A bitter smile appeared on Kakashi's face.
It was a smile filled with pain, regret, and despair.
"Of course," he said quietly. "Because that's how my Mangekyō Sharingan awakened..."
"It awakened... when I killed my comrades."
Naruto and Sasuke's expressions changed dramatically.
"Kakashi-sensei..."
Neither of them had expected such an answer.
However, Kakashi clearly had no intention of discussing the matter any further.
He let out a soft sigh and waved his hand.
"Let's leave that topic behind."
"You can't deliberately create the emotional conditions needed to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan."
"If someone kills their own comrades just to gain power, they've completely lost sight of what's important."
"The purpose of power..."
"...is to protect your comrades."
Naruto immediately nodded in agreement.
"Exactly!"
Sasuke, however, fell silent.
His thoughts drifted elsewhere.
The awakening Kakashi was referring to had clearly happened on the day Rin Nohara died.
What Kakashi himself didn't know was that the one who had truly awakened alongside him wasn't just himself...
It was another owner of the same pair of eyes.
Uchiha Obito.
Although the circumstances were different, the result had been the same.
After a long silence, Sasuke suddenly spoke.
"One year."
Naruto blinked.
"What?"
"One year."
Sasuke slowly raised his head, his black eyes burning with determination.
"One year from now..."
"I'll personally hunt down Uchiha Itachi..."
"...and kill him."
Naruto and Kakashi were both stunned.
"Sasuke, isn't that far too dangerous?"
"One year is much too short!"
Kakashi also frowned.
"Sasuke, don't rush things."
Sasuke's body trembled slightly.
His fists clenched tightly until his nails dug into his palms.
Pain, hatred, and grief intertwined within his eyes.
"When Uchiha Itachi slaughtered the clan..."
"...he was about my age."
Kakashi naturally knew this.
Back then, Itachi had served under him in the ANBU.
But Naruto was hearing it for the first time.
"What?!"
"He wiped out the entire Uchiha Clan when he was only thirteen or fourteen?"
"That's..."
"That's unbelievable."
"Even if what he did was unforgivable..."
"...it's still terrifying."
Sasuke slowly closed his eyes.
"That's exactly why..."
"I can't afford to wait any longer."
Kakashi's voice became serious.
"Sasuke, I understand your feelings."
"But someone like Uchiha Itachi isn't an opponent you can challenge lightly."
"Even now..."
"I'm nowhere near his level."
"To be honest..."
"I suspect his strength is already comparable to one of the Legendary Sannin, like Jiraiya-sama."
Sasuke already knew that.
Kakashi had personally fought Itachi...
...and had been utterly defeated.
Only someone with the strength of a Hokage or one of the Sannin could possibly stand against him.
But what choice did he have?
His talent...
His hard work...
His education...
His opportunities...
He had already pushed everything he possessed to its limit.
If that still wasn't enough...
Then perhaps he would never have another chance.
Just then, Naruto gently patted Sasuke on the shoulder.
Unlike Kakashi...
He didn't try to stop him.
Instead, he smiled brightly.
"Alright."
"Sasuke."
"One year."
"Just one year."
Both Sasuke and Kakashi stared at him in surprise.
"Naruto?"
"What are you saying?"
Naruto grinned.
"I support your decision."
"Train with everything you've got this year."
"And after that..."
"We'll go settle the score with Uchiha Itachi."
Sasuke froze.
He had expected everyone to oppose him.
To tell him to give up.
To persuade him to wait.
Instead...
Naruto stood beside him without the slightest hesitation.
For the first time in his life...
Sasuke felt that Naruto truly understood him.
Naruto suddenly added,
"But..."
"I have one condition."
Sasuke looked at him.
"What is it?"
Naruto's smile widened.
"I'm coming with you."
Sasuke immediately shook his head.
"No."
"This is my revenge."
Naruto folded his arms.
"No."
"This is our mission."
"Sasuke..."
"If I decided today to challenge an enemy far stronger than myself..."
"Would you come with me?"
Sasuke fell silent.
After a long moment...
He nodded.
"Yes."
Naruto laughed.
"Exactly."
"If you'd fight beside me..."
"Then I'll fight beside you."
"One year from now..."
"We'll hunt down Uchiha Itachi together."
"We'll end this."
Sasuke couldn't find the words to respond.
He simply lowered his head, took a deep breath, and slowly closed his eyes.
Kakashi watched the two boys in silence.
He wanted to discourage them.
He wanted to tell them how impossible it was.
But when he saw the determination burning in both of their eyes...
No words came out.
Perhaps...
This was the best outcome they could hope for.
Just then...
"Hahahaha!"
A loud burst of laughter echoed across the training ground.
A tall, broad-shouldered figure appeared in an instant.
It was none other than the Legendary Sannin...
Jiraiya.
"Hahaha! Naruto, you said it perfectly!"
He crossed his arms proudly.
"I have to admit..."
"The two of you have courage."
"Trying to kill Uchiha Itachi within a year is practically impossible."
"But..."
"If the two of you fight together..."
"I actually believe you might succeed."
"Of course..."
"That'll also depend on my guidance."
Naruto's eyes immediately lit up.
"Pervy Sage!"
"Where have you been all this time?"
Jiraiya scratched the back of his head.
"If the two of you are training so hard..."
"How could I possibly stay idle?"
He reached into his robe and pulled out a thick scroll before tossing it toward Sasuke.
"Sasuke."
"This is for you."
Sasuke caught the heavy scroll in surprise.
"What is this?"
Jiraiya smiled proudly.
"For the past several days..."
"I've been studying every piece of information I could gather."
"I combined it with my own experience..."
"And compiled every method I could think of for dealing with the Mangekyō Sharingan."
"Countermeasures."
"Training methods."
"Combat strategies."
"Even several forbidden techniques that Tsunade helped me obtain from Konoha's archives."
"As long as you train according to what's written inside..."
"I'm confident you'll eventually overcome Uchiha Itachi."
Sasuke slowly opened the scroll.
Page after page was filled with densely packed notes...
Battle theories...
Hand seals...
Chakra control methods...
And detailed analyses of the Mangekyō Sharingan.
His fingers trembled slightly.
Without lifting his head, he whispered,
"...Thank you."
Jiraiya burst into hearty laughter.
"Hahaha!"
"That's what a master is supposed to do."
"No need to thank me."
Naruto immediately puffed out his cheeks.
"Pervy Sage!"
"You're playing favorites!"
"You wrote something for Sasuke, but not for me!"
"And Kakashi-sensei is the same!"
"These days, all he does is help Sasuke train!"
Kakashi smiled helplessly.
"Naruto..."
"You're the one who asked me to help Sasuke deal with the Mangekyō Sharingan."
"And now you're blaming me?"
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)