Teacher
Sasuke realized early on that opening the rift to return to his own world might take longer than expected. While he told himself he was focusing on finding the right place with denser chakra, he couldn’t ignore a growing truth—he was becoming attached to Ace. Though he’d never admit it, part of him wasn’t in a rush to leave, especially knowing the boy would be left alone again.
It was during one of Ace’s many reckless stunts that Sasuke made a decision. Ace had attempted to spar against a wild animal he had no business fighting, earning himself a nasty gash on his arm. While Ace brushed it off as nothing, Sasuke had scowled and patched him up, muttering about the boy’s lack of caution.
“You can’t keep throwing yourself into danger like that,” Sasuke said, his tone sharp as he wrapped Ace’s arm with a clean strip of cloth.
“I’m fine! It’s not even that bad,” Ace replied, grinning despite the blood.
Sasuke’s glare silenced him. That was when Sasuke realized something—if Ace wasn’t going to take better care of himself, Sasuke would have to do it for him. So, without saying a word, Sasuke decided to master medical ninjutsu.
It wasn’t hard for him. With his Sharingan and already extensive knowledge of chakra control, learning the techniques came naturally. Within weeks, Sasuke was proficient enough to heal wounds, treat infections, and even manage more serious injuries.
The first time he used his medical skills on Ace, the boy was stunned. He had sprained his ankle during training, and instead of letting Ace hobble around for days, Sasuke placed a glowing green hand over the injury and healed it within minutes.
Ace stared at him, wide-eyed. “Whoa! You can do that too?”
Sasuke shrugged, as if it were no big deal. “It’s basic medical ninjutsu. Don’t get used to it—I’m not your personal healer.”
But despite his words, Sasuke found himself stepping in more often than not. Whenever Ace got scraped, bruised, or worse, Sasuke was there to fix him up, grumbling under his breath about the boy’s recklessness while quietly glad he could help.
Over time, Ace started to notice how often Sasuke was there to patch him up, and though he didn’t say it outright, Ace was grateful. Sasuke’s care—no matter how gruff or understated—meant the world to him.
One evening, as the two sat by a small fire after a long day of training, Ace decided it was time to share something he rarely spoke about. He poked at the fire with a stick, his silver eyes reflecting the flames, while Sasuke sat nearby, quietly reading a book on medical stuff.
“Sensei,” Ace began hesitantly, his voice softer than usual.
Sasuke glanced up, his expression calm but attentive. “What is it?”
Ace hesitated, gripping the stick tighter. He’d always feared how people would react when they found out about his father. Most either treated him differently or avoided him entirely. But Sasuke was different—he wasn’t like anyone else Ace had met. If anyone wouldn’t care, it was him.
“I want to tell you something,” Ace continued. “About my... my parentage.”
Sasuke’s gaze didn’t waver. “Go on.”
Taking a deep breath, Ace finally said it. “I’m the son of Gol D. Roger. The Pirate King.”
The words hung in the air, heavy and raw. Ace’s heart pounded as he waited for Sasuke’s reaction, half-expecting shock or judgment. Instead, Sasuke’s expression remained completely neutral.
“That’s it?” Sasuke asked after a pause, raising an eyebrow.
Ace blinked, startled. “Huh?”
“I mean, is that all you wanted to tell me?” Sasuke clarified, his tone as even as ever.
Ace stared at him, confused. “You’re not... surprised? Or angry? Most people freak out when they hear who my dad was.”
Sasuke shrugged, his expression unbothered. “Why would I care? Your father’s actions don’t define who you are. Besides,” he added, his tone dropping into something darker but still calm, “my older brother was a traitor and a kin-slayer. Compared to that, being the son of a pirate king is nothing unusual.”
Ace blinked, taken aback by the bluntness. “Your brother... did what?”
“It doesn’t matter now,” Sasuke replied, brushing the topic off as if it were nothing. “The point is, you’re not your father, just like I’m not my brother. People might judge you for it, but that’s their problem, not yours.”
