The Price of Chasing Light

Human society was like a web, with everyone cocooning themselves within it.

Parents, siblings, friends, lovers—everyone around you was a thread in that web. The more you struggled, the tighter the restraints became.

Sasuke had been unwilling to be controlled by Shiraishi Yoshijo, so he had chosen Naruto and chosen to remain in Konoha.

But as time passed, his choice had become a joke.

Konoha had been stripped of its autonomy, and all its ninjas had been absorbed by the Daimyo of the Land of Fire.

Sasuke had not wanted to be controlled by anyone other than Naruto, so he had left the Land of Fire again.

Now he wanted to help Naruto again, but Peach Country and the Land of Fire were currently at war. He was an Uchiha, and the Uchiha Clan could no longer separate itself from Peach Country. Even on the front lines, quite a few Uchiha were fighting bloodily.

If he helped Naruto under such circumstances, what would everyone else think?

If Naruto truly obtained autonomy for the Land of Fire, the Uchiha Clan could use Sasuke to gain enormous benefits from the Land of Fire. Perhaps Sasuke had no such intentions, but others would only think the Uchiha Clan was betting on both sides.

Forget the many political factions in Peach Country—even Shiraishi Yoshijo would find it intolerable.

I fattened you up, and now you turn around and stab me in the back?

Did you really think this old man could no longer lift a blade?

Sasuke's actions were a complete betrayal of the Uchiha Clan. Worse, he was roasting the Uchiha Clan over a fire. Put nicely, he was doing it for a friend; put bluntly, he was selfish and self-serving.

Sayo was the first to rise. Expressionless, she said, "The Uchiha Clan