Chapter no.26 Naruto

Chapter no.26 Day In The Life Of Sasuke Uchiha

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Sasuke lay in bed, his body restless even though he'd slept longer than he ever had. Every part of him felt tense, ready to leap into action, to throw a punch or focus his chakra. But there was nothing for him to do. Just a full week of rest, as if rest was what he needed. As if he could just switch off this burning need to move, to train, to chase down the shadows of his nightmares.

Withdrawal. That's what it felt like. His body, his mind—they were screaming for him to get up and train.

He dropped to the floor, his arms already braced for push-ups, when Kakashi's voice echoed in his mind like a taunt: Rest. The word was a curse, a binding chain, and it took everything in him to push himself back up, seething.

How could he rest when Itachi was out there, when his enemy was getting stronger with every passing second?

Sasuke sat up with a scowl, pushing the blanket away. His room felt stifling, almost like a cage. He glanced around, his gaze sweeping over the plain walls, the small table with its scattered books, the bed he'd lain in for far too long. His eyes drifted to the cabinet in the corner, and then to the old gramophone sitting on top of it. He hadn't touched it in years. It had been a gift from his mother, something she'd brought back from the Land of Snow.

He stood up and walked over to it, his hand brushing against the dusty surface. His mother had loved this gramophone. He could still remember her laughter as she'd explained how it worked, how she'd insisted on playing her favorite songs for him, her face lighting up like she'd found a treasure. She used to play music when the house was quiet, just the two of them. She'd put on one of her upbeat records and take his hands, guiding him in a clumsy dance around the room, her voice soft and gentle as she laughed at his stumbling steps.

Sasuke swallowed, his throat tight. He didn't have many memories like that, not with her, not with any of them. Just fragments, bits and pieces he clung to because they were all he had left. And yet, here it was, something she'd left behind, something he'd barely looked at since that night.

On a whim, he lifted the gramophone's lid and searched for a record. His fingers brushed over a familiar one, the label worn from use. He could almost hear her voice saying, This one's my favorite, Sasuke.

Slowly, almost hesitantly, he placed the record on the turntable, set the needle, and stepped back as the music crackled to life. The song was bright, cheerful—a melody that seemed to fill the whole room, lifting the heaviness that had settled over him.

Without thinking, Sasuke took a step, then another, letting his body sway to the music. His movements were stiff at first, awkward, like he was forgetting how to dance, how to let go. But as the melody continued, his feet found their rhythm, and he began to move like he had all those years ago, the way his mother had taught him. His arms stretched out, reaching for hands that weren't there, and he could almost imagine her beside him, guiding him, laughing as they spun together.

For a few precious moments, he wasn't alone.

He could almost smell her lavender perfume, feel the light touch of her fingers as they brushed against his cheek. His mother's hands had always been warm, guiding him gently, like he was something precious. He could still hear her laughter, soft and bubbling as she twirled him around, her face full of a joy he hadn't seen in anyone else since. Her voice echoed faintly in his memory: Sasuke, you'll grow up to be someone amazing. I just know it.

He closed his eyes, letting the memories wash over him, letting himself fall into the past. He was a child again, clumsy and carefree, held safe by someone who loved him more than anything in the world.

The song played on, filling the empty spaces in his heart, stirring memories he'd buried deep. For the first time in years, he let himself feel something other than anger. He let himself remember what it had been like before everything fell apart.

As the final notes faded, silence poured back into the room like cold water, flooding every corner, settling like a weight on his shoulders. It was a silence so thick, it felt like he could choke on it. The music had left a ringing in his ears, a phantom echo of the warmth and joy he'd felt so briefly, like a sliver of sunlight slipping behind storm clouds.

He was alone.

Suddenly, the silence was shattered by the memory.

The blood on the tatami floor. The lifeless look in Itachi's eyes as he stood over their bodies, his face a mask of indifference. Sasuke squeezed his eyes shut, trying to block it out, but it was there, burned into his mind, as much a part of him as his own name. He could hear the echo of his taunting words.

"You're weak. Why are you so weak? Because you lack… hatred. Hate me. Detest me. Run. Run and cling to your pitiful life. And one day, when you possess the same eyes as I do… come and find me."

Anger, grief, longing—it all bled together, filling him with a pain that had nowhere to go. He felt like he was drowning in it, like he was still that scared little boy watching his world burn around him.

Before he could stop himself, his fist collided with the wall beside him. He wanted to tear that gramophone apart, to throw it against the wall until it shattered. How dare it bring back those memories, tease him with a warmth that was gone forever? How dare it make him remember?