Ace stared at him, processing the words. He hadn’t expected Sasuke to share something so personal, let alone to be so dismissive about his own painful history.
“So... it really doesn’t bother you?” Ace asked again, needing the reassurance.
Sasuke glanced at him, his dark eyes steady. “No, it doesn’t. Your worth isn’t tied to your father’s legacy. It’s tied to what you do with your own life. Remember that.”
Ace nodded slowly, his silver eyes glimmering with a mix of relief and admiration. “Thanks, Sensei.”
Sasuke gave a faint smirk and turned back to read his book. “Now stop worrying about pointless things and focus on training. You still can’t beat me in sparring.”
Ace grinned, his spirits lifted. “Not yet, but I’m getting closer!”
“Sure, if ‘closer’ means losing slightly slower,” Sasuke shot back, his voice tinged with sarcasm.
Ace laughed, the heaviness in his chest easing as he realized something important: no matter who his father was, Sasuke saw him for who he was, not where he came from. And that was enough.
“Ughh, sensei nooooo,” Ace groaned dramatically, slumping back with his arms spread out, as if the mere suggestion of learning medical jutsu was some unbearable punishment.
Sasuke rolled his eyes, not at all impressed by his student’s theatrics. “Stop being dramatic. It’s not that bad.”
Ace let out a loud sigh, looking up at the sky like it held the answers to his misery. “But I’m not a healer! I don’t want to be one! I just wanna punch things and get stronger!”
Sasuke crossed his arms and stared down at him with an almost bored expression. “You’re reckless, and you’re constantly getting hurt. You can’t keep depending on me to patch you up every time you mess up.”
Ace opened his mouth to protest but then winced as he remembered the last time he’d tried to tackle a wild boar without thinking and ended up with a nasty gash across his side. Sasuke had patched him up, but it had been clear that his teacher wasn’t exactly thrilled to do it.
“I can’t always be there to fix you,” Sasuke continued, his voice growing more serious. “You need to learn how to take care of yourself.”
Ace groaned again, sinking further into the dirt as if he could somehow escape the conversation. “Fine... I’ll do it. But I still don’t like it.”
Sasuke smirked, not feeling the slightest bit sorry for him. “You’ll get used to it. Just remember—if you can heal your own injuries, you’ll be able to fight longer and harder without worrying about bleeding out on the battlefield.”
Ace groaned once more but finally sat up, grudgingly acknowledging the logic in Sasuke’s words. “Yeah, yeah, I get it. But can’t I just learn how to fight better instead?”
“No.” Sasuke’s response was immediate and firm. “Medical jutsu is a practical skill that you can use in battle. Think of it as an investment in your survival. And if you want to be strong, you need to be smart about how you fight. Understanding how to heal is part of that.”
Ace scowled but nodded, clearly not happy about it. “I’ll hold you to that. If I have to learn medical jutsu, I better be able to punch harder too.”
Sasuke smirked. “Get the basics down first, then we’ll talk about punching harder.”
Ace reluctantly started to focus, trying to push his frustration aside. “Fine... let’s do this then.”
Sasuke turned away, already preparing for the lesson. “Good. Let’s start with the basics. First, we’re going to learn how to focus chakra into your hands.”
Ace’s groan was loud enough to echo through the woods, but Sasuke just kept going, knowing that despite the boy’s complaints, he would eventually appreciate this training... even if he never admitted it out loud.
Sasuke had been thinking about it for a while now. If Ace was ever going to truly master medical jutsu, he needed more than just training in the quiet of their hideout. Sasuke was aware that real-world experience was the best teacher. Traveling around the world, meeting new people, and helping them would give Ace the practical knowledge he needed to learn healing at a faster pace.
But before he could take Ace anywhere, there was one thing he needed to do: meet Ace’s guardian. While Sasuke was sure that Garp, Ace’s grandfather, had his own strong presence, Sasuke had always believed that it was important to understand who was looking out for his students. Plus, if he was going to take Ace away from this place to train and travel, it seemed like the right thing to do.
