Stir the Water!

Afterward, Sasuke briefly explained how he had previously been branded with the Cursed Seal, as well as the situation with Flame Armor.

However, he glossed over the specific origins of Flame Armor, saying only that it had come about through "a twist of fate," and that "they wouldn't believe it anyway. They'd only think I was resisting, and it might even bring more serious consequences."

Before long, replies from netizens began flooding in.

"Damn, that's hardcore. Everyone in the Naruto world is a glass cannon. I don't need to explain how valuable defensive ninjutsu is, right?"

HuoHuo427: "Told you. Little Sasuke couldn't have beaten Neji at this point. Turns out he used cheats."

Alan: "I looked at the OP's post from yesterday. Weren't you going to train Lightning Blade? How'd you suddenly get caught again? Did you blow up the whole straightforward plotline?"

Seeing the netizens chatting away one after another, Sasuke was frantic. He replied:

"Kakashi said I might lose my life in this incident. I ask for everyone's advice."

Kick the Cripple's Good Leg: "If you ask me, that old bastard Third Hokage just can't read the situation. He spends all day investigating this and that, but what's the result?

"Can't he open his eyes and take a good look? How many capable fighters are even left among Konoha's younger generation?

"Sasuke, listen to me. Don't worry about anything. Just lie low for a month. Once things get chaotic outside, they'll be begging you to come out."

You have received a new suggestion: Remain silent and wait quietly. Adopt and complete this suggestion to receive a D-Rank Scroll.

Sasuke felt that although this senior who loved kicking people spoke rather crudely, his words did make him feel much better.

San Yi Er: "Didn't you already become Jiraiya's disciple? Would he really not help settle this for you? Could Prince Naruto put up with something like this? Ask someone to call for help!"

You have received a new suggestion: Seek help from outsiders such as Jiraiya and Naruto. Adopt and complete this suggestion to receive a D-Rank Scroll.

After thinking it over repeatedly, Sasuke felt it was inappropriate.

For one thing, it would be difficult to get a message out.

For another, even if Kakashi were willing to help deliver a letter, was he really going to put Jiraiya and Naruto in danger?

The charge he faced now was the grave crime of treason.

It was not something that could be resolved by one or two people pleading on his behalf.

Sasuke continued reading.

Xin Ping: "Your situation is simple when you put it simply. To compare it to what happens at my workplace, one leader tells you to keep it secret, while another tells you to confess. A lowly grunt like you gets stuck in the middle, right?

"Listen to me. Stir the water!

"If you can't settle things down, make the whole matter bigger! They say I colluded with Orochimaru, right?

"That's right! I colluded with him!

"And it wasn't just me! Kakashi colluded with him too! Asuma colluded with him too! Danzo colluded with him too! Bite every damn one of them out!"

You have received a new suggestion: Take the initiative and implicate others in the current case. Adopt and complete this suggestion to receive a C-Rank Scroll.

The netizens' suggestions were all enlightening, but Sasuke could not make up his mind about what he should actually do.

After pondering for a long time, he suddenly recalled the story Kakashi had told him about the kitten.

Indeed, the most crucial issue now was recognizing the situation for what it was.

The stabbing pain in his chest struck again. This time, Sasuke did not hesitate. He took out his last three High-Quality Soldier Pills, picked one up, and swallowed it.

After his battle with Orochimaru, Sasuke had concluded that this item was a miraculous tool capable of turning the tide of battle. Unless it was absolutely necessary, he could not waste it.

So even while hospitalized, even with his training time extremely limited, Sasuke had still wanted to conserve them.

Besides, what had been made clear before was only that they could fully restore stamina and physical strength. Sasuke was not entirely sure whether they would be effective in treating injuries.

But now, the road ahead was unclear, and he did not know what consequences any choice might bring.

The only thing he could rely on was this body of his.

After swallowing the Soldier Pill, Sasuke immediately felt invigorated.

When he tried to gather Chakra, there was still pain, but it had improved greatly compared to before.

It seemed that although it was not a healing item, it was still highly beneficial for recovering from injuries.

The next day, Kakashi arrived as promised.

"A day has passed. Have you thought it over?"

Kakashi asked.

Sasuke raised his head.

For some reason, Kakashi suddenly thought of the night after his father, Hatake Sakumo, had committed suicide.

There was no trace of youthful spirit left in the Sasuke before him. In its place was a pitch-black chaos.

Ever since taking over Team 7, Kakashi had always believed these children would slowly grow up under his guidance.

Yet at this moment, Sasuke made him feel that true growth might require no more than a single night.

"I've thought it through. But I can only tell you alone.

"If you're unwilling, then there's nothing to discuss."

Sasuke closed his eyes.

His voice was still somewhat weak, but calm and beyond dispute.

Compared to his anger yesterday, he now seemed even more forceful.

After hesitating repeatedly, Kakashi ultimately agreed to Sasuke's request.

"Now, there are only the two of us here."

After shutting down all communication devices, Kakashi indicated that he was listening.

Sasuke took a deep breath and made up his mind.

"The one who taught me Flame Armor was Sarutobi Asuma!"

Amid his shock, Kakashi finally understood why Sasuke had refused to speak at first, and why he had insisted that everyone else be dismissed.

Once the Third Hokage was involved, the nature of the matter changed drastically.

It was a matter of great importance and had to be handled with the utmost caution.

Thinking back, when Asuma was young, he had clashed with the Third Hokage due to their differing ideals. In the end, he left Konoha and traveled everywhere.

It was possible that he had learned a ninjutsu like Flame Armor during those travels.

Come to think of it, among Konoha's Elite Jonin who excelled at Fire Release, the Sarutobi Clan truly stood above the rest.

Kakashi felt slightly relieved and continued asking, "Then why would Asuma teach you such an advanced ninjutsu?"

"That's because he and Orochimaru wanted me to defect from Konoha and follow them. As long as I agreed, they would give me the power to grow stronger," Sasuke answered calmly.

"Flame Armor was only the down payment."

"Defect? When?"

Kakashi was shaken to the core and hurriedly pressed for details.

"I don't know. They only said that when the time came, I would naturally understand."

Kakashi was silent for a long while before continuing, "Who else knows about this?"

"How could anyone else possibly know?"

Sasuke asked in return.

After that, no matter what Kakashi asked, Sasuke claimed he did not know.

In the end, Kakashi ordered that the matter was absolutely not to be leaked.

At the same time, he informed the Anbu that without an order from the Third Hokage, no one was permitted to approach Uchiha Sasuke again.

After arranging everything, he hurriedly left.

Watching Kakashi's flustered retreating figure, Sasuke could not help feeling a surge of mischievous delight.

Didn't you say that "before the collective interests of Konoha's villagers, no one would receive special treatment"?

Then I'd like to see whether you can still maintain that conviction when facing the Third Hokage's biological son.