[Despite his dislike for the villagers of Konoha, Naruto decided to approach him proactively.]

["Can you teach me shuriken throwing?"]

[Unfortunately, the moment the man with braids saw Naruto, he was startled for a moment and then disappeared without saying anything.]

[At first, Naruto felt very disappointed.]

[Everyone else avoided him, but this braided man was different. His eyes didn't show disgust or indifference, but rather an imperceptible trace of panic.]

[To Naruto's surprise, the next day, the braided man came back to see him.]

[However, the man's attire was similar to that of the masked individuals who occasionally gave Naruto money.]

[Of course, for Naruto, as long as someone could help him get stronger, it didn't matter who they were.]

Audience: "..."

Uchiha Sasuke: "..."

[Akatsuki Organization]

Everyone was silent for a while.

It turned out there was a reason why Naruto in that world had become so strong.

They had thought he was a genius, but it turned out his strength was the result of sheer effort and determination.

Pain: "Itachi, the person teaching Naruto how to throw shuriken… doesn't he look like you?"

Deidara: "Boss, stop hesitating! Look at that braided guy—it's obviously Itachi."

Hoshigaki Kisame: "If it was Itachi teaching him, then there's nothing surprising about Naruto's skill."

Uchiha Itachi: "..."

Itachi seemed calm on the surface, but internally, he was deeply unsettled.

In another world, had he truly become Naruto's shuriken-throwing teacher?

- Wouldn't this accelerate the downfall of the uchiha clan? Impossible!

The thought of Itachi training Naruto shocked everyone, and the higher-ups in Konoha trembled at the implications.

- Exposing the Uchiha clan to Nine-Tails Jinchuriki?

- Who would come up with such a reckless idea?

Uchiha Fugaku: "I didn't expect Itachi from that world to come into contact with the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki."

Uchiha Mikoto: "Fugaku, it's not as simple as you think. Didn't you notice that Itachi was startled and ran away the first time he saw Naruto?"

Orochimaru: "Hehehe, the Third Hokage really has nerves of steel, doesn't he?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen: "Shut up, Orochimaru! You have no idea what you're talking about."

[Hokage Office]

[Hiruzen looked at the crystal ball in his hand and nodded with satisfaction. "Naruto performed very well. Itachi, it's all thanks to you."]

[Itachi, wearing his Anbu uniform, knelt on one knee before Hiruzen. "No, Third Hokage. Naruto's progress is mainly due to his own talent and effort."]

[Itachi didn't elaborate further.]

[Initially, he hadn't expected Naruto, a Jinchūriki, to spend time in the secluded mountain behind the village, nor had he expected Naruto to take the initiative to approach him.]

[Itachi was alarmed. Naruto's identity was extremely sensitive, and Itachi himself was a member of the Uchiha clan.]

[At the time, the relationship between Konoha Village and the Uchiha clan was tense. For the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki to approach him voluntarily… if this incident reached Konoha's higher-ups, it would create even more complications.]

[In desperation, Itachi immediately reported the matter to Hiruzen.]

[Hiruzen, after careful thought, made a surprising decision: for the first time, he allowed Itachi to guide Naruto.]

[As Hokage, Hiruzen didn't want the Jinchūriki to merely serve as a village mascot.]

[If Naruto genuinely wanted to become stronger, there could be no better opportunity than nurturing his growth.]

[Bang! Bang! Bang!]

[A loud knock on the door broke the silence in the office.]

[From the force of the knock, Hiruzen immediately recognized who it was without needing to guess.]

["Itachi, step back for now."]

["Understood."]

[Itachi disappeared instantly.]

[The next moment, before Hiruzen could say a word, the door to his office was pushed open.]

[A one-eyed old man, leaning on a walking stick, entered the room with a solemn expression.]