Double Comparison: Two Sasukes, One Shinobi World

[abyssalmandate]

Uchiha Obito: "Pfft! HAHAHAHAHA! Kakashi, you idiot! You've actually been insulted by your own student!"

Jiraiya: "Hahahaha! I really didn't expect Sasuke to give him that answer!"

Yuhi Kurenai: "That response... Ahem. It's certainly an interesting way to evaluate your instructor."

Shiranui Genma: "I can't take it anymore! My guiding jonin being told to return to the Academy by his own student? This is going to haunt him forever!"

Ebisu adjusted his glasses, struggling to maintain his composure. "Kakashi, would you like me to recommend a few remedial courses? Perhaps a few more years at the Ninja Academy would do you some good."

Might Guy clutched his stomach. "KAKASHI! YOUR EXPRESSION! HAHAHAHA! I NEVER THOUGHT I'D LIVE TO SEE THE DAY WHEN YOU'D BE DEFEATED SO COMPLETELY IN AN ARGUMENT!"

Minato smiled apologetically at his former student. "Although Sasuke's answer was rather amusing, Kakashi, I have to admit that your physical condition could use some improvement."

Uzumaki Kushina laughed without restraint. "HAHAHAHA! Kakashi, you've finally met someone who can leave you speechless!"

The comparison space erupted into laughter.

Kakashi stood with dark lines covering his forehead. His teeth ground together as he stared at the golden screen, silently wishing he could travel to that parallel world and give Sasuke a proper beating.

That little brat!

He could tolerate being mocked by Obito. He could even endure Guy's endless challenges and Jiraiya's shameless teasing.

But being told to return to the Ninja Academy by a twelve-year-old student?

That was an insult he would remember for a very long time.

"Laugh all you want," Kakashi muttered. "I hope none of you ever have to teach that kid."

Obito wiped a tear from his eye. "Oh, don't worry. I wouldn't mind teaching him a few things myself."

"Such as?"

"How to annoy you even more."

Kakashi closed his eyes.

He already regretted asking.

On the golden screen, Kakashi remained frozen for several seconds.

Eventually, he seemed to process what Sasuke had actually said. His eye twitched, and the smile he had been wearing disappeared.

"What nonsense are you talking about?!"

He had given Sasuke two choices: Naruto could return to the Ninja Academy, or Sakura could return to the Ninja Academy.

Yet this brat had somehow managed to choose a third option.

I gave you two choices, and you decided to evaluate my qualifications instead?!

Sasuke, however, appeared entirely unbothered.

"I think you're in poor health, Kakashi-sensei. You should probably take some time to recover. As for the guidance you can provide us, I'm afraid it may be somewhat limited."

He had delivered the words politely enough, but the meaning was unmistakable.

Kakashi felt as though his vision had darkened.

Limited guidance?

Did that mean Sasuke thought he was too strong to need an instructor?

He had been called a genius since childhood. He had earned the title of Copy Ninja, become a jonin at a young age, and built his reputation through countless dangerous missions.

When had anyone last suggested that he wasn't qualified to teach a Genin?

And now this child was telling him that his guidance might be of limited value!

Kakashi took a slow breath.

Sasuke. Uchiha Sasuke. I will remember this.

"Ahem. I was joking," Sasuke added after noticing the increasingly murderous look in Kakashi's eye.

He straightened his expression and returned to the matter at hand.

"Letting me choose which teammate gets sent back is the real test, isn't it?"

Kakashi's expression changed slightly.

Sasuke continued.

"If I actually choose one of them, then I'm accepting the idea that my own success is worth sacrificing a teammate. If teamwork is the purpose of this exercise, choosing someone to abandon would defeat the entire point."

He looked directly at Kakashi.

"Isn't that right, Kakashi-sensei?"

In the comparison space, Minato nodded appreciatively.

"Clever. He's seen through the purpose of the test."

Orochimaru chuckled.

"Sasuke was able to uncover the truth behind Hiruzen's public image simply by reading books and observing the village's history. Did anyone really expect him to miss something as straightforward as this?"

Jiraiya folded his arms.

