Uchiha Mikoto immediately stepped forward to check on Sasuke, who had collapsed to the ground.
After a thorough examination, she found that he had simply fallen asleep due to extreme exhaustion, and she breathed a sigh of relief.
'Why is he this tired today?', Mikoto was still puzzled, but the deeply sleeping Sasuke obviously wouldn't be giving her any answers.
She had no choice but to carry him back inside.
.
.
.
.
By the time Sasuke finally woke up, it was already nearing dusk.
Even though he had slept for over two hours, his mental state wasn't any better.
Because he had a nightmare.
In the dream, he seemed to be trapped in an endless cycle, unable to escape no matter what.
'That is true hell!'
So the moment he woke up, his body instinctively shot upright, and he found himself drenched in sweat.
"Sasuke, are you okay?" ×3
His mother's and his brother's voices rang out simultaneously. Sasuke instinctively lifted his head, and seeing the worry in the three pairs of eyes staring at him, his heart quickly calmed down.
'It was just a dream…'
'No, it didn't feel like just a dream…'
'Wait, was it even a dream at all?'
Sasuke couldn't tell anymore.
Meanwhile, the expressions of Fugaku, Mikoto, and Itachi had shifted from concern to shock.
'That is… the Sharingan?'
"Sasuke, what exactly did you experience today?"
All three of them were starting to get anxious.
They knew very well that unlocking the Sharingan required intense emotional stimulation.
One could only gain that power through the loss of a close friend or family member.
Since all of them were still alive, that meant there were only two people in the entire Leaf Village who could have served as Sasuke's 'sacrifice'.
The first was Aoba, a disciple of one of the Sannin, Tsunade, and the honorary grandson of the Third Hokage.
The other was Uzumaki Naruto, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, an untouchable existence for the Uchiha.
If anything happened to either of them, the consequences would be too heavy for the Uchiha to bear.
Hearing the voices around him, Sasuke slowly came to his senses. But as he recalled what had happened today, his eyes once again filled with pain and… shame?
Seeing the look in Sasuke's eyes, the three Uchihas assumed he was reliving his trauma, and their hearts ached for him.
'Unlocking the Sharingan… Sasuke must have suffered greatly.'
Fugaku's tone softened considerably as he spoke.
"Sasuke, can you tell us how your Sharingan awakened?"
Hearing this, the pain in Sasuke's eyes deepened, and his hands clenched tightly onto the bedsheets.
"Father, can I… not say it?"
Fugaku hesitated for a brief moment before quickly firming his resolve.
For an Uchiha, the circumstances surrounding the awakening of the Sharingan were never trivial.
"No, Sasuke. This is very important. You must tell us everything," His tone grew more serious. Though Mikoto and Itachi felt sorry for Sasuke, neither of them stopped Fugaku.
Sasuke clenched his fists even tighter. In the end, he gritted his teeth and told them everything in full detail.
Even though the experience had been utterly humiliating, he didn't lie. He even unconsciously included his inner thoughts.
At first, the three Uchihas listened intently, but as Sasuke continued, their expressions gradually turned from tense to bewildered, then to stunned.
By the end, they all felt an inexplicable sense of relief.
And just a little bit of embarrassment.
They were immensely grateful that Sasuke had awakened his Sharingan in this way. At the same time, though, as Uchihas, the fact that he had been played by a simple Transformation Jutsu was...
They exchanged glances and immediately understood what the others were thinking.
'Perhaps… it is best not to spread the truth about Sasuke's awakening.'
'Still, this method is worth considering for others.'
'Getting stronger through heartbreak is certainly preferable to gaining power by sacrificing comrades.'
'It is an unexplored new path.'
Fugaku let out a long sigh.
He reached out and patted Sasuke's head, though for once, he didn't know what to say to encourage him.
After all, this was a situation beyond his understanding.
'Perhaps… the Third Hokage might know a thing or two? Should I consult him about this?'
"Sasuke… as expected of my good son… Rest for now. I'll have your dinner brought to your room later."
"Sasuke, get some rest."
Mikoto and Itachi also patted Sasuke's head before leaving the room.
"Wait, wait a second!", Seeing that they were about to leave, Sasuke suddenly panicked.
"Sasuke, is there something else?"
Itachi stopped, and both Fugaku and Mikoto turned back as well.
Sasuke's expression became firm, his eyes filled with determination.
"Father, Brother, please teach me how to use the Sharingan!"
"Tomorrow, I'm going to challenge Aoba. For the honor of the Uchiha, I must defeat him!"
Hearing this, Fugaku's face showed satisfaction. It seemed Sasuke had always kept the clan in his heart.
He then glanced at Itachi out of the corner of his eye. Compared to Sasuke, this eldest son of his, in whom he had placed so much hope, had never seemed to truly prioritize the clan.
Just like now, Itachi's face was filled with hesitation, and that disappointed Fugaku greatly.
"Itachi, you will teach Sasuke how to use the Sharingan."
Snapped out of his thoughts, Itachi hesitated only for a moment before nodding in agreement.
However, Itachi's thoughts weren't on the clan or the village at all.
He was thinking about Aoba.
As a member of the Anbu, he had access to more information than most.
He knew exactly how terrifying Aoba's talent was, greater than even Kakashi's back in the day. Greater than his own.
Even if Sasuke had unlocked his Sharingan, there was no way he could defeat Aoba.
Still, as someone who loved teaching his younger brother, Itachi was more than happy to help.
After their parents left the room, Itachi sat down on the bed again and began explaining the Sharingan's abilities.
"With a single tomoe Sharingan, your greatest enhancement will be in perception. At the same time, you'll have some ability to copy techniques…"
Sasuke listened intently.
A harmonious brotherly bond…
———
That evening.
Aoba returned to the Senju estate, carrying three different kites.
Although he had moved into the Senju estate, he actually had his own private residence there, situated beside Tsunade's main house.
At night, he stayed in his own place. During the day, he trained in medical ninjutsu under Tsunade.
Having his own space was convenient, especially for times when Yūgao came to visit whenever she wasn't on a mission.
It was the best of both worlds.
After placing the kites in his house, Aoba headed toward Tsunade's residence.
The moment he opened the door, a strong scent of alcohol assaulted his senses.
Unfazed, he stepped inside and casually greeted, "I'm back."
This place was practically his second home.
"Aoba! Welcome back!", A crisp, cheerful voice rang out. Not from Tsunade or Shizune, but from Sakura.
She was holding a small basin, looking at him with surprise and delight.
"Huh? Sakura, you didn't go home today?"
"Shizune-senpai said it was too late, so she let me stay the night," Sakura quickly put down the basin and hurried over to Aoba, taking out his shoes and placing them neatly by the entrance.
She looked just like a devoted wife waiting for her husband's return.
"Sakura, I know where my shoes are," Aoba chuckled, ruffling her hair.
"I like doing this," Sakura lowered her head, her face blushing pink.
"…"
Aoba had nothing more to say, 'If she enjoys it, what can I do?
The two walked into the living room, where Tsunade lay sprawled on the couch, looking utterly miserable.
Aoba could only sigh.
Now, he truly understood Shizune's suffering.
Still, at least he hadn't been forced to sleep on the streets.
Sensing a familiar presence, Tsunade mumbled, "Brat? Come rub my shoulders. Help me sober up."
Aoba: "…"
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