Chapter no.21 Naruto

Chapter no.21 Red Glare of the Leaf

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Thank you, Hawk. You thought of everything, Naruto thought, running his fingers along the book’s cover. Turns out the Uzumaki Clan history book was made of the same fabric as a camouflage cloak. With a simple use of transformation jutsu, it meant he could read it out in the open without blowing his cover.

Of course, it was suspicious enough on its own, so he already had a backup plan if anyone asked.

Naruto strolled into Training Ground 7—two hours late, as usual—and spotted Sakura, who glanced up and gasped as she saw him.

“Hey, what’s up, Sakura?”

“Na-Naruto… you can read?!” she said, still wide-eyed. Naruto sweatdropped, turning back to the book.

“What’re you reading?” She stepped closer, her curiosity obvious.

In an instant, the book transformed, displaying a highly questionable smut book Naruto had set up earlier. Sakura’s face turned bright red, her expression shifting to something close to murderous rage. He barely held back a grin as he watched her try to contain her anger, fists clenching as she marched over to the training dummies.

Kakashi-sensei corrupted Naruto-baka. If he corrupts Sasuke-kun, he’ll feel the wrath of the beautiful Sakura Haruno! She muttered while punching the dummy with enough force to make Naruto glad it wasn’t him in her path.

Naruto could feel a silent laugh building up as he glanced at Sasuke, who was reading a scroll nearby. The emo was definitely listening.

“Yo, teme, wanna read?” Naruto called, holding out the book in his direction.

Sakura’s head whipped around in horror, her eyes narrowing as she shot him a glare that could melt steel. “Naruto, don’t you dare! I’ll fight you with the heart of a maiden of war in love!”

Sasuke even looked at her; sakura’s expression softened, turning cutesy in a second, even though Naruto knew the emo didn’t care which was confirmed as he just turned back to his scroll with a cold, “Hn.”

Naruto let out a laugh—low, full of amusement, letting it build as Sakura looked down, probably a little embarrassed. He had to admit, winding her up was way too easy.

“Oh my, what a lively team I’ve got,” came Kakashi’s voice as he strolled into the training ground, two hours late with a smile like nothing was wrong.

“Kakashi-sensei, you corruptor! Deviant! Pervert!” Sakura pointed a finger at him, her face red with accusation.

Kakashi gave her an innocent look. “Mou, mou, Sakura-chan, what did little old me do?”

“You corrupted Naruto with your ways!” she practically breathed fire with each word.

Meanwhile, Naruto casually handed over an actual smut book he took from Iruka sensei, one he’d made sure to match exactly to the cover of the history book. “You’ve got good taste, Naruto,” Kakashi nodded approvingly. “But why the cloak?”

“Oh, so I can use the Transformation Jutsu. Wouldn’t want Sakura getting jealous of some pretty women,” Naruto replied with a smirk, ignoring the laser-sharp death glare aimed at his skull.

Kakashi gave them his usual eye smile, completely unfazed. “Alright, everyone, sit down. I need to reveal today’s plans.”

Naruto slipped the book back into his inventory, his plan working perfectly. Sakura took a seat—six feet away from him—and a moment later, he realized how quiet she was being. Huh. Was this a blessing or what?

For a second, he considered the pros and cons. Then, he decided: Nah, Sakura being quiet is definitely a blessing from above.

“Alright, Team 7,” Kakashi said, his voice casual, yet carrying that hint of something more. “Today’s our first real training day. Here’s the plan: we’ll go until noon, training each of you individually. After that, you’ll get a two-hour rest before we meet some special people, and in the evening… our first mission.”

A surge of excitement hit Naruto. Our first mission!

But then Kakashi made three shadow clones, each one beckoning them to follow separately. It took a second, but it finally clicked. Individual training, huh?

Naruto glanced at the real Kakashi, expecting him to lead one of them, only to see him walking over to a tree and lying down for a nap. Naruto sweatdropped along with Sasuke and Sakura.

Lazy Bum!

Before he knew it, Kakashi’s clone had a hand on Naruto’s shoulder, and in a flicker of movement, they were deeper into the forest. Naruto barely had time to blink before they stopped.