"Recognizing the test's purpose is one thing. But it doesn't necessarily tell us how he feels about Naruto and Sakura. He could have reached the correct conclusion without actually valuing either of them."

"That's true," Minato agreed. "We'll have to see what he does after the test."

On the golden screen, Kakashi's expression finally relaxed.

"It seems you understand the purpose of my assessment."

He put away his earlier irritation and adopted a more serious tone.

"Sasuke, no matter how strong a shinobi becomes, there's a limit to what one person can accomplish alone. Even someone as talented as you will eventually encounter an opponent you can't defeat by yourself. That's why you need teammates."

Sasuke nodded.

"I agree with the principle. I'm not convinced that this particular test demonstrated it very well."

Kakashi's smile faltered again.

Can this kid stop finding new ways to insult me?

Sasuke continued before his instructor could respond.

"After assessing the abilities of the three of us, I decided that Naruto and Sakura would be more effective observing from a distance while I engaged you directly. Naruto could use his clones to watch your movements, while Sakura could look for openings and provide information. I would handle the direct confrontation."

He paused briefly.

"That was the most reasonable approach based on our respective strengths. Naruto simply refused to follow it."

"HEY!" Naruto protested from the side. "You make it sound like I was the problem!"

"You charged at Kakashi-sensei without waiting for the others."

"Because I wanted to help!"

"And you got caught."

Naruto opened his mouth, then shut it again.

"...That doesn't mean my idea was bad!"

"No," Sasuke replied. "It means your execution was bad."

Sakura pressed her lips together, trying not to laugh.

Kakashi stood silently, considering Sasuke's explanation.

On the one hand, the boy's reasoning was sound. Against an opponent of Kakashi's level, forcing two inexperienced Genin into close combat could easily have resulted in unnecessary injuries. Using Naruto's clones for reconnaissance and Sakura's observations to identify openings was a sensible approach.

On the other hand, Sasuke's proposed formation still placed most of the burden on himself.

Kakashi had wanted to see whether the three children could cooperate under pressure. Sasuke had instead calculated how to use their individual abilities while minimizing their direct involvement.

It was a tactical improvement, but not quite the lesson Kakashi had intended to teach.

"Your reasoning isn't wrong," Kakashi admitted. "However, teamwork isn't simply about assigning everyone the task they're best suited for. It's also about learning to adapt when things don't go according to plan."

Sasuke considered that for a moment.

"Then that's what we should train."

Kakashi blinked.

He had expected an argument.

Instead, Sasuke had accepted the useful part of his criticism without conceding the point he had challenged.

This kid really is difficult.

In the comparison space, Tobirama crossed his arms.

"Actually, Sasuke's reasoning is perfectly valid under certain circumstances. If the difference in strength between the combatants is too great, sending weaker teammates into the fight can be counterproductive."

He glanced toward Hashirama.

"Consider your battles with Madara. There are situations where the most useful contribution another shinobi can make is to stay out of the main confrontation and prevent others from interfering."

Hashirama scratched his cheek.

"That's true, but I wouldn't want everyone to spend the entire battle watching me fight."

"Your opponents would probably appreciate it if they did."

Orochimaru smiled.

"When the difference in strength is sufficiently large, teamwork cannot simply erase it. The real question is whether Sasuke can recognize when to fight alone and when to rely on others."

Minato looked back at the golden screen.

"I hope he learns to value his companions, rather than merely calculating how best to use their abilities."

Kakashi remained quiet.

He understood Minato's concern. A shinobi could acknowledge that teammates were useful without genuinely trusting them. There was a difference between cooperating because it improved one's chances of victory and cooperating because one believed the people beside him mattered.

The two approaches could produce similar results in an ordinary mission.

They could lead to very different decisions when things went wrong.

On the golden screen, Kakashi finally put an end to the discussion.

"Fine. All three of you pass."

Naruto's face lit up immediately.

"Really?!"

"Yes, Naruto. You heard me."

"YES! I KNEW IT!"

Sakura breathed a sigh of relief, while Sasuke merely nodded.

The first stage of their lives as a team had officially ended.

