[Hey hey! Author here š
Been seeing a lot of people in the comments say Kakashi gives Naruto nothing and spoils Sasuke, but chill š Naruto's got his own stuff coming, just not yet. Be patient, if you want to of course.
Anyway, going to give Sasuke another cheat because balance is overrated š]
ā¦.
After finishing breakfast, Sasuke stood in the middle of the clearing, his shirt half-soaked with sweat, his chest rising and falling with each breath.
His movements were precise, and focused, as he kept firing shuriken, using fire jutsu, then dashing between tree trunks with near-blinding speed.
Hidden from view, Kakashi watched quietly from a branch above, his Mangekyo Sharingan slowly appearing in his left eye. He had prepared this for a while now, just waiting for the right moment.
His bond with Sasuke was solid, so he would help him take the next step. An illusion, one that is terrifyingly real, would push him to three tomoe or possibly even further. In this illusion, he would temporarily forget what he was doing.
Kakashi's Mangekyo rotated as a cold chakra burst from him. Sasuke not far away froze. His eyes widened as the world twisted around him.
In the illusion, they were back in the village. It was evening. Kurenai, Anko, Naruto, Sakura, and Ranmaru were there, gathered around the training field. Laughter filled the air.
Sasuke stood next to Kakashi, who was leaning against a tree, his usual relaxed smirk on his face.
Suddenly, the air turned cold. A shadowy figure emerged from the treetops, Itachi.
Everyone turned. Kakashi stood up straight, serious now. "Get back!" he shouted.
Before anyone could react, Itachi vanished in a blur of movement and reappeared behind Kakashi. A sickening crunch echoed through the field. Sasuke's eyes widened in horror as he watched Itachi's hand pierce through Kakashi's chest.
Blood sprayed out, covering the grass. Kakashi's eyes slowly turned to look at Sasuke, a gentle but painful smile on his face.
"Kakashi-sensei!!" Naruto screamed.
"No!" Sakura dropped to her knees, trembling.
Anko's kunai was already in hand, but she froze, stunned. Kurenai gasped and reached for her pouch. Ranmaru stared, eyes filled with disbelief.
Sasuke stood frozen. His knees buckled. His mind refused to believe it. His mentor, the only person he could call family was gone. Just like that.
His fists clenched, shaking.
He remembered everything, how Kakashi trained him personally, stayed up late to perfect his Vanishing Rasengan, taught him genjutsu defense, protected him, and believed in him.
"I won't let this happen," Sasuke growled, his eyes beginning to bleed.
Inside the illusion, thunder rumbled. His Sharingan spun rapidly, the two tomoe twisting as a third slowly emerged in both eyes.
Suddenly, a massive surge of cold chakra burst from him, crackling with rage. The illusion began to distort, and the power of Sasuke's will began to override Kakashi's Illusion.
Then, his legs gave out. The illusion cracked and shattered.
Back in reality, Sasuke collapsed to his knees, unconscious.
Kakashi dropped down from the tree silently. His Sharingan returned to normal as he stepped closer to Sasuke's still body. A faint smile tugged at the edge of his lips.
He could feel it, Sasuke Sharingan almost evolved into Mangekyo Sharingan. He only needs one more push and it will evolve. And he plans to do that later by telling him the truth about the Uchiha Massacre.
Kakashi put his hand in his own Mangekyo and could feel it ache a little, but he didn't mind as he rarely uses his Sharingan. After completing that thing he is working on it would probably disappear.
Kurenai and Anko came running from the house nearby. "What happened?" Anko asked, worried.
"I pushed him," Kakashi said softly. "But he passed."
Naruto, hearing the commotion, burst through the trees.
"Kakashi-sensei what happened to Sasuke?!" he shouted as he looked at Sasuke with worry.
"Is he okay?" Sakura followed quickly.
"He's fine. He just unlocked something very important." Kakashi said, calm as ever.
He knelt beside Sasuke and ruffled his hair gently. "Good work, kid."
ā¦.
Morning
Sasuke's eyelids twitched before slowly peeling open. The wooden ceiling above him came into view, blurry at first, but then sharper.
He shifted slightly and realized he was lying on a futon in Kakashi's house. A soft breeze flowed through the open window, carrying the smell of morning dew and wildflowers.
He sat up slowly, hand pressing against his forehead. His chest ached, not from injury, but from something else. Something emotional.
"You're awake." Kakashi's voice came from the far corner.
Sasuke turned. Kakashi was sitting on the windowsill, arms crossed, watching him quietly.
"Whatā¦ was that?" Sasuke asked, still catching his breath.
"It was a genjutsu. One that I cast using my Mangekyo Sharingan." Kakashi stood up and walked over, crouching beside him.
"That wasn't a normal illusionā¦" Sasuke's brows furrowed.
"No," Kakashi nodded. "It was meant to be real. To push you to the edge. I didn't do it lightly, Sasuke. But I knew you were ready."
Sasuke didn't respond right away. He lowered his head. "Youā¦ you died. And they were all there. Itachi killed you. I thought I lost everything again."
Kakashi placed a hand on his shoulder. "But you didn't. And because of that pain, your eyes evolved. You now have the complete Sharingan, three tomoe in both eyes."
"Threeā¦ so this is what it takes?" Sasuke blinked. He hadn't even realized.
"For most Uchiha, yes. Emotional trauma, love, and the will to protect or avengeā¦ It triggers the next level of your dojutsu."
Sasuke looked down at his hands, silent for a while. "Back thenā¦ I saw everything we did. All the times you trained me. Helped me. Protected me. I always thought I was alone. But I wasn't."
"You've never been alone, Sasuke. I told you before you're not just my student. You're family."Kakashi's voice softened.
"I believe you." Sasuke's throat tightened at those words. Slowly, he nodded.
"Good. Because you'll need to hold onto that belief when the time comes. Power alone won't carry you forward. But the bonds you create? They will." Kakashi gave him a small smile.
"You said before that you knew thingsā¦ about the Uchiha Massacre. That you'd tell me when I was ready."Sasuke glanced at him, eyes serious.
"I did," Kakashi said, standing up. "And you're getting closer. You've taken the first step toward unlocking the truth. But I won't rush it. When you awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan, I'll tell you everything."
Though he planned to tell him soon to stimulate him even deeper. To face the threat of the Otsutsuki he needed both Naruto and Sasuke, and he wasn't lying when he told him that he considered him as family.
Sasuke didn't argue. He knew Kakashi wasn't saying it to hold him back, but to protect him. Deep down, he also knew that he wasn't ready. Not yet.
"I'll get stronger," Sasuke said finally, voice quiet but firm.
"I know," Kakashi replied. "And I'll be with you every step of the way."
A few moments passed before the door creaked open. Naruto poked his head in, rubbing his stomach. "Hey, is the emo prince awake yet? I'm starving!"
"Naruto! Don't call him that." Sakura followed, arms crossed.
"What? I'm hungry and he's awake. Double good news." Naruto grinned.
"Come on, let's go eat. Kurenai and Anko have already started breakfast. If we wait too long, there'll be nothing left." Kakashi chuckled.
Sasuke let out a small, genuine smile as he stood up.
As they walked out together, Kakashi placed a hand on his shoulder once more. "You did well, Sasuke."
Sasuke looked up at him. "Thanks, sensei."