"Sasuke, you're a jonin now. How can you be so reckless?"
Though his words sounded stern, the tone carried little severity. His exposed Sharingan added a hint of reproach, yet in practice, Kakashi had followed his student down the corridor during the mission.
Sasuke felt no guilt for Kakashi's mild reprimand. He gazed at his supposed teacher with unabashed arrogance, black eyes bluntly skipping over the formalities.
"Based on chakra nature transformation, how do you achieve form transformation? Even if you use natural energy for lightning, it's difficult to make it effective. How does your Raikiri manage it?"
No politeness at all. Kakashi sighed, helpless. Sasuke's personality left no room for argument. He collected himself and patiently explained:
"Form transformation requires extreme familiarity with nature transformation. You've been practicing for years, but mastery takes time. You can feel how chakra drains excessively when using it. Once you refine your control, it will naturally be possible."
Sasuke remained unconvinced. Furrowing his delicate brows, he added impatience to his gaze.
"Naruto's Rasenshuriken already achieves form transformation—"
"That's because Naruto has dozens of times more chakra than you. And that isn't form transformation—it's the pinnacle of nature transformation."
Interrupting Sasuke's boast, Kakashi cut him off sharply, then added calmly:
"Set aside ninjutsu training for now. Your Sharingan still has enormous potential. Sasuke, I shouldn't need to remind you: haste makes waste."
"Hmph."
The boy crossed his arms and leaned against the cold wall, turning his gaze to Kakashi. He no longer discussed training, instead asking in a colder tone:
"Those people… they're Akatsuki, right? What does the village intend, letting them enter?"
"That's none of your concern," Kakashi replied, a subtle warning in his words. Sasuke ignored the caution.
"Uchiha Itachi defected and joined Akatsuki—this is confirmed. Naruto's Tailed Beast was extracted by Akatsuki. Kakashi, Naruto has been sent on mission after mission since his return. Is the Fifth trying to prevent him from confronting them? Is this supposed to be compromise?"
Compromise might not be the wrong word. The matter involved high-level politics—many details Sasuke didn't need to know. Yet clearly, he already knew.
"What did Naruto tell you?"
"Everything."
Kakashi's spirit sank. Naruto would never stay silent, and the Fifth had been turning a blind eye. Without Itachi's involvement, Sasuke likely wouldn't care—but with him gone and the Tailed Beast taken, Sasuke's concern was inevitable.
"Sasuke, Tsunade-sama has her reasons. Now that you know, you shouldn't question it. This is the judgment of Jiraiya and the Fifth Hokage. You can discern right from wrong without my explanation."
"And what of it? What concern is that of mine? Akatsuki is merely a criminal gang led by Itachi Uchiha, the murderer of our clan. Hundreds of deaths won't sate me. Why should the world's safety matter? Now they've also taken the Nine-Tails… and you compromise? Isn't that a betrayal of yourself?"
The boy's counterquestion left Kakashi speechless. Sasuke remained silent, striding toward the direction he intended to leave. As he departed, a heavy sigh escaped Kakashi. His exposed Sharingan reflected rare fatigue.
This boy's mind was one of the most difficult to read—but also the most complex.
.....
The building was old—not falling apart, but showing age. Sasuke didn't enter, instead moving to a quiet corner, standing still with arms crossed and back against the wall. After a moment, he opened his eyes, cold and sharp.
"Come out."
From the shadows emerged a black-robed man with a black headscarf and a gruesome scar across his face, a frightening sight.
"Truly worthy of the Uchiha… remarkable ability."
"Flattery is premature, Ibiki. Sakura is under that man's care. You already knew this. Why make me investigate again?"
"Is that so? I didn't know." Ibiki avoided the topic. Sasuke snorted, eyes narrowing with utter disdain.
"Hmph. You hoped I would witness it, then report to Naruto. With Naruto's temper, he would make a scene and eliminate your thorn quietly. Clever… but if I don't tell him, even if he could intervene, he wouldn't know there's a non-human in Konoha's hospital."
"Really? I didn't realize you were so loyal to the Nine-Tails' jinchuriki." Ibiki's words were sharp. Sasuke's crimson Sharingan glared.
"Loyal? That's pathetic manipulation. Naruto is my peer; I know him better than you. The higher-ups are always wary of the Nine-Tails jinchuriki. Even with the Fifth's protection, Naruto is walking on a knife's edge. If you provoke the Fifth against him, whether he survives is uncertain. So, Inspector, you'd better leave Naruto out of this."
"Such dedication among peers… rare indeed," Ibiki said, skirting the topic.
Sasuke snorted lightly, glancing at someone hidden in the corner, and scoffed:
As an ANBU supervisor, you too went this far to protect. Even knowing the Fifth's intentions, you insisted. Mutual respect, I suppose.
Ibiki looked from the shadows to Sasuke, reluctantly acknowledging that the Uchiha heir wasn't easily manipulated. Though young, he was shrewd—but still… a boy.
"So, your presence here proves you don't oppose this, correct?"
"Yes," Sasuke replied, holding a neatly folded piece of paper.
"I'm leaving the village with Naruto for a mission. This is the hospital handover sheet. Ibiki, I don't care what happened between you two or what you intend. But make sure you stay away from Naruto."
This was the bottom line of Uchiha Sasuke.
Ibiki sneered, taking the paper without objection. Watching Sasuke turn to leave, he spoke again—not about Naruto, but another matter:
"If Haruno Sakura is in charge, she won't escape responsibility. I have a question: under what circumstances would the Fifth's student leave her post?"
Sasuke paused briefly before resuming his steps.
"Sakura is a competent medical ninja. She's allergic to peanuts."
"Agreed. From now on, the interrogation division will not trouble Naruto."
"Better keep that promise."
Sorry, Sakura… you have no idea what you're dealing with…