I, Uchiha, will not be whitewashed!

Chapter 114 Visit.

Hokage's office, early morning.

Sunlight streamed in through the window, falling on the long table, and dust motes floated in the beams of light.

On the table lay the report delivered by the Anbu last night: "Uchiha Sasuke has been confirmed to have entered the Land of Rice Fields, met up with Orochimaru's subordinates, and disappeared."

Minato sat in the main seat, with the Hokage hat beside him.

After reading the report, he neither frowned nor sighed, remaining as calm as if he had just finished approving an ordinary document.

Sakumo Hatake leaned against the window with his eyes closed.

Yamanaka Inoichi sat on the left, holding a summary of intelligence reports.

Nara Shikaku sat on the right, tapping his fingers lightly and slowly on the table.

Shuoge stood in the corner, his knife leaning against the wall, his mask tucked into his waistband.

Kakashi stood in front of the desk, his headband pulled down to cover his left eye. There were dried bloodstains on his clothes—not his, but from the enemy during the chase.

He lowered his head, his lips pressed into a thin line.

"What's the situation with the pursuit team?" Minato's voice was soft.

"Everyone survived." Nara Shikaku opened a report. "Choji is seriously injured, with a broken left arm and internal organ contusions; he has been taken to the hospital. Neji and Kiba are slightly injured, and Akamaru has a broken left leg. Naruto was in a moderate coma but has regained consciousness. Shikamaru has exhausted his chakra; he should recover in a few days."

"Shikamaru's tactics are sound." Sakumo Hatake opened his eyes and glanced at Kakashi. "The opponent was the Sound Five; surviving is already a huge achievement."

Kakashi didn't speak. Minato stood up, walked to the window, and looked outside. People were setting up stalls on the streets of Konoha, and children were running around. The sun was shining brightly.

"Sasuke's defection was his own choice." Minato turned to look at Kakashi. "It's not your fault."

Kakashi looked up, his eyes bloodshot. "If only I had discovered it sooner—but what good would it have done? Stop him, lock him up—his heart would still be outside."

The sound of the water gate wasn't loud, but it was very clear.

"Orochimaru didn't give him power, he gave him bait. He took the bait not because your teaching was insufficient, but because he was still young."

Young people always feel they can't wait.

A moment of silence fell over the office. Shuoge leaned against the corner of the wall, his face expressionless.

"From today onwards, Uchiha Sasuke is classified as a rogue ninja. Rank B." Minato walked back to the table, picked up a pen, wrote a few words on a document, and stamped it with the Hokage's seal.

"The wanted poster won't be sent to the major ninja villages; it'll only remain in Konoha's archives. He's still young; let's leave him a way out."

"Yes." Shikaku took the document.

Minato looked at Kakashi. "You're his teacher. He's gone astray, and you're responsible for pulling him back. But not now. You're not in good shape right now. Let's get you back on track."

Kakashi was silent for a few seconds, then nodded.

Meeting adjourned.

Everyone left the office one after another. Sakugo was the last to leave, and as he reached the door, Shuimen called him back.

"Shuoge".

He stopped, without turning around. "Did you know about Sasuke beforehand?"

"Know."

Minato didn't press the matter. "Next time, I'll tell you in advance."

"This is his choice."

"At least... we're prepared." Minato knew that no one could stop a moth drawn to a flame, but the thought of Naruto's condition gave him a headache.

Perhaps we could let Naruto go out for a walk?

Konoha Hospital.

When Naruto woke up, it was already daylight.

The curtains in the ward were not drawn, and sunlight streamed in through the window, falling harshly on the white sheets.

He squinted, trying to turn over, when a dull pain shot through his left shoulder, making him gasp.

I sat up, propping myself up on the edge of the bed, and looked down at my shoulder—it was wrapped in several layers of white bandages, with a ring of pale yellow ointment seeping out from the edges.

He remembered the battle at the Valley of the End.

Sasuke's Chidori pierced his left shoulder, and his fist smashed into Sasuke's face.

Sasuke is gone; he has collapsed.

The door was pushed open.