The idea of meeting Garp wasn’t something Sasuke was particularly excited about. He didn’t care much for socializing, and the man’s boisterous personality wasn’t exactly Sasuke’s idea of fun. But he was willing to do it for Ace. Sasuke wanted to make sure that Garp would be okay with his plans for Ace, and he figured that explaining it himself would make things easier.
After a few days of thinking it over, Sasuke decided it was time to meet Garp.
“Ace,” Sasuke called, walking over to where his student was practicing. “I’m going to talk to your grandfather. I need to let him know what my plans are for you.”
Ace blinked, surprised. “Huh? Really? Why?”
Sasuke shrugged, his face unreadable. “Because I want to take you with me to travel and train. And if I’m going to do that, I should make sure your guardian knows what’s going on.”
Ace seemed to hesitate for a moment, then nodded. “Okay, I guess that makes sense. You want me to come with you?”
Sasuke glanced at him. “You’re ready, aren’t you?”
Ace gave a grin that showed he was more than ready. “Of course! I can’t wait to see more of the world!”
Garp was aware that Ace was meeting with someone, he could tell something had changed.
Ace was no longer the gloomy, withdrawn kid he had met months ago. The boy who had been so filled with anger and sadness, weighed down by his past, was now... different.
He could tell that Ace had been influenced by someone. It was obvious from the way Ace carried himself now, more sure of himself and more focused.
And Garp wasn’t naive. He knew that changes like this didn’t just happen overnight.
He had spent enough time around pirates and people with complicated histories to know that sudden shifts in behavior weren’t random.
Something—or someone—had caused this change.
Even Dadan had noticed the change in Ace.
She, too, had seen how much Ace had grown since he started spending time with the mysterious figure.
It wasn’t just his fighting skills that had improved—it was his whole demeanor. He no longer seemed like the lost, angry boy who had once carried the weight of his past like a heavy chain.
Now, Ace seemed to have found a purpose beyond that weight, even if he didn’t show it in the most obvious way.
Dadan, ever the tough protector, had noticed it as well, but she hadn’t said anything to Garp.
She wasn’t worried. She could see that Ace was happier, more alive. She was content to let things be. For the first time in a long while, Ace was starting to find peace. And she was grateful for that.
She didn’t need to tell Garp; he was sharp, and he’d figure it out. It didn’t matter who this person was, whether they were a pirate, a marine, or someone else entirely—what mattered was that Ace had found someone who was helping him, and that was enough.
It wasn’t surprising for Garp and Dadan when Ace finally brought the man back.
It was the day Garp had come to visit, and as he sat in the familiar, weathered cabin, chatting with Dadan, he noticed a figure approaching from the forest. Ace was walking beside him, a man in his twenties with raven-black hair. The man had an air of quiet confidence about him, his posture straight, his expression serious, but there was something else too—a sense of calm strength that Garp immediately noticed.
“Ace!” Garp greeted loudly, a wide grin spreading across his face as he stood up to meet the two.“You finally decided to bring this mystery man of yours over? What’s his name?”
Ace looked over at Garp with a smirk, he wasn’t surprised that his gramps knew he was meeting with someone considering his change and strength improving fast.
“I’ve been training with him, Grandpa. This is—”
Sasuke, the mysterious man, took a step forward, interrupting before Ace could finish. He looked Garp square in the eye, his gaze steady and unwavering. "Sasuke Uchiha," he introduced, his voice calm but firm.
Dadan, standing behind Garp, took a step forward too, eyeing Sasuke curiously. She was a little more reserved than Garp, always cautious of strangers. But there was something about Sasuke that made her feel... calm. She couldn’t quite place it, but there was a quiet strength about him.
Garp raised an eyebrow, surprised by the formality. “Sasuke, huh? Well, it’s nice to finally meet you. I’ve been wondering who’s been keeping my grandson from getting himself killed during his reckless adventures.” He gave Ace a playful but pointed look, which Ace returned with a shrug.
“Eh, not all of them are reckless,” Ace said with his typical grin. “Besides, Sasuke’s not just helping me stay alive. He’s teaching me how to get stronger.”
