THE PATH OF LIFE || U. SASUKE

CHAPTER 36

Her heart sank as she realized that the rock had not broken as she had hoped. Anger surged through her, fueled by the desire to prove her strength and push her limits. But now, it felt like her efforts were falling short.

'Why can't I do it?' she muttered, clenching her fists in frustration. 'I've trained so hard, yet it's not enough!'

As Y/N stood there, a cloud of insecurity loomed over her. The relentless pursuit of perfection in her techniques was turning into an endless cycle of disappointment and self-doubt. With each failed attempt, her heart sank deeper into a pit of apprehension.

As her frustration peaked, her thoughts involuntarily drifted to the vivid memories of Naruto's harrowing battle against Gaara.

Recollections flooded her mind of Naruto's extraordinary display of resilience and fortitude during that confrontation, facing insurmountable odds with unwavering determination.

Despite his struggles, he had managed to tap into a power that seemed otherworldly, filled with an unyielding will to protect his friends.

A feeling of unease and fear welled up within her. It wasn't the kind of fear associated with danger or harm, but rather a profound sense of trepidation brought on by the intensity of Naruto's power.

When she saw Naruto tapping into that otherworldly force during his battle with Gaara, it had left an indelible mark on her psyche. His chakra surged with an overwhelming presence that seemed to resonate with her own, creating an unexplainable connection between their energies.

A tangle of emotions—frustration, insecurity, and a hint of desperation—swirled within her, creating a maelstrom of conflicting feelings. She felt the weight of her pride, the expectations she had set for herself, and the fear of falling short, all crashing down upon her.

Y/N had always been fiercely independent, determined to carve her own path and prove herself. But as Naruto's strides grew more prominent, a sense of inadequacy crept in, casting doubt on her own capabilities.

The relentless quest to improve had been the bedrock of her identity, but now, the creeping sense of being outpaced by Naruto's growing prowess became an ever-present, disconcerting thought.

The fear she felt wasn't born out of weakness or vulnerability, but rather from the realization that there was something enigmatic and extraordinary about Naruto's power. It was as if he possessed a reservoir of strength that surpassed conventional limits, and witnessing it had made her acutely aware of her own limitations.

Damn it!

☫━━━✧༝┉˚*❋━❉━☫━❉━❋*˚┉༝✧━━━☫

Perched high on a mountain rock, two mysterious figures stood, concealed beneath their cloaks.

The individual carrying a long sword on his back remarked, "You can fight them wherever and however you like, but I must admit, this doesn't seem like the best time and place for a confrontation, Itachi"

Their encounter with the Konoha shinobi had left Kakashi incapacitated and hospitalized, susceptible to genjutsu.

The person with blazing red sharingan eyes narrowed his gaze and replied, "On the contrary, this is the perfect location to engage in a battle. Once we encounter and eliminate them, they won't have a chance to call for reinforcements."

"We were fortunate to find him at the ramen shop, but we must remember that he is protected by one of the legendary ninja," the man with shark-like features added. "He might even be on par with the infamous 'clan killer of Konoha' and one of the 'Mist's seven strongest'."