Chapter 39
Sarutobi Hiruzen deliberately put on a stern face, his gaze falling on Naruto: "Naruto, you were way too reckless this time! I heard you were almost blown to ashes by the enemy's ninjutsu."
"Aw come on, Hokage-jiji, don't keep trying to scare me."
Naruto put both hands behind his head and said nonchalantly: "I already told you—Fox Sage was protecting me. It looked scary, but everything was under control!"
Looking at Naruto's carefree attitude, Sarutobi Hiruzen let out a helpless sigh.
How could this child's heart be so big?
Though what he said was true: at age three he had already triggered controllable Nine-Tails chakra and easily defeated a Kumogakure jōnin.
As the Nine-Tails jinchūriki, even a tiny leak of that power would be more than enough to overwhelm three chūnin.
Over the years he hadn't used it again, but through indirect questioning he had confirmed with Naruto the source of that power.
Naruto's answer was always the same: if there was real danger, Fox Sage would lend him that power to protect him.
So while the main personality didn't have full control, the sub-personality wouldn't sit idly by in a crisis.
Before today there had never been a chance to truly verify it—he couldn't exactly send Konoha ninja to assassinate Naruto just to test his strength.
They weren't Sunagakure; according to spy reports, their jinchūriki went berserk and killed people every few days.
"Under control, huh…"
Sasuke—who had been silent until now—suddenly spoke.
He didn't retort excitedly or mock arrogantly like usual.
He simply seemed to recall something. Head lowered, staring at the floor tiles, his voice was unnaturally calm: "At that moment… I really thought you were dead."
Naruto's smile froze for a second.
"That feeling… was terrible."
After saying that, Sasuke fell silent again, lips pressed tightly together.
Uchiha Fugaku looked at his son's profile. As a father, he understood the dark undercurrent still roiling beneath Sasuke's calm exterior.
"Alright. Since the mission report is finished, go home and rest for now."
The Third Hokage broke the silence.
Uchiha Fugaku gave the Hokage a slight nod and turned toward the door: "Sasuke, let's go."
"Yes, Father."
Sasuke steadied his emotions and followed his father.
Seeing this, Naruto also said goodbye to Hokage-jiji and trotted out after them.
The three walked out of the Hokage Tower.
The setting sun stretched their shadows long.
Just as they stepped outside, Sasuke stopped.
"Father."
Uchiha Fugaku paused and turned to his son: "What is it? If it's about the battle in the back mountain, it's fine. Every ninja will experience that eventually…"
"It's not that."
Sasuke raised his head. On that still somewhat childish face was an expression full of longing for recognition.
"Just now in the fight… when I thought Naruto had died… this awakened."
Sasuke closed his eyes. When he opened them again, his originally pitch-black pupils were instantly dyed scarlet.
In those crimson eyes, one tomoe spun in the left, two tomoe in the right—clear and distinct.
This was the symbol of the Uchiha clan's power—Sharingan.
Awakening the Sharingan at this age was exceedingly rare—not just now, but even in the Warring States era of the Uchiha clan's past, such cases were few and far between.
For a moment, a rare look of astonishment appeared on Uchiha Fugaku's usually stern, imposing face.
But he stared at those eyes for a long time, as though seeing through them the despair and pain his son had endured in that instant.
"Good."
After organizing his thoughts slightly, Uchiha Fugaku reached out and gently placed his large hand on Sasuke's head.
"Awakening the Sharingan at seven… Sasuke, you've accomplished something even Itachi didn't at your age."
His voice was low: "As expected of my son."
Hearing those words, the red light in Sasuke's eyes flickered slightly.
The corners of his mouth lifted faintly, but the emotions in his heart were complicated.
He had surpassed his brother's record—but this wasn't something to be happy about.
If Naruto had really died back then, it would mean he awakened the Sharingan at the cost of losing a friend.
Did his father truly not understand how he felt right now?
