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[— Manga Scene —]
'I see, so that time… you were able to copy part of my technique just by seeing it once…'
'That's your ability… the Sharingan!!'
After Sasuke's victory was announced, Rock Lee stared in shock at Sasuke, who had won using part of his technique.
'Sasuke-kun… what a person you are… You will only grow stronger and stronger…'
'I even… feel fear…'
His mentor, Gai, noticed this and could only think the same as his student.
'Mastering even a part of the supreme taijutsu technique, the Lotus, is impossible without grueling training…'
'Even with the Sharingan, it's not something that can be perfected so quickly… and the creativity of that finishing move…'
Gai looked toward Kakashi as he thought:
'Kakashi… this boy reminds me of you when you were young…'
Meanwhile, Neji silently stared at Sasuke, while beside him, Tenten wondered internally:
'Last year's number one rookie was Hyuga Neji… this year's is Uchiha Sasuke… I wonder which one is stronger.'
At that moment, Kakashi approached Sasuke with silent steps.
'But what a guy… to unleash the true power of the Sharingan here… The terrifying Uchiha blood…'
'That's surprising… to stop the reaction of the curse seal with his own will…'
Anko was also shocked by what Sasuke had done, since she herself could not do the same with her curse seal.
[— End Scene —]
"The blood of the Uchiha… it truly is terrifying."
The Third Hokage muttered as he exhaled smoke from his pipe.
"He suppressed a curse seal that Anko needed my counterpart's help to control. Sasuke is not just talented; it seems he possesses a strong will. What do you think, Danzo?"
"A strong will is not enough, Hiruzen," Danzo replied coldly, his eyes still fixed on the scene of the curse seal spreading and receding.
"What Sasuke did is nothing more than delaying the explosion. But I admit… his ability to control the seal with his will makes him an invaluable weapon. It seems Orochimaru is licking his lips with even greater greed…"
Mito Uzumaki interrupted him firmly:
"Why do you call him a weapon, Danzo?"
She had always been bothered by this man's mindset of seeing everyone as tools.
"Sasuke won with taijutsu, that means he won with his body and spirit, not with Orochimaru's power. That is true victory. He has proven that the Will of Fire in Konoha is still alive even in the darkest circumstances. He is not a weapon, but a lost child who needs someone to extinguish the flames of revenge burning inside him."
Hiruzen was slightly moved by Mito's words, sighing inwardly, knowing they had not changed Danzo's perspective in the slightest.
It had long been decided: Danzo was the shadow covering Konoha, while he was the light surrounding it.
Their philosophies clashed, yet both served Konoha's interests above all else.
That was why Hiruzen preferred not to interfere in Danzo's actions and extreme ideas.
Even so, he did not reject Mito's attempts to undermine him.
…
Elsewhere, Dai felt conflicted as he read Rock Lee's thoughts in the manga page, and his son's counterpart as well.
"Dad…" young Gai whispered, his voice choked.
"Does talent really shorten years of suffering into a single moment? Kakashi in our era, and Sasuke in the manga… both make every drop of sweat I've shed, or will shed, feel worthless before talent."
Dai looked at his son, his usual smile gone. His expression was frighteningly serious.
"Gai, this is exactly the feeling that should burn inside you now, just like Lee. The fear of being ordinary in a world of geniuses. But listen carefully… retreating before talent is the true death for a young man like you!"
He placed his heavy hand on Gai's shoulder and continued, his voice shaking the surroundings:
"If Sasuke copied our move in a second, then we must train until our bodies perform movements his eyes cannot even withstand! Do not fear their talent; use that fear as fuel to explode your potential! We will train a thousand times harder and make the power of youth surpass the limits of logic and bloodline. Do you understand me, Gai? No retreat!"
Gai's eyes ignited with a new kind of determination, not childish excitement, but the resolve of a fighter who refuses to be crushed.
"I understand, Dad… I won't let their blood extinguish my fire. I'll unleash everything I have!"
"That's it! Don't worry about Lee! I can see your counterpart has already gone through all this and guided him properly! Lee will soon overcome this small obstacle and regain the brilliance he showed at his first appearance!"
