"Thanks," Hidan said casually, glancing at Naruto.
Naruto turned, flashing a wide grin.
"It's nothing! That smelly idiot attacking out of nowhere...unforgivable, believe it!"
Hidan smirked faintly and pointed at Sasuke, then to the chair beside Naruto. "Hmm… I appreciate it. But you're no match for him. Sit down."
At this time, Naruto was nowhere near Sasuke's level. Unless the Nine Tails erupted, and if the seal wasn't loosened, Naruto could barely draw out a trickle of chakra.
Naruto blinked, taken aback. What the hell? I just saved this guy, and now he's looking down on me?
He didn't even dodge the shuriken! He just stood there frozen! And he's calling me weak?
Naruto puffed out his cheeks, sulking. To his simple mind, Hidan hadn't moved because he was scared.
"Thanks for the thought," Hidan added once again, tone light.
"But this is an Uchiha matter. Don't butt in."
With that, he pressed Naruto gently back into his chair.
Naruto: "..."
He knew clan disputes weren't something outsiders touched. Interfering meant disrespect. In a village like Konoha, that was basically asking for trouble.
"Come with me."
Hidan strode past Sasuke, not even flinching under the boy's burning glare.
"If you want to fight, we'll do it outside. Destroying someone else's shop isn't polite."
Sasuke's teeth ground together. His chest was tight, twisted by a storm of hate and confusion.
He wanted to kill this man.
Yet, against his will, part of him wanted to follow.
And so, he did.
--
In an empty field, Hidan and Sasuke stood opposite each other. Naruto hid nearby, worried enough to follow, though Hidan and Sasuke didn't care.
The killing intent inside Sasuke finally drowned out all else. He rushed forward with a shuriken, stabbing at Hidan's heart.
But no blood came. Instead, Sasuke stumbled forward, collapsing because his balance broke.
Naruto froze in disbelief. He rubbed his eyes hard. Sasuke just stabbed through Hidan's body… and nothing happened?! Too weird!
Sasuke, having felt it himself, rolled back up. The miss cooled his head—but the bizarre ability in front of him filled him with despair.
If taijutsu doesn't work, then… ninjutsu!
Sasuke clenched his hands, half-squatting.
"巳—未—申—亥—午—寅! Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu!"
He inhaled deep, then exhaled flames. A roaring fireball erupted, engulfing Hidan in blazing heat.
Sasuke's eyes lit with desperate hope. This was the strongest ninjutsu he knew, and the fireball was massive.
But as the fire dissipated, Hidan stood untouched. His cold eyes stared back, Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan spinning.
"Had enough, Sasuke?" His voice was calm.
"You still don't understand strength. Your brother slaughtered the clan for these very eyes. Yet you're still so stupid!"
His left eye whirled.
"Genjutsu."
Sasuke froze as his body was seized. His mind collapsed under the illusion. In the dreamscape, Itachi stood again… and slaughtered their family, over and over.
It was the nightmare Sasuke had feared the most, repeated endlessly.
Hidan wasn't merciful. The brat provoked him, so he'd teach a lesson he wouldn't forget.
And Tsukuyomi was Sasuke's deepest wound—one he'd carry forever.
"Now you understand power?" Hidan's voice echoed in his mind.
"Your hatred isn't enough. You dare waste time on me, yet without these eyes..."
He pointed at his own "you're not even qualified to stand before your brother. Do you understand?"
Sasuke snapped out of the illusion, body shaking. Grief, anger, despair...all surged across his face. His lips trembled, and finally his voice cracked, screaming only one name:
"Uchiha Itachi! Uchiha Itachi!!"
Hidan chuckled darkly. Hatred was fuel, and Sasuke burned with it. That growth would serve his future plans well.
As your father, it's my duty to let you taste the beatings of society early, Hidan thought with wicked amusement. So you won't get bullied once you step out. Understand, Sasuke-kun?
He smirked. Truly, a great father figure. Definitely better than Gon's absentee dad in Hunter x Hunter… or most dads in One Piece. Only Whitebeard might compare.
Naruto watched, horrified. In the blink of an eye, Sasuke went from fierce challenger to broken wreck, hatred overflowing in his eyes.
And the one who caused it was the silver-haired boy, standing there handsome as hell.
"Ahh…" Hidan turned toward the grass, a playful expression on his face. "Naruto."
Naruto stiffened. He knows my name?! What does he want?
"Genjutsu."
Naruto's eyes went blank. He squatted in place, entranced.
"Forget what happened today. Get a good night's sleep," Hidan whispered.
He didn't want Naruto blabbing. Drawing attention now would spoil his fun, especially with Itachi. The seeds of Sasuke's hatred needed to grow quietly.
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