Chapter 23: Think more Sasuke, you need to think more.

“Basically, this was a test.”

“The content in the academy was just routine, and yesterday’s test was also led by Hanabi.”

“So when Hanabi proposed this plan to me, I agreed.”

After everything ended, Kakashi Hatake began to critique the two.

“Hehe, then my performance must have been great!” Naruto had subdued the wild boar and was now extremely excited.

“Naruto, you completely misunderstand stamina distribution. Although your recovery ability is good, if the wild boar had attacked around noon, your stamina wouldn’t have been enough at all.”

“Uh…” Naruto was speechless for a moment.

If it had come at noon, he would have been basically lying on the ground. If the wild boar had really come then, he could only lie flat and wait to be hit by the “Boar Car.”

“Well, the final tactic was a highlight. You noticed the looseness of the cliff in advance, then lured the wild boar over, using the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu to increase weight and drag the wild boar down.” Kakashi still praised Naruto’s later tactics.

“Hehe, hehe~” Naruto became happy again.

“That idiot definitely didn’t think that much at the time.” Sasuke said, glancing at Hanabi.

This “test” was aimed at him and Naruto. In other words, in Kakashi-sensei’s eyes, Hanabi didn’t need to undergo this test…

Even this test was a suggestion proposed by her.

A subtle feeling was boiling inside him.

Was it jealousy? Admiration? Longing?

Sasuke himself didn’t understand.

“Alright, that’s it for today,” Kakashi said.

“What about our mission?” Naruto was still concerned about the mission.

“My Shadow Clone has already completed the patrol,” Hanabi said.

Kakashi went to turn in the mission, and Team 7 disbanded.

Feeling deeply inadequate, Sasuke continued his training.

“A genius?”

Sasuke had heard it before.

The genius of the Hyūga family.

A true genius.

If her Byakugan were still there…

Before this, Sasuke had never cared about this matter. Even as classmates, he didn’t have much interaction with her.

But today, Sasuke realized it.

She was someone qualified to stand on a higher level to train and evaluate him.

Just like that day when he saw the destroyed training ground.

“Huff, huff.” Sasuke didn’t stop until he couldn’t move at all.

Perhaps thinking of the destroyed training ground that day, Sasuke unknowingly walked there again.

“Hmm?”

Someone was there.

“Hanabi.”

It was Hanabi.

She was still wearing the outfit from the day, but the hem of her skirt was pulled up, and her sleeves were tied with tasuki—cords used to bind up sleeves.

“Is that… a bandage?”

Hanabi’s hands were wrapped in bandages, and blood was seeping through them.

In his impression, Hanabi’s hands seemed pristine and flawless, quite different from the current scene.

“Good evening, Sasuke.”

Hanabi turned her head.

“Your hands…”

“Ah, this. Please don’t mind it,” Hanabi said. “Because I have a constitution that doesn’t develop calluses easily, I get injured more easily during taijutsu training. It’s fine; it will heal by tomorrow.”

In the past, it didn’t matter since Hanabi trained at home, but as she grew older, broken skin and bleeding appeared frequently. The maid Natsu Hyūga was very worried every time she saw it.

This was also the reason Hanabi didn’t train at home anymore.

“Calluses…” Sasuke looked at his own hands.

Not developing calluses sounded like good news for a girl. But delicate skin was always prone to injury.

Moreover, she was blind in both eyes.

What kind of motivation kept her persisting?

At this moment, Sasuke suddenly realized that perhaps using the word “genius” to describe her was actually disrespectful.

Hanabi could absolutely not be summed up by a flimsy word like “genius.”

“Spar with me,” Sasuke said.

But Hanabi shook her head.

“Why? Do you look down on me?!”

Sasuke was somewhat agitated.

However, when two warm fingers touched his neck, Sasuke calmed down immediately.

“Because there is no meaning.”

The voice came from behind him, and at the same time, the “Hanabi” in front of him dissipated like water mist.

The battle ended before it even began.

“What kind of move is this?” Sasuke asked in a low voice.

“Mirror Flower, Water Moon (Kyōka Suigetsu).” For some reason, Sasuke felt Hanabi’s voice was full of amusement when she said this name.

“At least let me see your ninjutsu.” Although he failed, Sasuke still wanted to witness Hanabi’s power, rather than being easily defeated by this genjutsu.

“That probably won’t do,” Hanabi said.

“What do I have to do to become strong like you?” Sasuke pressed.

“Train. Wasn’t your performance during the day quite good?”

“I’m not talking about that kind of child’s play!” Sasuke lost his cool. “Only Naruto would be excited about that kind of thing!”

“I see.” Hanabi understood. “Then, first learn to recognize yourself.”

“Recognize… myself?”

Sasuke didn’t expect this answer.

“Who are you, where do you come from, and where are you going?” The three ultimate questions of life sounded simple, but in reality, they could trouble someone for a lifetime.

“I am an avenger. I want to restore my clan, and I want to kill that man…” Sasuke said.

“If that’s the case, I can only say your capacity (Utsuwa) is just that much,” Hanabi said.

“You must know about the Uchiha clan’s matters.”

Knowing even Kakashi’s information, Hanabi definitely knew about his family’s affairs.

“If it were you—”

“Think more.” Hanabi interrupted Sasuke. “Sasuke, think more.”

Think more?

Think more about what?

“Where exactly is the problem? Are the facts truly as they appear on the surface? Why did all this become like this?”

While speaking, Hanabi had already untied the blood-stained bandages.

She threw the bandages on the ground, and they subsequently burst into flames.

“Fire Style…” Sasuke immediately recognized it as a Fire Style ninjutsu, and the skill far surpassed his own.

“Why did all this happen? How could one person do all this silently? When a person makes a choice, what exactly are they thinking? Don’t be blinded by hatred. Sasuke, think more.”

“And after thinking?” Sasuke asked.

“Bury it in your heart, say nothing.” Hanabi tidied her clothes and walked ahead.

“Say nothing?!” Sasuke vaguely sensed something.

“If you can truly figure it out, truly achieve enlightenment—” Hanabi turned her head. “I will let you see my jutsu. My true jutsu.”

As she spoke, Hanabi’s figure gradually disappeared like fireworks.

Watching the place where Hanabi left, Sasuke fell into deep thought.

“Does she really know something?”

Sasuke fell silent.

However, he kept Hanabi’s teachings firmly in mind.

Bury it deep in the heart, say nothing.

Think more.

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