Beep… beep…
The sound of constant beat from a device slowly wakes Naruto up from his slumber.
Beep… He opened his eyes lightly, but he's instantly blinded by the light entering his pupil.
He frowned slightly, his eyes squinting trying to adjust.
The surroundings become clear after a while. The scent of the hospital and sanitizer filled his nose. And then, pain felt in his body.
Nn… Naruto touched his abdomen and chest lightly, feeling pain still there.
Eh…? My neck…? Naruto realised he can't move his neck much because a thick gauze of some sort wrapped his entire neck. He looks like a giraffe at this point.
Memories flooded into Naruto's mind finally. He finally remembered what happened. The last thing he saw was… Itachi, looking down on him with those red eyes.
Naruto felt shaken slightly, the memory made him feel anxious, and even fearful. He touched the clothes wrapping his neck lightly. The feeling of losing his breath, the loss of consciousness, the feeling of losing his warmth, how his body becomes numb…
It's scary.
Naruto turned around slightly to see the person in bed next to him. His eyes widened slightly seeing him. He felt so relieved.
Sasuke…
Sasuke had his arms behind his head, looking emptily at the ceiling. He's injured but not as bad as Naruto. He noticed the gaze, and as he turned his eyes to look a flash of relief appears in Sasuke's eyes
"Idiot… you are alive…", Sasuke said with a hint of annoyance, but there was genuine concern and relief in his tone. Not that Naruto could read it, and he didn't notice the redness in Sasuke's eyes.
How would Naruto know that Sasuke would have fallen into a coma already if Naruto is truly dead. The stress and anxiety he felt back almost made his eyes turn into mangekyo. The medic nin give emergency treatment to him while seeing his heart rate being so low as if he's dying. Seeing Naruto's condition stabilised became something that kept his mind from collapsing even after experiencing Tsukuyomi. Perhaps Naruto had become the only pillar that left him sane at this moment.
"Teme… You still can call me an idiot… nnh…". Naruto mustered some energy to reply.
"Yeah. You should shut up. You look horrible", Sasuke said calmly, but inside he felt relieved Naruto is definitely fine.
"... What happened to him?". Naruto asked. Because he couldn't remember and lost consciousness early. Since they are both alive and well, what happened to Itachi?
"... At first Kakashi came to stop him…".
"but…". Sasuke looks over at Naruto's other side.
Naruto turned his body with great effort and found his sensei lying there. As if sleeping.
"He looks fine… he isn't wrapped like you or me…", Naruto commented, looking at Kakashi's figure up and down.
"... He's in a coma, Naruto". Sasuke said solemnly.
"Coma…?".
"They don't know when he will wake up. There's nothing they can do".
"No way… kakashi sensei…". Naruto's eyes turned teary. Kakashi tried to save them, and he ended up like this. He feels so sad and so weak.
Sasuke's eyes turned very dark when Naruto wasn't looking. Itachi. One day, I will kill you. His eyes contained traces of obsession and even insanity.
Naruto turned to face Sasuke again. He thought just now he felt something really scary but maybe it's just his imagination.
"Then… then what happened… how are we… if kakashi sensei lost…".
"Your sister came in time… she sent us to hospital first. I don't know what happened after…".
"N-no…!", Naruto's eyes contracted violently. He subconsciously wants to sit up and move out of bed. But pain came all over his body.
"Don't move… She wouldn't die easily". Sasuke said this because he felt and saw what kind of expression Tsuyu made. Those evil red chakra. Those red demon-like eyes, and the pressure she emits back then. Just what is that power? He's not sure.
Still, he had a feeling that Tsuyu's strength is enough for him to not worry about. And knowing her intellect, Tsuyu is not someone who would die so easily unlike Naruto who doesn't think much. Besides, Kakashi fired the flare and Konoha Shinobi should have backed her up.
"...". Naruto turned to look at the ceiling
"I am worried… what if…". Naruto admitted his fear. He felt like shedding tears just from the thought. The fact that Tsuyu had to save him at all made him feel guilty.
Sasuke didn't mention about hearing some form of explosion faintly from here half an hour ago. The earth trembles slightly for a second. He didn't know if it's related to Tsuyu or them. But definitely something really big happened, as if a powerful jutsu launched somewhere far away.