"Naruto."
Uchiha Fugaku withdrew his hand. His gaze shifted to Naruto, who was curiously staring at Sasuke's eyes.
"Huh? Uncle Fugaku?" Naruto snapped back to attention.
"It's getting late." Fugaku glanced at the twilight sky: "You two probably don't need to go back to school anymore."
"Since you're already here, come have dinner at our house. Itachi came back from his mission today too. Mikoto should have prepared quite a few dishes."
"Really?!"
Naruto's eyes lit up instantly. His stomach also cooperated with a loud guu~ rumble.
"Awesome! It's been so long since I had Aunt Mikoto's tomato beef stew! That stuff is super delicious!"
In recent years, after the Uchiha attitude toward the jinchūriki began to shift, Mikoto had frequently invited Naruto over for meals.
For this child who lacked family warmth, the Uchiha dinner table had become one of his warmest memories.
"Then let's go."
Uchiha Fugaku turned to lead the way, a faint, almost imperceptible smile on his lips.
But after turning around, beneath that smile in the old father's eyes lay a deep, contemplative look.
Sharingan.
Uchiha Fugaku knew very well the price of this power.
For Sasuke to awaken the Sharingan meant that in that moment, the sense of loss and pain in his heart had reached its limit.
The more power gained, the more was lost… this was the Uchiha curse.
Uchiha Fugaku glanced sideways behind him.
Sasuke was walking beside Naruto. Though his mouth still grumbled complaints, the corner of his eye never left Naruto—an unmistakable relief at having him back.
Fortunately… Uzumaki Naruto didn't die.
Uchiha Fugaku secretly rejoiced in his heart.
Not in the political sense of the jinchūriki surviving, but as Sasuke's companion.
As a strict father, he wasn't good at comforting his son's wounded heart with words.
But he knew who could. Since those eyes awakened because of Naruto, the wound in his heart could only be healed by Naruto too.
Let Naruto spend more time with Sasuke these next few days. Let this regained bond wash away the fear of loss.
Perhaps that was the best psychological comfort he—as a father—could give his son at this moment.
Uchiha compound.
When the three entered the house, the aroma of food already filled the air.
"I'm home." After changing shoes at the entrance, Sasuke spoke a little louder than usual.
"Sorry to intrude!" Naruto—completely at ease—called out familiarly.
"Ah, welcome back."
Uchiha Itachi—dressed in casual home clothes—walked out of the kitchen carrying a dish.
Seeing the two filthy kids, he paused slightly, then showed a gentle smile.
"Looks like you two went through quite an adventure today, Sasuke, Naruto-kun."
"Brother!"
Sasuke's eyes lit up when he saw Itachi. He almost bragged about the Sharingan, but remembering how it awakened, he held back.
He simply nodded with restraint: "Mm. Today Iruka-sensei was in danger. Naruto and I helped deal with some trouble."
"Oh, Naruto's here too?"
Uchiha Mikoto came out of the kitchen, apron tied around her waist.
She smiled warmly: "Go wash up quick—you two are filthy like little stray cats. Tonight we're having my specialty tomato dishes. Naruto, eat plenty, okay?"
"Got it! Long live Aunt Mikoto!" Naruto cheered, grabbing Sasuke and rushing familiarly toward the bathroom.
Watching the two children horse around as they left, Uchiha Fugaku took off his Police Force jacket.
"Honey, you've worked hard."
Uchiha Mikoto came over to take her husband's coat. She keenly sensed the change in his mood: "Did something happen?"
Uchiha Fugaku glanced toward the bathroom and lowered his voice, a trace of emotion in his tone:
"Sasuke awakened the Sharingan."
"And… our choice was not wrong."
As long as that bond still existed,
the Uchiha future would no longer be that blood-soaked ending.
"Sasuke… awakened the Sharingan?"
Uchiha Itachi—who had just been heading back into the kitchen—suddenly froze.
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