A single tear slipped down Sasuke's cheek before he could stop it. He wiped it away quickly, almost angrily, hating the weakness it exposed. But the ache in his chest didn't go anywhere. It just sank deeper, a weight he couldn't shake—a constant reminder of everything he'd lost.

This is just another test, he told himself bitterly. Kakashi has the Mangekyo Sharingan… he knows what it takes. Rest wasn't some kind of reward. It was a trial, a different kind of challenge, like enduring a brutal training session. Kakashi wanted him to feel this—to sit in the silence, to confront the emptiness instead of running from it.

But knowing that didn't make it easier. 

It felt like punishment, worse than any physical training, harsher than any sparring match. Because resting meant facing the silence, facing the hollow ache that wouldn't go away. Resting meant accepting the truth: he was alone. The last of his family, his clan, his memories.

The lone avenger.

The streets of Konoha bustled with the everyday noise of village life, filling the air with a mix of voices, laughter, and the occasional vendor hawking their wares. Sasuke walked through the paths, hands stuffed in his pockets, letting the noise wash over him. It wasn't the peace of solitude he usually craved, but after hours alone in his room, anything was better than that silence.

He paused at a food stand, his eyes drifting over trays of freshly made onigiri. The vendor greeted him with a friendly nod, and Sasuke handed over a few coins in exchange for a neatly wrapped rice ball. As he walked away, he took a bite, savoring the simple flavor.

A little further down the road, Sasuke spotted a group of kids playing a game of beigoma. They crouched in a tight circle around a small dirt arena, eyes glued to their spinning tops as they clashed, sparks and dust flying. Each hit sent gasps and cheers rippling through the group. One boy shouted with delight as his top knocked another clean out of the ring, his grin wide with victory.

There was a faint tug in his chest, a feeling he couldn't quite place. The kids were so… carefree. Untouched by loss or vengeance. They could waste hours on a game without a care in the world, and he almost envied them for it.

He felt a presence behind him and, without looking, knew who it was.

"You know you can go join them."

"Hn," Sasuke muttered, shifting his gaze back to the game. He wasn't interested in playing with a bunch of kids, but the sight of those spinning tops and the happy, oblivious faces was strangely… calming. Like watching water flow down a quiet stream.

"Wow, didn't know you liked beigoma." 

"I don't."

"Well, you're certainly staring hard enough. So… how's the resting going?"

"Hn." Sasuke's response was barely a sound. He could feel his frustration building, like a tightly wound coil that had nowhere to release.

Kakashi sighed theatrically. "I'm going to take that as a 'not well.'" He lowered his book just enough to meet Sasuke's glare. "Don't you have any hobbies?"

"Training. Eating. Sleeping," Sasuke replied curtly.

"Ah," Kakashi said, drawing the word out with mock wonder. "When did Guy's craziness infect my cute little genin?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Might Guy," Kakashi said, shaking his head with exaggerated lament. "All he does is train, eat, sleep, or show up to bother me with his ridiculous 'challenges.' I swear, it's like his entire life revolves around his training regimen. Hmm." He tilted his head, giving Sasuke a sidelong glance. "Sound familiar?"

Sasuke's jaw clenched. "His student was fast," he muttered, voice low. He didn't need to explain more—Kakashi would understand. The memory of Lee's speed, the way he'd been defeated in an instant, still stung.

Kakashi chuckled. "Ah, yes. Guy's speed…" He glanced away. "To tell you the truth, even my Sharingan can barely keep up with him."

"Are you… intentionally doing this?"

Kakashi looked back at him, the picture of innocence. "Doing what?"

"You know I want to train, and you keep talking about people I need to surpass."

"Is that really the lesson you're taking from all this?"

"What else am I supposed to take from it?" Sasuke shot back, feeling genuinely confused and a bit stung. He didn't understand what Kakashi was trying to prove, why he was throwing these little jabs at him.

"Even Guy," he said, his tone gentler, "takes time to rest and recover."

Sasuke huffed and looked away, refusing to acknowledge the point. Rest. As if that would bring him any closer to the power he needed. He watched as one of the kids' beigoma spun wildly out of the ring, scattering dust and pebbles. The game ended in laughter, their voices bright and unrestrained. That feeling tugged at him again, faint but persistent—a distant memory of what it was like to be carefree.

"Do you have… any ways I can pass the time?"

