That was exactly the point!
Sasuke naturally understood that Xia Mu's words were logical and well-founded. Tenten was the best example, and Sasuke had seen it with his own eyes, so he was naturally convinced.
Kakashi had given Sasuke plenty of guidance before, but it had basically been one lesson after another. Sasuke had trained along in a muddle, learning whatever Kakashi taught him. As long as it could make him stronger, he would learn it, but he had never understood these simple yet profound principles.
Now that Xia Mu had explained it, Sasuke finally saw the light, as though he had found the direction he needed to take to become stronger.
"Then, Xia Mu, what do you think my strengths and weaknesses are?" Sasuke seemed unwilling to think for himself and wanted the answer directly.
"Your strengths and weaknesses? Let me think."
Xia Mu took out a sheet of paper and a pen, writing as he spoke. "Based on what I know about you, you have two major weaknesses. First, your mental state is unstable. Second, you lack Chakra. Or rather, you don't have enough Chakra to become powerful."
It was true that he did not have enough Chakra.
But an unstable mental state? Was his mental state really unstable?
Xia Mu pointed at Sasuke. "Don't doubt it. Your mental state really is unstable. Back when we fought at the academy, I used the simplest Genjutsu: Hell Viewing Technique on you, and you fell for it. You're an Uchiha with the Sharingan. Even if you hadn't awakened it yet, you still shouldn't have fallen so easily to a genjutsu.
"I suppose the Uchiha Clan incident traumatized you too deeply, affecting your mind and leaving your mental state extremely unsettled.
"Don't underestimate this. Chakra is a combination of mental energy