In the tranquil hush of the training ground, a young kunoichi awaited, her lustrous dark hair cascading like a shadowy waterfall around her. Her eyes, resembling polished rubies, caught the first glimpse of Sasuke's arrival. With a poised demeanour, she stepped forward, extending a greeting.
"Nice to meet you, Sasuke. I'm Kurenai Yuhi. Lord Hokage has entrusted me with the task of teaching you the skill of Genjutsu."
"Hello, sensei," Sasuke responded with a nod of acknowledgement.
Before they began the Genjutsu training, Kurenai, intrigued, sought insight into Sasuke's motivation. Her question lingered in the air, a gentle inquiry wrapped in curiosity.
"Before we delve into our training, could you share why you aspire to master Genjutsu? As a Uchiha, why venture into the realm of illusions when your eyes carry such potent power?" The tone of her question bore a subtle confusion, a genuine curiosity seeking clarity.
"While the Sharingan boasts formidable Genjutsu capabilities, it's bound by the requirement of direct eye contact with the target. I am trying to broaden my repertoire, so I can deal with future problems issues more easily. Furthermore, learning Genjutsu not only enhances my versatility but also unlocks the true potential of the Sharingan."
Sasuke, unswayed by the assumptions that often shadowed his lineage, responded with a calm resolve.
Momentarily taken aback, Kurenai found herself absorbing the rare sight of a Uchiha acknowledging and striving to overcome the inherent constraints of their renowned bloodline.
'Perhaps there's more depth to the Uchiha than the tales convey,' she mused, her preconceptions shifting. The cloak of disdain she held toward the Uchiha, woven by their dismissive attitudes toward her Genjutsu prowess, began to unravel in the face of Sasuke's humility and sincerity.
"To start our lesson today, what is Genjutsu? Many simply think it is the use of chakra to deceive the opponent. But, no. Genjutsu transcends the mere guise of deception; at its core, it is the intricate fusion of manipulation and artful misdirection. It doesn't merely weave illusions for concealment; instead, it orchestrates a subtle performance.
The puppeteer doesn't merely hide the strings; they deftly guide them through the unseen medium of chakra. Genjutsu is the manipulation of perception, a mastery of an elusive dance that entices the target into a realm where reality itself becomes a puppet in the hands of the manipulator.
The victim remains none the wiser, ensnared in a web of illusions—a trap from which escape becomes an elusive hope." Kurenai introduced Genjutsu with infectious enthusiasm, her words dripping with fervour and her eyes aglow with bright anticipation.
"Genjutsu is an extension of your chakra. The more refined your control, the more intricate illusions you can cast." She then continued to explain.
"Have you delved into chakra control training? If not, mastering Genjutsu might pose a challenge," Kurenai inquired towards Sasuke.
"I've completed the tree and water walking exercises, so that shouldn't be an issue," Sasuke assured her with a nod.
"Excellent. Now, let's embark on your Genjutsu training by teaching you a simple D-Rank Genjutsu called 'Veiled Whispers'..." Her words were abruptly silenced by a gentle cascade of whispers enveloping Sasuke's senses.
'When did this happen?' Shocked by the sudden entrapment in a Genjutsu, Sasuke witnessed Kurenai transform into a hauntingly familiar figure. Short, raven-black hair framed the face, onyx eyes mirroring Sasuke's own, and subtle tear troughs beneath the eyes.
Sasuke's blood began pumping through his body, as an intense yet foreign feeling of hatred began flooding his mind.
'Calm down; it's just an illusion. I've promised to help you seek revenge. Just be patient.' Sasuke repeatedly chanted in his mind until he managed to clear his mind of that boiling hatred and then began thinking about what he should do to break free from this Genjutsu.
Breaking through with brute force via his Mangekyou was not an option. That would only expose his Mangekyou, which Sasuke didn't plan to reveal to anyone in the near future. Furthermore, he wanted to try and break through this Genjutsu without relying on his Sharingan and instead wanted to use the Genjutsu Release Technique.
Sasuke took a deep breath, calming himself down and began placing his hands in front of him, forming a hand seal.
'Kai!'
After executing the Genjutsu release technique, Sasuke found himself back in the familiar training ground. Kurenai stood before him, her expression now tinged with curiosity.
"Well done. Though it was a simple D-Rank Genjutsu, escaping one performed by a Jonin is no small feat. Moreover, who taught you that technique? I thought the Uchiha disdained such methods and brute-forced their way through Genjutsu."
After a brief pause, Sasuke reluctantly uttered the name of the one who imparted that technique to him.
"Uchiha... Itachi...."
With the utterance of that name, the training ground swiftly succumbed to an oppressive silence, as if the mere mention had invoked an unspoken weight that hung heavily in the air.
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After the training session with Sasuke, Kurenai knelt before Hiruzen in the Hokage office.
"How was Sasuke, Kurenai?" The Hokage asked with his back turned to the kunoichi, as he stared out of the window, gazing at the village below him.
"He seems to not only possess great talent for Genjutsu but also shows a willingness to work hard. Additionally, there's his humility; he's always ready to learn. I believe he will become a valuable asset to the village," Kurenai replied, expressing her positive assessment of Sasuke's potential contributions.
With a crease marking his brow, Hiruzen turned around and looked into Kurenai's eyes before speaking.
"You know that wasn't what I was asking about."
After hesitating Kurenai answered again.
"He doesn't seem to have escaped the influence of his past, and I am quite certain what he saw in that Genjutsu may have been his brother. Sasuke also... doesn't seem to have awakened his Sharingan." Guilt coated her tone as she remembered that she had used Genjutsu to make Sasuke remember such a dreadful memory, even though it wasn't her own decision.
"Is that so..." Hiruzen mumbled before signalling that Kurenai was free to go.
'From the current situation, he doesn't seem to have awakened his Sharingan. But that makes it all the more strange, how could he not have awakened it that night?
Nonetheless, at least he seems relatively stable for now, his surveillance will probably be soon considered unnecessary.
'Anbu, wasn't it? I hope he'll join soon, with his talent he'd no doubt prove to be a valuable asset. However, I need to prevent him from following in his brother's footsteps. That would mean I have to prevent Danzo from contacting him.' Hiruzen sat himself on his chair as he lost himself in his thoughts.