Chapter 593: Conflict
On the other side, Jiraiya also explained the matter of the Child of Prophecy to Naruto.
"So, I will eventually become a ninja who changes the entire ninja world?" Naruto was half in doubt, and raised a question, "But my strength is still far inferior to Sakura-kun's!"
At the mention of Sakura, the smile on Jiraiya's face stiffened.
Excluding this special case, Naruto indeed very much looked the part of the Child of Prophecy: his strength far exceeded that of his peers, his talent was unfathomably deep, and stepping to the peak of the ninja world in the future to become the great hero who defeated Akatsuki and saved the world would be a piece of cake.
But he truly couldn't exclude her!
If Naruto and Sasuke's growth could already be considered dazzling, then Haruno Sakura's cheat-like progress in strength could completely blind the eyes of onlookers.
Jiraiya truly couldn't fathom how, as Naruto's peer, that girl could train to acquire such skills at this age! Without a Kekkei Genkai, without relying on a Tailed Beast inside her body, the upper limit of her physical talent could almost be seen with the naked eye. Countless people had once concluded that she would at most reach the level of an elite Jonin or an ordinary "Kage," but in the end, she had forcibly forged her own path!
During their brief encounter last night, Jiraiya saw clearly that her strength had already far surpassed his own, and she was still continuously improving. Even if Naruto mastered Sage Mode and became a perfect Jinchuriki, his power would probably only be slightly stronger than Sakura's current level. But by that time, who knows what realm the future Sakura would have grown into...
He was having a headache thinking of how to explain, and just then, Sage Fukasaku walked over.
"Ahem," the Sage coughed drily twice, speaking in a serious tone, "Strength is not the most important factor. As the Child of Prophecy, what's more important is the determination to bring revolution and peace to the ninja world. Without such a will, no matter how strong your power is, you're just another Pain!"
"You're right, Grandpa Sage!" The easily persuaded Naruto instantly cheered up.
The old toad smiled faintly and continued: "Furthermore, a prophecy is not something destined to happen; it is only a possibility of the future. If you don't train hard, Naruto, and lack the determination to reform the ninja world, then even if you are the Child of Prophecy, you will accomplish nothing, and the prophesied events won't occur. Conversely, if someone works harder than you, is more talented, and has more determination, then perhaps the Child of Prophecy might become that person!"
Naruto only understood the superficial meaning of these words, which was that even if confirmed as the Child of Prophecy, he still had to train hard.
Fukasaku's words were actually meant more for Jiraiya to hear.
He wanted to give Jiraiya a preventative shot first.
Jiraiya somewhat caught the hidden meaning.
He found Sage Fukasaku's words strange: according to this logic, couldn't Sasuke, Sakura, or perhaps any strong person potentially be the Child of Prophecy?
"In short, your most important task at this stage is to train hard to improve your own strength!" Without waiting for Jiraiya to process this, Sage Fukasaku summarized loudly, "Whether you want to become Hokage or reform the ninja world, to achieve anything, you must first possess sufficiently powerful strength!"
...
At the same time, Konoha.
After seeing Naruto off, Haruno Sakura felt a bit melancholy.
Lingering at Training Ground Seven for a long time, she didn't want to go home too early. After thinking for a moment, she walked towards Sasuke's house.
A short while later, at the entrance to Sasuke's apartment.
"Why are you here?"
The boy, who had returned late, was very surprised to see Haruno Sakura waiting outside his door.
"I finished the treatment a day early, so I came back to the village... and I just saw Naruto off," the girl answered. "What about you? Why are you only getting home now?"
Sasuke smiled bitterly: "I took a trip to the Naka Shrine. To look at the contents of the stone monument one more time before I completely lose my sight."
"Lose your sight?"
Catching this word, Haruno Sakura suddenly furrowed her brows.
She sighed and said slowly: "Have your eyes... has your vision deteriorated to such a severe extent?"
Sasuke nodded silently.
The girl opened her mouth, but had nothing to say.