…
Speaking of Kakashi, his six-year-old counterpart stared silently at the page, while his father, Sakumo, smiled beside him.
"Kakashi… it seems your counterpart is planning to take Sasuke away…"
Sakumo narrowed his eyes as he watched Kakashi, who was reading his book near Sasuke and had simply told a medical staff member he would take care of him.
"I see… so my counterpart has finally decided to intervene and contain the curse seal himself."
Young Kakashi smiled beneath his mask as he watched the scene.
"He will definitely do it. After all, Sasuke is still his student. He must be furious at Orochimaru for tampering with him…" Sakumo said with a smile.
"Indeed… I would truly be angry if someone like Orochimaru harmed my student…"
Young Kakashi spoke unconsciously with his older self's mindset.
Somehow, lately, he had begun to act like his older counterpart without realizing it… But Sakumo could clearly see it; the manga was strangely influencing his son.
And not just Kakashi, but everyone whose counterparts appeared in the manga and received more screen time.
…
Elsewhere, Anko's parents exchanged worried and astonished looks while still hiding their young daughter from Orochimaru out of constant fear.
"Dear, our daughter in the manga is shocked by Sasuke's ability to control the curse seal… does that mean she cannot do the same?" the mother asked softly.
"It seems so… perhaps that's why Orochimaru abandoned her in the first place."
"But how can Sasuke, just a genin, do—"
The father shook his head sadly:
"It's the Uchiha blood… or perhaps something deeper. Sasuke has a goal that makes him reject death or submission to anyone, even Orochimaru."
"…It's painful to see such a future. Our daughter looks like she lost control of her fate because of Orochimaru."
The mother, deeply saddened, hugged her three-year-old daughter more tightly without realizing it. She did not want Anko to suffer the same fate as in the manga.
In this reality, they would make sure she never got close to Orochimaru.
…
In Sunagakure:
Inside the art store, the Third Kazekage slowly turned the page.
"Uchiha Sasuke… Konoha always produces monsters in times of peace. But look at Gaara."
He pointed at Gaara, who was watching the fight with icy calm.
"Gaara doesn't seem affected by Sasuke's skill. To him, all of this is just child's play."
"Is it really child's play? We know Sasuke fell under Orochimaru's influence, but Gaara doesn't…" Chiyo said calmly.
"Yes, but I want to see the source of his confidence, the reason for that calm and powerful aura."
"It's obvious we already know the reason…"
"When Ichibi appears, I won't be surprised…"
…
Rasa, observing his future son, though he was not yet fully certain, felt a chill run through his body.
'Gaara… he isn't looking for a rival. He's looking for a sacrifice.'
'That coldness… that's what draws my attention most. Why, I wonder…'
Karura felt the same heaviness in her heart as she saw Gaara's hollow eyes devoid of any regard for life. Yet she still felt anticipation for his next battle…
...
Not far away, Sasori simply smiled.
'Taijutsu, Sharingan, the curse seal… all of them are just fleeting tools. In the end, everyone will fall, and their bodies will become lifeless pieces. Sasuke is interesting… but still just a breathing human.'
His thoughts at such a young age were truly striking, yet his parents beside him were completely unaware.
Of course, they would come to understand in the future, through the manga, who their son truly was.
…
Back where the Kazekage and his aides were, Ebisu exchanged serious looks with his elder sister Chiyo.
"This third test… will turn into a battlefield of blood. Konoha and Suna are about to clash through these children. And if Gaara is our weapon, then Sasuke is the obstacle that must be destroyed."
"Sasuke? I think the Kyubi' jinchuriki is the more dangerous obstacle… Sasuke is already out of the game due to Orochimaru targeting him," Chiyo replied calmly.
The pages stopped at the scene of Kakashi leading Sasuke away to seal the curse seal, while the electronic board began spinning again to announce the second match…
Zaku Abumi vs. Aburame Shino
The next battle didn't seem interesting to the readers in Sunagakure.
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Upcoming chapter titles (spoilers):
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Chapter 162: Orochimaru's Ambition and the Terrifying Insect Clan.
Chapter 163: The Remarkable Potential of an Aburame Clan Member.
Chapter 164: Protected by the Man Who Exposed Him…!?
Chapter 165: Battle After Battle.
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