However, as Kakashi watched the three Genin begin to relax, he found himself thinking that Sasuke's response had revealed more than the battle itself.

The boy had no problem challenging his instructor. He was confident enough to question the test, but he had also recognized Naruto and Sakura's contributions rather than treating their failure to obtain a bell as proof that they were useless.

That was encouraging.

What remained to be seen was whether he could carry that attitude into a real mission, when the consequences of a mistake would be far more serious than returning to the Academy.

For now, Kakashi decided, he would take the result as a promising start.

Unfortunately, Sasuke was not finished with him.

The boy looked at Kakashi from head to toe, as if making a final assessment of his instructor's condition.

Then he spoke.

"By the way, Kakashi-sensei, if you're already this exhausted after a training exercise, why don't you return to the Ninja Academy and train for a few more years? It might be better to wait until you're in good health before becoming a jonin instructor."

Kakashi froze.

The clearing fell silent.

Naruto stared at Sasuke.

Sakura slowly turned toward Kakashi, her expression caught somewhere between horror and the desperate desire to laugh.

Then Naruto burst out laughing.

"HAHAHAHA! SASUKE, YOU REALLY SAID IT AGAIN!"

Kakashi's eye twitched violently.

This brat is going to be the death of me.

The comparison space erupted once more.

Obito was practically doubled over.

"PFFT! HAHAHAHAHA! KAKASHI, YOU IDIOT! YOUR OWN STUDENT THINKS YOU'RE UNFIT TO TEACH!"

Jiraiya laughed so hard that he had to wipe his eyes.

"I genuinely didn't expect Sasuke to double down! He had already made his point, but apparently humiliating Kakashi wasn't enough!"

Yuhi Kurenai covered her mouth.

"Perhaps Sasuke believes that constructive criticism should be repeated until the recipient finally understands it."

"That's not constructive criticism!" Kakashi snapped.

Ebisu adjusted his glasses with exaggerated seriousness.

"Kakashi, I can arrange for you to attend a few refresher courses at the Academy. We shouldn't allow our younger generation to suffer from inadequate instruction."

Guy slapped Kakashi on the back.

"MY RIVAL! THIS IS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY! YOU CAN RETURN TO YOUR ROOTS, IMPROVE YOUR FOUNDATIONS, AND CHALLENGE YOURSELF ANEW!"

Kakashi staggered forward.

"Guy, if you hit me like that again, I'll make sure you're the one returning to the Academy."

Minato tried to look sympathetic, but the smile on his face betrayed him.

"Kakashi, perhaps you should take the advice to heart."

"Sensei, you're supposed to be on my side!"

"I am. That's why I'm concerned about your health."

"You don't sound concerned!"

Kushina laughed, while Orochimaru observed the silver-haired jonin with open amusement.

"It's fascinating. Sasuke has managed to turn the conclusion of a bell test into an assessment of the instructor's professional competence."

"Please," Kakashi muttered, "don't encourage him."

Obito leaned closer, grinning.

"Oh, I think the kid has a bright future."

Kakashi seriously considered whether the comparison space might permit him to strangle someone.

The golden screen faded, and the silver-framed screen began displaying the story of the original Sasuke.

After Team Seven had been formed, the three Genin spent a month carrying out D-rank missions. They pulled weeds, cleaned rubbish from rivers, searched for lost pets, and performed the many small tasks that paid little but gave newly formed teams a chance to learn how to work together.

Kakashi supervised them with his usual relaxed attitude, often appearing more interested in his book than in the work itself.

Naruto soon grew tired of the routine.

He wanted a real mission, something that would prove he was more than a child who spent his days cleaning up after other people. After enough complaints and persistent demands, Team Seven finally received a C-rank escort mission.

Their client was Tazuna, a bridge builder from the Land of Waves.

What began as an apparently straightforward assignment soon turned into something far more dangerous.

The team encountered Zabuza Momochi, a missing-nin from the Hidden Mist, and Kakashi was forced into a serious battle. The confrontation revealed the limits of Naruto and Sasuke's experience, but it also pushed both boys into situations that demanded more of them than their Academy training ever had.

