Sasuke Awakens

The two spoke completely at cross-purposes.

They traded lines as though they were chatting, but they were actually talking about entirely unrelated things.

"Kid, have you rested enough? It's time for us to go."

Their pause made the atmosphere slightly awkward. Obito stood up and, copying Itachi, brushed the dew and dust from his clothes.

"Okay."

Itachi was still as sparing with words as ever, responding indifferently.

For the rest of the journey, neither had any interest in talking, and they traveled in silence.

Since they were not traveling particularly fast, it took them nearly two days to reach the Rain Country.

Obito merely brought Itachi before Pain, then left, once again becoming the hidden mastermind behind the scenes.

Itachi had been brought by Obito, the man who called himself Uchiha Madara, and they were currently in a cooperative relationship.

So Pain did not think too much about it.

He gave Itachi two sets of uniforms and a ring.

Then he had someone take Itachi away to rest.

Itachi followed the attendant to a room and casually looked it over.

Then he studied the ring in his palm with interest.

It was still that ring, the one engraved with the character "Vermilion."

Looking at his small fingers, Itachi tried them one by one before finding one that fit and putting the ring on.

Then he changed into the uniform.

It had to be said that the black robes patterned with red clouds were quite handsome.

They suited Itachi's tastes very well.

The clothes were new and fit perfectly, as though they had known he was coming and prepared them in advance.

As for the ring, it had probably been made some time ago.

For now, Itachi could only wear it on his thumb, which was thicker than his other fingers.

"You're awake, Sasuke."

Upon hearing the report from his subordinates,

Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately went to the hospital, putting on an expression of deep concern.

"Lord Hokage..."

Sasuke's eyes were still unfocused when he opened them. At that moment, he felt as though he were dreaming.

He had been preparing to get out of bed and return to the clan compound to take a look.

Then Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived.

The young and somewhat introverted Sasuke did not know what to do.

"We already know about what happened to the Uchiha Clan. Don't worry, we will definitely punish the culprit severely, and we will nurture you into an outstanding ninja!"

Looking at the useless Sasuke before him, whose entire clan, including his parents, had died without him even awakening the Sharingan,

Hiruzen Sarutobi was filled with disdain, though he still spoke with concern on the surface.

After all, Sasuke, who represented the Uchiha Clan, still held considerable value.

At the very least, one lone seedling of the Uchiha Clan remained in Konoha. Perhaps he could even be bred, allowing an Uchiha clan that belonged entirely to Konoha to multiply in the future.

Rather than being like before,

taking credit for their achievements and acting arrogantly.

They believed Konoha was a village created jointly by the Senju Clan and the Uchiha Clan. They were immensely proud and looked down on everyone.

Thinking of this, Hiruzen Sarutobi's mood sank somewhat.

Although Konoha had completely become his private garden, only one or two stragglers remained of both the Senju Clan and the Uchiha Clan.

For the moment, he could not say whether that was right or wrong.

But there was no doubt that the village's strength had been greatly diminished...

Hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's words, Sasuke's heart sank.

His eyes reddened, and grief overwhelmed him...

He remembered his stern father, his gentle mother, and his older brother, who was always breaking his promises...

"Lord Hokage, please tell me who the culprit is!"

Sasuke knelt on the bed and spoke sincerely.

Even if he could not take revenge immediately, he still had to know information about the culprit.

He would spend the rest of his life killing the culprit at any cost.

"The culprit is..."

Seeing Sasuke gritting his teeth in hatred, Hiruzen Sarutobi hesitated inwardly.

If he told Sasuke the culprit's name,

would this useless Sasuke be unable to bear it, his vision going black as he died from grief...

If that happened, it would be a grave sin.

But then he remembered that everyone in the village seemed to know who the culprit was now. Sasuke would find out sooner or later, so he might as well be the one to tell him.

That way, he could also adapt to the situation.

With that thought, Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind became clear.

"Ah, my poor child. The one who slaughtered your clan was none other than your older brother, Itachi Uchiha..."

"That child became consumed by his pursuit of power and actually committed such a heinous atrocity..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi put on an expression of heartbroken anguish, though his words remained vague.

He spoke of the matter entirely from the perspective of an outsider.

"Impossible! How could this be..."

Hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's words, Sasuke stared at him intently.

He desperately hoped Hiruzen Sarutobi would tell him it was a lie...

But when he saw Hiruzen Sarutobi shake his head and sigh, Sasuke's heart sank to the depths.

His mind recalled the older brother who had always been gentle with him. No matter how hard he tried, he could not connect that gentle older brother with the image of him holding a sword, killing their parents, and massacring the entire clan.

"This is fake, right... This must be a dream. Wake me up already, damn it..."

Sasuke muttered to himself as if trapped in a dream, babbling incoherently.

"Poor child, if you're hurting, then cry. Grandpa will take good care of you and treat you as his own grandson..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi stepped forward and sat on the bed. He gently stroked Sasuke's head, then held Sasuke's head against his chest and continuously patted his back...

He looked just like a kindly old grandfather.

Sasuke, held in Hiruzen Sarutobi's arms, was jolted awake by the heavy smell of tobacco on him, and his pent-up grievance suddenly surged forth...

Two clear streams of tears rolled down his cheeks.

His body trembled incessantly, as though he were convulsing.

"My poor child..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi gently patted Sasuke's back and murmured softly.

Only after the already weakened Sasuke fell asleep from exhaustion following his overwhelming grief

did Hiruzen Sarutobi gently place him back onto the hospital bed.

"Take good care of him. When he wakes up, have him move into my home and live with me. Let him leave that place of sorrow and move on as soon as possible..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi gently tucked Sasuke in and stroked his head.

Then he spoke softly.

As though talking to himself.

Hiruzen Sarutobi vanished from the hospital room.

Sasuke opened his eyes. He had already awakened when Hiruzen Sarutobi placed him back on the bed...

He simply did not want to open his eyes...

As soon as Hiruzen Sarutobi left, he opened his eyes and sat up.

He hurriedly put on his shoes and headed outside.

He wanted to return to the clan compound and take another look.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in his office, quietly smoking.

He watched Sasuke in the crystal ball, his legs weak from exhaustion yet stubbornly making his way home.

At that moment, he no longer wore the benevolent expression from before.

Instead, his brow was tightly furrowed as he recalled what had just happened.

Only after determining that there were no flaws in his words did the tension between his brows ease slightly.

Only then did he look at Sasuke again.

"Go to the Uchiha Clan compound. Once Sasuke faints, bring him to my home."

Hiruzen Sarutobi puffed on his pipe and calmly issued the repeated order to the air.