Just then, the door to the ward room opened. Naruto turned in expectation, hoping to see Tsuyu first. But it's just Sakura.
Sakura went to Sasuke, her eyes teary and filled with worries.
"Sasuke-kun…"
Naruto isn't sure why, but he felt his heart hurt a little. More because Sakura sees Sasuke first, and yet Naruto is clearly in a worse condition. A part of him felt jealousy for Sasuke.
"What happened? The Shinobi are all going out. And I heard… I heard your brother… did he hurt you…?".
Instead of expressing gratitude for the care, Sasuke's expression turned colder, as if Sakura was annoying him.
"It has nothing to do with you".
"Sasuke-kun… I am just worried…".
Sasuke turned his face away. But deep in his heart, he did appreciate the care slightly. But he is not willing to get closer to her. There's always a wall he cannot cross. Only Naruto managed to get through him for various reasons. While Sakura is just… Sakura.
"I am fine… you should check on Naruto and Kakashi". He's stating a fact. Naruto almost died. Kakashi is in a coma. Sakura's first reaction is to see him, that's the least of the worries. That's annoying in Sasuke's view.
"Ah… Naruto… you are like a mummy". Sakura said in a low murmur. Her eyes widened seeing how bad Naruto looked with those bandages.
"Hey! Who's you calling a mummy!". Naruto pouted.
Hearing Naruto's still energetic tone, Sakura doesn't feel much worry for him. She then looks to Kakashi's side.
"Kakashi sensei is in a coma…", Naruto said solemnly before Sakura can ask what's wrong with Kakashi.
"Coma…!? No way… sensei…". Sakura felt it's unreal. Kakashi is such a strong person. And yet he lies there, in a coma.
Sakura went quiet. She looked at Kakashi, at Naruto and finally at Sasuke. She felt her heart ache seeing all of them hurt like this.
Seeing Sakura looking so down, Naruto tries to cheer her up.
"Sakura. We will be okay. You shouldn't worry. Hi~". Naruto gives Sakura a bright smile, wanting to lessen her worry.
"Naruto…", the stone in Sakura's heart lightened seeing his sunny smile. She felt guilty somehow, seeing everyone in her squad hurt. It's as if she cannot do anything for them at all, excluded from everything, unable to help. She felt a sting in her eyes so suddenly.
Naruto's stomach grumbled so suddenly, making his face embarrassed slightly. Sakura chuckled. She turned to Sasuke, seeing him just staring at the ceiling.
"Sasuke-kun, are you hungry too? I will call the nurse to bring you guys food".
"... Fine". Sasuke actually replied to Sakura. He did feel hungry.
Sakura felt a little grateful that Sasuke replied to her. Her expectation became lower and lower that the slightest gesture made her feel so happy.
***
The track of Itachi and Kisame eventually disappeared. Even the Aburame and Inuzuka among the ANBU cannot sense where they went eventually. Itachi know of Konoha's method most, he had made preparations to lose their tracks naturally.
Jiraiya didn't give up and kept going on his own. He wanted to know what Itachi was planning. He highly suspects the person who gave him intel on Akatsuki is Itachi. Considering he knew something was off about the Uchiha massacre, Itachi wasn't someone who would want Konoha to be destroyed, otherwise why would he do what he did?
Even though Itachi is branded as a traitor for killing his clans, but Jiraiya as part of the people with high status know the inside information that Itachi took the blame for the stability of Konoha.
The Uchiha clan, with proven ability to control 9 tails are very dangerous - especially with the presumption of the higher ups that Uchiha's are insane. Even if only the rebels and hardliners are executed, it won't change the status of Uchiha. The Uchiha massacre rewrites history so that Konoha's image as a united hidden village remains intact, to ensure most clans feel assured about Konoha's security. As for 9 tails losing control on that same night? It was not written anywhere. Those who realise and notice the two events happening together would guess the Uchiha must have done something. The information of a mysterious Uchiha calling himself Madara was absurd enough to tell.
Telling other clans and people of Konoha Uchiha Madara came back and that guy made the jinchuriki lose control and haven't been caught yet would still lead to unrest. Besides, who would believe it's Uchiha Madara that's supposed to be long dead. It sounds like a fake pretense just to cover up that Uchiha chose to rebel.
