Heart of Animal Language

"Sasuke! Did that blow scramble your brains? Did you hurt your head? Nurse!"

Naruto shouted.

He had never seen Sasuke show such disrespect toward Kakashi.

In his eyes, Kakashi had always taken good care of Team 7 and had even shown obvious favoritism toward Sasuke.

"What's all the noise about?!"

The hospital room door was pushed open. A nurse glanced at Sasuke and said,

"You're awake? Don't move. We'll begin a new round of examinations immediately."

Then she turned to the others.

"The patient has not yet been confirmed to be out of danger. Keep it down!"

With that, she turned and hurried away.

An awkward silence fell over the room once more.

"Sasuke, I don't know what you're thinking, but there may be some misunderstanding here."

Kakashi could not help saying.

"A misunderstanding? Thinking you would protect me was my biggest misunderstanding!!"

"Anbu agents tried to kill me! Their blade was already at my throat, and you call that a misunderstanding?!"

Sasuke grew more agitated with every word.

"Calm down!"

Kakashi urged.

Just as Sasuke was about to explode further, the hospital room door was pushed open again.

"Examination for bed four."

The nurse from earlier entered with several Medical Ninjas, carrying various instruments and scrolls. They gathered around Sasuke and got to work.

Hearing the commotion in the room, the nurse could not help rolling her eyes at them.

"The extent of the muscle damage is manageable and has been mostly repaired.

"The strain damage caused by the Cursed Seal has stabilized for now, but the patient remains very weak. He needs nutritional supplements, rest, and recovery.

"In short, there is nothing serious."

The Medical Ninja explained.

"That's great! Sasuke!"

Naruto cried out.

The nurse glared at him, raised a finger to her lips, then left the room with the Medical Team.

"Well, get some proper rest first."

Kakashi saw that it was not the time to talk. Sasuke's words had also left his heart in turmoil, and he turned to leave.

"He just said that the one who tried to assassinate Sasuke yesterday was Anbu. Did you know about this?"

Jiraiya suddenly asked, his voice devoid of any emotion.

"Jiraiya Sensei, I knew nothing about this. But I believe the Hokage would never make such an arrangement."

"In that case, we'll go to the Hokage Building and ask."

Kakashi froze.

"Rest well. We'll come see you later."

Jiraiya turned and said gently.

"I'm going too!" Naruto shouted.

"This isn't something you can get involved in!" Sakura tightly grabbed Naruto and gave the two adults an awkward smile.

As they spoke, Jiraiya and Kakashi left the hospital.

Sakura sat at the bedside peeling an orange, while Naruto wandered around aimlessly, looking here and there.

"Sasuke-kun, don't you think this feels a lot like the day after we came out of the Forest of Death?"

Sakura handed Sasuke an orange segment and asked softly.

That night, in the Central Tower, Team 7 had just passed the second stage of the Chunin Exams.

Sasuke had been afflicted with the Cursed Seal, and Kakashi had helped him apply the Evil Sealing Method.

Just like today, Sasuke had been lying in a hospital bed that night.

The three of them had gathered together, talking and laughing as they imagined the battles ahead.

Sasuke did not know how to answer, so Sakura continued.

"It feels like so much has happened since then. Sometimes, I think you've become gentler. But other times, I feel like you and Naruto are getting farther and farther away from me."

"Sakura-chan, what are you talking about? Aren't we right here? One meter, two meters, three meters—not far at all!"

Noticing their conversation, Naruto turned and joined in.

Yeah, Sasuke sighed inwardly.

Since the Forest of Death, one thing after another had happened, each one shaking his way of thinking.

Before that, he had lived in a clear-cut world, where love and hate were distinct, and strength and weakness had their proper order.

It had seemed that as long as a youth burdened by deep hatred kept growing stronger, one day he would get what he wanted.

Yet his path to strength had only just begun when he collided head-on with the world of adults.

That monster called political intrigue had merely lifted half an eye from behind its veil, and he had nearly lost his life twice.

Compared to that, the sincere bond of the comrades before him was all the more precious.

The fresh, sweet-and-sour flavor of the orange spread across his tongue.

Sasuke said to Sakura, "Thank you. And Naruto, too."

"Huh? What kind of stupid nonsense are you suddenly saying?! You really did get your brain damaged!"

His sudden sincerity made both Sakura and Naruto blush and fidget awkwardly.

Naruto rambled on while Sakura smiled faintly, and the atmosphere returned to the familiar one shared by the three of them.

After that, Naruto asked what the "Anbu assassination attempt" was all about.

Sasuke simply gave them a brief account of everything.

When they heard about being "detained by Anbu," both of them looked shocked. So he really had not gone into secret Training with Kakashi.

When they heard that "Anbu ninja had come to kill Sasuke under the Hokage's orders," their expressions grew even tenser, and even their breathing quickened.

After he finished, no one said a word.

The matter was far more complicated than they had imagined.

In truth, Sasuke himself did not fully know what he should do next.

But at this moment, he no longer wanted to hide anything from the comrades who treasured him.

"I'm going to ask Grandpa Hokage what's going on!"

Naruto could not make sense of it. He stood up and was about to leave.

"Wait! Didn't Jiraiya Sensei already go? The Hokage... he won't tell you the truth."

Remembering the Third's act before him, Sasuke felt another wave of nausea rise within him.

"Damn it!"

Naruto slammed a fist heavily onto the table.

"Right. Let's wait until Jiraiya Sensei gets to the bottom of it."

Noticing Sasuke's condition, Sakura could not help saying, "Sasuke-kun needs to rest now. Let's head back first."

Sasuke nodded.

After the two left, Sasuke leaned against the headboard and looked out the window.

The autumn breeze blew softly, rustling the leaves. A few could no longer hold on and fell from the treetops, dancing through the air.

It was the season of falling leaves again.

Ding!

The system suddenly delivered a new notification.

Congratulations, you have completed the suggestion—seek Training guidance from both Kakashi and Jiraiya. You have obtained a C-Rank Scroll!

I almost forgot about that!

Sasuke perked up. Looking at the scroll glowing azure in his mind, he silently willed it open.

You opened the C-Rank Scroll. Congratulations, you have obtained the spirit treasure item: Heart of Animal Language

Then, a line of small text appeared above the scroll.

When you regard animals as your friends, you are no longer a slave to humanity. Listen—nature is speaking.

Immediately afterward, a pale jade-green pendant appeared out of thin air in Sasuke's hand.

The pendant was hard and dense in texture, with smooth lines that felt tranquil without being oppressive.

It was shaped like a light feather. On closer inspection, a tiny beast paw was embossed upon it, emanating a primal aura of life.

Holding it in his palm, Sasuke felt a gentle warmth, as though a tranquil power were flowing through his hand.

A black cord passed through the pendant's small hole. Sasuke tried wearing it around his neck.

Then a shrill voice rang out beside his ear.