Kakashi's eye lit up as if he'd been waiting for that question. He slapped his forehead with a gasp, overacting just enough to be ridiculous.

"Ah, I knew I was forgetting something!" He hopped up from the bench, nudging Sasuke forward with his shoulder. "Come on, let's go, Mr. 'No Life.'"

Sasuke rolled his eyes, muttering a faint "Hn" as he let Kakashi steer him away from the park.

They walked through the village together, Kakashi making small talk about the villagers they passed, pointing out this or that shop as if they were on a tour. Sasuke mostly stayed quiet, but his mind wandered. He'd never really taken the time to just… look around Konoha like this. To him, it had always been a place of duty, of memories that were both bitter and sweet. But here, among the noisy vendors and the chatter of families, it felt different.

"Ever been to a sauna, Sasuke-kun?" 

"No," Sasuke replied, eyeing the entrance. 

"Oh, come on," Kakashi said, already guiding him inside. "A true shinobi knows the importance of relaxation. And it's tradition. Consider it part of your training."

They ended up sitting in the sauna, Kakashi leaning back with a satisfied sigh while Sasuke sat stiffly, arms crossed, looking like he'd rather be anywhere else.

"You know," Kakashi said after a while, "the Third Hokage used to come here all the time."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"Balance, Sasuke." Kakashi's voice softened. "Even the strongest shinobi understand the need for balance. The Third valued strength, but he also valued wisdom and rest. If you burn yourself out, you'll have nothing left to fight with."

Sasuke didn't respond, but he could feel those words settling uncomfortably in his mind. He shifted, feeling the heat press against his skin, the sweat gathering at his temples. Part of him wanted to argue, to brush Kakashi off, but another part of him—the part that was starting to feel the weight of his own exhaustion—listened.

After the sauna, they wandered down to a small bookstore nearby. Kakashi led him inside, the familiar smell of old paper and ink filling the air. Sasuke trailed after him, browsing with vague disinterest until he realized Kakashi had led him straight into the adult section, shelves stacked high with luridly titled novels. He gave his teacher a deadpan look.

"I am a child," he pointed out.

Kakashi considered this for a moment, hand to his chin.

"Technically you are a legal adult when you got that Hitai-ate."

Rolling his eyes, Sasuke made his way toward the counter, where a girl about his age was arranging a display of card games. "Hey! You look like you're looking for something interesting," she said cheerfully. "Have you ever played Ninja Karuta?"

"Ninja… Karuta?"

"Yep! It's a card game with famous shinobi from history." She flipped the box over, revealing rows of cards with small portraits and text. "It's kind of like a collectible game. You can learn about different ninjas and their achievements. It's fun! Plus, there are rare cards, too."

Sasuke looked at the game, hesitating. It wasn't what he'd call thrilling, but… it was something. And he had nothing else to do. With a sigh, he pulled out a few coins and handed them over.

"Good choice!" The girl beamed as she handed him the box. "Shuffle the cards before you play," she advised. "That way, you get a different experience each time."

Sasuke nodded, opening the box as he sat down on a bench to the side. He began shuffling the cards, the edges smooth against his fingers. Kakashi joined him, clutching a new orange book and glancing over with mild interest.

Sasuke drew his first card and turned it over. The card depicted a serious-looking man with short, spiky brown hair, two distinctive markings on his cheeks, and a calm, steady gaze. He wore a high-collared green jacket, his expression cool and composed.

"No way! You pulled an ultra-rare card!"

"Well, well. Sasuke Sarutobi."

"Sasuke Sarutobi…" The black haired boy muttered the name under his breath. His mother had named him after this legendary shinobi, a man he'd never bothered to learn about. The realization was unsettling, like a light breaking through the narrow tunnel he'd confined himself in, revealing a world he knew so little about.

Kakashi tilted his head, amused by Sasuke's reaction. "Sasuke Sarutobi. He was the father of the Third Hokage, a shinobi revered as the 'God of Ninjutsu' during the Warring States Era," he explained . "They say his fire style was so intense, his flames turned blue. One of the few to stand against Madara Uchiha on equal ground."

The girl at the counter was practically glowing with excitement, staring at the card in Sasuke's hand as though it were made of solid gold. Sasuke was stunned, his jaw slack as he processed Kakashi's words.

"They say that battle was what finally convinced the Sarutobi clan to join Konoha," Kakashi added.

To think, someone outside of the Senju could rival Madara himself, to fight him to a standstill… It shattered his assumptions about the world.