“So, what are you planning to teach me, Cyclops Instructor?” Naruto asked, a grin already forming on his face. But Kakashi’s clone just handed him a folder.

Naruto took it, his grin fading as he looked down. The file had his name on it, his academy records, but it looked thicker. More… detailed. He flipped it open.

“What is this?”

“It’s your current report,” Kakashi said, watching him closely. “An assessment of your skills.”

Naruto couldn’t help but feel a bit uneasy. Reading through, he saw:

Taijutsu skills: B

Genjutsu skills: F

Ninjutsu skills: A

He skimmed past the other categories, not really wanting to read every detail. He looked back up. “These aren’t the results I got at the academy.”

“Of course not,” Kakashi said, his tone calm but pointed. “This is my report. My evaluation of your skills.”

Oh. Naruto couldn’t help the little smile creeping back on his face. Kakashi’s assessment was worth more to him than any report card. See? I’m awesome!

But before his ego could fully inflate, Kakashi popped it like a balloon.

“But don’t get ahead of yourself,” he said, bringing Naruto back down to earth with a thud. “We’ve got a lot of work to do if you want to catch up to Sasuke and Sakura.”

Naruto felt a chill run down his spine, a breeze that seemed to pass right through him. When he looked down, he froze—he was in his underwear. What the—

He blinked, and everything was back to normal. Naruto gritted his teeth, muttering, “Genjutsu.”

“Exactly,” Kakashi replied. “You might be better than the academy level, but if you really want to catch up to your teammates, there’s a lot you still need to learn.”

Naruto clenched his fists, feeling that old, familiar fire building up inside him. “I’ll definitely catch up!” he shouted.

Kakashi motioned for him to turn the page. Naruto did, and his face fell at the sight of his academic scores. The horror must have been clear on his face because Kakashi didn’t even smirk—just watched him.

“Come on, Sensei, what good is the academy’s ‘useless’ knowledge gonna do me?” Naruto waved his hand dismissively. “Like, what’s the powerhouse of the cell? Who cares?”

Kakashi raised an eyebrow. “Alright, let’s say you have a mission in the Fire Capital. You need to sneak in without anyone noticing. Which route do you take?”

“The… least obvious route?”

Kakashi’s face remained blank, unamused. Naruto got the message. He sighed. “Fine. But how am I supposed to catch up to Sasuke and Sakura if I’m stuck with books and basics?”

Kakashi’s face softened just a bit, and he gave Naruto a knowing look. “Shadow clones.”

Naruto scratched his head, trying to piece together Kakashi’s point about shadow clones. His mind went over everything he knew about the jutsu and how it worked until something clicked.

“You’re gonna use the memory transfer to boost my training,” he blurted out, connecting the dots.

Kakashi gave him a surprised look. “How do you know about that?”

Uh oh. Naruto hadn’t exactly shown this jutsu off to anyone yet. To cover himself, he quickly flashed through the hand signs, creating a dozen clones that popped up around him, all looking at Kakashi with expectant grins.

Kakashi blinked, then let out a small laugh. “Great. Saves me from teaching you the Shadow Clone Jutsu.”

“No, no, teach us, teach us!” every single one of the clones chorused, making Kakashi chuckle.

“Alright,” he said, humoring them. “If you can get a higher score than Sasuke and Sakura in the academic tests.”

The clones glanced at each other, exchanging determined nods. “Yosh! Let’s study!” they shouted.

“Pop the clones, Naruto,” Kakashi said with a smile, and with a nod, Naruto dispelled them all.

Then Kakashi handed him a scroll. Naruto unrolled it, seeing the list of subjects and notes. “Now, make two clones for each subject,” he instructed, “and an extra clone to follow me. Your textbooks and everything you need is in that scroll.”

With a nod, Naruto created the clones and assigned each to their study group, watching as a second Kakashi clone guided them to their makeshift “classroom.” Naruto turned to follow the original clone deeper into the forest.

“Uh, Kakashi-sensei?” Naruto asked, “I can make way more than just a dozen clones. Wouldn’t it be better if I made, like, hundreds?”

Kakashi gave him a glance. “A human mind can only process so much information at once. Even with a hundred clones reading a single line, your brain would barely register it after dispelling them. Your mind would be too overwhelmed and might even shut down from the overload.”