After the first encounter, Kakashi began training them in chakra control by having them climb trees without using their hands.

Sasuke advanced quickly, while Naruto struggled before finding his own method of improvement.

During their second confrontation with Zabuza, Sasuke awakened his Sharingan in the heat of battle, and Naruto drew upon the Nine-Tails' chakra. Together, they managed to outmaneuver their opponent and create an opening for Kakashi.

Yet the mission ended in tragedy.

Haku, who had fought to protect Zabuza, died after intercepting Kakashi's Lightning Cutter.

Zabuza, devastated by Haku's death, turned against Gato and his men. The Demon of the Hidden Mist killed Gato before succumbing to his own wounds, bringing the confrontation to a bitter end.

The silver screen went dark.

For a moment, the comparison space remained quiet.

The difference between the two versions of Team Seven was already apparent.

In the original world, Sasuke's growth had been shaped by danger, rivalry, and the pressure of fighting opponents whose abilities he barely understood. His Sharingan had awakened during a desperate battle, and much of his progress had come through hardship he could neither predict nor control.

The parallel Sasuke, by contrast, had spent years preparing himself before his first major mission. He had entered the team with greater reserves, broader knowledge, and techniques that allowed him to challenge Kakashi far earlier than his original counterpart could have.

Yet the two worlds had reached a similar starting point.

Team Seven had been formed.

Their real missions were about to begin.

And whatever differences separated the two Sasukes, neither could afford to underestimate what awaited them beyond the village.

leave a comment—I'd love to hear what you think haha!

Want to read ahead? Get up to 50 advance chapters with the Abyssal Overlord tier on my Patreon!

https://www.patreon.com/c/AbyssalMandate

Thanks for reading and supporting!

 

[Lillie Jones]

Absolute Cinema
10/10
Continue on
Cheers!

 

[abyssalmandate]

Nara Shikamaru watched the two screens with a thoughtful expression.

"Both Naruto and Sasuke are improving incredibly quickly. Their fighting abilities are already far beyond what I'd expect from ordinary Genin."

Inuzuka Kiba nodded, then scratched his head in confusion.

"Sasuke getting stronger quickly isn't surprising. He's been a genius since the Academy. But Naruto? The dead-last is suddenly throwing around Shadow Clones like they're nothing!"

"That's because Naruto possesses an enormous amount of chakra," Shino explained. "The Multiple Shadow Clone Technique is classified as a forbidden technique precisely because dividing one's chakra among so many clones can be dangerous. Naruto can use it on a large scale because his reserves are exceptional."

Hashirama smiled warmly.

"That child has Uzumaki blood, and he's also the Nine-Tails' jinchuriki. It makes sense that his chakra reserves would be extraordinary."

Tobirama, however, was studying the silver-framed screen with a different concern in mind.

"The original Sasuke's development is considerably slower than that of his counterpart. He didn't begin tree-climbing and water-walking exercises until he was twelve, while the parallel Sasuke had already mastered those fundamentals years earlier."

Madara gave a dismissive snort.

"More than that. The parallel Sasuke had already awakened his Two-Tomoe Sharingan at seven and was using it with considerable proficiency. The original Sasuke's Sharingan has only recently begun to develop."

He paused, looking almost offended by the comparison.

"It's quite a difference. I've never seen two versions of the same Uchiha develop their Sharingan at such different rates."

Fugaku nodded thoughtfully.

"Still, considering the circumstances in which the original Sasuke grew up, his progress isn't poor. He trained hard and showed considerable talent. It's simply that his counterpart began much earlier and had a clearer direction."

Mikoto smiled as she watched the golden screen.

"What makes me happiest is that Sasuke seems to have grown up in a healthier environment. He's confident enough to challenge Kakashi, but he also knows how to appreciate what his teacher has given him."

Kushina's gaze settled on the parallel Naruto.

"And he protects Naruto, too! Did you notice how quickly he included him in his plans? He's not treating him like a burden at all."

Minato smiled. "Their relationship is certainly developing differently."

Terumi Mei, meanwhile, was thinking about a very different pair of characters.

