Naruto's sudden action made Kakashi Hatake feel a bit relieved.
Walking over, Kakashi said calmly:
"If you don't stop the bleeding soon… you might die."
Naruto, who had been full of determination just a moment ago—
Immediately panicked.
"Ah?! I don't want to die!"
Kakashi sighed and prepared to bandage him.
But when he grabbed Naruto's hand—
He froze slightly.
The wound…
Was already starting to heal.
Kakashi's eyes narrowed.
"So this is the power of the Nine-Tails… impressive recovery."
While bandaging him, Naruto kept asking nervously:
"Kakashi-sensei, will I really die?!"
Kakashi shook his head.
"It's done."
After finishing—
Kakashi turned to the group.
"The next part of this mission will be dangerous."
"Sakura, Sasuke… do you want to return to the village, or continue?"
Sasuke Uchiha glanced at Orion—
Almost as if competing—
And said firmly:
"Of course we continue."
Sakura Haruno hesitated.
She had been terrified earlier—
Nearly killed.
But seeing Sasuke's resolve—
She clenched her fists.
"Whatever Sasuke decides… I'll follow."
Naruto walked over—
Now serious.
"Next time… I won't freeze like that."
Kakashi nodded.
"Alright. Then we proceed."
They resumed their journey.
Along the way—
Sasuke kept staring at Orion.
What he had just witnessed—
Was overwhelming.
Even though Sasuke had performed the best among Team 7—
Compared to Orion—
The gap was enormous.
"This guy…"
"He doesn't even have the Sharingan…"
"Yet he's that fast… and he killed two chunin instantly…"
"We're the same age… but I'm nowhere near him…"
Sasuke clenched his fists.
"If this continues… how can I ever kill him…"
That man—
Itachi Uchiha.
The thought sharpened his resolve.
Orion had shaken him deeply.
"Maybe…"
"If I can surpass Orion…"
"I can surpass him too…"
In Sasuke's eyes—
Orion possessed talent comparable to Itachi.
After all—
Itachi had annihilated the clan at just 13.
A 13-year-old with Kage-level power.
If Orion knew this—
He would disagree.
He knew clearly—
He wasn't anywhere near that level yet.
He hadn't even mastered a true high-damage technique.
Even Chidori—
Had technically failed.
Because—
He couldn't control it.
Meanwhile—
Sakura kept glancing at Orion.
She was curious.
Back in the academy—
She barely even noticed him.
Or rather—
She didn't remember him at all.
Now—
He was this strong.
Which meant—
He had been hiding everything.
What kind of mindset…
Allows someone so young—
To suppress the urge to show off their talent?
She couldn't understand.
Walking beside him—
She asked:
"Orion… why don't I remember you from the academy?"
Orion replied calmly:
"Maybe I was just too average."
Sakura rolled her eyes.
"Average? You might already be as strong as Kakashi-sensei!"
In her eyes—
Orion and Kakashi were almost equal.
After all—
What she saw earlier was too shocking.
Orion shook his head.
"That just means you don't understand Kakashi-sensei."
"He's the strongest jonin in the village right now."
"He may look lazy…"
"But in the ninja world—he's famous."
"He became a jonin at our age."
"And achieved countless battlefield accomplishments."
"His teacher was the Fourth Hokage."
Sakura froze.
She had heard things about Kakashi from Ino—
But nothing like this.
Even Sasuke was surprised.
Naruto, however, couldn't believe it.
"No way!"
"Kakashi-sensei is strong, sure—but THAT strong?!"
"And his teacher was the Fourth Hokage?!"
The Minato Namikaze—
Was Naruto's hero.
Even though he didn't know the truth—
He admired him deeply.
Orion looked at Naruto.
"This isn't secret information."
"Kakashi-sensei became a jonin at 12."
"He's known as the 'Copy Ninja.'"
"He's feared across the ninja world."
"And yes—he was taught by the Fourth Hokage."
"During the Third Great Ninja War, he was already well-known."
"He graduated at five."
"Became chunin at six."
The three of them stared at Kakashi in shock.
That lazy-looking man…
Was THAT terrifying?
Even Tazuna looked thrilled.
He felt like he had hit the jackpot.
Paying C-rank money—
For protection from someone like Kakashi?
Unbelievable.
Kakashi rubbed his forehead.
"Alright, enough about the past…"
Orion smiled.
"Just chatting."
But in truth—
He wasn't saying it casually.
He was saying it—
For Sasuke.
Sasuke craved power.
So much—
That he would one day be willing to follow Orochimaru.
Even risk losing his own body—
Just to gain strength.
Orion's message was simple:
You don't need that path.
If Sasuke truly developed the Sharingan—
Under Kakashi—
He could become just as strong.
Because in Orion's view—
What Sasuke truly lacked—
Was not power.
But proper development of his eyes.
Without mastering the Sharingan—
Even something like the Cursed Seal—
Would only cap him at Kage level.
And in the future—
That wouldn't be enough.
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