Naruto frowned, trying to understand. “Are you sure?”

Kakashi nodded. “It’s like trying to cram a hundred meals into your mouth at once. Your brain needs time to digest the information, to actually process it. So we’ll keep it to a dozen, for now."

Naruto shrugged, accepting his answer. “Okay, but… what’re we doing, then?”

“You and your clone will be practicing the Academy Katas,” Kakashi said, and Naruto nodded, though not entirely thrilled. The Academy Katas?

“Come on, Kakashi-sensei! Give me some cool taijutsu!” The idea of just going over those basic moves felt ridiculous to him. “I mean, seriously, the katas are so stiff. It’s like a dance move more than anything else. How’s that supposed to help me in a real fight?”

In response, Kakashi didn’t even speak. He just threw a punch, so fast that if it weren’t for the Way of Focality, Naruto would’ve been laid out flat. He raised his palm to block, but in a split second, Kakashi shifted, his body invading Naruto’s space so quickly he couldn’t even follow him. Naruto barely registered Kakashi’s leg hooking behind his own before he gave a shove, sending Naruto tumbling backward and hitting the ground.

“Hey! What’s the big deal?” Naruto groaned, rubbing his back.

“Kata number five,” Kakashi said calmly.

Naruto looked at him, confused, before replaying the sequence in his mind. Kata number five… that’s a side dodge and jump. He pictured it, realizing that if he’d just followed the movement instead of resisting, he could’ve sidestepped the entire attack and stayed on his feet.

“The taijutsu from the academy isn’t some flashy fighting style,” Kakashi explained, his voice steady but pointed. “They’re a series of katas created by the Second Hokage. They weren’t designed to teach you impressive moves but to keep you alive. Each kata is a response to a common attack in combat. It’s a foundation, a survival tool. Master these, and you’ll be prepared to handle a lot more than you think.”

Naruto looked down, the weight of Kakashi’s words settling over him. He’d been too eager to skip the basics, reaching for new, powerful techniques without actually understanding the ground he was standing on. A little embarrassed, he took Kakashi’s outstretched hand, letting him pull him back to his feet.

Better to learn now than regret it on the battlefield, he thought, giving Kakashi a quick nod.

“Good,” Kakashi said, a small hint of approval in his eyes. “Now, spar with your clone. We’ll work on fixing your katas, and then—if you get it down—I’ll teach you a very important jutsu.”

A grin spread across Naruto’s face, his earlier embarrassment already forgotten. “Yatta! New jutsu!” he shouted, charging at his clone, practically bouncing with excitement.

Kakashi just sighed, facepalming as Naruto lunged in with all his energy, completely missing the part that this was supposed to be a kata.

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The real Kakashi had swapped places with one of his clones as he walked over to Sasuke, who was deeply engrossed in a scroll on the Sharingan.

Sasuke didn’t even look up.

Kakashi had known from the start that getting Sasuke to play as part of a team was going to be an uphill battle. The boy was too absorbed in his own goals, laser-focused on what he thought he needed. Ironically for an Uchiha, Kakashi thought, he’s extremely tunnel-visioned.

Watching him, Kakashi could see it plain as day—subtle signs in his posture, the stiffness in his shoulders, the tightness in his jaw. Sasuke’s body had been strained to the point of breaking, a result of endless training since the day Itachi killed the Uchiha clan. The boy hadn’t taken a day of rest, not one, and it was wearing him down. He didn’t realize how much damage he was doing to himself by not giving his body and mind a chance to recover.

And now, with the awakening of his Sharingan, things had only gotten worse. Itachi once described the Sharingan awakening to Kakashi as being like a surge of adrenaline, pushing the body to its limits, amplifying one’s abilities but draining one’s reserves faster than usual. There was a point—the “post-adrenaline fatigue,” in medical terms—where the body just couldn’t keep up with the strain. Right now, Sasuke was seeing rapid growth. But after this stage, if he continued at this pace, that growth would stagnate, leaving him broken and burned out. The symptoms were all there, hidden behind that stoic face.