"I'm still surprised by Zabuza. The man built his reputation as a ruthless killer, yet he ultimately sacrificed everything for Haku. I wonder how much of that side of him he would have shown if their lives had taken a different turn."

The battle in the Land of Waves had left a strong impression on the spectators. The coordination between Naruto and Sasuke had been impressive, but the bond between Zabuza and Haku had given the confrontation its emotional weight.

Not everyone, however, was interested in reflecting on the battle.

Ghost of the Mist, Suigetsu Hozuki, leaned forward eagerly.

"Wait a second. If the Kubikiribocho was left behind in the Land of Waves after Zabuza died, does that mean it's still there? Excellent! I'll have to go and retrieve it!"

Zabuza's expression darkened.

"Don't even think about it."

Suigetsu grinned. "Come on, Senior Zabuza! It's not like you're using it anymore!"

"Keep talking, and I'll find a way to kill you from beyond the grave."

Suigetsu's grin widened, although he did lean back slightly.

Orochimaru turned his attention to the golden screen.

"I wonder whether the parallel Sasuke will receive a mission to the Land of Waves as well. Given his abilities, the encounter with Zabuza and Haku could develop very differently."

Zabuza remained silent.

His counterpart in that world would have to contend with a Sasuke who was already capable of fighting Kakashi on nearly equal terms. Even if Zabuza and Haku worked together, the battle would be far more dangerous than the one he remembered.

For the first time, he found himself genuinely curious about what the parallel world would bring.

The golden-framed screen gradually lit up.

The story returned to the parallel world, where Team Seven had begun its first month of D-rank missions.

For most newly formed teams, such assignments were an unavoidable part of becoming a shinobi. They were simple, repetitive jobs intended to teach Genin discipline, cooperation, and the responsibilities that came with serving the village.

For Sasuke, however, they were an inefficient use of time.

He had no intention of spending his days pulling weeds and searching for lost pets when he could be improving his combat abilities.

So he found a solution.

Shadow Clones.

Soon, the routine assignments were being completed by clones while the original members of Team Seven focused on training. Naruto quickly followed Sasuke's example, and even Sakura learned the technique under his guidance.

With the tedious work taken care of, they could spend their time on something far more valuable.

Training under Kakashi.

Of course, Kakashi soon discovered that his students had become considerably more demanding.

Naruto, in particular, had been bothered by the difference between his own performance and Sasuke's during the bell test. After seeing Sasuke fight Kakashi so closely, he began pestering their instructor for stronger techniques.

"Come on, Kakashi-sensei! Teach me something powerful! I don't want to spend all my time doing basic exercises!"

Kakashi looked at him over the top of his book.

"Before you start asking for powerful techniques, you should learn to control the chakra you already have."

"Then teach me how!"

"Very well. We're starting with tree climbing."

Naruto stared at him.

"Tree climbing? That's it?"

"That's it."

Naruto looked ready to argue, but Kakashi had already turned toward a nearby tree.

"Climb to the top without using your hands. Use only your chakra to keep your feet attached to the trunk. If you can't manage that, there's little point in learning more advanced techniques."

Naruto grumbled, but he eventually got to work.

Unfortunately for him, Sasuke had already mastered the exercise long ago.

Sakura, meanwhile, succeeded on her first attempt.

She climbed the tree with little difficulty, demonstrating the excellent chakra control that had distinguished her from the beginning.

Kakashi watched her descend, visibly impressed.

"Good work, Sakura. Your chakra control is excellent."

Sakura smiled. "Thank you, Kakashi-sensei!"

Naruto stared at her in disbelief.

"Wait! You can already do it?!"

Sakura folded her arms. "Some of us actually paid attention during the Academy lessons, Naruto."

"That's not fair!"

"It's not supposed to be fair. You just need to practice."

Naruto turned back toward the tree and charged at it again.

A moment later, he slid down the trunk.

Kakashi sighed.

"Perhaps you should stop trying to defeat the tree through sheer enthusiasm."

Sasuke watched Naruto's repeated attempts for a moment before turning toward Kakashi.

