Naruto: I'm in Konoha, my name is Uzumaki Menma

Chapter 258 Sasuke's Ambition for Revenge! [Second Update, 7K words]

Inside the special care ward of Konoha Hospital, the air was filled with the distinctive cool smell of disinfectant.

The sun shone brightly outside the window, and birds sang sweetly, but this did nothing to dispel the chill and deathly silence inside the room.

"what--!"

A piercing, terrified scream shattered the silence.

Uchiha Sasuke suddenly sat up in bed, his forehead covered in cold sweat, his chest heaving as he gasped for breath.

His once dark and bright eyes now held an inescapable fear and crimson hue.

A solitary black tomoe slowly rotates within it, a testament to the awakening of the Sharingan, yet also a mark of endless nightmares.

It's happening again... that nightmare.

Countless nights, he repeatedly experienced that bloody night.

The father's steady figure and the mother's gentle smile were shattered and vanished under the cold and ruthless ninja sword of the older brother, Uchiha Itachi.

The clansmen's shrill screams, the overwhelming stench of blood, and Itachi's indifferent Mangekyou Sharingan, as if he were looking at ants...

Finally, the story always lingers on Itachi's cold words: "I was just... measuring my own capacity."

“Measurement…measuring instrument…” Sasuke gripped the bed sheet tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force, his body trembling uncontrollably.

Immense pain, betrayal, and hatred gnawed at his seven-year-old heart like venomous snakes.

Why? Why did my brother do this?!

Why did the powerful Uchiha clan suddenly...?

Not far from the window, a large tree with lush foliage stood, and a figure crouched silently on it, seemingly blending into the shadows.

With silver-white hair and a white cat mask on his face, he was none other than Kakashi, who was ordered to secretly guard the orphaned children left behind by the Uchiha clan.

Through the holes in his mask, he looked at the child curled up in the ward, who appeared incredibly vulnerable and in pain, and a complex emotion flickered in his right eye.

He thought of his father, he thought of Obito, he thought of Rin...

He knew all too well the pain of losing someone important.

But what Sasuke experienced was far more tragic than most people could imagine.

Overnight, he went from being the beloved second young master of the Uchiha clan to an orphan with no relatives and burdened with a blood feud.

Ironically, the one who carried out this massacre was his own brother, whom he once admired and relied on the most.

"Is this the last Uchiha clan in Konoha...?" Kakashi sighed inwardly.

He participated in the battle that night, so he naturally knew far more than Sasuke. For example, Shisui and a large number of Uchiha clan members were still alive, but they had all gone to the Land of Stars.

For Sasuke, he was truly all alone left in Konoha.

Just then, Kakashi's pupils suddenly contracted.

The door to the ward was pushed open silently, and a figure entered uninvited.

The man leaned on a cane, his right eye and right arm were wrapped in thick bandages, and he exuded a chilling aura.

Danzo Shimura.

"What is he doing here?" Kakashi's heart skipped a beat, and he instantly became alert.

Danzo was likely under semi-house arrest at this time.

Without any hesitation, Kakashi's figure vanished from the tree branch in an instant, heading straight for the Hokage Building at top speed.

This matter must be reported to the Third Generation Lord immediately!

Inside the hospital room, Sasuke was still immersed in the lingering fear of the nightmare and the torment of hatred, and did not immediately notice that someone had entered.

"Uchiha Sasuke." Danzo's deep, hoarse voice rang out, like the cry of an owl.

Sasuke looked up abruptly, saw the person who had approached, and instinctively became wary, his single-tomoe Sharingan staring at the other person with suspicion: "Who are you?"

"I am Shimura Danzo, an advisor and elder of Konoha." Danzo slowly walked to the bedside, his one eye scrutinizing the single tomoe in Sasuke's eye, his tone seemingly carrying a hint of "regret".

"It seems you already know something... about the tragedy of that night."

Sasuke gritted his teeth and didn't answer, but the hatred in his eyes said it all.

Danzo seemed quite satisfied with his reaction and began to weave his lies with words that were half true and half false: "That night was very complicated. It all started with Uchiha Shisui, who secretly colluded with a woman named Uchiha Hikari from the Land of Stars, intending to harm Konoha."