But this wasn’t just about physical fatigue. Sasuke was a flight risk. Every move he made, every glance, screamed one thing: revenge. If he ever had the chance, Kakashi knew he’d go after Itachi in a heartbeat, no matter the consequences. And with Naruto growing stronger, showing abilities none of them fully understood, Sasuke’s inferiority complex was a fire waiting to consume him. The more he saw Naruto’s progress, the harder he’d push himself, until he burned himself out completely.

Kakashi had even consulted Inoichi Yamanaka, a man who knew more about the human mind than anyone else in Konoha, and he agreed with Kakashi’s assessment. If he didn’t intervene, Sasuke would break himself down piece by piece in his blind pursuit of power.

Kakashi cleared his throat, snapping Sasuke out of his concentration. “Sasuke-kun, do you want me to train you, or are you going to spend the day buried in scrolls on the Eye of Insight?”

Sasuke looked up, trying to mask the exhaustion in his eyes, but it was clear he’d been up all night, studying, memorizing every detail with his Sharingan. “Just show me your training,” he said coolly, a hint of impatience in his voice.

“So you can copy it?” Kakashi asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Yes,” Sasuke replied, his Sharingan flickering to life. “Saves us both time, and you can get back to your lazy reading.”

Kakashi held back a sigh. This kid…

“My dear, cute student,” Kakashi started, catching Sasuke’s attention, “do you know what it takes to earn an epithet in the shinobi world?”

Sasuke’s eyes narrowed. He was trying to figure out Kakashi’s angle, trying to read him like he would a scroll, but Kakashi could see the wheels turning in his head.

“Notable achievements,” he finally answered, but it was clear his mind had already drifted. He was thinking about Itachi. About “Red Glare of the Leaf,” and how he planned to surpass it someday. His eyes were full of that familiar fire, the kind that consumes everything in its path if left unchecked.

“Do you know what my epithets are?” Kakashi asked, his voice steady. He could see the impact that simple question had on Sasuke. The boy stiffened, his gaze locking onto Kakashi with something like shock. His eyes widened just slightly, and Kakashi could see the disbelief breaking through his usual calm facade.

“Multiple epithets…?” Sasuke muttered, almost to himself. That tiny crack in his stoic mask told Kakashi everything he needed to know. Good, he thought. Sasuke had never expected his lazy, book-reading instructor to have something so significant. Kakashi had already surprised him. One epithet was a lifetime achievement in this world. But to have multiple? Sasuke didn’t know what to make of that.

Kakashi let himself smile, though it wasn’t a warm one. “You know, it’s a shame you didn’t bother to do a background check on me,” he said, a slight edge to his tone. It wasn’t just an observation—it was a reminder of Sasuke’s blind spot, of his lack of curiosity about the world outside his obsession with revenge.

Sasuke clicked his tongue, frustrated. “Why would I waste time doing that?” He was trying to regain his composure, but Kakashi saw the questions in his eyes. He wanted to know more, even if he wouldn’t say it.

Kakashi chuckled. “Itachi went out of his way to learn everything about me.”

The effect was immediate. Sasuke’s calm shattered, replaced by something raw and visceral—disbelief and rage warring within him. “What did you just say?!”

“When Itachi was stationed under me in the Anbu, he did a full background check on me. The man with a thousand jutsu, Kakashi the Copy Ninja.” Kakashi lifted his headband, revealing his Sharingan. “Kakashi of the Sharingan.”

For a split second, there was hope in Sasuke’s eyes, a fragile glimmer. “You… you’re an Uchiha?”

Kakashi shook his head, and the hope in Sasuke’s eyes shattered like glass. “No,” he said, voice steady but with a hint of sympathy. “This eye was given to me by a dear friend during the war, just before he died. The Uchiha Clan wanted it back, of course, but it was your father who insisted I keep it. He honored my friend’s final wishes.”

Kakashi saw a flicker of pride at the mention of Sasuke’s father, a softness he rarely showed.

For a moment, Sasuke was just a boy remembering his family. But then the light in his eyes dimmed, and the memory replayed in Sasuke’s mind—his parents lying dead, Itachi standing over them. It

“Teach me everything you know,” Sasuke demanded, his voice cold and brittle, his Sharingan spinning, the single tomoe in each eye alive with desperation.