"Sakura's control is considerably better than Naruto's. Her progress will depend less on increasing her reserves and more on refining the way she uses them."

Kakashi nodded.

"That's what I was thinking. Sakura has a strong foundation in theory, and her chakra control is already excellent. With the right training, she could develop a talent for medical ninjutsu."

Sakura's eyes widened.

"Medical ninjutsu?"

"It's only a possibility for now," Kakashi explained. "But it would make good use of your strengths. If you're interested, we can begin by teaching you the principles of Yang Release and the control required for medical techniques."

Sakura considered the suggestion, then nodded firmly.

"I want to try!"

"Good. We'll start with the fundamentals. Don't expect to master them overnight."

"I understand!"

Sasuke was satisfied with the decision. Instead of forcing Sakura to imitate his own training, Kakashi was identifying a direction suited to her abilities. If she developed medical ninjutsu alongside her existing skills, she could become an invaluable member of Team Seven.

Naruto, meanwhile, continued battling the tree.

His determination was admirable.

His technique needed work.

With Sakura beginning her specialized training and Naruto occupied with chakra control, Sasuke returned to his regular physical training with Kakashi.

Their daily sessions focused on close combat, movement, reaction speed, and practical fighting experience.

Sasuke's theoretical knowledge was extensive, and his chakra control was already excellent. His elemental techniques had also developed rapidly. But he knew that possessing powerful ninjutsu was not enough.

Against a skilled opponent, the smallest mistake in close combat could leave him unable to use any technique at all.

He needed experience against someone who could exploit those mistakes.

Kakashi was an ideal opponent.

Unfortunately, Kakashi was beginning to regret agreeing to the arrangement.

Their sparring sessions had grown increasingly intense. Sasuke paid attention to every exchange, adjusted his tactics between rounds, and rarely made the same mistake twice. Whenever Kakashi demonstrated a counter, Sasuke studied it until he understood the underlying principle, then incorporated it into his next attempt.

There was little opportunity for Kakashi to relax.

And even less opportunity to read his book.

After another demanding exchange, Kakashi stepped back and raised a hand.

"Hold on. Give me a moment."

Sasuke stopped.

Then he looked at his instructor with unmistakable suspicion.

"Sensei, are you out of chakra again?"

Kakashi's eye twitched.

"Again? What do you mean, again?"

"You've been saying that rather frequently."

"Because we've been training for hours!"

Sasuke stared at him.

How hypocritical. He's always running out of chakra.

Kakashi rolled his visible eye and sat down beneath a tree.

"I need a short break."

Sasuke sighed, reached into his pouch, and pulled out a military ration pill. He tossed it toward Kakashi, who caught it by reflex.

"This is my treat. You don't have to spend your own money."

Kakashi examined the pill.

"That's surprisingly considerate of you."

"Eat it, then we can continue."

Kakashi's hand stopped halfway to his mouth.

"...What?"

"After you eat it, we'll resume training."

Kakashi stared at the pill as though it had personally betrayed him.

I really want to die.

He had served in ANBU, carried out dangerous missions, fought missing-nin, and survived situations in which a single mistake would have cost him his life.

Yet he had never felt as exhausted as he did while serving as the guiding jonin of this team.

His students had somehow found a way to outsource their D-rank missions to Shadow Clones, and now Sasuke was treating their training schedule like a military operation that could not be interrupted.

Kakashi looked up at the sky.

Being an instructor is supposed to be easier than ANBU. Who came up with that idea?

Sasuke folded his arms.

"Are you going to eat it?"

Kakashi swallowed the ration pill.

"Fine. Let's continue."

He had no intention of letting a twelve-year-old see him surrender.

That would be unbearable.

In the comparison space, Kushina was laughing again.

"Look at Kakashi's face! He's starting to regret becoming a teacher!"

Guy shook his fist enthusiastically.

"KAKASHI! YOUTH REQUIRES PERSEVERANCE! YOU CANNOT EXPECT YOUR STUDENTS TO IMPROVE IF YOU KEEP ASKING FOR BREAKS!"

Kakashi turned toward him.

