Chapter no.42 Naruto

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Chapter no.42 Red Glare of the Leaf?

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The real Kakashi had swapped places with one of his clones as he walked over to Sasuke, who was deeply engrossed in a scroll on the Sharingan.

Sasuke didn't even bother looking up.

Kakashi had known from the start that getting Sasuke to play as part of a team was going to be an uphill battle. The boy was too absorbed in his own goals, laser-focused on what he thought he needed. Ironically for an Uchiha, Kakashi thought, he's extremely tunnel-visioned.

Watching him, Kakashi could see it plain as day—subtle signs in his posture, the stiffness in his shoulders, the tightness in his jaw. Sasuke's body had been strained to the point of breaking, a result of endless training since the day Itachi killed the Uchiha clan. The boy hadn't taken a single day of rest, not one, and it was wearing him down. He didn't realize how much damage he was doing to himself by not giving his body and mind a chance to recover.

And now, with the awakening of his Sharingan, things had only gotten worse. Itachi once described the Sharingan awakening to Kakashi as being like a surge of adrenaline, pushing the body to its limits, amplifying one's abilities but draining one's reserves faster than usual. There was a point—the post-adrenaline fatigue, in medical terms—where the body just couldn't keep up with the strain. Right now, Sasuke was seeing rapid growth. But after this stage, if he continued at this pace, that growth would stagnate, leaving him broken and burned out. The symptoms were all there, hidden behind that stoic face.

But this wasn't just about physical fatigue. Sasuke was a flight risk. Every move he made, every glance, screamed one thing: revenge. If he ever had the chance, Kakashi knew he'd go after Itachi in a heartbeat, no matter the consequences. And with Naruto growing stronger, showing abilities none of them fully understood, Sasuke's inferiority complex was a fire waiting to consume him. The more he saw Naruto's progress, the harder he'd push himself, until he burned himself out completely.

Kakashi had even consulted Inoichi Yamanaka, a man who knew more about the human mind than anyone else in Konoha, and he agreed with Kakashi's assessment. If he didn't intervene, Sasuke would break himself down piece by piece in his blind pursuit of power.

"Sasuke-kun, do you want me to train you, or are you going to spend the day buried in scrolls on the Eye of Insight?"

"Just show me your training."

"So you can copy it?" Kakashi asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes," Sasuke replied, his Sharingan flickering to life. "Saves us both time, and you can get back to your lazy reading."

Kakashi held back a groan. This kid…

"My dear, cute student," Kakashi started, "do you know what it takes to earn an epithet in the shinobi world?"

Sasuke's eyes narrowed. He was trying to figure out Kakashi's angle, trying to read him like he would a scroll, but Kakashi could see the wheels turning in his head.

"Notable achievements," he finally answered, but it was clear his mind had already drifted. He was thinking about Itachi. About Red Glare of the Leaf, and how he planned to surpass it someday. His eyes were full of that familiar fire, the kind that consumes everything in its path if left unchecked.

"Do you know what my epithets are?" Kakashi asked, his voice steady. He could see the impact that simple question had on Sasuke. The boy stiffened, his gaze locking onto Kakashi with something like shock. His eyes widened just slightly, and Kakashi could see the disbelief breaking through his usual calm façade.

"Multiple epithets…?" Sasuke muttered, almost to himself. That tiny crack in his stoic mask told Kakashi everything he needed to know. Good, he thought. Sasuke had never expected his lazy, book-reading instructor to have something so significant. Kakashi had already surprised him. One epithet was a lifetime achievement in this world. But to have multiple? Sasuke didn't know what to make of that.

"You know, it's a shame you didn't bother to do a background check on me."

It wasn't just an observation—it was a reminder of Sasuke's blind spot, of his lack of curiosity about the world outside his obsession with revenge.

Sasuke clicked his tongue, frustrated. "Why would I waste time doing that?"

Kakashi chuckled. "Itachi went out of his way to learn everything about me."

The effect was immediate. Sasuke's calm shattered, replaced by something raw and visceral—disbelief and rage warring within him. "What did you just say?!"

"When Itachi was stationed under me in the Anbu, he did a full background check on me. The man with a thousand jutsu, Kakashi the Copy Ninja." Kakashi lifted his headband, revealing his Sharingan. "Kakashi of the Sharingan."

For a split second, there was hope in Sasuke's eyes, a fragile glimmer. "You… you're an Uchiha?"

Kakashi shook his head, and the hope in Sasuke's eyes shattered like glass. "No," he said, his voice tinged with sympathy. "This eye was given to me by a dear friend during the war, just before he died. The Uchiha Clan wanted it back, of course, but it was your father who insisted I keep it. He honored my friend's final wishes."

