Hokage's Office.
Across from Hiruzen, Kakashi had just finished a ten-minute report.
The office was silent, only the hissing sound of burning tobacco could be heard.
After a long while, Hiruzen finally took the pipe from his mouth and spoke with some disbelief, "Kakashi, let me confirm again. Are you saying that Uchiha Sasuke, in just three months, has basically learned all the C-Rank and B-Rank Ninjutsu you know?"
This conclusion was so astonishing that even Hiruzen, hailed as the Professor, had to double-check.
"Yes, Hokage-sama. Aside from a few techniques that require secret techniques to perform, he can basically grasp anything I demonstrate after seeing it once."
"..." Sarutobi Hiruzen fell silent. He picked up his pipe and took a deep drag.
"Is it because of those eyes?" He asked gravely.
"Yes, but not entirely."
Kakashi explained, "The main reason is the child's learning attitude."
Recalling those three months of training, even he sometimes felt a chill.
During training, Sasuke didn't complain, didn't ask questions, and showed not a hint of slackness.
He just watched, then learned, and then mastered it at a speed far exceeding ordinary people's.
"I don't have many conventional Ninjutsu left to teach him."
Kakashi spread his hands, "So, I'm planning to start teaching him Chakra Nature Transformation and Shape Transformation, to prepare for that technique."
"Raikiri?"
Hiruzen's eyes focused, "That's your famous signature technique, an S-Rank Ninjutsu. Isn't it too early for a seven-year-old child?"
"For him, there's no distinction between early and late. Only between can use and cannot use."
Kakashi's tone turned serious, "His speed, reactions, and those eyes perfectly meet the requirements for Raikiri. Teaching it to him is the most reasonable choice."
Hiruzen pondered for a moment, then nodded, tacitly approving Kakashi's decision.
Then, as if remembering something, he slowly channeled Chakra into the crystal ball before him.
The surface of the sphere rippled, then reflected the scene of Training Ground 3.
However, the scene within made both Hiruzen and Kakashi show somewhat subtle expressions.
In the crystal ball, Sasuke was forming hand seals with one hand, a mass of extremely unstable, electricity-sparking Chakra gathered in his palm… clearly practicing Lightning Nature Transformation.
Not far from him, a familiar figure was charging towards a large tree trunk again and again in a comical posture.
"Bang!"
"Ouch!"
"Damn it! Do it again!"
Naruto hugged his bruised knee, gritting his teeth in pain, but his eyes were filled with defiance. He charged forward again, only to be thrown back once more.
"That child, Naruto... when did he start hanging out with Sasuke?" Hiruzen's tone held a hint of surprised delight.
"About two weeks ago."
Kakashi scratched his head, recalling, "At first, it was just Naruto secretly watching from outside the training ground."
"Later, he got bolder, came inside, and started practicing on his own next to Sasuke, imitating him."
"Sasuke didn't chase him away?"
"No."
Kakashi's eyes showed a thoughtful look, "I think you should remember my previous report, that Sasuke could see through the loneliness behind that child Naruto's actions."
"Perhaps in his view, a 'noisy idiot' like Naruto is much more tolerable than those girls who try to save him with sympathy."
Kakashi continued, "So, he just let Naruto be there nearby. He ignores him, but doesn't drive him away either."
Hiruzen watched the two children quietly through the crystal ball.
"Is that so..."
Hiruzen slowly exhaled a long stream of white smoke. The worry in his eyes seemed to dissipate slightly.
"Perhaps this isn't so bad after all." He muttered softly.
"Yeah." Kakashi agreed, "At least for Naruto, he finally has a playmate who doesn't despise him."
"As for Sasuke, he probably finds a simple-minded creature like Naruto much less troublesome to deal with than other people."
"It seems my decision to have you guide Sasuke was correct." A long-absent smile appeared on Hiruzen's face.
"Mm." Kakashi responded softly. His gaze fell on the crystal ball, and he tilted his head slightly, adding, "But that guy Naruto isn't the type to give up just because he's ignored."
As if to confirm his words, the scene in the crystal ball changed.
On the training ground, Uzumaki Naruto, who had been immersed in practicing tree climbing, finally couldn't take it anymore after sliding down the tree trunk yet again.
"Damn it, why won't it work?" He rubbed his numb buttocks, complaining through gritted teeth.
His gaze couldn't help but drift towards the figure not far away.
'Why wouldn't that guy even look at me once?'
Naruto didn't want to be ignored anymore, didn't want to be excluded alone anymore. He suddenly jumped up from the ground and shouted at that figure:
"Hey, Uchiha Sasuke!"
The unruly electrical light in Sasuke's palm, where he was concentrating Lightning Nature Chakra, directly dissipated due to this sudden roar.
He slowly opened his eyes and finally turned around, "Are you done yet?"
"I..."
Naruto faltered under his cold gaze, instinctively taking half a step back.
But thinking of his purpose here, he found courage from somewhere and shouted loudly, "Then teach me! As long as you teach me this, I won't bother you anymore!"
After shouting, he looked at Sasuke's expressionless face, and a wave of inexplicable grievance surged in his heart.
"I want to get stronger too! As long as I become as strong as you, everyone will stop looking at me with those eyes!"
"Please, teach me!"
Those eyes were now filled with obsession and a desperation clinging to the last straw.
Sasuke's heart trembled violently the moment he saw those eyes.
'That look...'
It was as if he saw himself three years ago in the Rukongai, covered in wounds but still swearing to gain power and return to the world of the living for revenge.
The same naivety, the same annoyance.
An inexplicable emotion rose from the depths of his heart, making him extremely uncomfortable.
"Shut up. Don't look at me with those eyes." Sasuke's voice was somewhat hoarse. He abruptly stood up and walked over to Naruto.
"Those eyes disgust me the most."
A suffocating silence fell.
Naruto stood frozen. He thought he had messed up again. His eyes began to redden slightly.
Just as he was about to give up and turn to flee, Sasuke spoke again.
"Don't just stand there. Come here."
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