He felt an uncomfortable but intriguing shift within himself, a nagging feeling that maybe—just maybe—the Uchiha weren't the only pinnacle of strength he'd once thought of. His world had been small, closed off, but now it felt a little… bigger.

Sasuke absently flipped through the cards, his mind elsewhere. Most were common—names and images he barely registered—while the girl at the counter rambled on about rarities and collections. Then he froze.

The last card in his hand stopped him cold.

"Kakashi?" 

The girl’s eyes darted between the card and Kakashi himself, her mouth slightly open. "You’re… the real deal," she said, awestruck. "The Copy Ninja, Kakashi Hatake!"

"Ah, well," Kakashi said, "I like to think of myself as more than just a card in a deck. But yes, that’s me. Lucky pull, right?"

"I mean, there’s a whole subset of cards for famous Konoha shinobi, but this one is practically legendary! Do you… I don’t know… get royalties for this?"

"Sadly, no. But maybe I should negotiate—it might help fund a few more editions of my favorite books." He raised his ever-present orange novel with a playful wink, and the girl stifled a giggle.

"Don’t encourage him."

"But he’s a legend!" she insisted, grinning. "People come in here all the time hoping to pull the 'Copy Ninja' card. It’s super rare."

Kakashi plucking a packet of cards from the shelf. "Well, let’s see if my legendary streak holds up." He tore the wrapper open and sifted through the cards. His hand paused at one. His face flickered with curiosity, then softened into something almost wistful.

"Here, take a look."

Sasuke stared at the name on the card, the title hitting him like a punch:

Wicked Eyes Fugaku.

His chest tightened as he took the card. There, on the glossy surface, was his father. Fugaku Uchiha stood in his usual commanding stance, his stern gaze unyielding, as if staring straight into Sasuke’s soul.

Sasuke’s fingers trembled slightly as he held the card, his lips pressing into a thin line. Kakashi’s voice cut through his haze.

"Want to trade?" 

Sasuke nodded, unable to trust his voice. They swapped cards without another word. Kakashi chuckled softly, holding up the "Copy Ninja" card he’d just acquired. "Looks like I got a mini-me. But don’t tell Guy about this, or he’ll buy out the entire store just to find his own card."

Sasuke barely heard him. His attention was riveted on the card in his hand. 

For all his father’s power and presence, Sasuke had never truly felt close to him. Admiration had always been laced with fear, pride tangled with longing. Now, staring at the card, a strange and unfamiliar warmth bloomed in his chest.

Were you ever proud of me... dad?

He swallowed hard, blinking against the sting in his eyes. For a fleeting moment, he let himself imagine his father’s hand resting on his head, reassuring and steady.

Sasuke took a slow, shaky breath, willing himself back into composure. "Is… is that it?" 

"That’s up to you," Kakashi said. "But if you don’t have anywhere better to be..."

The truth was, Sasuke didn’t want this quiet, strange peace to end. "I’ve got nothing else going on," he muttered, though the words carried less indifference than he intended.

Kakashi ruffled Sasuke’s hair without warning, earning a half-hearted scowl. "Come on, then. Let me show you how I waste my free time. You might even learn to relax."

"Hn," Sasuke grunted, but there was no edge to it.

Naruto lay sprawled on a thick tree branch, one arm tucked behind his head while the other held a sticky chunk of honeycomb. The faint hum of bees buzzed around him, but he remained relaxed. This was, after all, Aburame clan territory, and as long as he wore his Konoha headband, the bees wouldn't attack. Their only interest in him was delivering the honey, which Naruto was more than happy to accept.

The branch beneath him groaned slightly under the combined weight of his body and armor, but he ignored it.

"You know that branch might not hold, right?"

Naruto glanced down to see Kakashi coming into the area.

"Yeah? Well, maybe you should've sent a clone to teach me sooner instead of showing up just in time to criticize," Naruto shot back.

"Looks like you've been practicing, though. At least you're not falling down anymore."

Naruto's grin widened, and he shifted slightly, his feet sticking to the branch with perfect chakra control. "Practicing? Please, I'm a natural. Watch this!"

With a cocky grin, Naruto shifted his weight and flipped himself upside down, sticking to the underside of the branch with precise chakra control like a bat hanging from a cave.

"Very impressive," Kakashi said dryly. "And totally unnecessary."

"Come on, sensei! Admit it—I'm getting better. Doesn't this kind of progress deserve a reward? Like, I don't know… a cool new jutsu?"

