Conversation * Death

The ward was quiet. Sasuke leaned his head back against the headboard, staring blankly at the leaves of a tree outside the window, which were swaying gently in the wind.

There was a light knock on the door twice, then it was pushed open.

Sarutobi Clan Sarutobi, Clan Head Sarutobi Sōun the door, holding a food box wrapped in cloth.

He didn't come in immediately, but first glanced around the ward from the doorway. The window was ajar, the water glass on the bedside table was full, and Sasuke's bandages had been reapplied.

Then his gaze fell on the Oiled Paper in the trash can.

"Looks like Miori came by." Sarutobi Sōun stepped into the ward, closed the paper door behind him, and placed the food box next to the Oiled Paper. "Didn't she tear your ear off?"

"Almost." Sasuke subconsciously touched his still throbbing left ear. "Dad, you came, but why did you bring anything?"

Sarutobi Sōun sat down on the round stool by the bed, opened the food box, inside were several steaming Rice Balls, tightly wrapped in seaweed, with bits of Grilled Salmon visible between the grains of rice.

He pushed the food box towards Sasuke: "Your mother made this; she insisted I bring it, saying the hospital food isn't enough to feed you."

Sasuke picked up a Rice Ball and took a bite. The salty aroma of the seaweed and the oiliness of the salmon mingled in his mouth. He chewed a couple of times before mumbling, "Thank Mother for me."

Sarutobi Sōun hummed in agreement and remained seated on the round stool.

The father and son, one leaning against the headboard chewing Rice Ball, and the other watching him eat with his arms crossed, remained silent for a while.

"I heard your conversation just now," Sarutobi Sōun suddenly said.

Sasuke slowed down his chewing of the Rice Ball.

"Tell that Tadayo Uchiha Clan you're Izuna's friend," Sarutobi Sōun said. "Didn't I tell you not to give your heart away? Why did you get hurt so badly for him?"

Sasuke swallowed the food in his mouth and said nonchalantly, "It's not entirely because of him. You saw it yourself, Dad. If that guy goes to Konoha and wreaks havoc, our family will suffer too."

"Don't try to change the subject." Sarutobi Sōun's expression didn't soften in the slightest because of this explanation. "I heard everything from Raisuke. You clung to that monster's leg and wouldn't let go, just to buy time for the Shimura Clan kid."

"If it weren't for Raisuke's quick reflexes in pulling you away, you wouldn't be lying here now, you'd be lying in a coffin. Sarutobi Sasuke, do you even understand that you're the Young Clan Head?"

"So what!" Sasuke's voice rose a half-octave, aggravating the wound on his ribs. He hissed, but didn't stop. "Just because I'm from the Clan Head's family, does that mean I can't risk my life?"

Sarutobi Sōun slammed his hand on the edge of the bed, causing the Rice Ball in the food box to tremble. "Your life isn't just yours! You're the next Clan Head of the Sarutobi Clan. What will happen to the clan if you die? How am I supposed to explain this to your mother!"

"The others can't beat us!" Sasuke roared back. "If I don't go, Shimura Mu will die! And that fat guy from the Akimichi Clan won't survive either! They're not from our clan, but they're still Konoha Ninjas! Am I just going to watch them die?!"

"Yes!" Sarutobi Sōun's answer was so quick that even Sasuke was taken aback.

"People will always die on the battlefield, but the Young Clan Head's life cannot be given up so easily! You are Konoha Ninja now, that's true, but first and foremost, you are the Young Clan Head of the Sarutobi Clan!"

"Cold-blooded," Sasuke spat out the word through gritted teeth.

Cherish your life!

Both of them were panting and remained silent.

The ward was so quiet that only the rustling of leaves in the wind outside the window and the sound of footsteps coming from outside the door could be heard.

Sasuke leaned the back of his head against the wall behind the bed and stared at the wood grain on the ceiling.

Sarutobi Sōun looked down at his fist; the calluses on his knuckles looked particularly rough in the afternoon light.

After a long while, Sarutobi Sōun sighed.

He looked up at Sasuke: "What are you really thinking?"

"What do you mean, what do you think?" Sasuke turned his gaze from the ceiling to Sarutobi Sōun's face.