Kakashi saw a flicker of happiness at the mention of Sasuke's father, a softness he rarely showed. For a moment, Sasuke was just a boy remembering his family. But then the light in his eyes dimmed, and the memory replayed in his mind—his parents lying dead, Itachi standing over them.

"Teach me everything you know," Sasuke demanded, his voice cold and brittle, his Sharingan spinning, the single tomoe in each eye alive with desperation.

Kakashi could hear it in Sasuke's voice—the undercurrent of fear, the fear that he wouldn't be strong enough, that he'd never reach Itachi.

Kakashi looked at him carefully, weighing his words. "My first training command…" He paused deliberately, drawing out the silence. "…is for you to rest for the next week."

Sasuke stared at him as if he'd just slapped him, confusion and anger battling on his face. "What are you talking about?"

"That's my first command. Go. Take a rest."

"I can't!" Sasuke's voice rose. "I have to—"

He didn't get to finish before Kakashi stepped forward, pinning him against a tree, his hand around the boy's throat, holding him there. He could feel Sasuke's pulse under his grip, erratic.

"Listen to me, Sasuke," Kakashi said, his voice low. "I trained Itachi. I trained him when he entered the Anbu. I trained him to be a captain." Kakashi let his Sharingan spin, the tomoe merging, transforming into the Mangekyo Sharingan.

"That eye…" Sasuke managed, barely able to get the words out. Kakashi released him, watching as he dropped to the ground, sucking in air, his hand rubbing the red mark on his neck.

"Here's the truth, Sasuke," Kakashi said, looking down at him. "I am the only shinobi in the world who can help you reach Itachi. But I won't do it."

"No, you can't—"

"Yes, I can," Kakashi said firmly. "And I've decided I don't want to train you."

He turned, letting his words sink in, feeling Sasuke's gaze burning into his back. Kakashi knew what Sasuke was thinking—that he was throwing away the only thing that mattered to the boy, that he was holding his dreams hostage. Kakashi could almost hear the wheels turning in Sasuke's head, that same tunnel vision driving him to desperation.

"What do you want from me?!"

Kakashi stopped, glancing over his shoulder. "It's simple," he said quietly. "I want you to do nothing for the rest of this week. No training, no missions. Just rest. If you can do that, if you can show me that you're willing to listen, I promise I'll train you. I'll make you a shinobi who could surpass even Itachi."

Sasuke's jaw clenched, his hands curling into fists as he struggled with the command. Kakashi knew what he was thinking. Do nothing? How could that help? How could rest make him stronger? But Kakashi had planted the seed, and he knew that doubt would gnaw at Sasuke until he gave in. The boy had no choice; he wanted the power too badly.

Kakashi watched Sasuke for a moment longer, seeing the internal war playing out behind the boy's eyes. He knew that showing the Mangekyo had been a risk, one he hadn't wanted to take lightly. That particular Sharingan was a secret only he and the Hokage shared, a power he kept hidden unless absolutely necessary. But Sasuke needed to understand, needed to see just how serious Kakashi was about his role in guiding him down this path. This was a move to cement one truth into Sasuke's mind: if he wanted revenge, if he wanted a chance to confront Itachi one day, Kakashi was his only way.

Finally, Kakashi gave him a slight nod and turned to walk away, leaving Sasuke alone with his thoughts. He didn't need to say anything more. The boy had his command, his first real challenge, and now it was up to Sasuke to rise to it—or falter. Kakashi would be watching closely, ready to step in if needed, but he could only hope that this was enough to keep Sasuke from destroying himself in the process.

I hope I haven't misjudged you, Sasuke, Kakashi thought as he turned away, already mapping out his evening. He'd stop by the memorial stone first. He'd grab some salt-broiled saury and miso soup with eggplant on the way, something comforting after a day like this.

And, well, if he just happened to pass by the bookstore… Kakashi allowed himself a rare smile, a slight giggle escaping as he thought of picking up the new Icha Icha novel set. A reward for a job well done.

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[ Personal Note: First off, thanks a ton to all of you for sticking with this story. Seriously, you guys are awesome. Now, if you're interested in supporting me on P treon, let me just say that over there, I post these massive 5k-word chapters. But heads up, if you're jumping to P treon, you'll need to start from Chapter 21, since that's where this chapter lines up with the content there.

To everyone here just reading along, please don't forget to leave a comment! Honestly, your comments make my day, and they let me know you're as invested in this story as I am. So yeah, thanks again, and I hope you have an amazing rest of your day!