Sasuke and Naruto

Obito still could not muster the courage to go see Naruto with Kakashi.

He knew deep down that the child was his teacher's orphan. Seeing Naruto would only make the lingering guilt and unease in his heart surge even more violently.

He could stand against the entire Shinobi World, yet he could not face Namikaze Minato's child. That wound ran too deep to confront or touch so easily.

So after a long silence, Obito ultimately decided to head to Konoha Hospital alone.

He had other matters to deal with. Besides, the boy named Uchiha Sasuke was also a crucial part of his plan.

Night shrouded Konoha Hospital in silence.

Inside the ward, Uchiha Sasuke had already awakened.

He sat quietly on the hospital bed, his unfocused eyes staring at the empty ceiling as his hands involuntarily clenched the bedsheets.

The horrific scenes from that night still replayed endlessly in his mind: the entire street dyed red with his clansmen's blood, Uchiha Itachi's cold, emotionless face lingering like an inescapable nightmare.

He could not understand how the brother he had admired and worshipped could commit something so utterly inhuman.

The confusion and questions in his heart gradually turned into uncontrollable fury and hatred.

Why... why did he do this?

Just as Sasuke was drowning in pain and hatred, a black shadow suddenly appeared in the shadows of the ward without warning.

"Uchiha Sasuke..."

A low, icy voice abruptly shattered the room's silence.

Sasuke's heart jolted. He snapped back to his senses and warily looked toward the dark figure in the corner.

"Who are you?"

Obito slowly stepped out of the shadows, revealing that unforgettable spiral-patterned mask.

He lowered his gaze to the young boy on the bed. The exposed Sharingan gleamed with a scarlet, unfathomable light.

"My name is Uchiha Madara."

Obito's tone was calm, yet it carried an irresistible pressure...

"I am the only person in this world who can help you take revenge."

"Help me... take revenge?"

Obito looked directly at him, his gaze cold yet carrying a strangely bewitching force. "Isn't your wish to kill Uchiha Itachi and avenge your clan?"

At the mention of Itachi's name, Sasuke's eyes instantly sharpened. He almost blurted out an admission.

But strangely, at the very moment he was about to speak...

An invisible, bizarre force seemed to rise from the depths of his heart, stopping him from saying another word.

What... is that power?

Sasuke froze. After a long silence, he finally raised his head again and said in an exceptionally serious tone, "Can you really make me stronger?"

The gaze behind Obito's mask grew darker and deeper.

He was somewhat surprised that Sasuke had not answered his question, but Obito did not care about that...

"Of course."

Obito landed softly and walked toward Sasuke step by step...

"If you remain in Konoha, no one will teach you how to properly use the Sharingan. Nor will anyone tell you how to fight Itachi's Mangekyō Sharingan."

"In this world, only I can truly help you fulfill your wish."

Sasuke looked at the mysterious man before him...

He did not know what this mysterious man claiming to be Uchiha Madara truly intended, but the blazing fire of revenge in his heart had long made him forget to consider any other possibility.

His heart was filled with an intense desire to grow stronger, because only by becoming stronger could he personally demand justice from Uchiha Itachi.

"I'll go with you."

He extended a hand, signaling for Sasuke to get off the bed. "Then leave this place with me. From today onward, you will completely break free from this village's restraints."

Sasuke did not hesitate in the slightest. He immediately rose from the hospital bed. Though his heart was still somewhat lost, his desire for revenge had overwhelmed every doubt.

He took a step forward and resolutely walked toward the hand extended from the darkness.

Konoha's night was deep and quiet, with the occasional bark of a dog sounding especially clear.

Kakashi arrived outside the small home where Uzumaki Naruto lived. He silently stood in the shadows some distance away, quietly watching the shabby, lonely little house.

Patiently observing Naruto's daily life.

From Naruto pushing open the door and running excitedly toward the familiar Ichiraku Ramen on the street, to his journey home...

When he passed through the streets and was met with the villagers' malicious insults and mockery, that full hour of observation made the heaviness in Kakashi's heart increasingly indescribable.

It was not as though Kakashi did not know that Naruto, as a Jinchuriki, was ostracized throughout the village. But in the past, he had always instinctively chosen to avoid those facts and turn a blind eye.

Only at this moment, only after personally witnessing everything his teacher's child suffered in the village, did he finally understand Naruto's hardship and pain.

That figure moved alone through the village streets, wearing a deliberately carefree smile that could not conceal the faint sorrow and loneliness in his eyes.

Sensei... I never knew your child was living such a difficult life...

When Naruto finally returned home, Kakashi hesitated for a moment before quietly approaching the half-open door.

He saw Naruto casually take out a clearly expired bottle of milk from the refrigerator, twisting off the cap without a care as he prepared to drink it.

"The milk's expired. Don't drink it."

"Ah!"

Naruto was startled by the sudden appearance and turned around in panic...

"Who are you? How did you get in here?"

Kakashi quietly looked at Naruto's dumbfounded expression and did not immediately answer his question.

With a soft sigh, he took out the fresh milk he had bought at the supermarket and walked toward Naruto's refrigerator.

When he opened the refrigerator, Kakashi frowned. Most of the food inside was cheap discounted merchandise close to expiration, and some had long passed their expiration dates.

He casually placed the fresh milk inside, then took out the expired food as well.

"Don't eat expired food anymore. You'll get sick easily."

Kakashi calmly advised him as he threw the expired food into the trash can.

"Hey! Who the hell are you?"

"How can you just walk into someone else's house?!"

Kakashi did not answer him. He merely turned back and quietly looked at Naruto.

At that moment, his Sharingan began to spin rapidly...

Compared to Naruto, the Nine-Tails inside him seemed far less friendly...

Coming back to his senses, Kakashi continued clearing out the expired food.

After finishing everything, Kakashi lightly clapped his hands, stepped forward, and patted Naruto on the shoulder.

"Be more careful from now on. Don't eat this stuff again."

Before Naruto could question him again, Kakashi turned and walked out of the room.

His figure gradually disappeared into the night, leaving Naruto standing there with a face full of confusion and bewilderment as he stared out the door.

The moment Kakashi stepped out of Naruto's home, he sensed two familiar presences rapidly approaching. Two Anbu ninja appeared silently in front of him.

"Senior..."

One of the Anbu sounded rather troubled...

"Your contact with the Jinchuriki like this, I'm afraid..."

Kakashi did not wait for them to finish. He merely waved a hand, signaling that there was no need to worry.

"I understand your concerns. I'll explain this matter to the Hokage personally."

The two Anbu exchanged glances and visibly relaxed. They replied in unison, "Yes!"

In truth, they both understood that if it had been any other ninja, unauthorized contact with the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki would undoubtedly have been an extremely serious matter.

But for Kakashi, the situation was clearly different.

After all, he was the student of the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato. His identity and position were special, and he was one of the ninja the Hokage's faction trusted and valued most.

Even if the Hokage learned of this, he would merely turn a blind eye and tacitly allow Kakashi's actions.

Moreover, Kakashi had clearly acted out of concern and care for Naruto, not malice.

After the Anbu left, Kakashi raised his head and looked toward Naruto's window again.

He could clearly see Naruto secretly poking his head out of the window, his face full of confusion and surprise. He was clearly still puzzled by what had just happened.

"Hey, big brother, who exactly are you?"

"Anyway, don't drink expired milk. I'll buy you some fresh food tomorrow."

"What the heck..."

Still...

For a Jinchuriki, Naruto was a little too cheerful...