It wasn’t like Sasuke, to spend his time with someone so significantly weaker than him. Training with you failed to benefit either of you; Sasuke quickly got tired of overpowering you within seconds, and the strain on your body was notable. There was no reason for him to be here.

Yet, here he was— blade in hand and blue-green water pooling atop the stones at his feet, the roar of a nearby waterfall almost defeaning. Sasuke, unbothered as ever, didn’t raise his voice to be heard over it.

“You’re still weak,” Sasuke pointed out, showing no signs of weakness or exhaustion as he lowered his blade.