Naruto: Manipulation-Chapter 132: Who Said the Child of Prophecy Could Only Be One?

By the lakeshore.

Shigen's hand emitted a faint green glow.

Under his medical ninjutsu, Sasuke's burned arm slowly returned to normal, and the treatment process was so smooth that there was no discomfort at all.

This man...

Sasuke couldn't help but fall into deep thought.

His medical skills were far beyond what Sasuke had expected. Perhaps it was simply due to his own lack of experience, but still...

There was something about him that was truly different.

Back when he was recovering in the hospital after being trapped in Itachi's Tsukuyomi, he had seen too many pitying gazes.

The doctors and nurses always looked at him the same way, as if their faces were full of words they wanted to say but dared not.

"Is this the only surviving child? How tragic, to have experienced something like that..."

However...

Shigen was different.

From beginning to end, his demeanor remained the same—he was merely a medical ninja treating a patient, and Sasuke was simply someone who needed healing.

"Losing control of Fire Release jutsu can be dangerous."

Shigen withdrew his chakra and reminded him, as if he were speaking to an ordinary patient,

"Be more mindful of your chakra control next time you train."

"You lost control of your jutsu?!"

Naruto, who had been standing beside Shigen, suddenly shouted, staring at Sasuke.

"Are you insane?! What were you thinking?!"

"Shut up! What do you know?!"

Sasuke snapped, irritated.

What could this dead-last loser possibly understand?!

If he didn't push himself, his revenge would remain out of reach forever!

Itachi was too strong!

As his younger brother, Sasuke had known since childhood just how gifted Itachi was. Their father, Fugaku, had always had high hopes for Itachi—while Sasuke, the second son, was met only with disappointment.

Since he was a child...

He had always been overshadowed by his brother.

Yet, he never resented their father's favoritism, because the brother their father favored truly cared for him.

But then...

That night.

That nightmare.

His father. His mother. His entire clan—

All of them slaughtered by Itachi's blade!

He had never been able to surpass his brother's talent.

So if he didn't push himself to the absolute limit, how would he ever have a chance to avenge them?

"Naruto."

Shigen called out, stopping Naruto from arguing further. His gaze shifted to Sasuke, who was still trembling with pain, and he spoke in a calm tone.

"Sasuke. If you need a training partner, you can train with Naruto."

"Your name is a good one."

Looking at the black-haired boy, Shigen suddenly spoke of an old memory.

"I once saved a ninja named Sasuke. He nearly died from his own Fire Release jutsu."

"..."

Sasuke fell silent and lowered his head.

The truth was...

He really did need a sparring partner.

At the Academy, he had no rivals—he was always number one. But recently, this dead-last idiot kept getting stronger and closing the gap between them, making him feel an increasing sense of urgency.

"...Thanks."

Sasuke's voice was so quiet it was almost inaudible.

—

When Jiraiya heard about this, he arrived at the lakeside...

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Only to see two boys clashing fiercely, sparring with everything they had.

His eyes widened.

Wait...

What was going on?!

Given Naruto's troublesome personality, Jiraiya had never expected anyone would willingly train with him—let alone the top student of the Academy!

In the time he had been mentoring Naruto, Jiraiya had heard all about his rivalry with the so-called "genius" Sasuke Uchiha.

This didn't make sense.

Didn't they have a terrible relationship?!

How had things changed so quickly?!

"That child..."

Jiraiya turned toward Shigen, about to ask him something.

"It's Sasuke."

Sarutobi Hiruzen, smoking his pipe, suddenly appeared beside them.

He watched Sasuke and Naruto sparring, then turned to look at Shigen.

Because...

Sasuke was Itachi's younger brother.

Shigen didn't even glance at the two boys fighting.

His response caught Hiruzen off guard:

"That child... was given the name Sasuke?"

"..."

Jiraiya rubbed his head in confusion.

Wait.

What was that supposed to mean?!

"That child was given the name Sasuke?"

What kind of question was that?!

However, Hiruzen immediately understood.

He thought of his father, Sarutobi Sasuke.

And in that moment, he realized why Shigen paid special attention to Sasuke.

It wasn't just because he was Itachi's younger brother.

Perhaps...

It was simply the name itself...

That reminded him of an old friend.

"Yes."

Hiruzen sighed and explained,

"Fugaku named his second son after my father."

This kind of naming tradition...

Wasn't uncommon.

In the shinobi world, it was often seen as a way to honor a great predecessor.

"Your father was an exceptional man."

Shigen didn't hesitate to offer praise.

