The Uchiha Clan had been wiped out.
Public outrage surged.
Even the Ninja Academy had been forced to suspend classes for three days.
During that time, Sarutobi Hiruzen had spared no effort, meticulously planning and orchestrating one spectacular speech after another.
Now, public opinion in the village was gradually shifting exactly as he had hoped. "It was all Itachi Uchiha's fault. That evil bastard slaughtered his own clan."
"What an ungrateful wretch!"
"So cruel! I heard Itachi Uchiha didn't even spare the elderly or the children. How vicious!"
"There's something wrong with all those Uchiha. Good thing I never got too close to them, or I could've been in danger too!"
"If you ask me, they deserved to die. Always looking down their noses at everyone, acting like we owed them millions."
"What did they have to be so proud of? They got wiped out anyway!"
"I heard Lord Hokage shed tears for the Uchiha who died, blaming himself for failing to protect his villagers."
"How could this be Lord Hokage's fault? They were fighting among themselves and killing each other..."
"No, I heard the Uchiha were planning a rebellion... Itachi Uchiha wanted to take over, and then..."
"..."
For a time, it seemed that all the blame lay with the Uchiha and Itachi Uchiha. The village's High Command and the Third had merely been deceived and were devastated by the tragedy.
Meanwhile, good news came from Konoha Hospital.
Sasuke Uchiha, the Uchiha Orphans survivor, had awakened. However, he seemed to have suffered such a terrible shock that he was no longer quite himself.
"Poor child. How will he manage from now on?"
"Ah... His brother killed their parents and wiped out their entire clan. Anyone would go mad after that."
"Tsk, tsk... The Uchiha... A prestigious clan... Pah!"
"Good thing we aren't ninja and don't have a treacherous son like that in the family. Otherwise..."
"Better not to have children at all than raise one like that."
People sighed even as they reveled in the misfortune. This was absolutely Hiruzen's doing, steering public opinion with one ploy after another.
Now, everyone's attention had shifted to Sasuke.
The weak always drew sympathy.
And sure enough, the villagers' anger became even more firmly directed at Itachi. Once again, the impression that Itachi Uchiha was the murderer and the guilty party deepened, while certain other details gradually blurred.
Masterful.
Danzo: Hiruzen, you really are more underhanded than I am...
"Qingwu! Qingwu! Iruka Teacher just told me Sasuke's awake! Let's hurry over and visit him!" Naruto called out excitedly.
For some reason, ever since Sasuke had fallen unconscious, Naruto had felt an emptiness inside, as though he had lost something important.
Now that he had heard Sasuke was awake, his anxious heart could finally settle a little.
At Naruto's call, Qingwu nodded without hesitation. "Sure! Let's go right now!"
Then they rounded up their friends. Qingwu, Naruto, Shikamaru, Choji, Ino, Hinata, Kiba, Shino, Sakura... along with a few extras... ahem, classmates... a whole crowd went to visit Sasuke.
"Sasuke! We're here to see you!" Naruto bellowed from far away, only to earn countless withering glares...
"This is a hospital. Please keep quiet."
Seeing Naruto and the others making a racket, the young nurse promptly reminded them. She was polite enough not to scold them.
"Sorry!"
Iruka-sensei, who had been waiting for quite some time, quickly apologized before scolding Naruto. "You idiot!
"Naruto, shut your mouth! Where do you think you are? Keep your voice down!"
"And why are there so many of you? Sasuke is very emotionally unstable right now. Aren't you just making things worse by coming in such a big group?"
"Just see him briefly and head back, all right? Don't say too much, in case you bring up bad memories for him. Understand?"
Iruka really was a good teacher. He didn't stop the students from showing their concern, but he carefully instructed them.
"Okay!" Everyone agreed.
"Sasuke-kun, how are you feeling?"
But Sasuke didn't seem particularly appreciative. He sat there in a daze, indifferent to his classmates' concern, saying nothing. It felt as though everyone was pitying him.
"I hate the way you're looking at me."
"Who am I? Sasuke Uchiha."
"Do I need you looking at me like that? Who are you to pity me? What a joke."
Sasuke spoke coldly.
Sakura and the other girls' eyes filled with tears. "No... Sasuke-kun... We weren't..."
