Good news for you guys, this novel is already 40 chapters ahead on P_treon, so starting next week, this novel will be updated with 5 chapters per week, just like on P_treon.
Thank you to those who helped P_treon grow, it's for you that I write.
--x--
In the Hidden Leaf Village, Sasuke sat in a tree, feeling as if he were walking backward instead of forward.
No matter how much he trained, nothing seemed to bring him any closer to killing Itachi.
Thinking about that man, his teeth clenched as he brought his hand to his neck, feeling Itachi's grip still there, persistently, like a constant reminder of how weak he is.
"You are weak…" Itachi's voice continued to echo in his head. "…Why are you weak? Because you don't have enough hatred."
His fists clenched as his face showed deep hatred.
The next moment, Sasuke's eyes widened, a shuriken attached to a wire wrapped around him and tightened before he could react, tying him to the tree trunk.
Sasuke struggled, but the steel wire wouldn't give way easily, he looked up cautiously and angrily.
It was Kakashi holding the end of the thread and looking at it calmly.
-What are you doing?- Sasuke asked in an irritated voice.
-If I don't do this, you'll run away, right?- Kakashi replied calmly, clearly knowing his student well. -You're not the type to calmly listen to a lecture.
Sasuke clicked his tongue in annoyance, but didn't deny it.
-Sasuke... you need to forget about this revenge.- Kakashi said, his eyes lowered. He wanted to be there even less than Sasuke did, but he needed to say it because he was Sasuke's teacher.
-What?!- Sasuke narrowed his eyes, his anger growing rapidly.
-In this line of work, I've seen many guys like you.- Kakashi said, without changing his tone. -But in the end, those who choose revenge never end up well.
He paused briefly before continuing. -They have a tragic ending, you'll only hurt and torture yourself more than you are now.
-And even if you succeed, you take your revenge and what's left for you? Emptiness.- Kakashi continued.
-Shut up! What do you know?!- Sasuke had heard enough, his anger was at its peak. -Don't talk to me like you know how I feel!
-Aaaah! Calm down...- Kakashi raised his voice slightly to stop him from exploding completely, then lowered it again, trying to bring some calm to the conversation. Too bad, Sasuke was already completely furious at that point.
He smiled at Kakashi as he said. -What if I killed the most important person to you right now? Then you'd realize you don't know what you're talking about.
-Well, I wouldn't mind if you did that.- Kakashi didn't seem upset at all as he replied. -Unfortunately, I don't have anyone that important... they're all dead now.
Sasuke's anger subsided for a moment as he finally appeared surprised.
-I've lived longer than you. These weren't good times. I know very well the pain of losing someone important.- Kakashi explained lightly, trying to use empathy to open Sasuke's heart a little. -Well, you and I aren't lucky, there's no doubt about that. Even so, things could be worse. You and I have found good companions, haven't we?
Sasuke's gaze softened and became more thoughtful as he remembered Sakura and Naruto, the weight of a bond he hadn't asked for, but which had formed at some point and was now weighing him down.
Kakashi watched him for a moment, sensing that Sasuke's heart was a little more open, then he continued to speak. - Because I lost someone, I can understand.
He loosened the steel wire, which slowly slipped, falling from the tree and freeing Sasuke, now calmer. - The Chidori is a power I gave you because now you have something important. You should know that it's not a power to be used for revenge or against your comrade, I'm sure you know what it should be used for.
Finally, Kakashi knew it was time to leave. He had already said what he needed to, now it depended on Sasuke, but seeing the boy calmer and with his head down, Kakashi was sure that he had understood what he needed to say.
-Think carefully about whether what I'm saying is right or wrong.- Kakashi concluded before disappearing with a Shunshin.
Sasuke didn't move, but stood there, head bowed, lost in thought.
Years of pain, years where revenge drove him forward, at that moment, thinking about the comrades he had made, Sasuke began to wonder, is it really worth it?
On the other side, observing what had happened, the quartet of Sound began to argue.
-With an elite ninja like the Copy Ninja here, it's best to wait before attacking. -Kidomaru commented.
-Perhaps it's difficult for you, but I can handle it.- Tayuya teased with a smirk. -I'm dying to test the new power granted by Jugo-sama.
Sakon smiled as he said. -I agree, two people could easily divide it into pieces.
-Nobody asked you anything, you idiot.- Tayuya, with her strong personality, didn't even blink while insulting him.
-Tayuya, women shouldn't use that kind of vocabulary...- Jirobo commented from the side.
-Shut up! Fatso!- Tayuya became even more irritated with Jirobo.
-It doesn't matter, Jugo-sama was clear. Take the Uchiha brat quietly.- Kidomaru was clearly the leader of the group, even if none of the others admitted it, so they just accepted it with varying degrees of irritation.
Sasuke didn't move, he stayed there all afternoon, even after sunset. The Sound Four watched from afar, waiting for the right moment to appear.