"Guy, you're welcome to take my place."

"Wonderful! I'd be delighted to train Sasuke!"

Kakashi immediately regretted speaking.

Obito burst out laughing.

"You've done it now, Kakashi! Your eternal rival is going to steal your student!"

"I would happily give him away."

"That's not very responsible of you."

"Neither is your existence."

Kurenai shook her head, smiling.

"Poor Kakashi. I knew guiding Genin was demanding, but I didn't expect it to be this exhausting."

Uzuki Yugao nodded sympathetically.

"If Sasuke can make Kakashi feel more tired than he did in ANBU, he's certainly an unusual student."

Naruto watched the golden screen with a mixture of disbelief and envy.

"Why did we spend so much time doing D-rank missions? We could've used Shadow Clones too!"

Sakura gave him a flat look.

"Because our Sasuke didn't teach us how to use them, and you certainly weren't going to figure it out on your own."

"Hey!"

Iruka chuckled.

"At least the parallel Sasuke found a way to make his team more productive. Though I suspect Kakashi will need a vacation before long."

Minato's smile was gentle.

"Perhaps this is good for Kakashi. He's been relying on his experience for a long time. Having students who constantly force him to adapt may help him improve as well."

Kakashi sighed.

"I don't need to improve. I need a full night's sleep."

Obito leaned over.

"You should ask Sasuke for permission."

Kakashi ignored him.

The golden screen continued.

Over the following days, Sasuke's combat experience improved steadily, though not quite as effortlessly as an outside observer might have assumed.

His knowledge gave him a considerable advantage. He understood the principles behind many techniques and could often identify the purpose of an opponent's movements after seeing them once or twice. But recognizing a technique and responding to it under pressure were two different things.

Kakashi made certain he understood that distinction.

During their early sparring sessions, Sasuke repeatedly found himself forced onto the defensive. He could predict some of Kakashi's attacks, only to discover that the jonin had deliberately presented an opening to draw out a counterattack. On other occasions, Sasuke correctly identified what Kakashi intended to do but moved a fraction too slowly to take advantage of it.

His knowledge wasn't the problem. His body hadn't yet caught up with his understanding.

After one particularly frustrating exchange, Kakashi knocked Sasuke's legs out from under him and placed a practice kunai against his shoulder.

"Dead," Kakashi announced.

Sasuke stared at the kunai, then at his instructor.

"I knew you were going to sweep my legs."

"Really? Then why didn't you stop me?"

"Because I committed to the wrong response when you shifted your weight."

"Good. At least you know what went wrong."

Kakashi withdrew the kunai and stepped back.

"Knowing the correct answer afterward doesn't count for much in a real fight. You have to recognize the situation while it's happening, and your body has to respond before your opponent takes advantage of your hesitation."

Sasuke rose, brushing the dirt from his clothes.

"Again."

Kakashi's eye curved.

"That's what I like to hear."

They resumed.

The next exchange ended with Sasuke on the ground again, but this time he managed to twist away before Kakashi could secure the same hold. He still lost the exchange, yet he had corrected one mistake and exposed another.

They repeated the process until the light began to fade.

Sasuke reviewed every encounter afterward, sometimes discussing his decisions with Kakashi and sometimes working through them alone. His Shadow Clones helped him examine different approaches and repeat routine exercises, but the experience wasn't a substitute for facing an opponent who could adapt to him. Kakashi could recognize the patterns in Sasuke's responses, deliberately change his tactics, and punish the slightest sign that Sasuke had become too comfortable.

Gradually, Sasuke stopped making the same mistakes.

He learned to preserve his balance while attacking, to avoid committing all his weight to a single movement, and to keep enough chakra in reserve to respond when a technique failed. He also became better at recognizing when an apparent opening was a trap.

The improvement was obvious, but it came through repetition. Every small gain was built on a mistake he had identified and worked to correct.

Kakashi found the process both impressive and exhausting.

Most children needed to be reminded to practice. Sasuke needed to be reminded that practice also required rest.

Then Kakashi introduced him to the Lightning Release stimulation technique.

