A Visit, A Different Sasuke

The Uchiha clan was exterminated.

Public sentiment was in an uproar.

The Ninja Academy was even forced to suspend classes for three days.

During this period, Sarutobi Hiruzen truly racked his brains, meticulously planning and directing a series of brilliant speeches.

Now, the tide of public opinion in the village was evolving exactly as he had hoped: "It's all Itachi Uchiha's fault. That evil guy actually wiped out his own clan."

"What an ungrateful wretch~"

"It's too cruel. I heard Itachi Uchiha didn't even spare the old or the young. How vicious~"

"The Uchihas were all crazy. It's a good thing I didn't have much contact with them back then, or I would have been in danger, right?"

"If you ask me, they deserved to die. They always walked around with their noses in the air, looking like everyone owed them millions."

"What was there to be proud of? They still got wiped out in the end~"

"I heard the Hokage shed tears for those fallen Uchihas, blaming himself for not being able to protect the villagers~"

"How could this be the Hokage's fault? It was their own infighting and mutual slaughter..."

"No, I heard the Uchiha were planning a coup... Itachi Uchiha wanted to take power, and then..."

"..."

For a time, it seemed as if all the guilt lay with the Uchiha and Itachi Uchiha, while the high-ranking officials and the Third Hokage had merely been blinded, left heartbroken by the tragedy.

Meanwhile, good news came from the Konoha Hospital.

The Uchiha orphan, Sasuke Uchiha, had awakened, though he seemed to have suffered a great shock and was acting abnormally.

"Poor child, what will he do in the days to come?"

"Sigh~ His brother killed his parents and wiped out his entire clan. Anyone would go crazy under those circumstances~"

"Tsk tsk tsk~ The Uchiha... a noble family... pfft~"

"It's a good thing we aren't ninjas and don't have such rebellious children at home, otherwise..."

"Raising a child like that is worse than not raising one at all."

People sighed and gloated in equal measure. This was undoubtedly guided by Sarutobi Hiruzen; the public opinion campaigns were coming one after another.

Now, everyone's gaze was focused on Sasuke.

The weak always invite sympathy.

And so, the villagers' anger was directed even more sharply at Itachi, further cementing the impression that Itachi Uchiha was the murderer and the sinner, while other details gradually blurred.

How brilliant~

Danzo: Hiruzen, you are indeed darker than I am...

"Qingwu~ Qingwu~ Iruka-sensei just told me that Sasuke is awake! Let's hurry over and visit him!" Naruto shouted at the top of his lungs, his face full of excitement.

For some reason, ever since Sasuke had fallen into a deep sleep, Naruto had felt an emptiness in his heart these past few days, as if he had lost something important.

Hearing the news that Sasuke had awakened, the heavy weight on his heart finally lifted a little.

Hearing Naruto's call, Qingwu nodded without hesitation and replied: "Alright, let's head out now!"

Then, they called their friends. Qingwu, Naruto, Shikamaru, Choji, Ino, Hinata, Kiba, Shino, Sakura... and a few passersby... well, classmates... a large group of people went to visit Sasuke.

"Sasuke~ We've come to see you~" Naruto started shouting from far away, only to be met with countless glares...

"This is a hospital, please keep quiet."

The young nurse looked at the noisy group led by Naruto and immediately issued a warning. She was quite well-mannered and didn't resort to scolding.

"Sumimasen~"

Iruka-sensei, who had been waiting for a long time, quickly apologized and then reprimanded Naruto: "You idiot, "Naruto, shut your mouth. What kind of place do you think this is? Be quiet."

"And why are there so many of you? Sasuke's emotional state is very unstable right now. Isn't it just causing trouble for you all to come in such a crowd?"

"Just take a look and head back, okay?! Don't say too much, lest you trigger bad memories for Sasuke-kun, understand?"

Iruka was indeed a good teacher; he didn't stop the students from showing their concern, but he gave them careful instructions.

"Understood~" The group reached a consensus.

"Sasuke-kun, how are you feeling?"

Sasuke, however, didn't seem to appreciate it. He sat there looking somewhat dazed, paying little attention to his classmates' concern. He remained silent, feeling as though everyone was pitying him.

"I hate the way you're looking at me."

"Who am I? I am Sasuke Uchiha."

"Do I need your pity? Is it your place to feel sorry for me? What a joke."

Sasuke said coldly.

