Sasuke: My Little Brother Is Everything to Me

"Why didn't you mention the most important thing?"

As Izuna listened to A Luo tell the story, his frown deepened.

All that information was meant to ease Sasuke's hatred. There was nothing wrong with that.

But this brat had left out the most important matter—the only one that concerned himself.

"What is it?"

Sasuke had remained quietly attentive throughout A Luo's account.

Even before this, he had sensed the tension at home, as well as the whispers some clan members exchanged behind his back...

But what could make this ancestor deliberately bring it up, then suddenly get angry...

"What does it matter? Sasuke didn't know anything in the first place..."

A Luo curled up his legs, wrapped his arms around his knees, and lowered his head to press his face against them. He had no desire to bring up that matter.

He was not a good person, nor was he someone who would hide information that might make Sasuke unhappy just because Sasuke treated him well.

It was simply that some things should not be said by him.

[Host, are you being melodramatic, scheming, or carrying out some long-laid conspiracy?]

The system was not particularly skilled at understanding emotions, but it was certain that its host was doing this on purpose.

More than once, he had painted himself as a tragic, pitiful little thing.

Although those things were indeed true and had not been embellished or altered...

I just need some people who know the truth to prove that I'm a victim. Feelings always need to be nurtured if they're going to last. My brother is good—very good—but precisely because I like him so much, I have to prevent certain annoying bastards from causing trouble. Like that Otsutsuki... Sage, who got his own mother killed, got his younger brother killed, and then got both his sons killed!

A Luo lowered his head in thought, slowly analyzing with the system who was most likely to cause them trouble.

That supposed bond between Indra and Asura, those so-called reincarnations of will—they all had to be smashed to pieces!

His brother, Sasuke Uchiha, only needed to be Sasuke Uchiha. Any past-life brother or past-life father could all get the hell away from him!

Right, Sasuke alone was not enough. He had to think of something for Naruto too.

Reincarnated brothers?

When Asura's will disappeared, what would the real Naruto Uzumaki, his true self, be like? A Luo was looking forward to it!

[Host, the plot hasn't even started yet. Take it slow. If the world collapses, we won't be able to stay here, and then no one will be around to take care of Sasuke.]

The system felt that its host was in a bad mood, so it immediately offered a reminder that would be useful to him.

Over a year of care and protection in this world had made its host deeply concerned about Sasuke Uchiha. So even for Sasuke's sake, he needed to restrain himself a little.

It won't come to that. It's not like my brain is broken. Besides, do I even need to wreck anything? If the protagonist himself stops following the original plot, then there'll be a whole new world and future!

The system's earnest warning made A Luo feel a little stifled.

It was not as if he bore any malice toward this world. He had merely complained about certain beings he disliked. The system's judgment was getting more and more absurd.

While A Luo and the system silently disparaged each other, Izuna crouched in front of the two boys and told Sasuke about the night the Uchiha Clan had been wiped out.

He had not seen the scene himself, but from A Luo's description, he could piece together a rough picture through his own understanding.

"A Luo... I'm sorry..."

After hearing Izuna's brief account, Sasuke tightened his hold on A Luo's arm and cried even harder than A Luo had.

There had been no protection from his father, no final love from his parents—nothing.

From beginning to end, A Luo had never received even a trace of parental love. Yet Sasuke had repeatedly told A Luo before that their father was impressive and their mother was gentle...

Back then, Sasuke had thought those conversations let A Luo accompany him in recalling their beautiful memories of the past, while also helping A Luo understand their parents better.

But now that he knew A Luo had only escaped his father's lethal attack through his own special ability, all those things Sasuke had said in the past had become knives stabbing into A Luo's heart...

"Perhaps there was much about what they did that cannot be understood, but they loved you. I think that was how it was..."

A Luo sighed and spoke of another truth that existed just as surely. He neither cried nor made a fuss, nor did he appear sad.

Because everyone had believed that his survival would only burden Sasuke. They had made that choice without hesitation so Sasuke would not have to carry dead weight.

When Izuna had previously asked whether he hated them, he truly had not.

Even though the system's intervention had made him Sasuke Uchiha's younger brother, once he had been examined after birth and determined to be a burden for life, the bond of parent and child that had been built on blood had been severed by that couple's decision.

Besides, even though he was frail and sickly, Itachi Uchiha had watched over him during the first three or four years, and Sasuke had come to play with him in the years after that. It was enough.

So A Luo neither resented nor hated them, but those two barely had any presence in his heart.

Still, just because he had no bond with his parents did not mean Sasuke should think that couple was terrible. At the very least, until their deaths, they had been thinking about how Sasuke could live more easily in the future.

"Yeah, I know. I know it was because of me..."

Sasuke knew. That was why he did not dare let go of A Luo now.

It was because of him. All because they believed that without A Luo, he could grow up alone and unburdened...

But he did not want to become like that. He needed A Luo to live. He liked having his little brother nearby, liked taking care of him as they grew up together.

A Luo was his motivation to become stronger, the tranquilizer that kept him clear-headed...

"Big brother, I won't die. So even if I'm dead weight, you won't be able to shake me off."

After a long silence, A Luo suddenly raised his head and smiled at Sasuke.

Sure enough, whenever he called him big brother, Sasuke calmed down. It worked better than calling his name directly.

"Mm, you won't die. A Luo will always be... by big brother's side..."

Sasuke held A Luo close. Amid his grief, he also felt a little fortunate.

Fortunately, A Luo's ability was special, which was why he had been able to survive.

"That's enough already. A Luo, let Sasuke go back and rest first. He still has school tomorrow. As for some of the issues with cultivation, explain them to me again..."

Izuna could no longer stand watching from the side. He raised a hand and knocked both brats on the head, telling them to stop clinging to each other in front of him...

Honestly, now that they were back, they should talk about something important. Why were they being so lovey-dovey?

It was not as though he did not have an older brother too. His brother was incredibly strong!

It was just that... he could not find him for the time being...