"Shisui-nii?" Sasuke was taken aback, a hint of confusion flashing in his eyes.

Shisui was such a gentle person who always tried to ease the tension between his family and the village.

Uchiha Hikaru? That name sounds familiar; I feel like I've heard it somewhere before.

"Yes, Uchiha Shisui. His plot was discovered by the village, and he mysteriously disappeared during the pursuit. We originally thought he was dead," Danzo continued without changing his expression, shifting the blame onto the "defected" Shisui.

"And your brother, Uchiha Itachi, is even more depraved! He not only colluded with an extremely dangerous and mysterious organization, but also personally slaughtered many Uchiha clan members who resisted him, including... your parents."

He deliberately omitted the fact that Uchiha Hikaru and Shisui took away a large number of survivors, making Sasuke mistakenly believe that he was the only remaining member of the Uchiha clan.

"As for Uchiha Hikaru and Shisui, they took advantage of Itachi's chaos to attack Konoha, causing even greater casualties... Now, of the vast Uchiha clan, only you remain in Konoha." Danzo's voice was full of seduction, completely leading Sasuke into the abyss of hatred and despair.

Sasuke was struck dumb, his entire body stiffening.

The single-tomoe Sharingan began to spin wildly in his eyes, and memories of that night replayed uncontrollably in his mind.

He encountered his brother as he ran towards the clan's territory... his brother's eyes, filled with tears of blood... then came endless torment by illusions, and the reality he saw upon waking—a nightmare that had become a stark reality...

"Why... even Shisui-nii..." Sasuke's voice trembled, filled with confusion and pain.

He couldn't understand why his familiar and beloved brothers had suddenly turned into villains who betrayed the family and the village.

Danzo watched Sasuke descend into chaos and pain, a barely perceptible glint of cold light flashing in his single eye.

He leaned down, his voice lowered, like a viper flicking its tongue: "With your current meager strength... it's no wonder Itachi 'mercifully' let you go with this mere single-tomoe Sharingan."

These words were like the sharpest needle, piercing Sasuke's most vulnerable spot!
Yes, my brother possesses such a powerful three-tomoe Sharingan, or perhaps even more powerful abilities, which is why he was able to slaughter the entire clan so easily!

And what about yourself?

Weak, helpless, and not even qualified to seek revenge!

The extreme humiliation and resentment instantly overwhelmed his sorrow, and the flames of revenge burned fiercely in his eyes!
He grabbed Danzo's sleeve and pressed him urgently, "Tell me! How can I gain power! I want revenge! I want to kill that man!"

Danzo watched the fish take the bait, a cold smile playing on his lips, but outwardly maintaining the demeanor of a wise elder: "Besides its overt forces, Konoha also possesses a highly elite unit that secretly protects the village and carries out the most dangerous missions—'Root.' If you're willing to join 'Root' and undergo the most rigorous and effective training, then perhaps you..."

"Danzo!"

The door to the ward was suddenly pushed open, and the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, stood in the doorway with a grim face, his voice filled with suppressed anger.

He rushed over after receiving Kakashi's urgent report, just in time to overhear Danzo's last words: "Who gave you permission to contact Sasuke without authorization? Get out of here immediately!"

Danzo paused, his one eye coldly glancing at Hiruzen, then giving Sasuke a deep look, his gaze seeming to say, "Look, even the chance to become stronger is being taken away."

He didn't say anything more, just gave a soft hum, and slowly left the ward, leaning on his cane.

Hiruzen walked to Sasuke's bedside, looked at the lingering hatred and urgency in the child's eyes, and sighed heavily in his heart.

He tried to keep his tone gentle: "Sasuke, what you need right now is to rest and recover. Don't listen to those who have ulterior motives. Once you're better, go back to the Ninja Academy..."

"I don't want to go back to school!" Sasuke abruptly interrupted him, his voice shrill with excitement. "I just want to become stronger! I want revenge! I want to kill that man!"

Hiruzen looked at the child who was completely consumed by hatred, feeling both heartache and helplessness.

