The steam from the hot spring hadn't completely dissipated, condensing into tiny ice crystals in the cold air. Sasuke sat on a bench in the changing room, his fingers unconsciously rubbing together.
Naruto's exaggerated laughter and Sakura's scolding came from outside the door. Sasuke closed his eyes, and Kimimaro's pale face and those eerie bone spurs once again appeared in his mind—that power, that pure killing intent, was exactly what he craved.
"Sasuke, are you alright?" Kakashi's voice came from the doorway. The silver- Jonin leaned against the doorframe, toying with a Kunai in his hand. "The battle just now..."
"I'm fine." Sasuke quickly interrupted, grabbing his coat and putting it on. "Those small fry can't hurt me."
Kakashi's single eye narrowed slightly, his gaze falling on Sasuke's unconsciously clenched fist. "Kimimaro is no ordinary enemy. He is one of Orochimaru's most trusted subordinates."
Sasuke suddenly looked up, a flash of crimson light in his dark eyes. "I know."
The air seemed to freeze between them. Finally, Kakashi sighed softly, "Pack up, Koyuki has invited us to dinner. Lord Jiraiya has already finished dealing with matters in the royal city."
Sasuke watched Kakashi's departing figure, his nails digging deep into his palms. He understood Kakashi's worries, of course, but whenever he thought of Itachi's Mangekyō Sharingan and that bloody night, any words of advice seemed so pale and laughable.
Outside the locker room, Naruto was excitedly describing to everyone how he "almost defeated that spider monster." Seeing Sasuke come out, he immediately rushed over. "Hey, Sasuke! Did you see my last move? If that big guy hadn't suddenly..."
"Shut up, you loser." Sasuke coldly, walking straight past him. "You still talk too much nonsense."
Naruto froze, his smile gone. Sakura looked worriedly at Sasuke's retreating figure. "Is Sasuke-kun hurt...?"
"Hmph, I think he's doing just fine." Karin pushed up her glasses.
The banquet hall of the Land of Snow's palace was brightly lit, with crystal chandeliers refracting rainbows. The long table was laden with Land of Snow specialties: frozen lake fish sashimi, snow mountain matsutake soup, reindeer steak... The Koyuki sat in the main seat, her light blue kimono embroidered with delicate snowflake patterns.
"Thanks to everyone's timely intervention today, a larger disturbance was averted." Koyuki raised her glass, the sake inside gleaming with an amber light. "On behalf of the Land of Snow, I toast you all."
Jiraiya downed his drink in one gulp with gusto. "You're too kind, Daimyo. But those missing-nin mentioned Orochimaru..."
"It's a diversionary tactic." Kakashi continued, his gaze sweeping over the young ninjas present. "Their real target is..."
His gaze lingered on Sasuke for a moment, who was mechanically cutting the steak on his plate, the clinking of his knife and fork making a crisp sound.
"Ah! This matsutake mushroom is so delicious!" Naruto suddenly exclaimed, his mouth stuffed full, "Even better than Ichiraku Ramen... Mmm!"
Sakura punched him on the head. "Don't talk while eating! And don't compare everything to ramen!"
Everyone burst into laughter, and the atmosphere in the banquet hall relaxed again. Only Sasuke remained silent, occasionally eating a few bites of food perfunctorily, but spending most of the time staring blankly at the snow scene outside the window.
"Sasuke-kun," Koyuki suddenly turned to him, "I heard you're skilled in Fire Style? In an environment like the Land of Snow, Fire Style ninjas are quite rare."
Sasuke slightly raised his head. "Hmm."
"Sasuke's Fire Style is amazing!" Naruto interjected, completely forgetting the unpleasantness from earlier. "He can breathe out such a huge fireball!" He exaggeratedly spread his arms, almost knocking over the wine glass next to him.
"Idiot." Sasuke scoffed, but a barely perceptible smile flickered across his lips.
The banquet lasted until late at night. By the time dessert was served, most people were already full. Jiraiya was enthusiastically telling Koyuki about his travels to various countries, while Kakashi and Shikamaru were discussing something. The young people chatted in twos and threes, their laughter filling the air.
Sasuke quietly got up and left the banquet hall without a sound. No one noticed his departure—except for Karin, who was leaning against the corner. She watched Sasuke's back through her glasses, her brows furrowed.
The corridors of the royal palace guest rooms were eerily quiet. Sasuke stood by the window, the moonlight casting a long shadow of him. In the distance, the outline of the snow-capped mountains resembled the spine of a giant beast, appearing and disappearing in the night.
