Kakashi was beaten without warning, so he instinctively shifted the blame to Obito. However, it seemed like his ordeal was far from over.
That damned Uchiha Sogetsu was approaching him slowly, his pace casual and relaxed. "Is this the best the White Fang's son can do?" he taunted.
"Shut up!" Kakashi snapped back, swallowing the blood in his mouth. He glared at Sogetsu with eyes that were almost glowing with anger. "You don't understand anything!"
Bang!
Sogetsu's punch landed directly in Kakashi's abdomen. The impact shattered seven or eight ribs, and Kakashi coughed blood.
Sogetsu grabbed Kakashi by the hair, spun him around, and tossed him aside. Kakashi tumbled over the ground, rolling more than ten times before Sogetsu stomped on his back, pinning him to the dirt.
Kakashi's head pressed into the ground, his face nearly submerged in the soil.
"Kakashi, your father died because he chose to protect you," Sogetsu said, standing over him. Kakashi, blinded by anger, spat back with gritted teeth, "If the White Fang could see you now, holed up at home, complaining like this, he'd be disappointed, wouldn't he?"
"Don't you dare mention that guy's name!" Kakashi shouted, nearly breaking his teeth from clenching them so hard. His eyes were filled with hatred. "He broke the ninja's ironclad law. He deserved what he got!"
Sogetsu, sensing Kakashi's turmoil, pressed on, implanting psychological suggestions with his words. "The so-called rules are for those who can't survive without them," he said with a sneer.
"And what about you?" Kakashi shot back, his voice strained with pain. "Don't you live by those same rules?"
The memory of his father flashed through Kakashi's mind—how he sat alone in his room, the look of disappointment etched across his face, and the final moment when the door opened to reveal the pool of blood.
"Wasn't the White Fang supposed to be a strong man?" Kakashi screamed, his voice hoarse with rage. With a burst of strength, he broke free from Sogetsu's grip and rolled to the side, gripping his knife with his left hand.
"If he was so strong, why did he die? Tell me!"
"In the ninja world, rules are ironclad!" Sogetsu replied coldly. "Ninjas who can't complete their missions should be discarded."
He swung blindly, his tears flowing down his father's sword. Kakashi felt like a hedgehog, bristling with pain and helplessness, his body brimming with sharp thorns of despair.
A wild strike like this posed no threat to Uchiha Sogetsu, who calmly clenched his fist and struck Kakashi in the face.
Boom!
The force sent Kakashi crashing into the wall.
The sword slipped from his grasp, hitting the ground with a dull thud as Kakashi slid down, all his strength gone. His eyes were hollow, the emotion drained from them.
Uchiha Sogetsu stepped closer, squatting down to meet Kakashi's gaze. "Now, have you calmed down?" he asked, his voice cool but steady.
Kakashi bowed his head, tears splattering onto the floor. His voice trembled as he spoke, the grief in his heart finally breaking free.
"They all said my father was worthless, that he brought great harm to the village. Tell me, did my father really do something wrong? Were they right? Is a ninja useless if they can't complete their mission?"
"Don't listen to them," Uchiha Sogetsu replied, his tone softening as he ran a hand through Kakashi's hair. "Those are the words of people who have failed in life. The strong don't complain about the world; they shape it into what it should be."
"The strong shape the world," Kakashi repeated quietly, almost to himself, as if he were searching for meaning in the words.
For a moment, something shifted in his heart. It was like a gray sky being pierced by a shaft of sunlight, a glimmer of hope lighting up his darkened world.
"White Fang died because he wasn't strong enough," Sogetsu continued, his eyes narrowing. His gaze seemed to hold a deep abyss within it, a swirling vortex of shadows.
"White Fang... wasn't strong enough," Kakashi echoed, his voice barely a whisper.
Suddenly, his mind seemed to drift, his defenses lowering as his eyes grew blank and unfocused, sliding into a trance-like state.