He tried to persuade them: "The ninja academy is where you lay the foundation, just like building a house. Only with a solid foundation can you build a towering building..."

"Why was that beast able to graduate early at the age of seven?!" Sasuke retorted excitedly, his eyes filled with indignation and questioning.

He was speechless for a moment.

Should we tell him that Itachi was a genius and that his strength far surpassed that of an ordinary genin at the age of seven?
This will only further agitate Sasuke's sensitive and proud nerves.

He remained silent for a moment, looking at Sasuke's stubborn yet desperate eyes, and then he remembered that Danzo had already made contact with him.

If left unchecked, this child could very well be lured by Danzo and walk down that dark path of "Root," where he becomes a tool.

That was something he absolutely did not want to see.

After a long silence, Hiruzen seemed to have made up his mind and slowly said, "Since you crave power so much... perhaps there is a path that can help you grow faster."

Sasuke immediately looked up and stared intently at him.

“I can make an exception and allow you to join the Anbu as an intern.” Hiruzen’s voice became serious: “But you need to think carefully. The Anbu carries out the most dangerous missions and faces the most vicious enemies. Every mission may teeter on the edge of life and death. A slight mistake could really kill you. It is far more cruel and dangerous than school.”

"Anbu?" Sasuke was taken aback. He remembered Danzo mentioning "Root" and subconsciously asked, "Compared to the 'Root' that the person just mentioned, which is stronger?"

Upon hearing this, Hiruzen revealed a faint, confident smile befitting a Hokage: "Of course, it's the Anbu. 'Root'... in the end, it's just a special unit under the Anbu system. The Anbu directly under the Hokage is Konoha's true elite force."

He cleverly elevated the Anbu while belittling Danzo's Root, both as a fact and to win Sasuke over to his side.

Sure enough, a light ignited in Sasuke's eyes.

Can it become stronger than the army that the one-eyed old man mentioned?

How can I gain the power of revenge more quickly?

Without hesitation, he nodded vigorously: "I accept! I want to join the Dark Division!"

“…Alright.” Hiruzen sighed, as if he had made a difficult decision: “I will arrange for someone to guide you. But remember, this is the path you chose yourself.”

After comforting Sasuke for a few moments, Hiruzen left the ward, his brows furrowing even more deeply.

He knew this was just a temporary measure.

Throwing such a child, filled with hatred, into darkness too early is a risky proposition.

In the distance, under the shadow of a large tree, Kakashi, dressed as a squad leader in the ANBU, silently watched all this, his right eye revealing a complex expression.

That night, the Hokage's office was brightly lit.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had changed into his divine robes, but his face could not hide his deep exhaustion.

In just a few days, he seemed to have aged ten years.

The death of the eldest son, Shinnosuke, was not only a great loss, but also a devastating blow to the Anbu, which had already suffered heavy losses in the turmoil.

Kakashi Hatake stood in front of his desk, having just finished reporting on the Anbu's current rest and reorganization status and personnel shortages.

"...That's roughly the situation. All the squads are being reorganized, and compensation for casualties has been arranged." Kakashi's voice was calm and even, as if he were stating something that had nothing to do with him.

"You've worked hard, Kakashi." Hiruzen rubbed his temples, his voice hoarse. "It must have been a lot of pressure to suddenly put you in the position of Captain-Commander. I'm sorry, but after Shinnosuke, I really can't think of anyone else who can fill this role. For a long time to come, you'll probably have very little time to rest."

"It's a ninja's duty," Kakashi replied calmly, as if he were already used to heavy responsibilities and sacrifices.

Hiruzen nodded, pondered for a moment, and then brought up another matter: "Regarding Uchiha Sasuke... I've decided to make an exception and let him join the Anbu as an intern."

Kakashi's exposed right eye twitched slightly, but he didn't speak, waiting for the Hokage to continue.

"I will assign him to your direct squad." Hiruzen looked at Kakashi, his tone solemn. "You, along with Yamato, will personally be responsible for training him and guiding him in missions. At the same time..."

He paused, then said meaningfully, "He also needs to understand what the true Will of Fire is. I hope... hatred won't completely consume that child."