Garp nodded slowly, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied Sasuke. There was something about him that felt... different from the usual faces Ace brought home. He didn’t give off the typical pirate or marine vibe. Sasuke wasn’t brash or loud, nor did he have any overt signs of danger like the pirates Garp was used to dealing with. No, this one felt different. More controlled, yet just as dangerous.
“Well, we’ll see about that,” Garp said with a chuckle. He extended his hand to Sasuke. “I’m Garp. The old man who raised this troublemaker.”
Sasuke didn’t hesitate, shaking Garp’s hand firmly but briefly, a gesture that felt more respectful than any grand gesture.
“You must be strong if you’ve managed to keep Ace from getting into trouble for this long,” Garp continued, his tone now more serious. He couldn’t help but be impressed. Anyone who could handle Ace’s personality for more than a few weeks had to be someone worth paying attention to.
Sasuke simply nodded. “He’s strong. He just needs the right guidance.”
Ace, who had been listening to the exchange, rolled his eyes. “Geez, don’t go overboard. I’m not that bad.”
Sasuke side-eyed him, his expression unreadable but a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “You’re not that bad? You almost set the forest on fire last week during training.”
Ace’s face flushed slightly, but he quickly recovered, throwing his hands up in mock surrender. “Okay, okay, maybe I got a little carried away, but it wasn’t that bad.”
Garp chuckled, slapping Ace on the back with a hearty laugh. “That’s my grandson! Always a handful, but he gets the job done.”
It was strange but welcoming for Garp and Dadan.
They watched as Sasuke and Ace interacted, and though it was mostly Ace talking, with Sasuke listening and occasionally answering, there was something undeniably heartwarming about it.
Ace, usually so guarded and sharp with his words, seemed different when he was around Sasuke.
He was more at ease, more willing to open up, even if it was just to rant about something that had happened during training or to ask a question.
Sasuke, for his part, stayed quiet for the most part, listening more than speaking.
His responses were always brief, but they carried weight—always supportive, never dismissive, and always just enough to guide Ace without overwhelming him. It wasn’t the kind of mentorship where the teacher constantly spoke or tried to force wisdom onto the student.
Instead, Sasuke let Ace figure things out on his own, stepping in only when necessary.
Garp and Dadan observed the dynamic closely. It wasn’t typical. Most people who spent time with Ace either got frustrated with his wild energy or tried to overpower him with authority.
But Sasuke seemed to understand him in a way they hadn’t expected. The way Sasuke was calm, unwavering, and never got too worked up over Ace’s antics was exactly what the boy needed. He wasn’t just teaching him fighting techniques—he was teaching him control, patience, and how to navigate his own emotions.
Dadan, leaning against the wall, couldn’t help but smile softly.
She could see the change in Ace too, subtle but there. The way he held himself now, with a little more pride, a little more confidence—it was all because of Sasuke’s presence. She hadn’t expected it, but she was glad for it. Ace had needed someone like him.
Garp, ever the boisterous one, nodded to himself. He didn’t show it often, but he was grateful.
It wasn’t just the training. It was the fact that Ace finally had someone to rely on, someone who wasn’t trying to take advantage of him or manipulate him. Sasuke was steady, like a rock. And for a kid like Ace, that was exactly what he needed.
As the conversation between Ace and Sasuke continued, with Ace enthusiastically explaining something he’d learned that day, Sasuke’s occasional, dry responses only seemed to encourage the boy further.
Garp and Dadan exchanged a glance, both silently agreeing that whatever was happening here, it was good for Ace. Ever since that day, Sasuke would sometimes come with Ace to visit Garp and Dadan, staying for a while to share a small conversation before leaving again.
A year has passed since Sasuke came to this world.
Sasuke held the six-year-old Ace’s hand as they descended through the forest toward the town. Today, Sasuke officially became a doctor. They were in Syrup Village, and when Sasuke said "descended," he meant that he had simply teleported himself and Ace to a random location.
It was Ace’s idea. He thought it would be more exciting not knowing where they would end up.