Sakura Haruno stood in the doorway, carrying a bag of fruit. She was wearing a pink top, her hair was tied in a ponytail, and she had dark circles under her eyes. She paused for a moment when she saw Naruto sitting there, then quickly walked in and placed the fruit on the bedside table.

"You're awake. The doctor said you need to stay in bed for another two days."

Where's Sasuke?

Sakura Haruno's fingers clenched the hem of her clothes. "Let's go."

Naruto looked down at his bandaged hand. "I'll go get him."

"You should heal your injuries first." Sakura Haruno took an apple out of her bag and started peeling it with a fruit knife. Halfway through, she paused because the apple peel broke. She didn't pick it up, but continued peeling, and handed it to Naruto when she finished.

Naruto took it, took a bite, chewed it twice, and swallowed. The apple was crisp and sweet, but he couldn't taste any flavor.

The door opened again. Shikamaru walked in, his hands in his pockets, his face expressionless. He walked to the bedside, glanced at the bandage on Naruto's shoulder, then at the bag of fruit on the bedside table, and sat down next to him.

"Choji has a broken left arm, Neji is slightly injured, Kiba's leg is fine, and Akamaru's leg is broken. I was depleted of chakra and only needed to rest for a day to recover."

Shikamaru paused. "Sasuke didn't catch up."

Naruto said nothing.

"I didn't stop him because I didn't think things through enough—" Shikamaru's voice was low.

"It's not your fault." Naruto threw the apple core into the trash can. "It's mine. I can't beat him."

Shikamaru glanced at him, offering neither rebuttal nor comfort. He stood up and dusted off his pants.

"Take good care of yourself and recover. We'll definitely bring Sasuke back next time."

he's gone.

The ward fell silent again. Sakura Haruno collected the fruit peels into a plastic bag and wiped the water stains off the table. She stood by the bed, looking at Naruto.

Naruto: "I will not give up."

"But... what if he doesn't want to come back?"

"Then break his arms and legs and tie him up!"

Sakura Haruno didn't say anything more. She turned and walked away, stopping at the door without looking back.

"Naruto, thank you."

The door closed.

Naruto sat alone on the hospital bed, looking out the window.

The sky was blue, the clouds were white, and in the distance, someone was shouting "Youth!" on the training field—it was Kai's voice. He clenched his fist, then relaxed it. His shoulder still hurt, but he could bear it.

In the afternoon, Kakashi arrived. He leaned against the doorframe, holding "Icha Icha Paradise" in his hand, but didn't open it. His headband was pulled low, hiding his Sharingan in his left eye.

"The doctor said you can be discharged after one more day of rest."

"Kakashi-sensei, Sasuke—"

Kakashi stood quietly to one side, leaning against the wall.

At times like this, he doesn't need to say anything.

All he needs to do is be a listener.

Naruto gritted his teeth. "I will become stronger."

Kakashi nodded. "You will." He turned and walked away. His footsteps faded into the distance down the corridor.

In the evening, Jiraiya pushed open the door and came in, carrying a jug of sake in one hand and a string of dumplings in the other. He took the jug in his hand and handed the dumplings to Naruto.

"Eat it to replenish your body."

Naruto took it, took a bite, and his mouth was full of sweetness.

"Would you like to join me in this spiritual practice? The kind of spiritual practice your father went through."

Naruto chewed on a dumpling and remained silent for a moment.

"Can I become as strong as my dad?"

"That depends on how much effort you put in."

Jiraiya stood up and patted his coat. "I'll teach you something new tomorrow. You already know the Rasengan; next, we'll learn how to make it bigger."

"Get bigger?"

"Yes. Giant Rasengan." Jiraiya walked to the door and stopped.

"But you should heal your injury first."

Jiraiya, carrying a sake jug, left saying he was going to gather materials.

The moon has risen outside the window; it's round and bright.

Naruto lay down and stared at the ceiling.

The lights on the ceiling are shaped like Sasuke's Chidori.

He closed his eyes, his mind filled with images of the Valley of the End: Sasuke's Sharingan, the lightning of Chidori, and Sasuke leaving without looking back. He turned over.

"I won't lose next time."