It was as if, through Sasuke, he was reminiscing about someone from long ago. His gaze fell back on Sasuke.

"I hope that child will also become an exceptional ninja."

"If my father knew, he would be honored."

Hiruzen smiled.

His father had great respect for Shigen—

Almost as much as he had for Hashirama Senju.

He had always spoken of Shigen with admiration, even proudly telling Hiruzen about his time traveling the ninja world alongside him.

Unfortunately...

Sasuke's heart was filled with hatred.

And there was nothing Hiruzen could do about it.

He knew the full truth behind the Uchiha Clan's downfall.

But even he had no idea how to heal the rift between Itachi and Sasuke.

If he told Sasuke the truth...

Could he even handle it?

Would he not direct his hatred toward Konoha's leadership instead?

If he didn't tell him...

Then Itachi would always be the target of his revenge, and this cycle of hatred would never end.

"That child, Sasuke, is impressive..."

Jiraiya watched as Sasuke easily evaded Naruto's attacks.

"Even though Naruto has learned to use chakra in close combat, Sasuke has already adapted to its limitations and dodged preemptively."

It had to be said—

This kind of sparring was making both of them stronger at an incredible rate.

Naruto and Sasuke were rapidly adjusting to each other's strengths and weaknesses.

Every day after class, they would come to the lake, where Shigen or Jiraiya would oversee their training.

Beyond their sparring...

Naruto was still required to refine his chakra.

And Jiraiya had also begun teaching Sasuke more Fire Release jutsu.

After all, the Uchiha Clan had a natural talent for Fire Release.

And Sasuke...

Was progressing alarmingly fast.

"Fire Release: Flame Bullet!"

With a single hand seal, Sasuke spewed a roaring fireball, incinerating a distant target to ashes.

Jiraiya, watching, felt strange.

It was odd seeing an Uchiha using one of his jutsu.

But then again...

An Uchiha using Fire Release was nothing unusual.

"What an exceptional talent."

Jiraiya couldn't help but praise Sasuke's abilities.

It reminded him of when he mentored Nagato and Minato—true prodigies.

However, just as he was feeling proud of Sasuke's progress, he heard Shigen speak.

"That child..."

"Would you consider him your student now?"

Shigen's gaze remained on Sasuke as he suddenly asked,

"Could he also be the child of prophecy who will change the ninja world?"

"!!!"

Jiraiya's expression changed dramatically.

His eyes widened in shock.

His voice trembled.

"The child of prophecy... No... no... That's supposed to be Naruto... right?"

Wasn't there only one child of prophecy?

Wasn't Naruto supposed to be the only one?

How could...

Sasuke also be a possibility?!

Jiraiya didn't want to believe Shigen's words.

He refused to accept the idea that Sasuke could also be the child of prophecy.

"But..."

"If that child also desires to change the ninja world..."

Shigen looked toward Sasuke, his tone carrying an implicit meaning.

"Why do you assume he cannot be the child of prophecy?"

"In this world..."

"No one is truly special."

"These two children are just like Hashirama and Madara of the past."

"After all, in a world filled with so many people, it is inevitable that some will be drawn together—whether by similarity or by fate."

"Even those who seek to change the world, even those who dream of ending war through power... different individuals can still walk the same path."

Shigen's gaze fell upon Jiraiya, his words drawing out the thought he wanted to implant.

"Before the ninja world is truly changed, all of your students are potential children of prophecy."

"Any of them might step forward and reshape the world."

"Perhaps they will cooperate... like Yahiko and his friends once did."

"Or perhaps they will fight to the death."

"Two individuals with opposing ideals but the same goal, battling until one of them emerges as the one who will truly change the ninja world."

"If anything..."

"The latter seems more likely."

"H-Hahaha... That's impossible!"

Jiraiya forced a laugh, though his voice was strained.

He felt like his head was about to explode.

He had never imagined that Shigen would present such a theory.

In the past...

Jiraiya had constantly feared that he wouldn't be able to find the child of prophecy.

That was why he had spent years wandering the ninja world, taking on numerous students, hoping that among them, he would find the destined one.

But now...

For the first time, he was terrified.

Because if Shigen was right...

Then every child he mentored could be the child of prophecy.

They might work together, just like Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato once did...

Or...

They might fight to the death.

"T-That's impossible!"

"There can only be one child of prophecy!"

Jiraiya gritted his teeth, desperately clinging to his belief.

Then, as if grasping at straws, he suddenly said with confidence,

"Wait... Haha! Even if I've taught Sasuke a few jutsu, he's not actually my student!"

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