Sasuke's eyes grew increasingly sad and less angry, he was at a crossroads at that moment. Perhaps if Team 7 had more time, a completely different Sasuke could emerge.
It was a pity, but in the next moment, four shadows appeared from above. Sasuke's eyes widened, and before he knew it, he was surrounded.
The group of four didn't move, but stared at Sasuke, who remained pressed against the tree.
The boy was already glancing at them with irritation, searching for an escape route, but he forced himself to calm down, sensing that his chances weren't good. -Who are you?- His voice came out calm, but with evident weight.
-I am Kidomaru from the East Gate of the Four Sound Ninja.- Kidomaru replied with a mocking look.
-Sakon, from the West Gate.- Sakon replied, with Ukon's head still silent behind him.
-Jiboro, from the South Gate. - Jirobo spoke with his perpetually irritated face, as always.
-Tayuya, from the North Gate. - Tayuya spoke, her eyes narrowed.
The next moment they moved, attacking together and... they got a beating from Sasuke, at least that's what Sasuke thought, but when it was all over, he only found tree trunks where they should have been lying.
Not far away, on the ledge of a building, the four of them looked at Sasuke with interest and mockery, it was just a simple test, wanting to see what Sasuke could do.
Sasuke wasn't intimidated, glancing at them out of the corner of his eye. -I'm in a bad mood right now. If you want to fight, I won't go easy on you.
Sakon snorted slightly. -You bastard, you talk too much for a weakling.
He raised a prominent finger and spoke. - You, come here...
While Sakon was provoking Sasuke, the boy grew tired of waiting and made his own move. As soon as Sasuke moved, Sakon seized the opportunity, wanting to act himself, he advanced.
-Leave it to me!- he shouted, preventing the other three from moving.
As soon as Sakon kicked Sasuke into the air, the boy threaded a wire through his leg and attached him to the roof, the next moment, he lifted his bare foot and kicked Sakon directly.
Sakon defended with his arm and grabbed Sasuke's leg. Sasuke used his right hand to punch him, Sakon caught the other hand and in the next moment, Sasuke smiled. Using his free left hand, he turned to punch Sakon in the face.
But at that moment, a fist appeared out of nowhere and punched him in the face, without Sasuke noticing, a foot emerged from his body right after, kicking him in the stomach and sending him flying.
Sasuke almost vomited from that blow, but his mind was even more confused—where did those blows come from?!
He was thrown directly against the tree, hitting his back hard and knocking the air out of his lungs.
He tried to catch his breath as his body weakened and slowly slid down, finally regaining the ability to breathe and positioned himself again, looking at Sakon with caution and confusion.
-Your bones have a nice low sound, don't they?- Sakon asked ironically. -Let's hear a much higher-pitched reverberation, what do you think?
At that moment, Kidomaro appeared to his right. Sasuke noticed and jumped back, but Kidomaro was already prepared, the movement was planned to make him lose his balance. He spat a spider web directly from his mouth towards Sasuke.
Sasuke used his arms to defend himself, but they were trapped by the webs. Kidomaro swung him around and threw him towards Jirobo.
Jirobo used a shoulder charge to strike Sasuke in the back while he was still in the air, causing him to lose his breath again and be thrown far away, directly towards Sakon.
Sakon was ready to strike him, but Sasuke managed to regain his position and dodge, sending him flying with a kick to the chin and following up immediately afterward. Using the move learned from Lee, the lion combo reappeared. Sasuke unleashed a series of strikes in the air before delivering a downward kick, causing Sakon to break part of a house's roof.
Unfortunately for Sasuke, they were still just toying with him. Before he knew it, an arm appeared out of nowhere and grabbed his leg, making his eyes widen. Sakon was already smiling as he quickly stood up and punched Sasuke directly in the face.
Sasuke tried to defend himself, but another hand reached out and pulled his arms down, Sakon's punch struck his head squarely, causing his brain to jiggle.
He lost consciousness for a fraction of a second, but when he tried to readjust, another arm came out of Sakon and grabbed him, the next moment, Sakon unleashed a series of punches while Sasuke was unable to defend himself.
He tried to kick Sakon, but Sakon grabbed his leg with one hand and a foot flew out of his chest, hitting Sasuke squarely in the face.
After taking a heavy beating, Sasuke was held by the leg by Sakon, who looked at him with a mocking smile.
Well, Sasuke didn't use his Sharingan, but Sakon and Ukon hadn't used the cursed mark or the werewolf transformation, so Sasuke didn't stand a chance.
Sasuke was trembling, not unconscious, but his whole body ached and he could barely move.
Soon after, the sound quartet started doing marketing. Basically, the village of the leaf is a terrible place to grow, come to the sound, we have a top-quality snake instructor.
As for why not talk about Jugo? Jugo asked for it, it wasn't the time to reveal himself and if Sasuke refused this time, no information would leak.