Night fell.
After dinner, everyone went off to rest, having grown somewhat used to sleeping outdoors.
Of course, Naruto also went to fulfill his duty of bringing Pakkun his food.
Sasuke rose from the campsite, ignored the two people on a date nearby, and walked straight over to Kakashi, who was keeping watch. He stared at him without a word.
"I fought Uchiha Itachi, also near the Land of Water. He's joined the Akatsuki."
Seeing him like this, Kakashi naturally knew why Sasuke had come. In fact, he thought it was impressive that Sasuke had managed to behave himself from the moment he announced their arrangements until dinner was over.
"...Who won, you or him?"
Sasuke cut straight to the point.
"I ambushed him, after all. He nearly died, then escaped. His taijutsu probably isn't as good as mine. I didn't give him a chance to use genjutsu or ninjutsu... Perhaps he still had some tricks up his sleeve."
Kakashi briefly thought back.
Taijutsu?
Sasuke instinctively looked at the two Ninja Blades on Kakashi's back. His memory of Kakashi in action was still of his clash with Naruto during that earlier test. That blindingly fast swordsmanship, wreathed in Lightning Flash, had certainly left a deep impression on him.
"Want to learn?"
Kakashi understood the look in Sasuke's eyes.
"Anything that can beat him... No, anything that can kill him. I want to learn it!"
Hatred... But he doesn't look consumed by it.
Kakashi had instinctively been about to try talking Sasuke around, but suddenly noticed his expression.
His eyes were firm and determined, without any madness or the confusion Kakashi knew so well.
"It seems Naruto really has had a big influence on you. You're even stronger than I imagined."
Knowing all too well the pain of losing someone important,