He explained how carefully controlled lightning-natured chakra could stimulate the body and improve its response speed. The method required a precise understanding of chakra circulation, and mistakes could cause muscle damage or disrupt the body's normal functions. Kakashi therefore insisted that Sasuke begin with the smallest possible amount of chakra.

"Don't try to increase your speed yet," he warned. "First, learn to maintain a stable flow without letting the current spread unpredictably. If you can't control it while standing still, you have no business using it in combat."

Sasuke listened carefully before beginning.

His first attempt produced only a brief flicker of electricity before the chakra flow became uneven. He stopped immediately, reviewed what he had felt, and adjusted the circulation.

The second attempt lasted longer.

On the third, he managed to maintain a weak but stable current for several seconds.

Kakashi watched closely, ready to intervene if the flow became dangerous. Sasuke's control was remarkable for his age, but even he needed time to distinguish between a stable current and one that merely felt stable.

They continued until Sasuke's control began to deteriorate.

"That's enough for today," Kakashi said.

"I can continue."

"And your control is already getting worse. Stop."

Sasuke glanced at his hands. The remaining sparks faded as he released the chakra.

After a moment, he nodded. "Understood."

He wasn't pleased to stop, but he understood the reason. Pushing past the point where he could maintain precise control would teach him bad habits at best and injure him at worst.

The following day, he began again.

This time, he established the current more quickly. Over several sessions, he learned to maintain it while walking, then while changing direction, and eventually during basic footwork exercises. Each new step introduced another difficulty. Moving changed the tension in his muscles, disrupted his rhythm, and forced him to maintain control while dividing his attention.

He was making rapid progress, but he hadn't mastered the technique. He had established a foundation that he could continue developing.

One evening, after watching Sasuke maintain a controlled current throughout a short sequence of movements, Kakashi finally asked the question that had been bothering him.

"How are you learning this so quickly?"

Sasuke let the current fade before answering.

"The underlying principles aren't entirely new to me. I've spent years training chakra control, and I've already studied the theory behind Lightning Release. That makes it easier to understand what you're teaching. But knowing the theory isn't enough. I still have to train until I can apply it without losing control."

Kakashi considered that answer.

It was a far more reasonable explanation than the one he had begun to suspect—that Sasuke could simply master any technique after seeing it once.

"You've clearly put a great deal of work into your fundamentals," Kakashi admitted. "Most Genin your age haven't had nearly as much practice."

"That's why I started early."

Sasuke's answer was simple, but it explained much of the difference between him and his original counterpart. He hadn't become capable overnight. He had spent years building the foundation that now allowed him to learn advanced techniques more efficiently.

After a brief pause, Sasuke added, "And I'm grateful that you taught me this, Kakashi-sensei. It's useful, and I wouldn't have been able to practice it properly without your guidance. I'll treat you to barbecue tonight. Order whatever you like."

Kakashi's expression softened.

At least this kid appreciates what he's being taught.

"Very well. I'll take you up on that offer."

Sasuke nodded. "Good. After dinner, we can work on maintaining the current during faster movements."

Kakashi's smile disappeared.

"After dinner?"

"Of course. I still need to improve my control."

Kakashi stared at him for a moment before looking toward the sky.

He had spent years in ANBU, survived countless dangerous missions, and fought opponents who had genuinely intended to kill him. Yet somehow, training a twelve-year-old Uchiha was beginning to feel more exhausting than any of it.

I should have negotiated for a higher salary.

And Sasuke, apparently oblivious to his instructor's suffering, had already begun planning tomorrow's training schedule.

Enjoying the story? Drop a Power Stone and leave a comment—I'd love to hear what you think haha!

Want to read ahead? Get up to 50 advance chapters with the Abyssal Overlord tier on my Patreon!

https://www.patreon.com/c/AbyssalMandate

Thanks for reading and supporting!

Want to read ahead? Get up to 50 advance chapters with the Abyssal Overlord tier on my Patreon!

https://www.patreon.com/c/AbyssalMandate

Thanks for reading and supporting!

 

[Lillie Jones]

Absolute Cinema
10/10.
Continue on
Cheers!