"It's here after all."
Sasuke didn't turn around. He recognized Karin's voice. "What's wrong?"
Karin walked to his side, her red hair appearing dim in the moonlight. "You're going to find Orochimaru, aren't you?"
Sasuke's body stiffened almost imperceptibly. "It's none of your business."
"I can sense it," Karin pointed to her glasses, "Your Chakra has been disordered ever since the battle at the hot springs."
Sasuke finally turned to look at her, a dangerous glint in his dark eyes. "You know nothing."
"I know what revenge feels like." Karin's voice suddenly lowered. "I too once thought of having the power to take revenge on the Grass Ninja. But that path will only make you lose more."
"Enough!" Sasuke interrupted sharply, "Don't think you understand me." He turned to leave.
Karin grabbed his wrist. "At least think about Naruto and the others! Those who consider you their comrades..."
A sudden burst of Chakra blast sent Karin flying. Sasuke's Mitsudomoe eyes slowly spun. "Comrades?" He sneered, "Those things are worthless to me."
Karin slumped to the ground, her glasses slipping down to the tip of her nose. By the time she put her glasses back on, the corridor was deserted, with only the distant sounds of laughter from a banquet proving that time was still flowing.
Back in his room, Sasuke locked the door and quickly began packing. His movements were precise and swift, without the slightest hesitation—until his hand touched the photograph on the bedside table.
That was a group photo of Team 7. Naruto was making a face in the photo, Sakura was smiling brightly, Kakashi was standing lazily in the back, and he himself... Sasuke stared at the boy who turned his face away but couldn't hide the smile on his lips, and a dull pain suddenly came from his chest.
"Damn it..." He roughly stuffed the photo into his bag, as if that would rid him of the feeling.
The moon outside the window was obscured by clouds, plunging the room into darkness. Sasuke sat cross-legged on the bed, beginning to organize his thoughts. Today's fight with Kimimaro made him realize one thing clearly: with his current training alone, he would never be able to catch up with Itachi. But Orochimaru... Orochimaru could give him the power he needed, the power that could evolve the Sharingan.
What would be the price? Sasuke wasn't stupid; he knew Orochimaru had ulterior motives. But so what? As long as he could obtain the power to kill Itachi, he would sell his soul to a demon without hesitation.
"This is so annoying..." Sasuke muttered to himself, forcing himself back to the main point. He needed to devise a route, avoiding Kakashi and Jiraiya's senses. The border of the Land of Snow was heavily guarded, but there was a five-minute gap during the midnight changing of the guard...
A soft knock on the door interrupted his thoughts.
"Sasuke? Are you asleep?"
It was Naruto's voice. Sasuke tensed instantly, his hand instinctively reaching for Kunai. What was he doing here so late?
"Sasuke?" Naruto knocked on the door again, his voice unusually hesitant. "I... I brought some late-night snacks. You didn't eat much while we were at the hot springs..."
Sasuke a deep breath, forcing himself to relax. He silently Earth Flow the door, but didn't open it. "I'm not hungry."
"Oh..." A rustling sound came from outside the door, like Naruto shifting his feet anxiously. "Um... were you alright at the hot spring today?"
Sasuke didn't answer. He leaned against the door and could clearly hear Naruto's breathing.
"I know you find me annoying, but..." Naruto's voice suddenly became firm, "If there's anything, you can tell me. We're comrades, right?"
Companion.
This word, like a dull knife, slowly pierced Sasuke's heart. He closed his eyes, countless images flashing through his mind...
"Go to sleep, you loser." That was all he could manage to squeeze out in the end.
There was a moment of silence outside the door, then Naruto's soft footsteps faded into the distance. Sasuke slid to the ground, his forehead pressed against the cold door. For a fleeting moment, he almost changed his mind.
But the blood of the Uchiha would not allow him to do so. When he looked up again, his eyes were filled with determination.
At midnight, the Land of Snow's palace was silent. A dark figure nimbly leaped over the wall and landed on the thick snow. Sasuke glanced back at the sleeping palace, then turned and ran towards the border.
His footsteps left almost no trace on the snow, as if he had never been there. In the distance, the faint light of dawn shone on the snow-capped peaks, signaling the start of a new day.
In a room in the royal palace, Naruto suddenly woke up from his dream. He looked around blankly, a strange tightness in his chest, as if he had lost something important.
"Strange..." he muttered, turned over, and fell into a deep sleep again. Outside the window, a snowflake gently landed on the window frame and melted silently.