Chapter 40: Chapter 40: The Quartet!
Chapter 40: The Quartet!
Katsuragi wasn't as calm as Sasuke might have imagined. In fact, he was quite unhappy because, surprisingly, the task hadn't been marked as completed.
"Could it be that it will only complete after school starts again?" Katsuragi speculated internally. After the exams, the holidays would start, and he wouldn't officially be in the second grade until school resumed. He figured that might be considered true graduation, which could be why the task hadn't concluded.
"Last place: Uzumaki Naruto."
As Iruka announced everyone's results, Katsuragi glanced at a dejected Naruto who, in the end, hadn't managed to achieve even that simple goal.
Truth be told, Katsuragi wanted to help Naruto but found it somewhat difficult to begin. Naruto's mind wasn't exactly suited for academic pursuits, especially since most of the first-grade curriculum required memorization.
In terms of practical skills, although Naruto's chakra was inherently vast due to his Uzumaki heritage, it was always problematic due to the interference from the Nine-Tails.
As for persuading the Nine-Tails not to interfere with Naruto, Katsuragi admitted he wasn't quite up to that level of persuasion. His participation in the sealing games was purely for the sake of the Three-Tails, and getting the Nine-Tails, the very cause of his seal, to leave Naruto alone was unlikely.
"Quiet down." Watching the classroom buzz with the noise of students chattering about their scores, Iruka clapped his hands to silence the room. "Starting tomorrow, you're all on holiday. Don't forget everything you've learned; there'll be a test when school resumes. Don't say I didn't warn you!"
The mention of a test upon return dampened the spirits momentarily, but the immediate prospect of holidays quickly swept away their gloom. Such was the nature of children, caring little for tests when there was fun to be had.
Katsuragi was also pondering what to do over the holiday and considering whether to upgrade the Snow Woman to five stars, advance the Three-Tails' awakening, or save for a future SSR.
As the final bell rang, signaling the start of the holidays, the children cheered, celebrating the arrival of their break.
Iruka, watching the jubilant classroom from the podium, didn't say much else. He simply smiled, closed his teaching materials, and announced the class dismissed before leaving the classroom himself.
...
The next morning, at the Uchiha residence, Sasuke's home.
"Brother, what were you like in school?"
Looking at his neatly dressed brother, about to head out to work, Sasuke, who had been somewhat silent since the holiday began, suddenly asked.
"Hmm?" Itachi, who was putting on his shoes, paused, then sat at the entrance and beckoned Sasuke over. After lightly tapping his forehead with a smile, he asked, "Why do you ask all of a sudden?"
"The results from the school exam came out yesterday!" Sasuke said, looking downcast—the only time he ever revealed his true feelings was in front of his beloved brother.
"Did you lose to that Katsuragi again?" Itachi's eyes flickered with surprise. He was well aware of Sasuke's talents and efforts, but the fact that Katsuragi still consistently outperformed him intrigued him.
"Yes." Sasuke nodded and then looked up at Itachi, "He hardly ever pays attention in class, either sleeping or flirting with girls. Why? Why can't I beat him despite all my efforts?"
"That's because it's not your time to be great yet!" Itachi smiled gently, his eyes suddenly shifting as his Sharingan activated, "See these eyes?"
"They are the most powerful strength of our Uchiha clan. When you have eyes like these, you will surely be able to beat him."
"When will I be able to have eyes like yours, brother?" Sasuke asked eagerly, his excitement palpable.
"Soon, perhaps!" Itachi's eyes held a hint of uncertainty. After tousling Sasuke's hair and turning off his Sharingan, he stood up, "It's a holiday, and you can't just train all the time. Go out and explore the village."
"Alright!" Sasuke, always obedient to Itachi, nodded and tugged at his sleeve, "Then, can you teach me more about training when you come back tonight?"
"Yes!" As a devoted brother, Itachi, looking at Sasuke's hopeful little face, couldn't help but smile and agree. After checking his equipment to make sure nothing was amiss, he said, "I'll see you later, then. Bye!"
"Bye, brother!"
After Itachi left, Sasuke told his parents he'd be out and followed Itachi's advice to roam around the village.
"Where should I go?"
Looking at the bustling village, Sasuke felt a bit lost. After some thought, he decided to just follow a road and see where it led. Just as he was about to set off, he spotted four familiar figures and quickly ducked behind a spot to hide.
"Hey! Hey! You guys go on your own! Why do you have to drag me along?"
Katsuragi's face was full of reluctance. Early in the morning, these three little devils had started shouting outside his house. He had intended not to open the door until the neighbors couldn't stand it anymore, and he was reluctantly dragged out.
"Because Naruto said the grilled fish you make is really good." Choji was stuffing food into his mouth as he cheerfully explained to Katsuragi.
Shikamaru, sympathetic, glanced at Katsuragi. He had been dragged here as well and felt a kindred spirit in Katsuragi's expression.
"Naruto..."
Katsuragi glared at Naruto, who was carrying various pots and pans, feeling a headache coming on. At that moment, he sensed a gaze and stealthily shifted his own, spotting Sasuke hiding behind a tree, he sighed.
"You're stalking us now? What, has 'housewife mode' been activated during the holiday?"
Looking at Naruto and the trailing Sasuke, Katsuragi thought bitterly.
Arriving at the riverbank, looking at the clear water, Katsuragi sighed again, wishing he had gotten up earlier to farm gold coins. If it hadn't been for the holiday, he wouldn't have been found by Naruto and the others.
Since they brought fishing rods, Katsuragi didn't resort to using stones to catch fish. Instead, he and Shikamaru lazily fished, waiting for Naruto and Choji to gather firewood and pick mushrooms.
By the time Katsuragi had caught the fifth fish, he noticed that Sasuke was still watching and hadn't left. He was hiding behind a tree, observing them.
"What is he up to?"
Katsuragi was puzzled. Sasuke didn't come out but kept watching them from a distance. Could it be that he was planning some sort of attack, considering he hadn't been able to beat Katsuragi? Katsuragi grew wary.
Meanwhile, Sasuke himself didn't really know what he wanted. He had intended to secretly follow Katsuragi and the others, perhaps to see if they were secretly training something. But seeing them just fishing, he felt a bit let down.
Yet, he didn't know where else to go, so he just stayed, aimlessly staring into space.
"Katsuragi, Shikamaru, are you done?"
Naruto's shout interrupted Katsuragi's thoughts. Considering Sasuke's current strength wasn't enough to hurt him even with a surprise attack, Katsuragi didn't worry too much. Looking at his catch of five big fish, he answered Naruto, "Yes, five should be enough."
"I've got three!" Shikamaru added.
Even though there were only four of them, and all were children, with Choji from the Akimichi clan present, Katsuragi still worried it might not be enough.
End of Chapter 40