Lost Your Confidence, Sasuke?

Yeyu looked calmly at Sasuke, who was kneeling on the ground and staring at him in shock.

"What, did you think you killed me?"

Sasuke was jolted awake by Yeyu's words.

He scrambled to his feet.

"You, how are you unharmed?"

Yeyu offered no explanation, instead saying, "Well, aside from that ninjutsu, do you have any others?"

"If not, then I must say I'm a bit disappointed."

The chakra inside Sasuke was already bottoming out.

Yet, seeing Yeyu's calm expression, he refused to admit that this was his limit, that this was all he was capable of.

"Sasuke, that's enough. It's over. You should rest now."

Kakashi spoke up to intervene; if the fight continued, Sasuke's chakra would be drained dry, and he would die.

But Sasuke didn't listen, drawing a Kunai and Shuriken.

"It's not over yet."

He hurled the Kunai and Shuriken toward Yeyu.

Attached to the back of both the Kunai and Shuriken were Explosive Tags.

Seeing the Explosive Tags trailing behind the projectiles flying toward him, Yeyu sighed, "As expected of the Uchiha Clan, you really are wealthy."

A single Explosive Tag cost several thousand ryo, enough to buy a hundred bowls of Ichiraku Ramen.

Sasuke had thrown out several at once.

Even after the Uchiha Clan was wiped out, the village had never treated the orphan Sasuke poorly.

Among the three members of Team 7, Sasuke's home was the most luxurious—a villa.

Kakashi wanted to step in and stop them.

But seeing Yeyu's calm demeanor, he reconsidered and held back.

He knew that Sasuke had no ability to put Yeyu in any real danger.

After this battle, Sasuke will realize the gap between him and Yeyu, and he will strive to make him his goal, Kakashi thought.

This was Kakashi's objective.

In Team 7, Naruto was the one closest to him, but Sasuke was the one he held the highest expectations for.

Kakashi hoped Sasuke could grow into Yeyu's assistant, a dependable one at that.

The Kunai and Shuriken flew right in front of Yeyu.

Just as they were about to strike, Yeyu's body suddenly transformed into a golden flame.

The Kunai and Shuriken missed their mark, and the flames ignited the Explosive Tags.

"Boom, boom, boom..."

The violent explosions of the Explosive Tags sent dust and debris billowing over a dozen meters.

But Sasuke felt no joy.

Because he had seen Yeyu turn into a flame.

"Alright, it's over!"

Suddenly, Sasuke felt a tap on his shoulder, followed by Yeyu's voice appearing right behind him.

Sasuke's eyes widened, his body stiffening.

Even Kakashi, who had his Three-Tomoe Sharingan activated the entire time, was stunned.

"What... what kind of ninjutsu is this?"

"How on earth did he appear behind Sasuke?"

"Why couldn't I see it even with my Sharingan?"

Kakashi realized that even with his Three-Tomoe Sharingan active, he hadn't seen how Yeyu moved behind Sasuke.

"Space-Time Ninjutsu?"

"But he only just obtained the Flying Thunder God yesterday; he shouldn't have mastered it yet, and he didn't place any markers."

Kakashi couldn't discern what kind of teleportation ninjutsu Yeyu had used at all.

This was one of the abilities of elementalization.

At close range, he could instantly move by utilizing his elemental form.

It was practically indistinguishable from teleportation.

Sasuke found his body completely unable to move.

It was terrifying; the gap between him and Yeyu was actually this immense.

Naruto and Sakura were completely unable to comprehend what had happened.

However, Sakura could tell that Yeyu's movements just now had been incredibly fast, as if he had used some kind of teleportation ninjutsu that even Sasuke couldn't react to.

Naruto, on the other hand, just felt it was terrifying—the power was immense, and the ninjutsu was bizarre.

I must never provoke Yeyu in the future, he thought to himself, otherwise, I'll end up like Mizuki, won't I?

Even now, Naruto still couldn't forget Mizuki from that night.

He had been beaten until he was covered in blood and knocked unconscious by a single punch from Yeyu.

Yeyu turned to look at Kakashi and said, "Kakashi, I've finished observing your assessment, so I'll be heading back now."

With that, he transformed into a streak of flame and vanished before his eyes.

Watching Yeyu, who had truly disappeared, Kakashi finally snapped out of it and remarked with a sigh, "This kid... so that night wasn't even his true strength."

Based on the power Yeyu had just displayed, Kakashi felt that Yeyu was definitely not just someone with formidable taijutsu.

His ninjutsu was likely just as terrifying.

And they were all ninjutsu he had developed himself.

"He specializes in Fire Release?"

"He's just like the Third, no wonder the Third insisted on having you study by his side."

Although the Third possessed all five chakra natures and was strong in the corresponding ninjutsu, he was most proficient in Fire Release, with Earth Release as a secondary specialty.

Yeyu's Fire Release was also very strong.

"That ninjutsu that allows him to turn into flames alone must be an incredibly high-difficulty technique, right?"

"Powerful taijutsu, combined with a terrifyingly imposing aura and unpredictable Fire Release ninjutsu."

"Yeyu already possesses all the strength required to become a Hokage."

"He just lacks the age and the seniority."

Kakashi smiled. "Xidai, perhaps before long, Konoha will see a ninja who surpasses you."

"You should be very happy about that, right?"

Kakashi felt that if Xidai were to see Yeyu, he would certainly be gratified.

A powerhouse like this had emerged in Konoha, one who could ensure the village's continued prosperity for decades to come.

Seeing Sasuke still standing there in a daze, Kakashi walked over.

He patted Sasuke on the shoulder. "Do you realize the gap between you and him now?"

"The Third wouldn't misjudge a person; Yeyu's strength is far beyond the level of a Chunin, but because he just graduated from the Ninja Academy, he could only be promoted to Chunin for now."

"It won't be long before he becomes a Jonin."

Sasuke remained silent for a long time.

Clenching his fists, Sasuke said with his head bowed, "I will defeat him."

Kakashi nodded with satisfaction. "Not bad. You are of the Uchiha clan, and you possess a Kekkei Genkai even more excellent than his."

"Once you awaken those eyes, you will have a chance to defeat him."

Kakashi said this to encourage Sasuke.

He didn't actually believe that Sasuke could defeat Yeyu just by awakening the Sharingan.

Yeyu's current strength was already beyond his reach.

He wondered, if Itachi Uchiha were here, could he really beat Yeyu?

Even if Yeyu were to lose, it would only be due to a lack of combat experience.

But I don't think Yeyu will lose.

Having worked with Itachi Uchiha, Kakashi felt that Itachi Uchiha's strength was inferior to Yeyu's.

Aside from those bizarre Mangekyou Sharingan, he had no chance of defeating Yeyu whatsoever.

Even if he used the Mangekyou Sharingan, he didn't think Itachi Uchiha could possibly defeat Yeyu.

Sasuke's talent was great, but there was still a distance between him and his brother.

Not to mention comparing him to Yeyu.

But Kakashi couldn't speak the truth.

If he said it out loud, not only Sasuke, but even Naruto would lose their confidence.