So even if other clans know about more of the details - the Uchiha will still receive discrimination. And resentment will still grow day by day amongst the Uchiha waiting for it to explode again. Cycle of hatred - this is what Itachi wanted to end. And in Itachi's plan, eventually Sasuke will re-start the Uchiha anew - as a hero of Konoha who avenged the Uchiha clan by killing him.
For most of Konoha's people, what they are told was that Itachi slaughtered his clansmen and that's all the information is limited to. As for his intentions, everyone can only make their own guesses. Even Sasuke only thought that Itachi is just a cruel, evil person who did it just to show his power. A 7 year old Sasuke can only think that much back then seeing both of his parents' corpses.
Recently, after seeing Itachi about to kill Naruto right in front of his eyes, Sasuke was so trapped in his hatred he had never stopped to think if his assumption about Itachi's intention were true.
***
"What! She, is she okay?".
Daichi, one of Tsuyu's ANBU squad members that hasn't appeared for so long due to overwhelming number of missions - visited Naruto after the failed chase was over. He happens to be in Konoha today and is a part of ANBU chasing after Itachi and Kisame. He witnessed the nuclear explosion from afar and the wasteland Tsuyu created.
"She's heavily injured but not in critical condition or anything. She's resting right now. She's on the 2nd floor, ward 5A if you could visit… she asked me to tell you she's fine", Daichi looked at Naruto up and down, assessing his injuries.
Naruto let out a sigh of relief hearing she's okay. Sasuke didn't think much, only felt glad for Naruto that he won't feel heartbreak from losing his sister. Sasuke had the urge to visit her to ask what happened in detail and figure out how strong Itachi is. He wanted to know badly, because one day he would hunt him down and he wanted to be strong enough.
He saw Kakashi, an Elite Jonin lose in an instant against Itachi. For Sasuke, Itachi is already a Kage level opponent.
"Too bad they escaped… even when those two are already heavily injured they still manage to cover the tracks and mislead the team. It's him after all…". Everyone that's been in ANBU long enough will know Itachi's skills and genius.
Sasuke had a surprise flash in his eyes. He sat up straight, looking towards this guy that seems to be Tsuyu's and Naruto's acquaintance.
"You mean, she fought them and managed to injure both of them badly?".
"That's what she says, and there's some blood tracks too". Daichi looks at Sasuke, his handsome eyebrows frowned in confusion at the weird question.
Sasuke felt in disbelief. In his opinion, Itachi is such a strong opponent, one of the strongest shinobi of Konoha, someone he felt powerless against even. Tsuyu may be a genius on Itachi's level but - she lacks time and experience. She is just 11 like himself and Naruto! No way could she seriously injure Itachi out of all people!
"How did she do it…?". Sasuke asks in disbelief. It sounds unrealistic in his ears.
"Uh… sorry my friend, it's confidential information", Daichi said in a sorry tone. But then he turned to Naruto.
"Your friend is kinda weird…", Daichi whispered to his ears. Naruto giggled hearing someone agreed with him. Who asks such an irrelevant question when someone is hurt.
"Yeah he is a little weird at times but he's…". Naruto looks at Sasuke with kind eyes.
"He's a nice guy inside, even if he's a jerk on the outside".
Daichi snorted at Naruto's commentary.
"Dobe, what are you saying about me?", Sasuke could feel the gaze and whispers.
"Heh. Just that you are always cranky!".
"Idiot. You better shut your mouth or your neck might snap". Sasuke huffed in annoyance. He can't believe Naruto still has so much to say even when his neck is like a giraffe already.
"Well, see you someday then brat. I had to go out again… sigh…", a tear escaped a corner of his eyes. Daichi felt like he's a slave for Konoha, each time he returned from a mission another one handed to him again and again. But it can't be helped. Konoha lost a lot of their forces and they had to keep appearance and keep income coming at this low times.
"Okay! Ah can you tell her I am doing fine too?".
"Sure thing. I will leave her the message".
As Daichi left, the stone in Naruto's heart lightened slightly. He turned to look at Sasuke again, wondering if he's really okay inside. Itachi, his brother who killed his family, returned after all. But Naruto cannot read his expression at the moment.
After a day, Naruto's unreasonable healing factor already lets him walk around without much difficulty. He quickly went to the second floor and into Tsuyu's ward.
He poked his head inside, looking left and right. Seeing the familiar figure, the familiar expression with a book in her hand completely dropped the remaining heaviness in his chest.
