The morning sun barely pierced the mist that hung over Waterfall Village. The air was cool, almost damp, carrying the scent of pine and river water. The village had become their new home after the events of the rogue Mist shinobi. Yesterday's battle still weighed heavily on Sasuke's small shoulders. The faces of the two chunin he had faced—the fear, the anger, the futile struggle—haunted him. The dagger at his side, a gift from Shisui, hummed faintly, resonating with his residual lightning chakra.
Sasuke sat on a stone at the edge of the village, staring at the flowing river. Every muscle in his body ached from yesterday's relentless combat and from the training that had preceded it. Shisui approached silently, the calm presence of the One-Eyed Demon filling the space beside him without the need for words.
"You're up early," Shisui said, his single Sharingan eye observing him.
Sasuke's gaze did not meet his mentor's. "I… I can't stop thinking about yesterday. About them… the chunin."
Shisui crouched down beside him, resting one hand on his knee. "It is natural. The first time you take a life, it leaves a mark. That mark is not shame—it is a teacher. You faced fear, you faced danger, and you survived. That survival, guided by skill and intent, is what defines a shinobi."
Sasuke's small hands clenched around the hilt of his dagger. "But… I don't feel like a shinobi. I feel… wrong."
Shisui's gaze softened, but his tone remained firm. "The path of a shinobi is never comfortable. Mastery over life and death is never comfortable. You did not act recklessly; you acted with precision. That is why you are still here. You are not a murderer, Sasuke. You are a warrior in training."
Sasuke nodded slowly, swallowing the lump in his throat. "Then… today, we train again?"
Shisui's eye swept over him, measuring and assessing. "Yes. Today, you train your control. Yesterday was instinct. Today is discipline. You already channel wind and lightning through your dagger, but using it with precision—combining your taijutsu, your timing, and your energy—requires more than raw power. You are far ahead for your age, but far behind the level you need to reach. Today, we narrow that gap."
---
The training began in earnest. The river bank became their arena, the soft earth and scattered stones a testing ground for precise movements.
"Focus first on your footwork," Shisui instructed. "Every strike must flow from your legs to your core, through your arms, into your dagger, and finally through the chakra you wield. Let the dagger guide the wind and lightning, but never let it replace your instincts. You control the energy, or it will control you."
Sasuke inhaled sharply and launched into a series of spins and lunges. The dagger in his small hands hummed faintly, arcs of wind curling around the blade, tiny sparks of lightning crackling along its edge. Each swing carved through the air with a whispering hiss, carrying shards of energy that stirred the grass and leaves around him.
Shisui moved like a shadow, observing, occasionally shifting to adjust Sasuke's stance. "Do not force it. Flow with it. Your body must become the channel for your chakra, not just your weapon. Strike with intent, and let the energy follow."
Sasuke's movements became faster, sharper. The wind followed every rotation of his body, extending from the tip of the dagger like a living thing. Sparks of lightning leapt along the metal, crackling faintly in the morning air. His arms and legs burned with exertion, his lungs heaving with each breath, but he did not slow. Every lunge, every pivot, every twist was a test of control—how much of himself he could pour into each strike without breaking his balance.
"You are beginning to merge body and energy," Shisui said calmly, circling him. "But you are rushing. Precision over speed. One mistake and your chakra will scatter, leaving you vulnerable. Control, Sasuke. Control is everything."
Sasuke gritted his teeth and nodded. He forced himself to feel every movement from within—his legs, his core, his arms—and let the energy flow naturally. The wind and lightning responded, arcs of electricity crackling from the dagger in perfect harmony with his motions.
Despite the fluidity of his attacks, fatigue was building. His small arms trembled, muscles screaming in protest. Sweat streaked his face, dripping into his eyes, yet he refused to stop. Shisui remained calm, a guiding presence, letting Sasuke push himself further than he thought possible.
After hours, the sun had climbed higher, warming the village, yet Sasuke pressed on. He lunged again, spinning mid-air, sending a stream of wind slicing past the ground. Lightning arced along the blade, illuminating the faint mist rising from the riverbank. He landed, barely catching his balance, and leapt again. Each movement was more precise than the last, his body learning to integrate his chakra like a single, unified force.
Shisui finally called a halt. "Enough for today. You've pushed yourself well beyond your limits. Your chakra is responding, your strikes are cleaner, your movement more natural. But the battle is only beginning, Sasuke. You must rest, absorb what you've learned, and let it solidify. Only then will the next stage—true mastery—be within reach."
Sasuke collapsed to the riverbank, the dagger humming faintly in his hand, his chest rising and falling rapidly. He gazed at the rippling water, each wave reflecting a fragment of yesterday's memories. Fear, adrenaline, exhaustion, and triumph all collided within him. He had killed, yes, but he had also survived, grown, and proven something to himself.