Kakashi remained silent for a moment, then bowed slightly: "...Yes, Hokage."

He knew that this was another heavy and complicated task.

Teaching a vengeful Uchiha orphan and guiding him onto the "right" path is perhaps more challenging than dealing with an S-rank rogue ninja. Outside the window, Konoha's night scene remains vibrant, but beneath this prosperity, undercurrents of hatred, conspiracy, and reconstruction surge.

After losing everything, Sasuke Uchiha's wheel of fate was forcibly pushed once again in an unexpected way, heading into the unknown and dark depths.

Kakashi Hatake, a man who also carries countless wounds and secrets, will become one of his guides on this dark journey.

………………

A few days later, Uchiha Sasuke was discharged from the hospital.

He changed into a clean Uchiha clan uniform, but the red and white fan-shaped clan emblem on his back seemed particularly glaring and heavy at this moment.

He held a thick envelope given to him by the Third Hokage. Inside, besides a considerable amount of living expenses, there was a key marked with a specific floor and room number, and a simple map of Konoha.

Following the map, he arrived at a relatively new-looking apartment building not far from the hospital.

Opening the designated door with the key, a strong smell of newly renovated building materials wafted out.

The room was large, a standard two-bedroom, one-living room layout. The living room was spacious, the bedroom was bright, and it was fully furnished with furniture and appliances. It was even more modern and comfortable than his previous room in the Uchiha clan's territory.

But for a seven-year-old child who has just lost everything, this excessive "comfort" and "completeness" only highlights a suffocating emptiness and coldness.

There was no father's strict yet caring guidance, no mother's gentle figure preparing dinner, no subtle sounds brought by the occasional return of the older brother, and none of the familiar clansmen in the ancestral land.

He was all alone in this desolate, unfamiliar space.

An overwhelming sense of loneliness overwhelmed him.

Sasuke suddenly turned around and rushed out of this so-called "new home," almost instinctively running towards the direction of the Uchiha clan's territory, which he remembered most.

He ran through the familiar streets, his heart pounding in his chest, a sliver of unrealistic hope lingering, perhaps...

Perhaps it was just a nightmare?
Perhaps the ancestral land is still there, and the people of the ancestral land are still living there?
However, when he finally reached the location he remembered, the scene before him made him feel as if he had fallen into an ice cave.

The once vast and architecturally rich Uchiha clan territory has now been almost completely razed to the ground!
Only a few scattered sections of dilapidated walls and charred foundations remain, telling the story of its former existence.

Instead, there are several huge construction sites enclosed by temporary fences, with various construction machines roaring and workers busily moving about.

Judging from the planning signs that have already been erected and the clan emblems that have been hung, this land has been quickly allocated to other ninja clans for reconstruction.

his home……

Really gone.

They were completely and utterly erased from this world.

Looking at the unfamiliar clan emblems and busy workers, Sasuke's face turned pale, and his fists clenched tightly.

He walked back, somewhat lost and dejected.

When he arrived at the core area of ​​Konoha, passersby noticed the child wearing Uchiha clan clothing with a conspicuous fan emblem on his back. They cast strange glances at him, accompanied by whispers, pointing and whispering, and even undisguised disgust and fear.

"Look, it's the Uchiha clan..."

"How dare he come out wearing those clothes?"

"I heard it's his brother..."

"Stay away from him, he's bad luck..."

Those gazes and whispers felt like needles pricking Sasuke, making him feel incredibly embarrassed, humiliated, and angry.

He suddenly lowered his head, wanting to leave quickly.

In that instant, he suddenly remembered a scene he often saw before: when Naruto Uzumaki was walking alone on the street, the people around him looked at him with similar, or even more blatant, disgust, pointing and whispering.

So this is what it feels like to be surrounded by everyone's strange looks?

An indescribable chill, a mixture of loneliness and rejection, spread so clearly in his heart for the first time.

He used to think Naruto was just a noisy idiot, but now he inexplicably felt a sense of... resonance?
In a daze, he suddenly bumped into someone walking towards him.

Both of them cried out "Ouch!" and fell to the ground.

