Was That Friend You?

However, that assessment was based on Hatake Kakashi not knowing that Sasuke had already awakened the Three Tomoe Sharingan.

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

"So, does that mean I now have the strength of an average jonin?"

Sasuke nodded to show that he understood, but inwardly, he was calculating.

So if I activate the Sharingan now, I should be able to contend with even an elite jonin.

"More or less." Kakashi nodded lightly and continued, "However, although your strength has reached this level, your actual combat experience is still severely lacking. Even if you encounter an enemy who appears far weaker than you in the future, never let your guard down. Otherwise, it'll be easy to suffer a defeat when you least expect it."

"I understand. Even a lion uses its full strength to hunt a rabbit. I'll be more careful from now on."

The combat experience Kakashi meant was not experience from sparring matches like the one between them, but experience gained from life-and-death battles.

In the entire Shinobi World, aside from a handful of people, most others would find that no matter how strong they were—

In a fight to the death, there was no need for powerful or flashy ninjutsu. A simple kunai drawn lightly across the throat was enough to kill someone.

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

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

The corners of Kakashi's mouth curled up, his eyes bending into crescents.

"I wonder which guy will become your jonin instructor then. With your current strength, he'll be in for a rough time!"

Sasuke smiled faintly. "I hope my jonin instructor will still be Kakashi-sensei. After all, I still have much to learn from you."

"Sasuke, you're a genius. There isn't much more I can teach you." Kakashi shook his head before continuing, "However, there is indeed one self-created ninjutsu I haven't taught you yet. It can be considered my core technique. My fighting style was basically developed around it. Whether I become your jonin instructor in a month or not, I'll teach you this technique while we still have time."

"Thank you, Kakashi-sensei!"

Sasuke thanked him sincerely. Although he had approached Kakashi with ulterior motives from the very beginning—

He would always remember Kakashi's meticulous instruction over the past year.

Perhaps in the future, Sasuke would most likely not walk the path Kakashi hoped he would.

Though they might stand on different sides in the future, this bond would remain.

Sasuke sighed inwardly and asked, "Kakashi-sensei, is the ninjutsu you mentioned the technique that severed my Lightning Release just now?"

"That's right. That technique is called Raikiri!" Kakashi nodded. "However, what I'm going to teach you now is not Raikiri, but Chidori!"

(There are many differing opinions on whether Chidori and Raikiri are the same technique. Both Kakashi and Might Guy have said that Chidori is Raikiri, but the official databook places their entries in completely separate sections and even gives Raikiri its own category, marking it as S-rank. So in this story, their relationship is set up similarly to the Rasengan and Big Ball Rasengan.)

"It sounds like a thousand birds crying in unison, hence the name Chidori!"

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

Seeing Sasuke nod in understanding, Kakashi continued, "Chidori combines both chakra nature transformation and shape transformation. Lightning Release chakra is gathered in the palm to form a high-intensity electric current. It possesses extremely powerful piercing force and lethality, and can also create strong chakra-based physical activation to stimulate the user's legs and arms, enhancing the user's thrusting speed and lightning's penetrating power!"

"Watch closely and remember my hand seals!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Kakashi rapidly formed the Ox, Rabbit, and Monkey seals. Lightning Release chakra immediately gathered in his hand, forming a high-intensity current that emitted a sound like a thousand birds crying out at once.

"Do you remember the hand seals?"

When Sasuke nodded, Kakashi dispersed the lightning of Chidori.

"Next, I'll explain Chidori's training method and its key points..."

Kakashi explained carefully, and Sasuke listened just as carefully. Whenever he encountered something he did not understand, he asked questions, and Kakashi patiently answered them one by one.

Half an hour passed like that before Kakashi finally stopped.

"That covers Chidori's training method and key points."

"Do you understand everything?"

Sasuke nodded slightly. "I understand!"

"Sasuke, you truly are the most gifted genius I've ever seen. You understood Chidori's essentials so quickly." Kakashi praised him, then changed his tone. "However, understanding it is one thing. Training Chidori is not an easy task."

Seeing Sasuke remain silent, Kakashi smiled, a trace of pride flashing through his eyes. He said calmly, "Chidori is extremely difficult to master. Even if you're a genius, by my calculations, you'll need at least half a... What!?"

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

At some point, Sasuke had already formed the hand seals. A high-intensity lightning current gathered in his right hand, emitting the sound of a thousand birds chirping.

"..."

Kakashi fell silent...

"..."

Sasuke also fell silent...

The two stared at each other, both sinking into an awkward silence.

In the end, Sasuke spoke first. "It doesn't seem as difficult as Kakashi-sensei said."

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

Although he had prepared more than four years earlier than the original Sasuke and possessed greater talent—

And had also learned many Lightning Release ninjutsu under Kakashi over the past year as groundwork—

But...

This was still a little too fast...

"Cough... cough..." Kakashi's eye twitched as he coughed a few times to ease the awkwardness.

"Although your talent has exceeded my expectations and you mastered Chidori in such a short time, there is one thing I must emphasize."

"Chidori's weakness is that it requires you to charge rapidly toward the opponent and thrust. But because your speed may be too fast, you might not be able to see the enemy clearly and could be struck by their counterattack. Therefore, it needs to be used with the Sharingan to achieve its full effect!"

"You haven't awakened the Sharingan yet, so I suggest that you refrain from using this technique for now!"

After seeing Sasuke nod, Kakashi's expression turned serious. "Before you knew it, you're about to become a shinobi, Sasuke. I'm sorry for what happened to you, and I hope you won't become consumed by hatred and overlook the important companions around you."

"Of course, I'm not telling you to forget the past. Rather, remember it, while also understanding the importance of cherishing what is before you and living in the present."

As he spoke, Kakashi saw that Sasuke's face remained calm. He sighed inwardly, his expression turning nostalgic as though he had fallen into memories. "I had a friend. He was once just like you. He..."

"Kakashi-sensei, was that friend you?"

Before he could finish, Sasuke interrupted Kakashi, who had invented a friend out of thin air.

Kakashi: "..."