Kakashi tilted his head as if genuinely considering the idea, and Naruto's grin grew wider in anticipation.

"Nope," the white-haired man said flatly.

"Man, you're impossible! What am I supposed to do in the meantime? Keep climbing trees like a monkey?"

"Precisely. Chakra control isn't about flashy moves—it's about mastery. You've stuck to the tree—great. Now do it while running, carrying weights, or dodging attacks. Refine it."

Naruto groaned. "Fine, fine," he muttered, stomping over to the tree he'd climbed earlier. "But I swear, if I don't get something new soon, I'll—"

"Fall flat on your face if you don't pay attention," Kakashi cut in smoothly. "Naruto, there's no shortcut here. Get your basics solid, and the rest will follow. You're doing well. Don't rush it."

Naruto groaned again but scaled the tree with renewed determination. Reaching the hive, he carefully extracted another piece of honeycomb and made his way back down. This time, he landed lightly, holding the honey aloft like a trophy.

"Mission complete, sensei!"

Kakashi clapped once. "Well done. See? Hard work pays off."

"Yeah, yeah," Naruto muttered. "But seriously, sensei, isn't there something else I can work on? My clones are already hammering out all the boring stuff."

"Like what?"

Naruto scratched his nonexistent beard. "Well… maybe my taijutsu? I've been practicing the katas like crazy, but it feels like I'm just going through the motions. I want to do something cooler, you know?"

"The katas are your foundation, Naruto. Without them, everything else falls apart. But you're right—there's always more. What exactly are you looking to build on?"

Naruto's eyes lit up. "Something badass! Like combining taijutsu with my sword, or—"

"Kenjutsu," Kakashi interjected smoothly. "If you're serious about your sword, that's the logical next step."

Naruto practically bounced on his feet. "Yes! That's exactly what I'm talking about! So, when do we start?"

"Unfortunately, I can't help you much with kenjutsu."

"What? Why not? You're, like, a super ninja who knows everything!"

Kakashi's smile turned sheepish. "Flattering, but your weapon is… unique. It's not the kind of sword most shinobi use, and I've never trained with anything like it. Teaching you properly would require someone with specific expertise."

Naruto frowned. "So, what am I supposed to do? Just figure it out on my own?"

"I think I know someone who can help you," Kakashi said. "Give me a few minutes."

Naruto tilted his head. "Wait, you do? Who is it?"

Kakashi didn't answer. Instead, he gave a lazy wave and disappeared in a swirl of leaves, leaving Naruto to mutter, "Could've at least given me a hint, lazy sensei…"

A few minutes later, Kakashi returned with a familiar figure beside him.

"Tenten?" Naruto blinked, confused. "Kakashi… why is she here?"

"Aww, didn't you miss me, Naruto?"

Naruto flailed his arms, already flustered. "No! I mean, yes—I mean—"

Seeing the younger boy flustered, Tenten giggled and lightly booped his nose. "Relax, I'm just joking with you."

Naruto sighed in relief, but before he could recover, Tenten added with a sly grin, "Though, if you want to make it up to me, you could let me try on that armor and swing around that big sword of yours."

"No!"

Kakashi interjected. "Naruto, I brought Tenten because she can help you with your kenjutsu."

"No offense, but why her?"

Tenten raised an eyebrow. "Because I specialize in weapons—every kind. Blades, staffs, projectiles, you name it. If anyone can help you figure out that massive sword of yours, it's me."

"But you've never used a sword like this before, have you?"

"No," Tenten admitted, "but that doesn't mean I can't help. Your sword reminds me of the Kubikiribōchō from the Mist Village. And kenjutsu isn't just about swinging a blade around. I can help you figure that out—and maybe even teach you how to defend against other weapons while we're at it."

Naruto hummed thoughtfully.

"Well," Kakashi said, "I think you're in good hands, Naruto."

"Where are you going?"

"To read."

"You're a clone?"

"Oh yeah," Kakashi said flatly. "And I'm going to make the most of my fleeting existence by catching up on my book." He vanished with a flicker.

Naruto sighed and turned to Tenten. "So, what do we do first, uh… Tenten-senpai?"

"Why don't you let me check out the weapon first?" Tenten said.

Naruto grinned and tossed the massive Zweihander to her.

The moment it landed in her hands, her knees buckled, and she hit the ground with a startled yelp. Struggling to lift it, she shot Naruto an incredulous look. "Why the hell is this sword so heavy?!"

Naruto purred. "Guess you can't handle my sword, Tenten."

"Shut up and help me!"