By guiding Kakashi step-by-step, Uchiha Sogetsu could gently place him in a state of 'hypnosis.' This way, his words would embed themselves deeply into Kakashi's soul, acting like a brand, forcing him to follow Sogetsu's will without even realizing it.
Though the process was tedious, it ensured stability. However, at his current level of Sequence 6, Sogetsu couldn't perform deep hypnosis—he couldn't make the target do things that might put them in mortal danger or go against their core beliefs.
"White Fang's death made you furious," Sogetsu said, his voice low and compelling. "It made you question the rules and the strict laws you once believed in."
Uchiha Sogetsu spoke in a gentle voice, "Deep down, you're starting to doubt if White Fang's actions were truly right, whether all he sacrificed his life for was worth it. You're beginning to suspect that the rumors that led to his disgrace weren't just coincidence. Maybe they were part of a deliberate 'trap,' set by the teammate who betrayed him."
"But you know you're still too weak. Even if you discover the truth, you can't change anything or seek revenge for your father."
"So, you decide to suppress all the hatred in your heart."
"You believe what Uchiha Sogetsu said is true. Weak people have no right to discuss the state of the world, let alone change it. So, you need to become strong."
"It's Uchiha Sogetsu who made you realize the reality of the world and showed you the right path. He's your guide, your role model."
"You will trust him completely, Kakashi."
That gentle voice seemed to align with Kakashi's deepest thoughts.
It was like being submerged in a warm sea, where the words felt like his own inner voice, resonating with his core beliefs.
"Remember these words. This is your subconscious reflection. But when you wake up, forget what I've said, forget any strange behavior you might exhibit. However, deep down, you'll feel dependent on Uchiha Sogetsu, and unconsciously accept his philosophy."
After saying this, Uchiha Sogetsu snapped his fingers.
Snap!
Kakashi's unfocused eyes suddenly became alert.
He looked at Uchiha Sogetsu standing before him, feeling a deep sense of connection with him, along with a surge of anger toward those responsible for his father's death.
"You're right. My father wasn't wrong. It's the world that's flawed. I won't let his sacrifice be in vain. I'll become strong—strong just like you said!"
Kakashi suppressed the anger rising in his chest, maintaining an unusually calm demeanor. "Uchiha Sogetsu, thank you. Your words have given me a new perspective on the world."
"No need to thank me, it's my duty," Uchiha Sogetsu replied, watching Kakashi's reaction to gauge whether his suggestion had taken effect. Satisfied with the results, he gave a slight smile. "Now that the therapy is complete, it's time for me to take my leave."
"Thank you, Mr. Sogetsu," Kakashi responded courteously. "I'm looking forward to seeing you again."
"The therapy fee is one hundred thousand ryo, thank you for your patronage," Uchiha Sogetsu said with a grin, extending his hand for payment. Hypnosis might be his trade, but he still needed to make a living.
The next day, when Minato's team heard that Kakashi had been "cured," they organized a visit to check on him. But when they opened the door, Rin and Obito were immediately shocked.
Who on earth was this guy? The person in front of them had a face as swollen as a pig's head and was wrapped in bandages. Was this really Kakashi?
Even Minato, usually known for his calm demeanor, struggled to keep a straight face. After scrutinizing the telltale white hair and cold eyes, Obito finally realized that this pig-headed person was indeed Kakashi.
"Uh, Kakashi?" Obito asked hesitantly.
"Yeah," Kakashi replied coldly.
"Kakashi, who did this to you?" Despite the look of concern on Obito's face, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but twitch upward in amusement, betraying his true feelings.
As they stared at Kakashi's beaten appearance, Minato was suddenly reminded of what had happened the previous day.
"Well, it took some effort, but I'm glad we got a good result in the end," Uchiha Sogetsu had said with a thumbs-up. "Kakashi has successfully overcome his inner turmoil, so don't worry!"
Wait, a psychiatrist? Is this really how you help someone work through their psychological issues?!
Though the technique seemed somewhat crude, its effectiveness was undeniable.
Namikaze Minato couldn't help but feel a strong sense of suspicion.
********
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