They were all Sasuke's admirers. They had never expected their good intentions to be misunderstood like this, and they felt terribly hurt.
"Sasuke, what's wrong with you?! Everyone's just worried about you. Sakura and the others even went out of their way to buy flowers!" Upset, Naruto immediately spoke up for them.
"Shut up, Dead Last. You have no right to tell me what to do."
"You've seen me. Now you can leave. I don't need your concern." Sasuke remained just as cold.
Iruka hurried to smooth things over. "All right, everyone, head back for now. Let Sasuke rest."
Qingwu gave them a look, and Ino and Hinata took the hint, accompanying Sakura and the other upset girls out.
"Take care, Sasuke."
Shikamaru, Choji, Kiba, and Shino went along as escorts. Coming from ninja clans, they had all received warnings at home.
Iruka-sensei wanted to say something else, but Qingwu stopped him. "Iruka-sensei, take everyone back to class first. Leave Sasuke to Naruto and me."
Qingwu was clearly a student, yet for some reason, Iruka found himself offering no objection. Instead, he felt a deep, inexplicable trust. "All right. I'll leave him to you."
"Why haven't you left yet?! Staying to laugh at me? You must be really happy now, seeing what's happened to me," Sasuke continued lashing out at everyone.
"Aaargh! You're driving me crazy, you smug jerk! We're not like that! If it weren't for what you're going through, I'd teach you a real lesson..." Naruto was furious.
"Hmph. Could you even do it, Dead Last?"
Sasuke spoke disdainfully. After all, Naruto had fought him countless times and had never won once.
"Bastard! How dare you underestimate the great Naruto! I'm getting stronger every day. Watch out, or I'll knock your teeth out!"
"Tch. If you can, then try it."
"Fine, I will!"
"Then come on. What are you waiting for?"
"Here I come!"
"Come on!"
"I'm coming!"
"Come on! What are you waiting for?"
"..."
The two faced off, neither willing to back down.
As they argued, they drew closer and closer...
Closer and closer...
Closer...
Watching them, Qingwu was speechless.
If this keeps up...
They'll end up in bed.
Pah!
"All right, Sasuke, Naruto, stop fooling around." Qingwu felt like a third wheel.
"Hmph! I'm not fooling around with him!"
Sasuke and Naruto shot each other disgusted looks in perfect sync. Watching them, even Qingwu was starting to ship them.
"Am I interrupting something?"
"Should I leave, then?"
"Hyuga Seigo... You..."
Sasuke was flustered and furious, his face bright red. Although he didn't finish his sentence, Qingwu knew the rest would have been filthy...
"Qingwu... I wasn't..." Who knew what Naruto had thought of, but he actually looked a little guilty...
What the hell are you blushing for?!
Don't tell me...
Alarmed, Qingwu clenched his buttocks and discreetly edged away from Naruto. It's over! Without Hinata, Naruto's turned gay!
"Qingwu, you..."
Both Sasuke and Naruto looked thunderous.
"Ahem... Sasuke, seeing you like this puts my mind at ease."
Qingwu spoke with a perfectly straight face.
"Hmph! Don't underestimate me, bastard!" Sasuke slowly calmed down as well. "Until I kill that man, nothing's going to happen to me. I'll grit my teeth and keep living." He was as prickly as ever, but he was indeed explaining himself to Qingwu and Naruto.
"Sasuke, I'll definitely help you too."
"Dattebayo!"
Under Naruto's persuasive barrage, Sasuke finally regained his spirit.
"Bastard! Who needs your help?! You're the Dead Last. I'm Sasuke Uchiha!"
"What did you say, you smug jerk?!"
And there they went, at each other again.
Damn it, I really am a third wheel.
Finally, Sasuke bowed and made his request.
"Hyuga Seigo, Itachi mentioned you before. I know you're strong. I hope you can help me. Please."
"Sure."
Qingwu rubbed his nose.
Much of what he had prepared to say was no longer needed.
Without anyone noticing...
Sasuke really had changed a great deal.
On the way back...
"Tsk, tsk... Itachi, looks like both of us miscalculated. A levelheaded Sasuke... I really wonder how much he knows."
"Interesting."
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