chapter 1

CHAPTER 1: THE PERFECT SQUAD AND THE SURVIVOR

(Setting: Konoha Academy Classroom. Iruka Sensei stands before the newly graduated class.)

IRUKA: "Now, you are all the new ninjas of Konoha. Your teams will be formed today."

(Iruka announces the teams. When Team 7 is called, everyone looks at Sasuke.)

IRUKA: "Team 7: Naruto Uzumaki... Sakura Haruno... and... Sasuke Uchiha."

NARUTO: (Shouting) "YEAH! Now I'll finally pass that Sasuke!"

SAKURA: (Glares at Naruto) "Shhh! Naruto-Baka! Don't ruin Sasuke-kun and my relationship!"

SASUKE: (Without looking at Naruto, with a slight smirk) "Hn. I'll just have to drag this dead weight along."

(Seeing the tension between Naruto and Sasuke, Iruka is slightly worried, but he knows Sasuke still has the full support of the Uchiha Clan waiting for him at home.)

SCENE CHANGE: The Arrival of the Sensei

(Team 7 is waiting for their sensei, Kakashi Hatake. Kakashi arrives late.)

KAKASHI: (Arriving) "Sorry, I got... lost on the road of life."

NARUTO: (Angrily) "Why are you always late, Sensei!"

SASUKE: (Arms crossed) "It's not polite to keep an Uchiha waiting."

KAKASHI: (An eye smile) "Oh, so you're the Uchiha? I'm always happy to see your older brother, Obito. You two are quite different. Anyway, let's go to the roof."

(On the roof, Kakashi asks for their introductions.)

KAKASHI: "Okay, you first, the blonde one."

NARUTO: "I'm Naruto Uzumaki! My dream is to become Hokage! And my favorite food is ramen! I... I like people!"

KAKASHI: (To himself) "No brooding, no major darkness. Good." (Sakura gives her brief introduction.)

KAKASHI: "And you, Sasuke?"

SASUKE: (Placing a hand on his Uchiha crest) "My name is Sasuke Uchiha. There are many things I dislike. I don't have a specific dream... but I want to bring my clan's glory back to the center of Konoha. I will prove that the Uchiha are the strongest."

(Kakashi looks into his eyes. Sasuke has no fire of vengeance, only pride and the honor of his family. Kakashi is reminded of his old friend Obito, and his other friend.)

KAKASHI: (Lightening the mood) "Alright. Then you'll find out tomorrow how useless you all are in my bell test. Be here early."

SCENE CHANGE: Kakashi's Thoughts

(In the evening, at the training ground, Kakashi stands alone. Rin Nohara approaches him.)

RIN: (Softly) "Coming back from meeting Team 7, Kakashi?"

KAKASHI: "Yeah, Rin. Sasuke... looks exactly like Obito when he was younger. So arrogant. But his eyes don't hold the pain that... that we saw."

RIN: (Takes Kakashi's hand. Her eyes hold the peace of a medic-nin, not the fear of a Jinchuriki.) "That's because his family is alive, Kakashi. And your hands are clean. Obito endured everything so that I could live, and so you two could be free of guilt."

KAKASHI: (Squeezing her hand gently) "I'm happy, Rin. Our Team Minato is finally whole... at least three of us. Just pray that the Uchiha Elders and Danzou don't break this peace for long."

RIN: "We won't let them. Now, come on! Obito and Minato-Sensei are waiting for us for dinner."

(Kakashi smiles. He is ready for the bell test tomorrow. He now has not only books to read but two friendships he must preserve.)

This is the complete novel draft in English!

It sets the stage for a great story where Sasuke is driven by Pride instead of Revenge, and the presence of Rin and Obito adds a strong protective layer to Konoha.

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