Is That Friend You Mentioned Actually Yourself

However, this assessment was based on the fact that Hatake Kakashi did not know Sasuke had already awakened the Three Tomoe Sharingan.

Otherwise, Kakashi's evaluation of Sasuke would have been even higher.

"So, does this mean I currently possess the strength of an average jonin?"

Sasuke nodded to show he understood, though he was calculating in his mind.

In that case, if I activate my Sharingan now, I should have the room to contend even with an elite jonin.

"You could say that." Kakashi nodded slightly and continued, "However, even though your strength has reached this level, your practical combat experience is still severely lacking. From now on, even if you encounter an enemy who seems much weaker than you, remember never to let your guard down, or you could easily capsize in a gutter."

"I understand. Even a lion uses its full strength to hunt a rabbit; I will be more careful in the future."

The practical combat experience Kakashi spoke of did not refer to the sparring matches between the two of them, but rather the experience of life-and-death struggles.

Throughout the ninja world, with the exception of a few individuals, most people—no matter how high their strength—are the same.

In a life-and-death struggle, one does not need profound or flashy ninjutsu; a simple kunai, lightly drawn across the throat, is enough to kill.

Sasuke did not lack experience in sparring; what he lacked was the experience of life-and-death combat.

"Come to think of it, you will be graduating from the Ninja Academy in another month."

The corners of Kakashi's mouth curled up, his eyes curving into crescent moons.

"I wonder which guy will be your jonin instructor then. With your current strength, he's going to have a miserable time!"

Sasuke smiled slightly and said, "I actually hope my jonin instructor remains Kakashi-sensei. After all, there is still much I need to learn from you."

"Sasuke, you are a genius; I don't have much left to teach you." Kakashi shook his head, then continued, "However, I do have one self-created ninjutsu I haven't taught you yet. This ninjutsu can be called my core technique; my combat style is essentially developed around it. Regardless of whether I am your instructor in a month, it doesn't matter. Let me teach it to you during this time."

"Thank you, Kakashi-sensei!"

Sasuke expressed his sincere gratitude. Although he had approached Kakashi with ulterior motives at the beginning, he still kept the earnest guidance Kakashi had provided over the past year close to his heart.

Perhaps in the future, it was highly likely that Sasuke would not follow the path Kakashi expected.

Even if their stances might differ in the future, this bond remained.

Sasuke sighed inwardly and asked, "Is the ninjutsu Kakashi-sensei mentioned the one that cut through my Lightning Release earlier?"

"Correct, that ninjutsu is called Raikiri." Kakashi nodded. "However, what I am going to teach you now is not Raikiri, but Chidori!"

(Regarding whether Chidori and Raikiri are the same ninjutsu, opinions vary. Both Kakashi and Might Guy have said that Chidori is Raikiri, but the official databooks index them in completely different sections, specifically creating a new entry for Raikiri and labeling it S-rank. In this book, it is set as a relationship similar to that of the Rasengan and the Big Ball Rasengan.)

"The sound is like a thousand birds chirping in unison, hence the name Chidori!"

"Raikiri is an improved version of Chidori. I once used this technique to cut through a bolt of lightning in the sky, so I named this technique Raikiri!"

Seeing Sasuke nod in understanding, Kakashi continued, "Chidori combines both nature transformation and shape transformation of Chakra. By gathering lightning-style Chakra in the palm to form a high-intensity current, it possesses immense piercing power and lethality. It can also generate a powerful bio-electric activation to stimulate the user's legs and arms, enhancing the user's thrusting speed and the piercing power of the lightning!"

"Watch closely and remember my hand seals!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Kakashi quickly performed the Ox-Rabbit-Monkey seals. High-intensity lightning-style Chakra gathered in his hand, emitting a sound like a thousand birds chirping.

"Did you memorize the hand seals?"

Seeing Sasuke nod, Kakashi dispersed the lightning of the Chidori.

"Next, I will tell you about the training methods and key points of the Chidori..."

Kakashi explained in detail, and Sasuke listened carefully. Whenever he encountered something he didn't understand, he would ask, and Kakashi patiently answered him one by one.

Half an hour passed, and Kakashi finally stopped.

"These are the training methods and key points for the Chidori."

"Do you understand everything?"

Sasuke nodded slightly: "I understand!"

"Sasuke, you are truly the most gifted genius I have ever seen; you grasped the knack of the Chidori so quickly." Kakashi praised him, then changed his tone: "However, understanding it is one thing, but practicing the Chidori is not an easy task."

Seeing Sasuke remain silent, Kakashi smiled, a flash of pride in his eyes, and said calmly: "The training for Chidori is extremely difficult. Even if you are a genius, by my calculations, you will need at least half a... Nani!?"

Before he could finish his sentence, Kakashi's eyes widened in disbelief.

Sasuke had already performed the hand seals at some point, and his right hand was gathered with high-intensity lightning, emitting the sound of a thousand birds chirping.

"..."

Kakashi was silent...

"..."

Sasuke was also silent...

The two stared at each other, both falling into an eerie silence.

Finally, it was Sasuke who spoke: "It doesn't seem as difficult as Kakashi-sensei said."

In truth, Sasuke himself found it somewhat incredible that he had mastered this ninjutsu so quickly.

Although he had made preparations four years earlier than the original, and his own talent was higher than the original's, he had also learned many Lightning Release ninjutsu under Kakashi's tutelage over the past year as prerequisites.

But...

This is a bit too fast...

Cough... cough... Kakashi's eye twitched, and he gave a few light coughs to ease the awkwardness.

"Although your talent, Sasuke, exceeded my expectations—mastering Chidori in such a short time—there is one point I must emphasize to you."

"The drawback of Chidori is that it requires you to sprint rapidly toward your opponent to thrust, but because the speed is so high, you might fail to see the enemy clearly and suffer a counterattack. That is why it needs to be paired with the Sharingan to reach its full potential!"

"Since you haven't awakened the Sharingan yet, I suggest you refrain from using this jutsu for the time being!"

Seeing Sasuke nod, Kakashi's expression turned serious: "Before you know it, you are about to become a ninja. Sasuke, I am very sorry for what you have been through. I hope you do not drown in hatred and neglect the important companions by your side."

"Of course, I don't mean for you to forget the past, but rather to keep the past in mind while learning to cherish what is in front of you and live in the present."

As he said this, seeing Sasuke still wearing a calm expression, Kakashi sighed inwardly. With a look of melancholic nostalgia, he said, "I had a friend who was once just like you. He..."

"Kakashi-sensei, is that friend you're talking about actually yourself?"

Before he could finish, Sasuke interrupted Kakashi's attempt to talk about a "friend."

Kakashi: "..."