Comfort

Sasuke's voice was low, thick with confusion.

In such a short time, his life had undergone enormous changes, to the point that his understanding of the world before him had been distorted, leaving his heart filled with bewilderment.

He did not know what he was supposed to do, nor did he know what meaning there was in continuing to live.

"I told you just now, didn't I? I have three pieces of news for you: two good ones and one bad one. Two of them concern your brother, Itachi." Naruto spoke calmly as he helped Sasuke set his dislocated bones back into place.

The nearest Anbu were over a hundred meters away. If they kept their voices low, they would not know what Naruto was saying.

Still, to be safe, Naruto manipulated the surrounding airflow to block the transmission of sound, keeping it contained within a space one meter in diameter.

To prevent anyone from reading their lips, he deliberately lowered his head and blocked the Anbu's view of Sasuke's face.

The mention of Itachi barely managed to stir Sasuke's interest in Naruto's words.

Having calmed down, Sasuke did not lose his mind again at the thought of that person.

Still, he had no desire to speak at the moment. He merely looked at Naruto with questioning eyes.

"The first piece of news is good news. It concerns your future arrangements."

"The Third Hokage has decided that the village will protect your safety from now on. Aside from inheriting the assets left behind by your parents and clan members, you can continue attending the Ninja Academy and live in the village as a Konoha ninja in the future."

"So you do not need to worry about how you will live from now on. The village will take care of you. The Third Hokage asked me to pass this on to you."

Naruto's voice did not fluctuate as he delivered the news, and Sasuke showed no reaction as he listened. At this point, he did not care what his future would be like. Even his desire to keep living had become faint.

Naruto was not surprised by this and continued with the second piece of news.

"The second piece of news concerns your brother, Itachi. It is good news."

"Your brother, Uchiha Itachi, has now been branded the culprit behind the massacre of the clan. He has fled Konoha as a rogue ninja and is wanted throughout the Shinobi World. This is how the village has dealt with him."

"So let me give you the conclusion first. I do not think Itachi is truly the kind of person he appears to be—someone who would stop at nothing in pursuit of power. The reason he committed all those evil deeds is that he had his reasons."

At Naruto's words, Sasuke finally became agitated.

The deadness and confusion in his eyes faded. His eyes widened, and he even unconsciously activated his Sharingan.

He stared at Naruto, the words bursting from his mouth. "Is that true?"

To Sasuke, the person he loved most was his brother, Itachi.

But that beloved brother had killed their parents and every member of their clan, making Sasuke feel betrayed.

For the still-young Sasuke, the lives and deaths of those clan members he barely knew did not feel real. What he truly cared about were his parents' deaths and his brother's betrayal.

Now that he heard Itachi had his reasons for doing all this, he was like a drowning man clutching at his last straw, desperately hoping to find one final sliver of hope from Naruto.

Faced with Sasuke's expectant gaze, Naruto continued without hesitation.

Only this time, an unconscious chill entered his voice.

"You must have heard people in the village call me the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox. That is because a Nine-Tailed Demon Fox, as people understand it, is sealed inside my body."

"But he and I have a good relationship, and he has an ability that can sense malice with perfect accuracy. He can tell whether someone bears goodwill or ill will toward himself."

"When I faced Itachi that night a few days ago, I discovered that he held no malice toward me whatsoever. That did not match his attempt to kill me, so I think he had his reasons."

"The way he treated you was meant to create the impression that he had spared you only for your Sharingan, thereby protecting you."

"Besides sensing good and evil intentions, there are two other reasons supporting that conclusion. One is that, on the night the Uchiha clan was massacred, there was another Mangekyō Sharingan wielder besides Itachi—a man wearing a mask."

"That Masked Man was the culprit behind the Nine-Tails attack on the village around eight years ago. He bore a grudge against Konoha. It was very likely that he used your life to threaten Itachi into committing such evil deeds."

After pausing, Naruto continued, "Taking all that into account, your brother Itachi is very likely working with a tiger, fighting to keep you safe."

By this point, Sasuke had already believed Naruto's well-reasoned words. It made him come alive again, no longer as lifeless as before.

He looked at Naruto expectantly, hoping to hear more news about Itachi.

To prove that he was not lying, Naruto used Kurama's Chakra to link with Sasuke's Chakra and shared with him how the people in the village perceived Naruto.

That overwhelming malice made even the emotionally numb Sasuke feel a chill in his heart.

Only then did he understand what kind of life his friend lived every day. It was even more miserable than anything Sasuke had imagined!

"What is wrong with these people?!"

Anger born from shared feeling surged within him, and Sasuke could not help gritting his teeth.

At that moment, he even forgot the news about Itachi that he most wanted to know.

Compared to Sasuke's anger, Naruto was indifferent, as though he had long grown used to it. He severed the Chakra link with Sasuke and continued with the third piece of news about Itachi.

"The third piece of news also concerns Itachi. You already know all the prerequisites, but the conclusion is completely the opposite."

"That is, Itachi may truly be someone who would stop at nothing in pursuit of power. He may have spared you because he genuinely wanted to obtain stronger Pupil Power."

"Do not rush to argue. There is no shortage of mentally unstable people in this world who say 'I love you' while swinging a butcher's blade without hesitation. Itachi cannot be ruled out as one of them."

"So your situation is dangerous. Your life may be at risk at any time from now on."

The warmth that had just returned to Sasuke's heart suddenly cooled again.

Countless thoughts raced through his mind, and in that instant, he considered many things.

A moment later, he raised his head. Ignoring the pain from his injuries, he struggled to his feet and looked at Naruto with a resolute expression. "Naruto, no matter what Itachi is thinking—whether he has his reasons or is truly only pursuing greater Pupil Power—I have to become stronger."

"Only by becoming stronger can I stand before Itachi."

"If he has his reasons, then I will help him deal with that Masked Man. If he is merely pursuing Pupil Power, then I will kill him, then kill that Masked Man, and avenge our parents and clan!"

"So help me, Naruto. I want to become stronger!"

With that, Sasuke held out his hand to Naruto.

"Okay."

Naruto took Sasuke's hand. Looking at his friend, who had pulled himself together, he finally smiled.

The white-haired Jonin watching them from afar was somewhat disappointed that he had not heard what the two boys had said. But seeing smiles on both their faces, he knew things were probably all right now.

"That's wonderful."