Shisui crouched beside him, one hand resting lightly on Sasuke's shoulder. "The first kill… it leaves a mark, but it also sharpens your instincts. Remember it. Learn from it. Let it guide you, not haunt you."
Sasuke swallowed hard, nodding. "I… I understand."
Shisui's eye swept the horizon. The village lay quiet, unassuming, yet it was the stage of their growth, a place where a young Uchiha could shape himself into something far greater than his years suggested. "Tomorrow," Shisui continued, "we begin integrating more advanced techniques—linking your lightning and wind simultaneously in combat scenarios. Only then will you begin to see the true extent of your potential."
Sasuke tightened his grip on the dagger, feeling the faint crackle of energy pulsing through the metal. "I… I will be ready."
Shisui stood and extended a hand to help him up. The young boy rose, trembling slightly, yet his gaze was sharp, determined, unbroken. Around them, Waterfall Village remained tranquil, the sound of flowing water and rustling leaves the only witness to their training.
"Remember," Shisui said as they walked toward the center of the village, "the path you walk is not easy. There will be pain, failure, and doubt. But with discipline, focus, and resolve, you can surpass them all. One day, you will be a shinobi of unmatched skill. But step by step, strike by strike, you must build yourself."
Sasuke's lips pressed into a firm line. "Step by step. Strike by strike."
Shisui's eye softened, though his tone remained firm. "Good. Today, rest. Let your body recover, let your mind settle. Tomorrow, we push further. And remember—no matter what you face, you do not walk alone. I will guide you, always."
Sasuke exhaled, letting the quiet of the village surround him. The dagger lay lightly in his hand, a reminder of the lessons he had learned, the victories he had earned, and the challenges that still awaited. The weight of yesterday was heavy, but it no longer crushed him—it became the foundation for everything to come.
And as the sun dipped toward the trees, casting long shadows over the village, Sasuke felt the faint thrill of potential in his chest. He was eight, far from the level he would need to reach, yet already leagues beyond his peers. And with Shisui by his side, guiding, teaching, and protecting, there was no limit to what he could achieve.
---
**
Far from the Hidden Leaf, in a secluded, dimly lit chamber hidden deep within the mountains, White and Black Zetsu faced the imposing figure of masked Obito. His presence radiated authority, calm yet unnervingly sharp, as if he could sense every motion in the world around him.
"Have you located Sasuke Uchiha?" Obito's voice, steady and measured, broke the silence. It carried the weight of command without unnecessary fury, the tone of someone accustomed to patience—but not tolerance for failure.
White Zetsu shifted its form subtly, hesitating. "We have searched extensively, but… the child is not detectable. His movements leave no trace. Even our spies and probes could not confirm his location."
Obito's masked gaze lingered on them, tilting slightly as if assessing their competence. "So, Itachi has hidden him well. Very well. Tell me, then—have you at least discovered the guardian accompanying him? Surely someone of this caliber has protection."
Black Zetsu's voice was low, cautious. "We have observed faint traces of movement,… but cannot determine the identity. Whoever is protecting him acts with extreme precision. Not even the closest allies or local villagers have noticed them. Their skill is… considerable, yet their identity remains unknown."
Obito's tone remained calm, yet sharp, exuding a subtle pressure. "Then the boy is hidden, and his guardian remains a mystery. Do not mistake absence of information for weakness. Continue your search. Every known territory, every whisper of movement… I want nothing overlooked."
White Zetsu's dual form rippled slightly, betraying tension. "Understood, Lord Madara. We will pursue him. But even with the most skilled tracking, even with all our resources… the Uchiha boy and his protector remain concealed. Itachi's measures are… far beyond what we can penetrate."
Obito's head tilted just enough to suggest calculation behind the mask. "Good. Let it remain a puzzle for now. But do not forget your orders: no one escapes indefinitely. Keep searching. Every action, every passage—nothing should go unchecked. I want answers, eventually."
The chamber fell silent as the Zetsu pair bowed deeply. Their forms twisted unnaturally in deference before retreating into the shadows, leaving the masked Obito alone. He stood still for a long moment, considering the situation, but made no show of frustration.
Even with all his planning, Obito understood one thing clearly: Itachi Uchiha had concealed his little brother too damn well. And the true identity of the protector? That, he had no inkling of—not even a guess.
Obito smirks "Itachi, you still have someone strong enough to protect Sasuke, you really are something.!"
---
**Power level**
* **Sasuke** – 5,950 → 7,700
* **Shisui (in medication)** – 25,600 → 39,200
* **Madara ("Obito")** – 49,700
* **White Zetsu (average clone)** – 1,900
* **Black Zetsu** – 5,000
**End of chapter 27**