"Tsu-chan!", Naruto quickly rushed in.
"Huh… you can already walk around". Inside, Tsuyu felt glad. If she could move to see him yesterday she would but her insides were injured badly. Seeing Naruto made her feel relieved. But then seeing how Naruto clearly strained to walk her expression turned colder.
"You should have stayed in bed".
"Tch. I am worrying about you, you know…". Naruto pouted. It's like she never felt touched by anything Naruto is doing.
"Daichi should have told you I am fine. Now you know I am fine, go back to bed".
"Stupid Tsu-chan…", Naruto grumbled in murmur, inaudible to her ears. Naruto didn't leave and instead made the ward like his own home and climbed on one of the empty bed.
"...", Tsuyu is speechless seeing his behaviour. Nevermind… She's already too tired.
"How's Sasuke doing now".
"He's alright… I think". Naruto isn't sure. He seems normal but at times he feels something is off. At times Sasuke had some weird expressions, at times his face relaxed. At times frowning out of nowhere. Who knows what's going on in his head.
"Hm… is that so". Tsuyu snickered inside. Of course he's not fine. That's his supposed parent's and clan murderer. Tsuyu knows about the Uchiha rebellion and the subsequent consequence of being annihilated. There's too much stain on them.
It's not exactly accurate to say Itachi slaughtered the clan wantonly. He chose to save Uchiha's name and the village over his own family - well, except Sasuke she supposed… no, she would take that back.
Itachi makes his little brother suffer so much, death could even be considered mercy for him.
Like Danzo said, the crazy does run in their blood. Recalling within minutes of her rebirth a masked man with a sharingan on one eye placed explosive tags on her and Naruto to threaten her father. She was just a baby??? And then Itachi is insane enough to use his own hands to kill his clans and loving parents. Then whatever absurd idea and crazy he had to make his own little brother suffer. It's as if Itachi really wanted to make Sasuke desire to kill him intentionally.
Though if it's her she would have wiped out the older ones, leaving only children and young ones alive.
Records of what happened should be burned. History can be reshaped, Uchiha is never discriminated against, and they are well respected throughout the ages. The young can be taught. What's left is to just treat the Uchiha's as normal so they would integrate into the village normally in time.
One may say she's just the same as Itachi then. But no. The Uchiha clan has nothing to do with her, their life and death wasn't personal and she had no feelings.
***
Coming back to Jiraiya, after a few days of chasing he finally catches up to Itachi. Or rather…
"A shadow clone…". Jiraiya was misguided, and it seems he can no longer give chase. But still, Jiraiya still tries to communicate.
"Itachi. What's the meaning of your attack on Naruto? I don't believe you really want to harm Konoha. Otherwise all your effort… it would be in vain".
"...". The clone is silent. Itachi had always kept everything in the dark. And to expose anything about his intention means there's always the risk of information leak to that 'Madara'. He still needs to stay in Akatsuki to keep tabs on the rinnegan user and 'Madara' so he cannot break his mask.
Perhaps if he had succeeded in killing Naruto, he would have broken his mask. Tsuyu having 9 tails, and that her control over its power being at a terrifying level ruined his plan to make Konoha have least of losses.
If Konoha becomes so weak it cannot fight at all, Konoha simply has to surrender. Sure, the lands of Land of Fire would be taken away by other nations if this happened, but Konoha's soldiers' lives are saved. For Itachi, his village matters more. Besides, Itachi understood the nature of war. Not fighting at all would cause loss of resources for the land and the lords. But lives are saved for both the soldiers of Konoha and the common people of Land of Fire.
That is his initial idea. But an unexpected variable - Tsuyu, disrupted this plan. She has enough power to let Konoha resist. However, Konoha's resistance would lead to more deaths of Konoha's shinobi, prolonging the hopeless war. What is the end result? Konoha is fighting a defensive battle, besieged by 3 different sides. And if Kirigakure that had been silent suddenly made a move, Konoha would be besieged by 4 different sides.
Itachi is definitely right because Tobi, who had control over Mizukage will make a move once time comes. Resisting only means killing the Shinobi of Konoha for absolutely nothing. Itachi rather have Konoha surrender and avoid any loss.
The shadow clone turned into crows and disappeared. Jiraiya felt disappointed and frustrated seeing Itachi just go away.
***