Naruto: Sasuke Uchiha Returns from Soul Society

Waiting does not mean stagnation.

On the contrary, this is to make the blade even more deadly the next time it is drawn.

Chapter 72 I'm different, I have nothing to protect.

The morning mist had not yet dissipated, but the third training ground was already far from quiet.

Uchiha Sasuke slowly sheathed his sword, repeating the same monotonous slashing motion.

He had practiced the Hatake family's swordsmanship for four years, and it had become ingrained in his very being.

Just then, a familiar figure appeared silently at the edge of the training field, watching him quietly.

It's Kakashi Hatake.

Sasuke merely glanced at him, without stopping his actions, and continued the cycle of drawing and slashing.

But Kakashi is acting very strangely today.

He didn't stand there quietly as usual, but exuded a melancholy aura.

Sasuke stopped moving, slowly turned around, and his brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

Kakashi seemed to notice Sasuke's gaze, took a deep breath, jumped down from the tree, and tried to force out his usual relaxed smile.

"Yo, Sasuke, you're here early." His voice was hoarse, a huskiness he himself hadn't even noticed.

Sasuke did not respond to his greeting, but looked at him calmly.

"Still haven't found that person?" he asked bluntly.

Kakashi's smile vanished.

He instinctively avoided Sasuke's gaze and gave a self-deprecating laugh.

"All files related to that mission were classified as top secret and permanently destroyed."

Kakashi spoke slowly, his voice filled with helplessness, "And those related public opinion records and mission reports have been completely wiped out, as if they never existed."

Although there is no direct evidence, this attempt to cover up the truth is itself the best evidence.

Kakashi raised his head, his gaze passing over Sasuke's shoulder, looking at the towering Hokage Rock in the distance, his expression becoming incredibly complex.

"I think... I have a guess about what happened."

His voice was very soft, as if he were talking to himself, or as if he were confiding in Sasuke in front of him.

"Back then, my father's reputation in the village reached its peak thanks to his outstanding military achievements, even surpassing that of several advisors and elders at the time. He was one of the strongest candidates to compete for the next Hokage."

At that time, everyone believed that the light of "Konoha's White Fang" would illuminate the future of the entire village.

"A hero whose achievements overshadow his lord, yet who is also out of control..."

Kakashi's lips curled into a bitter smile. "To some people, they're probably more of a nuisance than enemies."

He thought of the Third Hokage's perpetually helpless face, and of the village's high-ranking officials who always remained hidden in the shadows.

"Therefore, a 'just right' mission failure and a 'natural' public outcry are enough to bring a hero down from his pedestal, ruin his reputation, and ultimately abandon him to everyone."

This also explains why the Third Hokage, who was Hokage at the time, chose to remain silent and allowed that tragedy to happen.

Because it was for the stability of the village, and for the smooth handover of the "Will of Fire".

For the sake of the so-called greater good, personal sacrifice always seems to be taken for granted.

"What a laughable 'Will of Fire'," Kakashi muttered to himself, his voice filled with indescribable weariness and disappointment.

Sasuke listened quietly without interrupting.

He had long anticipated these dark aspects of the village.

He simply stepped forward after Kakashi finished speaking, looked directly at Kakashi, and gave him no room to avoid him.

"so what?"

Sasuke's voice was icy, "Who was the culprit who killed your father?"

Kakashi instinctively took a half step back; he hadn't expected Sasuke to be so direct.

He scratched his head, his voice hesitant: "Sasuke, this matter is complicated, involving the village's high-ranking officials from many years ago... It's not something you should worry about."

These words were full of perfunctory remarks and an attempt to push him away.

Sasuke's eyes turned completely cold, and a mocking smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

He knew, of course, that Kakashi wanted to protect him and didn't want to get involved.

But this self-righteous protection seemed somewhat ridiculous to him.

“It’s Shimura Danzo, isn’t it?” Sasuke said the name calmly.

This question left Kakashi completely stunned, his only visible eyes filled with disbelief and shock.

"How did you know?!" he exclaimed.

How could Sasuke, a twelve-year-old boy, possibly know that name?!

"Looks like I guessed right."

Sasuke's voice held no triumph, only a chilling disappointment: "You knew it was him, yet you couldn't do anything about it."

He paused, then pointed the knife in his hand at Kakashi.

"Now that we know the truth, what's the point of continuing to dwell on the past?"

"What you need to do now is not to wallow in self-pity, but to pick up your knife and kill him."

Kill that enemy.

Use your own methods to prove the glory of the Hatake clan.

Kakashi stared blankly into Sasuke's eyes, and saw a killing intent in them that was completely different from his own.

"No."

Kakashi's voice trembled slightly as he shook his head. "Sasuke, you don't understand. Danzo..."

"I do not understand?"

Sasuke interrupted him, his sneer deepening. "Of course I understand."

He slowly withdrew the sword that was pointing at Kakashi, his tone becoming unusually calm.

"Because he was the culprit who ordered the massacre of the entire Uchiha clan."

Kakashi froze on the spot, staring intently at Sasuke, as if trying to discern the truth of his words from his face.

"What did you say?" Kakashi's voice was hoarse.

"The massacre of the Uchiha clan was not the work of Itachi alone."

Sasuke's voice was soft, "It was Danzo who, under the pretext of 'preventing a coup,' ordered Itachi to exterminate his entire clan."

"Itachi is merely the sharpest blade in his hand."

Sasuke looked up, and in his dark eyes was reflected Kakashi's face, which was filled with shock.

"Now, do you still think I don't understand?"

After hearing everything Sasuke said, Kakashi completely lost control of his emotions at that moment. He stepped forward, placed his hands heavily on Sasuke's shoulders, and looked at him with an almost pleading urgency in his eyes.

"Sasuke, listen to me, even so, you can't go to him! That person is backed by the entire Hidden Leaf Village!"

"so what?"

Sasuke calmly met his gaze, letting those trembling hands grasp his. "So you're going to endure this, suffering the pain of your father's murder, and continue to protect this decaying village?"

Kakashi's breath hitched.

"You and I have taken different paths, Kakashi."

Sasuke's voice was soft, yet it was like a knife that pierced Kakashi's heart.

"Your 'Will of Fire' has bound you firmly to this village. Even though it devoured your father and trampled on your dignity, you still cannot break free."

He raised his hand and gently pushed away Kakashi's hand that was on his shoulder.

“But I’m different.”

Sasuke's eyes were eerily calm. "I have nothing to protect, so nothing can bind me."

He turned around, leaving his small, thin figure to Kakashi.

"What you can't do, I will do."

"The darkness you cannot cut off, I will cut off."

"Whether it's Danzo, or..."

Sasuke paused slightly in his steps.

"Uchiha Itachi".

"You just need to watch."

After saying that, he didn't pause again and walked step by step into the morning mist at the end of the training field, disappearing from sight.

Kakashi stood there alone, frozen in place.

yes......

What am I doing?

On one hand, she teaches Sasuke to become stronger, but on the other hand, she is hesitant to help him because she is afraid that he will go astray.

He yearns to avenge his father, yet is hampered by the village's rules and finds himself unable to move an inch.

"It's really... ugly."

Kakashi slowly raised his hand, covering his eyes, and let out a suppressed self-mockery.

Perhaps, compared to Sasuke, I am the one who has always needed to be saved the most.

My father is dead.

What I should be doing now is not dwelling on the unchangeable past, but...