Sasuke remained in the hospital for two or three days, enduring a series of "get well" visits and interrogations from various Konoha higher-ups.
Finally, he was discharged.
Walking down streets that were both familiar and foreign, he missed the usual greetings exchanged between his clan members.
Instead, there were more hushed words, sympathetic yet piercing.
"He's the last Uchiha, isn't he?"
"Not the very last. His older brother is still alive, you know."
"He's still the Uchiha clan's young master, though. So pitiful, all alone overnight."
"Yeah, truly pitiful."
Listening to those words of pity, feeling the sympathetic gazes he'd never experienced before, Sasuke couldn't help but clench his fists.
The Uchiha fan emblem on his clan uniform, once a symbol of pride, now felt so uncomfortable.
"Since when do the Uchiha need anyone's pity?" Sasuke lowered his head and quickened his pace.
He arrived at the Uchiha compound.
The once-thriving clan grounds were now virtually empty. Stepping into his home, the furniture within was still in place, the bloodstains cleaned away. Basic daily necessities were usable.
A stack of money lay on the floor.
It was living expenses sent by the Third Hokage.
Most of the Uchiha clan's wealth had been confiscated by the village, but Fugaku and Mikoto's personal assets had been left to Sasuke.
Along with them, copies of the Uchiha clan's ninjutsu scrolls were also left for him.
Sasuke sat dazedly in the empty house.
After a long while, his stomach rumbled.
Confused, Sasuke stood up and went to the kitchen. He clumsily attempted to cook a meal, which turned out to be nearly inedible.
He threw it in the trash after just one bite.
A profound sense of loneliness enveloped Sasuke.
At Naruto's home.
Naruto closed his eyes, his consciousness sinking into the Sealed Space.
Whoosh~~
A biting wind swept through, cold enough to make one shiver uncontrollably.
Peeking downwards, he saw a chasm of immeasurable depth.
A wave of vertigo hit him, and Naruto quickly averted his gaze.
"Aizen-sensei, I'm here!" he called out, his voice echoing above.
However, there was no response.
Puzzled, Naruto walked towards the highest point of the cliff, only to be surprised to find no one there.
"Aizen-sensei isn't here yet?"
Naruto was no longer surprised by such occurrences.
According to Aizen, one could only enter this space after falling asleep.
He must still be busy right now, Naruto thought.
With a faint smile, Naruto walked to the precipice and sat down on the rock Aizen was fond of sitting on.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
The howl of the cold wind filled his ears, and his mood gradually calmed.
It was as if… he could feel Aizen-sensei's solitude, the loneliness of a true master.
Naruto had often wondered.
If, in the future, he possessed invincible power, capable of effortlessly crushing Konoha and transcending the ninja world, what would he feel then? Probably lonely, just like Aizen.
Perhaps that was why Aizen fostered the growth of other powerful individuals. In Aizen's eyes, he himself must be a promising prospect.
"Such a state is still too far beyond my reach," Naruto murmured, a hint of envy in his eyes.
The next day.
Naruto arrived at the classroom as usual.
After greeting his classmates, he took his seat.
Before long, Sasuke arrived, fashionably late. Having gone hungry the previous night, he had eaten a large meal out that morning to finally feel somewhat full.
But before coming to school, he had spent a long time mentally preparing himself.
He didn't want to see those pitying looks.
The proud Uchiha didn't need sympathy.
So, he decided to project an extremely cold facade to mask his pain.
When Sasuke walked into the classroom, the students who had been chatting all fell silent. A moment later, a torrent of concerned inquiries erupted.
"Sasuke, you're here!"
"Are you okay?"
Ino rushed over, dramatically hugging Sasuke with tears in her eyes. "Oh, Sasuke, I was so incredibly worried about you! Naruto kept saying you were fine, but I couldn't help but worry!"
Sasuke pushed Ino away with a look of distaste, his carefully constructed cold expression nearly cracking.
A surge of warmth flowed through him.
"Over here, Sasuke." Naruto waved at him.
Sasuke looked over. Warm, golden sunlight streamed through the window, bathing Naruto in a gentle, comforting glow.
Under the sunlight, Naruto's smile was radiant and perfect. Beneath his golden bangs, his pair of azure eyes shone with undisguised delight.
In that instant, he seemed to see his caring older brother, Itachi.
"Morning, Naruto." A faint smile touched Sasuke's icy expression as he walked towards Naruto.
"Congratulations on getting out of the hospital."
"Thanks."
The noisy classmates quieted down. The girls watched the interaction between Naruto and Sasuke, their expressions utterly smitten.
"Seriously, they're so handsome."
"How can Naruto be so sunny?"
"Boohoo, Sakura, did you see? Naruto warmed up that ice prince Sasuke!" Ino exclaimed dramatically, hugging Sakura.
"Well, of course! Naruto has a charm that can warm up anything," Sakura said, a thoughtful, captivating smile playing on her lips as if recalling something.
"Hmm? What's with that look? Is there something scandalous going on?!" Ino flashed a mischievous grin. "Spill! What happened between you and Naruto?"
"What could have happened? It's just… you know," Sakura retorted, her face flushing red.
"Wow, impressive, Sakura! Looks like you two really are an item!" Ino declared with theatrical flair.
"Really? No way! Congrats, Sakura!" their classmates chimed in with well wishes.
Unable to explain herself, Sakura could only smile foolishly.
If this misunderstanding could become reality, then let it continue, she thought.
Unbeknownst to her, Hinata was watching quietly from a corner, a rare flicker of irritation in her eyes.
"Hinata, want to eat lunch together later?" Just then, a female student approached Hinata and asked softly.
Hinata was very popular among the girls; they considered her a great confidante and dear friend.
"Sure," Hinata agreed with a generous smile and a nod.
"Heehee, our Hinata is getting cuter every day."
"Yeah, Hinata's so adorable, I just want to hug her all the time~~"
"Cute?" Hinata mulled over the word, then her dimples appeared. "It's all because of one person that I've changed."
And it was because of that person that Hinata's heart had become incredibly strong.
Since the massacre, Sasuke could feel everyone treating him with special care.
But at the same time, they were careful to avoid showing any pity, all of them afraid of hurting Sasuke's pride.
This touched Sasuke's heart.
"This is Konoha. These are our comrades," Sasuke heard Naruto's gentle voice. "Everyone cares a lot about you."
"This is also why I want to become Hokage. I want to protect everyone, protect Konoha."
"Yeah." Sasuke nodded firmly, suddenly feeling a surge of strength within him.
Feeling the concern from his classmates, Sasuke's heart gradually softened.
He was deeply grateful to have met Naruto.
If he had never known Naruto, perhaps by now he would be a person consumed solely by thoughts of revenge, his heart cold and unfeeling.
Now, he wanted the ability to think independently, to see beyond conspiracies and schemes, to witness the truth with his own eyes.
Not to be trapped in various fabricated illusions.
Itachi, although I don't know what unspeakable reasons you might have had, I won't easily forgive you for making such a decision, he thought, quietly clenching his fists.
Though he didn't know the truth, he still wanted to redeem his former brother, Itachi.
Naruto had redeemed him.
Now, it was his turn to become the light.