"Ouch! Don't you watch where you're going, Sasuke?!" A familiar yet noisy voice rang out.

Sasuke looked up and saw Naruto Uzumaki rubbing his butt and grimacing as he stood up, his dazzling blond hair particularly eye-catching in the sunlight.

Behind Naruto followed a group of familiar figures.

Shikamaru, Choji, Shino, Ino, Sakura, and... Menma, who was slowly sipping a cup of milk tea, and Hinata, who was timidly pressed against Menma.

Shikamaru looked at Sasuke, a knowing and complicated look flashing in his eyes. He probably knew some of the inside story.

Menma remained in that lazy, spectator-like manner, a straw dangling from his mouth, his gaze beneath the mask intently observing the distraught Sasuke, as if he were watching an interesting drama unfold.

The other children mostly looked concerned and curious.

"Sasuke-kun, are you alright?" Sakura and Ino stepped forward almost simultaneously, asking with concern.

They noticed that Sasuke looked unwell and hadn't been to school for several days.

Naruto joined in, asking casually, "Hey Sasuke, where have you been these past few days? Were you sick?"

Looking at his classmates who were still naive and living in the sunshine, and comparing the drastic changes that had happened to him with the pointing and whispering gazes around him, Sasuke felt a huge sense of loss and inexplicable irritation.

He stood up abruptly, dusted himself off, and deliberately used a cold and arrogant tone to mask his inner vulnerability and turmoil: "Hmph, I will never come to the Ninja Academy again."

"Huh? Why?" Naruto's eyes widened, looking completely puzzled.

Sasuke raised his chin, trying to make himself seem impressive: "I've already graduated early."

After he finished speaking, he glanced at Menma, who had been silent all along and whose grades always surpassed his, as if trying to see a hint of surprise on the other's face.

"Graduated early?!" Naruto exclaimed in surprise, his face filled with envy and resentment. "How did you do that? You're so cunning, Sasuke!"

"Hmph, a loser like you who can't even use the Shadow Clone Technique properly should just stay in school," Sasuke said sarcastically, trying to recapture his former self.

"Maybe in a few years, when I become a Chunin or even a Jonin, you'll be able to graduate smoothly!"

"What did you say?! You arrogant Sasuke!" Naruto was indeed enraged and jumped up to argue with Sasuke.

The two started arguing again, and the familiar scene of their quarrel seemed to lighten some of the gloom in Sasuke's heart.

Seeing Naruto's furious yet helpless expression, Sasuke's lips unconsciously curled into a very faint smile, one that even he himself didn't notice.

This childish argument, at this moment, actually made him feel a strange sense of warmth and reality.

……

A few days later, at the Konoha Anbu base.

The air was filled with the mixed smells of steel, leather, and a faint disinfectant.

In the relatively sparsely populated locker room, Kakashi Hatake, who had just finished a round of inspections, was taking advantage of a rare break to sit in a chair and intently flip through his ever-present copy of "Icha Icha Paradise".

Yamato, who had just been promoted to captain of the first squad of the Anbu, carefully put his equipment into the cabinet, walked to Kakashi's side, and asked in a calm tone, "Kakashi-senpai, when are you planning to go pick up Uchiha Sasuke?"

They had all experienced that bloody night, fought against the Star Ninja, and Yamato even witnessed the shock brought by his former friend Yukimi awakening Wood Release.

He had mixed feelings about taking on the task of teaching the Uchiha orphans, but he felt a strong sense of responsibility.

Kakashi, without taking his eyes off the pages, lazily replied, "I've already sent someone to pick them up."

Before the words were finished, an ANBU ninja wearing an animal mask appeared instantly at the locker room door and respectfully reported, "Captain-Commander, Uchiha Sasuke has been brought here and is waiting at the training ground."

Kakashi then closed the book and stuffed it into his ninja tool bag: "Let's go, let's meet our 'trainee'."

The training grounds at the Anbu base are quite large, and many Anbu members are conducting high-intensity physical combat, ninjutsu practice, or tactical coordination training here.

The clanging of kunai clashing, the booming of ninjutsu exploding, and the urgent commands rising and falling created a tense yet efficient atmosphere.