Sakura and the other girls were teary-eyed: "It's not like that... Sasuke-kun... we didn't..."

These girls were all admirers of Sasuke, and never expected their good intentions to be so misunderstood; they felt incredibly wronged.

"Sasuke, how could you be like this?! Everyone is clearly just worried about you, Sakura and the others even went out of their way to buy flowers~" Naruto was displeased and immediately spoke up to defend them.

"Shut up, dead-last. It's not your place to lecture me on how I act."

"You've seen me, so you can leave now. I don't need your concern~" Sasuke remained as cold as ever.

Iruka quickly stepped in to smooth things over: "Alright, everyone, let's head back first and let Sasuke get some rest."

Seigo gave a wink, and Ino and Hinata sensibly accompanied the heartbroken Sakura and the others as they left.

"Take care of yourself then, Sasuke."

Shikamaru, Choji, Kiba, and Shino acted as bodyguards; coming from prominent clans, they had all received warnings from home.

Iruka wanted to say something more, but Seigo stopped him: "Iruka-sensei, please take the students back to class first. Leave Sasuke to me and Naruto."

Even though Seigo was just a student, for some reason, Iruka found himself unable to refute him and felt a deep sense of trust: "Alright, I'll leave it to you two then."

"Why haven't you left yet?! Do you want to stay and watch me make a fool of myself? You must be very happy right now, seeing me end up like this," Sasuke continued to lash out at everyone.

"Argh! You're infuriating, you stuck-up Sasuke! We aren't those kinds of people. If it weren't for seeing you in this state, I'd definitely teach you a lesson..." Naruto was furious.

"Hmph~ You think you can? Dead-last."

Sasuke said with disdain; after all, Naruto had dueled him countless times and had never won once.

"Bastard, don't you dare look down on Lord Naruto! I'm improving every single day, so watch out or I'll knock your teeth out~"

"Tch~ Try it if you can."

"I'll try it, then!"

"Then come on, what are you waiting for?"

"I'm coming!"

"Bring it on~"

"I'm coming~"

"Bring it on, what are you waiting for~"

"..."

The two of them were at each other's throats.

As they spoke, they leaned closer and closer...

Closer and closer...

Closer...

Watching the two of them like this, Seigo was speechless.

If they kept this up.

They'd end up in bed together.

Pah~

"Alright, Sasuke, Naruto, stop messing around." Seigo felt like he was the third wheel.

"Hmph~ I'm not messing around with him."

Sasuke and Naruto glanced at each other with mutual disgust, yet there was such a strange synergy to it that even Seigo felt a bit weirded out~

"Did I interrupt you two?"

"Should I leave?!"

"Hyuga Seigo... you..."

Sasuke was flustered and his face turned bright red. Although he didn't finish his sentence, Seigo knew it was something nasty...

"Seigo~ I didn't..." Naruto didn't know what he was thinking, but he actually looked a bit guilty...

Damn~ why are you blushing like a teapot?

Could it be...

Seigo felt a jolt of terror and tightened his guard, subtly moving a bit further away from Naruto. It's over~ without Hinata, Naruto has turned gay~

"Seigo, you..."

Sasuke and Naruto both had dark expressions on their faces.

"Ahem~ seeing you like this, Sasuke, I'm relieved."

Seigo said with a straight face.

"Hmph~ don't underestimate me, you bastard~" Sasuke slowly calmed down: "Before I kill that man, I won't die. Even if I have to grit my teeth, I will survive~" He remained as tsundere as ever, though he was clearly explaining himself to Seigo and Naruto.

"Sasuke, I will definitely help you too."

"Dattebayo~"

Under Naruto's "Talk no Jutsu," Sasuke finally regained his spirit.

"Bastard, who asked for your help?! You're a dead last, and I am Uchiha Sasuke."

"What did you say?! You stuck-up Sasuke."

Great, the two of them were at each other's throats again.

Damn it, I really am the third wheel here.

In the end, Sasuke bowed and made his request.

"Hyuga Seigo, Itachi mentioned you before. I know you are strong, and I hope you can help me. Please~"

"Fine~"

Seigo rubbed his nose.

A lot of the words he had prepared were no longer needed.

Without realizing it.

Sasuke had truly changed a lot.

On the way back.

"Tsk tsk tsk~ Itachi, it seems both you and I miscalculated. A rational Sasuke—I really wonder how much he knows now~"

"Interesting~"