Kakashi could hear it in Sasuke’s voice—the undercurrent of fear, the fear that he wouldn’t be strong enough, that he’d never reach Itachi.

Kakashi looked at him carefully, weighing his words. “My first training command…” he paused deliberately, drawing out the silence,“is for you to rest for the next week.”

Sasuke stared at him as if he’d just slapped him, confusion and anger battling on his face. “What are you talking about?”

“That’s my first command. Go. Take a rest.”

“I can’t!” Sasuke’s voice rose, the rawness slipping through. “I have to—“ He didn’t get to finish before Kakashi stepped forward, pinning him against a tree, his hand around the boy’s throat, holding him there. He could feel Sasuke’s pulse under his grip, erratic.

“Listen to me, Sasuke,” Kakashi said, his voice low and unwavering. “I trained Itachi. I trained him when he entered the Anbu. I trained him to be a captain.” Kakashi let his Sharingan spin, the tomoe merging, transforming into the Mangekyo Sharingan. Sasuke froze, his own Sharingan locking onto Kakashi’s, his single tomoe spinning, caught between fear and fascination.



“That eye…” Sasuke managed, barely able to get the words out. Kakashi released him, watching as he dropped to the ground, sucking in air, his hand rubbing the red mark on his neck.

“Here’s the truth, Sasuke,” Kakashi said, looking down at him. “I am the only shinobi in the world who can help you reach Itachi, but I won’t do it.”

Sasuke looked up, panic flickering across his face. “No, you can’t—“

“Yes, I can,” Kakashi said firmly. “And I’ve decided I don’t want to train you.”

Kakashi knew what Sasuke was thinking—that he was throwing away the only thing that mattered to the boy, that he was holding his dreams hostage. Kakashi could almost hear the wheels turning in Sasuke’s head, that same tunnel vision driving him to desperation.

“What do you want from me?!” Sasuke shouted.

Kakashi stopped, glancing over his shoulder. “It’s simple,” he said quietly. “I want you to do nothing for the rest of this week. No training, no missions. Just rest. If you can do that, if you can show me that you’re willing to listen, I promise I’ll train you. I’ll make you a shinobi who could surpass even Itachi.”

Sasuke’s jaw clenched, his hands curling into fists as he struggled with the command. Kakashi knew what he was thinking. Do nothing? How could that help? How could rest make him stronger? But Kakashi had planted the seed, and he knew that doubt would gnaw at Sasuke until he gave in. The boy had no choice; he wanted the power too badly.

Kakashi watched Sasuke for a moment longer, seeing the internal war playing out behind the boy’s eyes. He knew that showing the Mangekyo had been a risk, one he hadn’t wanted to take lightly. That particular Sharingan was a secret only he and the Hokage shared, a power he kept hidden unless absolutely necessary. But Sasuke needed to understand, needed to see just how serious Kakashi was about his role in guiding him down this path. This was a move to cement one truth into Sasuke’s mind: if he wanted revenge, if he wanted a chance to confront Itachi one day, Kakashi was his only way.

The boy’s face was pale, his eyes wide as he struggled with what he’d seen. Kakashi felt the familiar drain the Mangekyo left behind, a dull ache seeping into his core, but he didn’t let it show. This was the reason he had come here himself instead of sending a clone. No clone would have been able to handle the strain of activating the Mangekyo; it would’ve dispelled instantly.

Finally, Kakashi gave him a slight nod and turned to walk away, leaving Sasuke alone with his thoughts. He didn’t need to say anything more. The boy had his command, his first real challenge, and now it was up to Sasuke to rise to it—or falter. Kakashi would be watching closely, ready to step in if needed, but he could only hope that this was enough to keep Sasuke from destroying himself in the process.

I hope I haven’t misjudged you, Sasuke, Kakashi thought as he turned away, already mapping out his evening. He’d stop by the memorial stone first. He’d grab some salt-broiled saury and miso soup with eggplant on the way, something comforting after a day like this.

And, well, if he just happened to pass by the bookstore… Kakashi allowed himself a rare smile, a slight giggle escaping as he thought of picking up the new Icha Icha novel set. A reward for a job well done, he mused.