Sasuke Uchiha, who was entering such a place for the first time, stood at the edge of the arena, looking around with curiosity and excitement.

Looking at those agile, swift, and fierce ANBU ninjas, he felt his blood heating up, as if he could see his future of rapidly becoming stronger and personally slaying his enemies.

Just then, the noise in the training field seemed to decrease slightly.

Many members of the Dark Guard who were training stopped what they were doing and nodded slightly in greeting toward the entrance.

"Captain!"

"Captain Kakashi!"

"Captain Yamato!"

Sasuke looked in the direction of the sound and saw Kakashi and Yamato walking over one after the other.

Kakashi still looked lazy, but when his dead fish eyes swept across the training ground, there was an invisible aura of power.

Yamato, on the other hand, appears more composed and reserved.

Sasuke's gaze was immediately drawn to Kakashi.

Is this seemingly unmotivated guy the captain of the Dark Division?
Kakashi walked up to Sasuke and said calmly, "Come with me."

He led Sasuke through part of the training area, giving a brief introduction as they walked: "Anbu, short for Assassination Tactical Special Forces, is directly under the Hokage and is responsible for carrying out the most dangerous and highly classified missions, including reconnaissance, assassination, protection, and cleanup..."

"This is Konoha's most elite force, but it also means the highest casualty rate. The training intensity here far exceeds your imagination. If you feel you can't handle it, it's not too late to quit now."

"I won't give up!" Sasuke answered immediately, his eyes burning with unwavering determination.

He suddenly remembered a question and couldn't help but ask, "Hey, Captain... who's stronger, you or that man?"

He was clearly referring to Itachi Uchiha.

Kakashi paused, seemingly pondering the strength Itachi displayed during his time in the Anbu, then scratched the back of his head and said in his signature lazy tone, "Hmm... about fifty-fifty."

After all, Itachi had never shown the kaleidoscope to them.

Sasuke frowned at the vague answer, but didn't press the matter further.

The three arrived at the equipment room, where a logistics staff member had already prepared a standard ANBU combat uniform that fit Sasuke's physique and a pure white animal mask without any patterns.

Kakashi handed the equipment to Sasuke: "Put this on. From today onwards, when carrying out ANBU missions and training, you will be the ANBU trainee codenamed 'Hawk'."

Sasuke took the cold combat uniform and mask, a strange sense of mission welling up inside him.

However, the first task Kakashi gave Sasuke completely stunned him.

"Your first mission: Infiltration." Kakashi's voice remained lazy and calm. "Target location: Konoha Ninja Academy. Mission requirements: Infiltrate as an ordinary student, participate in school classes normally, establish 'good' relationships with classmates and teachers, secretly gather basic intelligence on their daily behavior, interpersonal relationships, and ability inclinations, and report back regularly."

"At the same time, after school every day, students must come to the base on time to receive physical, ninjutsu, genjutsu, and tactical training from the Anbu, as well as training in the use of the Sharingan."

"What?! Back to school?!" Sasuke almost thought he had misheard. He joined the Anbu to become stronger and get revenge, not to go back and play house!

Yamato, standing nearby, explained, "Disguise and infiltration are essential skills for ninjas, especially elite ANBU members. The most skillful infiltration is to completely blend into the environment without arousing any suspicion. The Ninja Academy is the most suitable place for you to undergo this training at this stage."

Kakashi chimed in, his tone leaving no room for doubt: "They build a theoretical foundation, hone their infiltration skills, and undergo intense extra training—that's the daily rhythm of an Anbu ninja. Think you can't handle it? I told you, it's not too late to quit now."

Another attempt at reverse psychology!

Sasuke looked into Kakashi's eyes, which seemed to see right through him, and a surge of competitive spirit welled up inside him.

He gritted his teeth and shouted back, "Who says I can't take it! I'll take this task! I will definitely complete it!"

Kakashi looked at the boy in front of him, driven by hatred but forced to temporarily return to his "cage," and a complex emotion, unnoticed by anyone, flashed in his right eye.

This road is destined to be full of thorns.

(End of this chapter)