What Do You Have to Be Proud Of?

Sasuke Uchiha had no idea what Yinsen was thinking. Lacking the strength to do much else, he gradually calmed down. Though he still wore a sour expression, he no longer radiated Killing Intent as if someone owed him a fortune.

After resting for a while longer, Sasuke seemed to return to normal.

"Can you make me stronger?"

"I can!"

Yinsen withdrew his whip. The emerald-green whip, like a vine, slowly vanished. Sasuke could not help but glance at it several times, wondering what kind of ninjutsu it was. Some sort of plant?

"Stronger than that person?"

"If you truly have the determination to become stronger, then nothing is impossible."

Sasuke Uchiha was like a firecracker covered in fuses. Yinsen's casual response seemed to light another one, and the boy suddenly became irritable again.

"You were injured too, weren't you? Why are you so confident?"

Looking at Sasuke, Yinsen suddenly understood. In Sasuke's heart, Itachi Uchiha was nearly invincible. It was an impression formed since childhood. Even after becoming the enemy Sasuke had to kill, Itachi Uchiha's image of strength had remained unshaken.

It could even be said that Itachi's actions had left an even greater shadow in Sasuke's heart.

"Because Itachi Uchiha... didn't leave completely unscathed either."

Originally, it had been an act the two had tacitly agreed upon. But strictly speaking, Yinsen really had injured Itachi Uchiha through his own strength, so it was not exactly boasting.

Sasuke seemed unable to accept it. His "dear, incomparably powerful brother" had actually been driven back by someone. His first reaction was, "Could it be that he didn't use that..."

"The Mangekyo Sharingan? Kakashi was badly hurt because of it and will probably need to rest for a while. I was injured by that technique too."

Sasuke's pupils suddenly contracted. He had