Dragon Release Village, training ground.
The evening sun dyed the sky orange-red. Sasuke Uchiha knelt on one knee, panting heavily, his Ninja Blade planted in the ground to support his nearly exhausted body.
Across from him, Uchiha Itachi stood quietly, without even a weapon in his hands.
"Your chakra control still isn't precise enough." Itachi's voice was calm and even. "When you coated your blade with Lightning Release, seven chakra nodes were unstable. Against an opponent on Kakashi Hatake's level, it would be broken with a single strike."
Sasuke gritted his teeth, wanting to argue, but couldn't get the words out.
His brother was right.
For the past three months, Itachi's training had been almost harsh-taijutsu, ninjutsu, genjutsu, chakra control. Every aspect had to be honed to perfection.
Sasuke could feel that his brother was running out of time.
"Rest for ten minutes."
Itachi turned and walked toward the bench at the edge of the training ground.
Sasuke struggled to his feet and followed.
"Brother." After sitting down, he suddenly spoke. "Your health... is something wrong?"
Itachi's hand paused slightly as he poured the water.
"Why do you ask?"
"You've been coughing more often these past three months." Sasuke stared at Itachi's profile. "And after every training session, you look paler than you used to."
Itachi handed Sasuke a cup of water, picked up another for himself, and took a small sip.
"Just a few minor issues. They don't affect anything."
"But-"
Itachi reached out, bringing his index and middle fingers together, and gently tapped Sasuke's forehead.
"Forgive me, Sasuke! Sometimes, knowing too much only becomes a burden."
After learning about his condition from Kabuto three months ago, Itachi had gone to see the White Snake Sage.
The White Snake Sage had received him. The snake sage, who had lived