[Konoha · Training Ground · Afternoon]
Sasuke's hand stopped abruptly, leaving Ame no Habakiri suspended in midair.
He turned around and saw Jiraiya leaning against a tree at the edge of the training ground, a cigarette between his lips. Smoke drifted slowly upward in the sunlight.
"Lord Jiraiya." Sasuke lowered his blade, his voice level. "When did you get here?"
"Not long ago." Jiraiya blew a smoke ring. "I saw you practicing and didn't want to interrupt. But although your swordsmanship is sharp, your mind is unsettled, leaving openings everywhere. Against a real opponent, you wouldn't survive three moves."
Sasuke fell silent. He knew Jiraiya was right. Throughout his practice, the battle inside the God Tree's core had kept replaying in his mind, along with the helplessness he had felt when Isshiki overwhelmed him. Those distracting thoughts had disrupted the flow of his swordsmanship, making his movements stiff and hesitant.
"Do you ever feel that way on the battlefield?" Sasuke asked. "When you face someone stronger than you, do you feel afraid and uneasy too?"
Jiraiya paused, then smiled. "Of course. I'm no immortal. How could I not be afraid? I've just learned how to live with fear."
He walked over to Sasuke and crouched down to meet his eyes. "Fear isn't a bad thing, Sasuke. It keeps you alert and stops you from getting careless. But if you let it control you, it becomes a shackle that keeps you from using your true strength."
"Then how do I overcome it?" Sasuke asked.
"You can't," Jiraiya said frankly. "You can only learn to accept it and keep moving forward with it. Just like you're doing now-even though you're afraid, even though you're uneasy, you still grip your sword and stand on the battlefield. That's enough."
Sasuke lowered his head and