"Chidori!"
The sharp, piercing cry of a thousand birds filled the air, grating on the ears.
With a flash of lightning, Uchiha Sasuke charged forward, lightning-charged chakra concentrated in his hand. His body surged ahead in a blur, covering ground in an instant.
His Sharingan spun—three tomoe whirling rapidly.
The technique he wielded was none other than the Chidori, the very same jutsu created and mastered by Kakashi Hatake!
Yet, the one standing opposite Sasuke now was Kakashi-sensei himself. Even he didn't dare to take Sasuke lightly at this point.
Though Sasuke concealed much of his strength, Kakashi had already noticed—the boy still had cards hidden up his sleeve. Of course, Kakashi did as well.
Another Chidori flared to life in Kakashi's hand. The crackling chakra seemed sharper, more refined, tempered by years of mastery.
Sasuke's, in contrast, surged with wild, untamed energy—an expression of youthful arrogance.
"Kakashi-sensei, don't underestimate me!"
Sasuke blurred forward, his body leaving afterimages behind. Lightning chakra stimulated every cell in his body, amplifying his speed to frightening levels.
Kakashi's expression grew grave. Sasuke's physical ability at this age already surpassed his own when he was twelve.
"But Sasuke…" Kakashi muttered coldly, his gaze sharpening. "You're still too young."
A wave of killing intent burst forth from Kakashi, honed through countless battles on the blood-soaked fields of the Shinobi World.
Kakashi surged ahead, his Chidori raised. Sasuke mirrored him.
The two clashed.
BOOM!!!
The earth shook. A crater opened where their attacks collided.
Their bodies crossed, backs to each other. The battlefield fell silent.
Then, Sasuke dropped to one knee, panting. Kakashi slowly turned.
"How was it, Sasuke?" Kakashi asked evenly.
Sasuke didn't answer. His eyes closed for a moment, replaying the clash in his mind.
That killing intent—when Kakashi locked onto him—it froze him for an instant. In that moment, he'd felt death brush against him. His body refused to move, his instincts smothered beneath Kakashi's sheer presence.
Even with all his growing power, Sasuke realized his weakness. Against a shinobi like Kakashi—tempered by war and burdened by years of experience—raw talent alone wasn't enough.
The difference between them wasn't strength, but experience.
When both wielded the same jutsu, Kakashi's mastery and battlefield instincts tipped the scale decisively in his favor.
Still, Sasuke knew: if the battle dragged on, Kakashi's chakra reserves would dwindle. As long as Sasuke could endure, the outcome might change. But Kakashi wouldn't allow that. If the fight escalated, it would become a clash of trump cards.
Sasuke rose again, defiant. He acknowledged it—Kakashi's interference with killing intent wasn't "fair." But fairness had no place on a battlefield. Kakashi's refined Chidori and battle-hardened instinct remained above his own. To surpass him, Sasuke still had a long path to walk.
Clap clap clap!!!
Applause echoed. Naruto appeared beside them, grinning.
Sasuke gave a curt nod. Kakashi's eye narrowed, and he tugged down his forehead protector, covering his Sharingan.
But inwardly, Kakashi was shaken. Naruto had approached without him even noticing. That alone spoke volumes—Naruto's strength was no longer beneath his own.
The teacher's son… truly extraordinary. Unfathomable.
From head to toe, Naruto radiated mystery.
"Sasuke, you've gotten stronger again," Naruto said warmly, clapping Sasuke on the shoulder.
Sasuke swatted his hand away with a scowl.
"Kakashi-sensei, you've also made progress," Naruto added, turning his keen gaze to his former teacher.
Ever since he'd embarked on his martial arts path, Naruto's senses could perceive the flow of life force within others.
Once, Kakashi's energy had been slightly scattered, dulled by his overindulgence in Icha Icha Paradise. Now, however, that energy was centered, refined, his sharpness concealed beneath calm restraint.
Though Kakashi hadn't trained in Naruto's martial arts, his physical condition had improved immensely.
The Unbreakable Golden Body—Naruto recognized the results instantly.
Kakashi was evolving into a well-rounded warrior. His Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, and Genjutsu were already formidable; endurance remained his only true weakness. The Sharingan, though invaluable, did not perfectly complement him—it was a double-edged sword limiting his natural potential.
And yet, Naruto knew. In the future, Kakashi would awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan. With it, he'd gain a fearsome trump card.
Kakashi gave a small shrug, smiling faintly. "Hmm… perhaps. But I doubt it means much in your eyes. Your strength now… is likely beyond comprehension."
Naruto's lips curled upward. He didn't answer, but his silence was its own acknowledgment.
"Sasuke, how's your reading coming along lately?"
Naruto asked suddenly.
Sasuke frowned, answering with his usual seriousness.
"I've already mastered the basics. I can even manage the conversion between electricity and magnetism. But when I try to form a Railgun, the power disperses too quickly."
Thanks to his Sharingan, Sasuke could breeze through books. Memorizing their contents was easy—his eyes copied every page effortlessly. What remained was simply comprehension.
Naruto couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy. His own immense mental strength allowed him to nearly match Sasuke's ability, but the Sharingan still made the process far more efficient.
He found himself musing: So the Byakugan is best suited for medical ninjutsu… and the Sharingan might truly shine in research and analysis. Maybe this is the right way to unlock the potential of these Bloodline Limits.
He remembered: in the original timeline, after Sasuke defected, he absorbed vast knowledge from Orochimaru, even developing a jutsu that mimicked a natural disaster—
Lightning Release: Kirin.
That alone proved Sasuke's mind was sharp, innovative. If his talent kept evolving, he might one day even create a Susanoo that resembled a mechanical giant, like a Gundam.
And if the organization continues advancing Chakra Armor research… imagine outfitting Susanoo with a full suit of Chakra Armor. The very image was almost absurd in its grandeur.
With the thought lingering, Naruto clapped Sasuke on the shoulder.
"Sasuke, study those technology texts carefully—and not just those. Read broadly. I'll have an important task for you in the future."
Sasuke rarely saw Naruto this serious. He gave a firm nod, unaware that Naruto was already planning to place him in charge of an advanced research division someday.
"Alright. I'll make sure to study them thoroughly."
Sasuke's tone was calm, but his eyes gleamed with determination.
"By the way," Naruto asked casually, "why aren't Lee and the others here today?"
A faint voice answered from nearby.
"Might Guy took them on a mission. They'll probably be gone for about half a month."
"On a mission, huh?"
Naruto wasn't worried. Lee and the others had already faced bloodshed; their strength wasn't in doubt.
And with Might Guy leading them, even if they stumbled into a confrontation with a Kage-level opponent, Naruto was confident they could retreat unscathed.
...
TN:
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