As the sun began to set, Naruto couldn't contain his frustration as he glared at Sasuke, who had stealthily completed their mission. "This isn't fair, Sasuke! You went behind my back to finish it! I can't accept this!"
"Enough whining, Naruto. The mission's done. Besides, catching just two wild boar cubs isn't exactly following the rules. Even if you leave them with the client, you still technically violated the orders," Sakura replied, stepping in defensively.
"Sakura's right, Naruto," Kakashi chimed in, not even looking back. "You disobeyed the mission guidelines, too. Sasuke followed them better than anyone. Do you really want to spend the night chasing boars in the forest?" he teased, his tone light but firm.
Naruto's bravado faltered, and he looked defeated, realizing he'd lost his chance to outdo Sasuke.
Sasuke, meanwhile, was quietly satisfied, his chakra slowly increasing. Although it was only by a small amount, he could already sense his growing strength, nearing the level of a chuunin. What he lacked was more powerful ninjutsu and genjutsu to fully utilize this potential. He mentally took note of his family's remaining techniques: a few C-level fire-release techniques, the Dragon Fire Technique, and one B-level fire jutsu, the more powerful Great Fireball Technique. Yet these techniques alone weren't enough to sustain his growth.
[Looks like I'll need to take charge and seek out more skills. Relying solely on what's left behind by my family won't cut it. And who better to learn from than the man with a thousand copied jutsu, Kakashi Hatake?] Sasuke considered.
Thanks to Kakashi's bond with Obito Uchiha, Sasuke felt confident that he could find in his teacher a mentor who would guide him through techniques hidden deep within the Sharingan's secrets. It was time to learn what his teacher had hidden away.
As they entered Konoha's commercial district, Kakashi paused. "Mission completed, team. I'll go report this to the Hokage. Dismissed." With that, he walked off.
"It's finally over!" Sakura sighed in relief, bidding them both a quick goodbye before rushing home.
[The stench of wild boar was unbearable. I'd rather head home than stick around for dinner and risk Sasuke smelling me. Next time, I'll make sure to look my best,] she thought, feeling self-conscious.
Watching her hurry off, Naruto scratched his head in confusion. "What's gotten into Sakura?"
"Who knows…" Sasuke muttered. "Say, Naruto, want to grab some ramen? Going home to eat alone is boring."
Naruto looked suspicious. "Why so friendly all of a sudden? I don't have money for ramen, and you know it…"
"Don't be an idiot. Are you coming or not?" Sasuke grumbled, already heading toward Ichiraku Ramen.
Naruto hesitated, wondering if it was a trick. But he couldn't pass up a free meal. Besides, a chance to bond with Sasuke, his rival, was too rare to ignore. "Wait up, Sasuke!" he called, jogging to catch up.
---
That Evening, Kakashi's Residence
Later that night, Sasuke knocked on Kakashi's door. Kakashi, dressed casually and surprised to see his student, asked, "Sasuke? How did you find my place?"
"If I don't even know where my teacher lives, what kind of student am I? Kakashi-sensei, I want to learn the Sharingan's genjutsu," Sasuke replied directly, activating his Sharingan to emphasize his determination.
Kakashi was taken aback. "How did you know I had the Sharingan?" he asked, gesturing for Sasuke to come inside.
"Konoha's famed Copy Ninja, Sharingan Kakashi—I once heard that name from my father. He told me about the hero of the Kannabi Bridge," Sasuke said, his tone earnest. "Right now, you're the only one I can turn to. As a Uchiha descendant with the Sharingan, I want to learn from you, Sensei."
Kakashi fell silent, his thoughts drifting back to the past, where memories of Obito and Rin surfaced. The old wounds reopened, yet he understood Sasuke's desire to grow stronger, seeing himself in the boy's determination.
Sighing, Kakashi lifted his forehead protector, revealing his Sharingan eye, and said, "Obito entrusted this eye to me, and in a way, I do owe the Uchiha clan a debt. But listen, Sasuke—with only a one-tomoe Sharingan, learning advanced genjutsu will be challenging."
Sasuke felt slightly frustrated. "But Kakashi-sensei, this is about learning how to fully control the Sharingan."
"I understand your drive," Kakashi replied, "but right now, what you need is to build your chakra control, strength, and stamina. Genjutsu and advanced ninjutsu will come later. Let's start with the basics tomorrow—chakra control training. Once I see you've mastered that, I'll introduce more advanced techniques."
Though disappointed, Sasuke respected Kakashi's reasoning. Becoming stronger couldn't happen overnight, he realized.
[Kakashi's advice has triggered a new reward: Task Completion. Reward: Lightning Release: Thunder Arrow]
---
The next morning, Team 7 gathered for training. As Kakashi had promised, he led them in exercises designed to refine their chakra control. They began with walking on trees—a seemingly simple yet essential exercise for chakra mastery. Sasuke focused intently, pushing himself to control his energy and ascend higher up the tree without slipping. Naruto struggled but managed to keep pace, fueled by his determination to outdo Sasuke.
Kakashi observed quietly, noting Sasuke's rapid progress. Unlike Naruto, who relied on raw energy, Sasuke's control was precise, reflecting the discipline instilled by his Uchiha lineage. Within a few hours, Sasuke had already mastered the exercise, his steps steady as he walked up and down the tree with ease.
"Not bad, Sasuke," Kakashi praised. "But remember, controlling chakra is only the beginning. Once you've perfected this, I'll teach you to walk on water—a much more challenging feat."
Naruto, panting and frustrated, muttered, "I'll show you, Sasuke. I'll master this faster than you think!"
"Then prove it," Sasuke replied, maintaining his cool demeanor.
Over the next several weeks, Team 7 continued their training regimen under Kakashi's watchful eye. Sasuke's mastery of chakra control earned him Kakashi's approval, and as promised, Kakashi began teaching him basic lightning release techniques. Naruto, meanwhile, focused on increasing his stamina, hoping to keep up with Sasuke.
By the end of their training, Sasuke felt a sense of accomplishment. Although his journey had only begun, he felt more in control of his abilities than ever before. And with every step forward, he inched closer to his ultimate goal of avenging his family.
One evening, after an exhausting day of training, Sasuke sat alone under the stars, contemplating the road ahead. He knew the strength he sought wouldn't come easily. But with Kakashi's guidance and his own unwavering resolve, he was prepared to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
"Kakashi-sensei's lessons… they're not just about learning techniques," Sasuke murmured to himself. "They're about understanding my limits and pushing beyond them."
In the quiet of the night, Sasuke felt a renewed sense of purpose. The path to becoming the strongest Uchiha wasn't one he would walk alone. He had his team, his teacher, and his own relentless ambition. And as long as he remained true to his convictions, he knew nothing would stand in his way.