"I can somewhat understand now why Madara Uchiha would take his own younger brother's eyes. Losing your light step by step, feeling your visual prowess slipping away until you can no longer fight... it's truly terrifying," Sasuke raised his head, gazing at the starry sky, and said faintly.
Because of his declining vision, many of the stars he could see had disappeared.
The beautiful scenery of a sky full of stars seemed to only exist in his memories now.
"And more importantly..."
Sasuke once held a stubborn thought, unwilling to change his eyes. He knew the Mangekyou Sharingan would gradually lose its sight with use unless he transplanted his father's or brother's eyes. But for various reasons, he didn't want to change them.
Sasuke had to admit that he harbored various emotions towards the village, his father, and his brother. No matter how much persuasion or counseling he received, Sasuke still resented Konoha for forcing the Uchiha massacre, hated his father's powerlessness as clan head, and loathed his brother even more for conspiring with outsiders to slaughter the Uchiha clan and their parents.
Rationally, as he investigated the truth more deeply, he gradually realized this was a tragedy where both sides made mistakes. But emotionally, Sasuke still couldn't let go of the knot in his heart, resisting contact with everything related to them.
However, when this day finally arrived, Sasuke realized how immature and awkward his past self had been.
Especially when he saw Naruto give up the New Year's celebration to rush off overnight for training.
His heart was suddenly touched.
The identity of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki had caused Naruto so much suffering and earned him so many cold stares. Yet he never conflicted over using the Nine-Tails' power. He trained diligently, pursued strength, and knew why he needed to be powerful.
In contrast, how ridiculous he himself was for constantly agonizing and refusing to use Fugaku's Sharingan!
More importantly, he needed power...
He couldn't rely on Naruto to fight until he was covered in bruises every time, he couldn't let Sakura-kun risk mutual destruction every time, and he couldn't play the role of the protected one every time!
He needed to become stronger to face this dangerous world and protect the people important to him.
"To need Naruto to remind me of such a simple truth, I really am unbearably stupid." Sasuke laughed at himself.
"No. To be able to walk out of the maze in your own heart," the girl smiled faintly, "I think this kind of Sasuke is full of wisdom!"
Every step of growth in life is usually accompanied by the pain of acknowledging one's past stupidity.
Haruno Sakura very much appreciated people who could overcome this pain.
Hearing Sakura say this, the smile on Sasuke's face became much more relaxed.
"Thank you, Sakura-kun." He pursed his lips, lowered his head, as if he had made a decision. "I will go find the Fifth Hokage tomorrow for the eye transplant surgery. I can't delay this any longer."
"Transplanting your father's eyes?" Haruno Sakura was startled and asked, "I remember, it seems he didn't awaken the Mangekyou Sharingan..."
"It doesn't matter, if I can awaken the Mangekyou once, I can awaken it again." Sasuke replied confidently, "The sooner I get new eyes, the sooner I can awaken a new Mangekyou!"
"That's true." The girl nodded.
"By the way... do you want me to die in front of you one more time?"
Speaking of this, Haruno Sakura suddenly recalled the scene of Sasuke just awakening his Mangekyou. She playfully winked at Sasuke and giggled.
Sasuke felt extremely embarrassed.
"Hey, hey, hey, hurry up and forget about that!"
"No way, hahaha..."
...
They accidentally talked for too long.
When they snapped back to reality, Sakura and Sasuke realized they had been foolishly standing in front of the door talking for ages, even forgetting to open the door.
Sasuke hurriedly opened the door and invited Sakura in to sit for a while, but she politely declined.
It was already getting quite late.
"Since you've decided to have the surgery tomorrow, get to rest early tonight!" Haruno Sakura said. "That's all for today, see you tomorrow!"
"Mhm, see you tomorrow."
"Good night."
The girl smiled softly, waved goodbye, and then vanished into the night with a Body Flicker.
She left very smoothly, but on the way home, she suddenly felt conflicted—
Weren't they supposed to have a Team 7 reunion for the New Year's celebration? As a result, one went to train, the other went for surgery, and in the end, she was the only one who could attend the celebration?