Sarutobi Sōun looked at him. "You know why we sent you to befriend him in the first place."

Sasuke certainly knew.

The Second-in-Command of the Uchiha Clan died half a year ago, which was not a secret in Konoha, which was then known as the village.

Uchiha Izuna was one of the top warriors of the Warring States period; even young children were forced to memorize his information.

He is skilled in Fire Style, Genjutsu, and Swordsmanship. He is kind and values harmony, and is the best partner when not an enemy. However, he has many methods to deal with enemies.

After acquiring the Sharingan, he never suffered a defeat, and he always perfectly accomplished the missions he took on.

That's why he's known as the Perfect Ninja.

Such people are still talked about even six months later.

So now Madara Uchiha is publicly claiming that Izuna has returned from recuperating from injuries?

Nobody believed it.

Since the dead cannot be brought back to life, it was probably a fake that Madara Uchiha found to look similar.

The sudden appearance of this person, who immediately "injured" Madara Uchiha, led everyone to believe that the Uchiha Clan was about to make a big move.

At that time, the Uchiha Clan was at its zenith. If their "Second-in-Command" really wanted to do something, these clans would actually be unable to resist.

"We held back for a week," Sarutobi Sōun said. "At that time Uchiha Clan was at its zenith. If their 'Second-in-Command' really wanted to do something, our clans would have no chance against it."

"So we want to figure out what this 'Uchiha Izuna,' or rather, the person behind him, Madara Uchiha, really wants to do."

Sure enough, a week later that person did something big.

At first, no one understood what he was trying to do.

After all, what normal person would suddenly start singing in the street? Even if they think that easily calling out someone's name would make them wary, singing in the street is just too crazy, and they simply won't be on guard.

Just when they thought he was a fool, a large number of merchants miraculously arrived in Konoha.

Their once quiet streets were now crowded with Merchant, and their meager task list suddenly surged, especially the Ninjas he had specifically requested, who were now receiving so many requests that they had to refuse them in order to have time to rest.

At that time, the various clans decided to send these designated Ninjas to make contact with Uchiha Izuna.

"You just happened to be the one whose name he mentioned, so we decided to send you," Sarutobi Sōun said.

"Yeah," Sasuke, pursing his lips. "This is probably the best decision you've ever made."

"I don't deny that," Sarutobi Sōun nodded slightly. "He has indeed led Konoha to better and better."

Sarutobi Sōun's gaze fell on the tree outside the window, which was swaying gently in the wind, and his voice softened.

"I don't know how that person did it. Konoha was like a leaf blown into the sky by a sudden Hurricane, sent high into the air."

"Everyone was led by him into the 'Capital City'. Ninjas were no longer weapons, Ninjutsu was developed for new uses, and our Konoha was transformed into Special Administrative Region."

"In just one month, the whole world has undergone earth-shattering changes. Suddenly, none of our thoughts matter anymore. What about profiting the family, what about the distribution of profits, what about the clan—all of that seems so petty in that better world."

"He showed us the way, a wide and generous road leading to a good life, the path there described so clearly, as if it were within easy reach."

"His aura not only attracted you bunch of teenagers, but it also infected us. When I heard Hashirama Senju preach, I even felt a long-lost surge of excitement, as if I were omnipotent."

"It seems like as long as I follow them, life will get better Tenten."

Sasuke didn't speak, but listened quietly, a smug look of shared glory on his face.

"But..." Sarutobi Sōun's voice took a turn here, shifting from a gentle tone of reminiscence to a low, somber one, "Even so, I can't just watch you go up there to your death."

"Hey, it's nothing, isn't it?" Sasuke smirked, trying to change the subject with his usual nonchalant tone. "So what if I got hurt? I'll be a tough guy again once I'm healed!"

Sarutobi Sōun didn't respond. He just sat quietly on the stool, his hands resting on his knees, the calluses on his knuckles looking particularly rough in the afternoon light.

He looked at Sasuke, his eyes filled with exhaustion and... relief.

"Sasuke, I know your friend, that Hyuga Branch Family," Sarutobi Sōun said softly, "Hyuuga Haruhi is among these sixteen dead men."

Sasuke choked up.