Although many students in his class liked to doze off during lectures and often acted out, Iruka never considered them bad students—perhaps just not suited to conventional classroom learning.
Today's actual combat drill helped him better understand the unique strengths and potential of each student.
With the conclusion of this combat assessment, Sasuke Uchiha's life began to settle into a routine. Whenever there were no missions or training, he would quietly meditate in the Academy training grounds or behind Hokage Rock.
For six years, Sasuke remained unassuming at the Ninja Academy. He never displayed his true power, never attempted to skip grades, and hadn't encountered danger since the attempted assassination by Uchiha Setsuna. He lived like a shadow—calm, quiet, and deliberate.
During these six years, the system had granted him various rewards through daily sign-ins: flesh-reconstruction pills, a black cloak that conceals spiritual pressure, a Cross Star badge, a soul-crafting technique, Asauchi, and the Zanpakutō Senbonzakura.
Some of these items had little relevance in the Naruto world—at least for now. For instance, the black cloak and Cross Star badge, both useful for suppressing or manipulating Reiatsu (spiritual pressure), had limited function in a world that lacked awareness of such forces. Even the Cross Star, which could steal a Shinigami's Bankai, was pointless here—after all, Sasuke was the only one with a Zanpakutō in this realm. He couldn't steal a Bankai that only he possessed.
The rest of the rewards were far more useful. The flesh-reconstruction pills could repair any damage or genetic instability—possibly life-saving in future battles. The soul prosthetic crafting technique allowed him to forge vessels to house separated souls. While he couldn't use it yet, if he ever acquired a Shinigami Glove or Gikongan (Artificial Soul Pill), he could divide his soul, create doppelgängers, and explore the shinobi world unnoticed.
As for the Asauchi, it was mostly useless to Sasuke. According to the system, his original Zanpakutō—Ryūjin Jakka—was innately bound to his soul. Any subsequent Zanpakutō acquired would lose their individual abilities, merging into his primary blade. This meant if he accepted a new Zanpakutō, like Senbonzakura, it would overwrite his current powers.
To Sasuke, this was unacceptable. He still wasn't certain whether he possessed innate Shinigami potential, and what if the new blade's ability was inferior? His current Zanpakutō already had three powerful attributes—changing it was simply too risky.
Still, he didn't discard the Asauchi. If another person with a strong enough soul came along, perhaps they could awaken its power and become a fellow Shinigami.
As for Senbonzakura—no explanation was needed. It was arguably the most iconic Zanpakutō for style and spectacle. Its abilities were elegant and devastating, and even its Bankai scene was dazzling. The system had already merged its essence into Sasuke's base blade, adding its soul traits to Ryūjin Jakka.
In terms of strength, Sasuke assessed himself to be on par with an elite jonin. He hadn't achieved Bankai yet, but the conditions were gradually aligning for its awakening.
---
Konoha Year 63 – Ichiraku Ramen Shop, Konoha Village
Sasuke sat at the counter of Ichiraku Ramen wearing his black Shihakushō (death god uniform), loosely belted at the waist. A standard Konoha forehead protector rested across his brow.
He had officially graduated from the Ninja Academy the day before, but his team and jonin leader had yet to be assigned. He wasn't sure if, like in the original timeline, he would be paired with Naruto and Sakura under Kakashi.
"Uncle Teuchi, can I get a bowl of tonkotsu ramen to go?"
Sasuke pulled out a lunchbox and handed it over, noticing curious stares from other diners. The request was unusual—ramen was typically eaten fresh—and Sasuke himself felt awkward. But it had to be done.
"Huh? You said... to go?" Teuchi blinked. "You want it in a lunchbox?"
"Yes, sorry for the trouble," Sasuke said apologetically.
"Well... I can do that, but ramen doesn't taste the same once it cools. You sure you want to take it away?"
"Um... yeah." Sasuke scratched his cheek awkwardly. "A friend of mine's bedridden. She said she missed your ramen, so I thought I'd bring her some."
Teuchi fell silent for a moment. Then, suddenly, he laughed and saluted like a proud chef.
"Say no more! For a friend in need, I'll make the finest ramen this shop has ever seen. Give me five minutes!"
He flipped on his chef hat and began working with blazing intensity, leaving Sasuke staring at his back in awe.
After leaving Ichiraku, Sasuke stopped by the dango shop in the east of the village and bought a large bundle of sweets. His hands were full by the end.
Avoiding the busy market streets, Sasuke walked into a secluded grove behind Konoha's training grounds.
> "South is heart, north is eye, west is fingertip, east is toe—gather with the wind and scatter with the rain.
Bakudō #58: Kakushitsuijaku."
Sasuke invoked the Kido spell to sense nearby Reiatsu. While chakra and Reiatsu were different energies, everyone with a soul radiated spiritual pressure—however faint. In this world, even if Reiatsu couldn't be cultivated, it could be detected.
With no spiritual signatures nearby, he called out, "Liuhuo, it's clear. I brought all the snacks you wanted from the village."
As soon as he finished, the Zanpakutō at his waist glowed. A flash of crimson light burst from the blade, and a tall woman with long red hair appeared beside him, snatching the food with lightning speed.
"Cold again! This is your fault! I told you to let me eat there, but you insisted on sneaking around!" she grumbled while munching aggressively.
"It's not like I wanted to. If the village elders found out I was harboring an extra-dimensional spirit, my clan would be done for," Sasuke replied with a sigh.
The Uchiha clan had regained some stability in recent years, especially after the radicals left or were exiled. But political pressure remained high.
"Hmph. You're too soft. If you were stronger, you could just silence the ones watching you." Liuhuo glared at him while tearing into a squid skewer.
"Well... if Sister Liuhuo officially acknowledged me, maybe I'd have less to worry about," Sasuke said with a playful smile, edging closer.
Liuhuo was already halfway through a bowl of ramen, three skewers of grilled squid, and several servings of oden. Despite her petite frame and slim waist—slimmer than a sheet of A4 paper—her appetite was monstrous.
She bit into a triple-colored dango ball, then waved the empty stick at Sasuke. "Don't be foolish. Gaining Bankai isn't just about me recognizing you. You need to understand me too. My personality, my instincts, my hunger—everything. Without that, even if you force a Bankai, its power will be hollow."