Sky Curtain: Short Video Commentary on Konoha Villagers

After Pain's invasion of Konoha ended, and Tsunade temporarily fell into a coma due to excessive chakra depletion, the village's leadership decided to elect a new Hokage.

At this moment, the terrified daimyo probably couldn't even recall the name of a single ninja.

However, when Shikamaru's father recommended Kakashi to be Hokage, the previously vacant-eyed Daimyo's eyes immediately lit up, and after holding back for a long time, they blurted out:

"I know him, he's the son of that guy with the white teeth, isn't he?"

Konoha Village, on the street.

The villagers looked at each other in bewilderment:

"The Daimyo actually knows Kakashi?"

"My neighbor's relative is an official in the capital. I heard that the daimyo can't even remember the names of a few ninjas..."

"This shows that Kakashi often shows his face in front of high-ranking officials and nobles."

"Even the Daimyo knows him, no wonder he became the Sixth Hokage."

[Immediately afterwards, Naruto, along with Kakashi, stopped the Raikage, attempting to persuade him to spare Sasuke using talk-no-jutsu.]

At this moment, Darui, who was following the Raikage, also only glanced at it.

He immediately recognized the mysterious masked man, and, incredibly excited, told his boss that the person opposite him was Kakashi.

[Raikage snorted in response, indicating that he knew the person as well.]

[Finally, during the Fourth Shinobi World War, things got even more outrageous, especially when the Sage of Six Paths had just appeared.]

He wasn't used to calling Naruto and Sasuke by their names yet, referring to them as "the reincarnation of Ashura" and "the reincarnation of Indra" repeatedly.

As for the various shadows he summoned, he couldn't recall a single name.

However, when Kakashi appeared before him, he immediately said, "You must be Hatake Kakashi."

Konoha Training Ground.

Naruto's mouth dropped open, his jaw almost falling to the ground.

"What?! The Sage of Six Paths actually knows Kakashi-sensei?!"

"Doesn't that mean Kakashi-sensei is the greatest ninja in the world?!"

Sasuke was also stunned, his brows furrowed.

"...How could the name of a mere mortal reach the ears of the Sage of Six Paths?"

Kakashi was also dumbfounded. How did someone of the Sage of Six Paths' level know about him?!

Is this reasonable? !

The visuals on the sky switched again.

You might not believe it, but Sasuke's talent is definitely superior to Itachi's; in fact, he could be considered the most talented member of the Uchiha clan besides Indra.

Konoha Year 60, Training Ground.

Naruto suddenly turned to look at Sasuke, his face filled with disbelief.

"Sasuke! Tenmu said your talent is even higher than Itachi's?! Really?!"

Sasuke frowned slightly. Why was Tianmu bringing up this again?

Kumogakure, Raikage's office.

The Fourth Raikage, A, crossed his arms, his rugged face filled with suspicion.

"Sasuke Uchiha has the highest talent among the Uchiha? Hmph, I think that's a bit of an exaggeration. Compared to a monster like Madara Uchiha, Sasuke is nothing more than a rogue brat."

Mabui stood to the side, adjusted her glasses, and whispered a reminder.

"Lord Raikage, as Tenbu mentioned before, Sasuke already possessed the Rinnegan, which Madara Uchiha had wasted his entire life to acquire, before he even turned eighteen."

Ai snorted and didn't say anything more, but the suspicion in her eyes hadn't completely disappeared.

Uchiha clan.

The tribespeople looked at the sky, their faces full of disbelief.

"Madara is a universally acknowledged legend. How could Sasuke be more talented than Madara? That's highly unlikely."

"Didn't they say before that Sarada awakened her Sharingan with love? Maybe the Uchiha's talent standards have suddenly mutated in Sasuke's generation."

[Back when Fugaku taught Itachi and Sasuke the Fireball Jutsu, Itachi only glanced at it before unleashing a larger and more perfect fireball on the spot, while Sasuke could only blow out a tiny flame. Fugaku sighed, "So, I guess I still can't be like Itachi."]

While this passage suggests Itachi may have better talent, this must be considered in the context of the preceding events.

[First of all, Fugaku taught Sasuke the Fireball Jutsu only after Shisui's death and the violent conflict between Itachi and his clan. He only began personally instructing Sasuke in ninjutsu after that.]

Prior to this, Fugaku had focused all his energy on Itachi, neglecting Sasuke and never giving him any significant training.

To put it bluntly, Fugaku felt that Itachi, his main character, was wasted, and wanted to see how Sasuke, his secondary character, fared.

Under the sky, a gasp of cold air rang out, followed by a commotion.

On the streets of Konoha.

Several villagers couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"You ruined your main account, so you're starting a new one? This Uchiha clan leader is really dedicated to his job."

"Sigh, in the end, it's Fugaku's own parenting style that's the problem. Itachi was instilled with that kind of thinking from a young age, no wonder something bad happened."

"Indeed, it feels like Fugaku's teaching style is comparable to that of Rokudo."

The Hokage's office.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed, his tone full of helplessness.

"Every time I see Fugaku taking care of children, I feel my blood pressure rises a little."

"Two children, one raised as an heir, the other left to fend for himself, and then comparing the one raised carelessly to the one carefully nurtured?"

Furthermore, there was another crucial reason why Sasuke's talent didn't manifest in his youth: Itachi protected him too well.

[Itachi promised Sasuke he would teach him shurikenjutsu, but he always told him "next time," not because he was busy or forgot, but because he simply didn't want to teach him.]

[After all, Itachi, who possessed the mindset of a Hokage at the age of seven, believed he had already seen through the cruel nature of the ninja world and understood the involuntary fate of the ninjas.]

His greatest wish in life was for Sasuke to grow up peacefully and happily, far removed from war, and ideally, not even to be a ninja.

Under the sky,

Sasuke's body jolted violently, and countless images flashed through his mind:

When he was a child, he pestered Itachi to teach him shuriken, and Itachi would always smile, pat his head, and say, "Maybe next time," before turning and leaving.

He always thought it was because his older brother was too busy, or because he was too stupid and Itachi didn't want to teach him.

So... It turns out Itachi never wanted to teach him?

But... it's completely impossible to go back now.

That Itachi did something like that...

Thinking of this, Sasuke's hatred for Itachi immediately suppressed the sudden surge of tenderness.

Uchiha clan.

Itachi sat under a tree far from the crowd, his eyes closed, as if the words spoken in the sky were not about him.

He remembered those next times, and he remembered Sasuke's disappointed eyes.

But he also remembered that his only wish was for Sasuke to never set foot in this cruel world.