Naruto: Mizuki The Savior

Chapter 235: Fracture

Many people had advised Sasuke not to use the cursed seal—but Mizuki was the first to warn him by directly tying it to matters of life and death and revenge. When the topic came up again, Sasuke seemed agitated, asking with a dark tone:

"You make it sound easy, Mizuki-sensei. But what do you know? How could you possibly understand the pain of losing your entire clan?"

Facing the boy who spoke of such pain in a low, bitter voice, Mizuki showed no outward emotion.

"Understand? Pain? No one understands you?"

Typical self-centered thinking. Mizuki couldn't help but feel slightly annoyed.

"What a selfish thought, Sasuke."

He poured a glass of water and handed it to the boy.

"Here, drink this and calm down."

Looking at the serious young man before him, Mizuki continued, "You're talented, Sasuke. But don't overestimate yourself. Hatake Kakashi was already a jōnin at your age. Uchiha Itachi had been on multiple battlefields. How much stronger do you think you are compared to them?"

"All I have is my burning blood and desire for revenge. Hatred gives me strength!"

"Who told you that? Uchiha Itachi?"

Sasuke didn't reply, silently confirming the assumption.

"In the end, even your method of getting stronger is part of someone else's plan. What makes you think you can surpass Itachi like that? There are few in this world who could even dream of killing him. If you want revenge, it's not a matter of a few jutsu or how much hate you have. The truth is—you're still too weak. You lack the qualities of a true powerhouse. Not entirely your fault—you don't even know what true ninja power is capable of. With your shallow understanding, what kind of conclusions can you possibly draw?"

"Then what am I supposed to do?" Sasuke asked, shaken after Mizuki mercilessly stripped away his false front. "Should I really give up, like Kakashi-sensei says?"

"That's something only you can figure out. No one else can help you with that."

Seeing the unwillingness on Sasuke's face, Mizuki added, "You talk about hatred all the time, but then expect others to understand your pain? Everyone is different, Sasuke. Hoping others will understand you—that's weakness. What exactly can you achieve by holding onto that weakness? Your teammate Uzumaki Naruto is doing far better than you. He's walked much farther down the path of understanding and being acknowledged."

Sasuke went silent for a moment, then lifted his head and said seriously, "I've been asking for too much. Reality isn't that generous. What I need now is just… power for revenge."

"Is that so?" Mizuki said with a sigh. "After all that, we're back where we started. Fine, then work hard. If you have questions, ask Kakashi or ask me. For now, go rest."

"…Got it." Sasuke nodded. He had come with hope and left empty-handed. It was deeply disappointing.

Once Sasuke left, the room fell silent again. Mizuki slowly sipped his tea, gazing at the foggy moonlight outside the window.

"You sound… annoyed," said a voice out of nowhere.

As the voice spoke, a figure materialized in the chair opposite Mizuki.

"Why didn't you show yourself earlier and do the lecturing?" Mizuki asked. "You've been listening for a while, haven't you?"

Kakashi stepped forward with his usual casual air, though he seemed genuinely perplexed.

"Annoyed with Sasuke? That's odd coming from a teacher. Even if he's not your direct student, you shouldn't be this biased."

That's what puzzled Kakashi most—Mizuki usually kept his personal preferences hidden, especially when acting as a teacher. But now he was being blatantly dismissive.

"Yeah, I'm tired of that kid who won't listen," Mizuki said with a sigh. "And also… disappointed in myself."

"Disappointed in yourself? What did you do?" Kakashi asked curiously.

"Tell me, Kakashi—how do you evaluate Sasuke?"

"A very talented ninja… but blinded by hatred."

Mizuki nodded in agreement. "That's what I think too. But tell me, Kakashi—do you think Sasuke is wrong?"

Kakashi paused, then said slowly, "I think he's wrong, but I don't blame him."

Mizuki waved his hand, cutting off what was surely about to be a lengthy response.

"All of this—Itachi's actions, or whoever the puppet master is—was arranged. So it's our job to help Sasuke walk the right path, right?"

"Right," Kakashi confirmed. "That much is certain. But what are you trying to say?"

Mizuki turned his gaze away from the moon and stared directly at Kakashi.

"Put yourself in his shoes. Sasuke's ability to distinguish right from wrong is razor-thin. Even what we think is 'good' for him might not actually be good. Who's to say what's truly right or wrong?"

"But hatred… it's a path of darkness with no end!"

With his years of experience, Kakashi wasn't easily shaken by philosophical arguments—but Mizuki wasn't trying to discuss ninja ideals.

"Following a path laid out by others is wrong, and only listening to us is right? When did we become so arrogant about Sasuke's life?"

"…What?" Mizuki's blunt question caught Kakashi off guard, leaving him speechless.

After a long silence, Kakashi finally said, voice heavy, "I can't refute that. But people need values and a sense of morality. We believe in peace. That's the spirit of Konoha—and it's not something we can abandon."

Kakashi clearly disagreed with Mizuki's broader worldview, even if he saw its fairness.

"And does Sasuke believe in that spirit too?"

"I'm trying to help him believe it."

"Then that means he doesn't yet." Mizuki, more serious than ever, looked Kakashi in the eye. "In Sasuke's current perspective, how are we any different from everyone else?"

Without waiting for an answer, Mizuki pushed further, "We're forcing his life into a mold, controlling it without hesitation. How are our actions any different from what Uchiha Itachi did?"

That hit Kakashi like a bolt of lightning.

"I… never thought of it that way. Do you think I've been trying to do good, only to make things worse?"

He gave a bitter, self-mocking laugh.

"Talk to you long enough and I start questioning everything."

"I don't know if your actions are helping or hurting," Mizuki replied calmly. "But I'm not trying to make you question your whole life. I'm just saying—you won't change Sasuke by staying naïve."

"…Then what do you suggest? Just let Sasuke spiral out of control?"

"Of course not. As teachers, we still have responsibilities…"

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