The quiet corridor echoed faintly under their footsteps as Naruto and Kushina made their way up to the upper floor. The antiseptic scent of the hospital hung in the air.
Naruto inhaled slowly, still feeling the weight of the fight. The intruder's face burned into his mind like a bad omen.
Beside him, Kushina walked with a restless energy, her fingers twitching as if she could throttle someone even through thin air.
'She is really pissed…' Naruto thought, half amused, half tense.
They reached the room, and Naruto pushed open the door.
Inside, warm yellow lamplight washed over Fugaku Uchiha, who lay still on the bed, bandages wrapped across his torso and shoulder.
Mikoto was at his side, gently adjusting the sheets with the familiar grace of a woman who had done this far too many times, yet still smiled like it was nothing.
Sasuke sat rigidly beside the bed, elbows on his knees, eyes fixed on his father's face.
The moment the door clicked open, both mother and son turned.
Mikoto's lips curved into a gentle, relieved smile the moment she saw them.
Sasuke's eyes, however, flickered. The tension in his shoulders eased, but only slightly, as something was brewing in him.
Kushina strode forward immediately.
"How is Fugaku?" She asked, her voice softening a little despite her fire.
Mikoto returned the soft smile. "He is fine… just a few broken bones. They will heal soon."
Kushina exhaled sharply, her irritation practically crackling. "That bastard is really… tch. I really wanted to beat that intruder, and that snake Orochimaru."
Her fingers curled into fists at her sides.
Mikoto chuckled with a quiet, elegant understanding.
"I know," She murmured.
Naruto offered a small smile before moving toward Sasuke.
Sasuke didn't move at first, eyes still on his father's resting face.
Naruto placed a hand on his shoulder, giving a firm, wordless reassurance.
Finally, Sasuke groaned under his breath and stood up.
"Follow me," He said quietly. "I want to talk about something."
The seriousness in his tone pierced the air.
Naruto's expression sharpened, his carefree façade dropping.
"Yeah," He nodded. "Let's go."
They stepped out of the room, the door clicking shut behind them, and walked through the quiet hallways in heavy silence.
The sound of their footsteps felt louder than normal, almost echoing their thoughts.
Sasuke led him up the last staircase and pushed open the door to the rooftop.
------
The rooftop was quiet compared to the chaos that had ravaged the village just hours ago.
A faint wind blew across the concrete, carrying with it the scent of dust, burnt wood, and the bittersweet sting of loss.
Naruto and Sasuke stepped out into the open air, their sandals scraping softly against the ground.
Sasuke didn't stop until he reached the metal fence. He placed a hand on it, fingers curling tightly around the cold steel. Naruto stood beside him, watching the dark-haired boy's shoulders rise and fall with each controlled breath.
For a moment, neither said anything.
Only the distant sounds from the hospital, consisting of voices of nurses, muffled conversation, and someone crying softly, filled the silence.
Naruto was the first to speak, his tone softer than usual. "…Sasuke, what did you wanna talk about?"
Sasuke didn't turn. His gaze stayed fixed on the ruined skyline of Konoha, on toppled walls, collapsed roofs, and cracked roads.
The weight of what had happened lingered heavily in the air.
Finally, his voice came out low. "Everything… everything changed today."
Naruto blinked, taken slightly aback by the seriousness in Sasuke's tone. "Sasuke…?"
Sasuke exhaled slowly, his fingers tightening on the fence. "My father fought with everything he had… and even then, he couldn't stop him... Guy-sensei, too."
His dark eyes narrowed, replaying the moment in his mind. "That red-haired intruder… he didn't even look like he was trying."
Naruto's jaw clenched, faking a serious expression while chuckling softly inside his heart. He remembered clearly, after all, that intruder was himself.
"Yeah… he was strong," Naruto admitted, scratching his bandaged arm awkwardly. "Crazy strong."
"But you still rushed in," Sasuke said suddenly. "Even though you knew he was out of your league."
Sasuke's voice wasn't mocking, and it carried a complicated mix of respect and frustration.
Naruto looked down at his wrapped hand. "…I had to. I couldn't just stand there."
Sasuke finally turned to look at him. "That's exactly what bothers me."
"Huh?" Naruto raised his head.
Sasuke stepped closer, his expression firm, sharper than Naruto had ever seen it. "You charge in. You act before you think. That's who you are… but today it almost got you killed."
Naruto felt something in his chest. He never thought that Sauke would be worried for him.
"…Sasuke… are you saying you care?" Naruto teased, a small grin tugging at his lips.
"Tch, idiot." Sasuke clicked his tongue and looked away, cheeks barely twitching. "I just don't want you dragging the rest of us down."
Naruto laughed softly, but Sasuke wasn't done.
"That guy…" Sasuke said, voice turning colder, deeper. "Someone that powerful… someone who can toy with Jonin-level fighters like they're nothing… if people like him exist…"
Sasuke's eyes hardened, a burning determination igniting within them. "…then I'm nowhere near strong enough."
Naruto's breath hitched as he saw the familiar Sasuke he knew. His grin faded, replaced by something quieter and more serious.
"I get it," Naruto murmured. "Believe me… I really get it."
His eyes drifted to his bandages again. "I thought I was getting stronger… y'know? I thought I could protect people now…"
Sasuke looked at him again, noticing the rare vulnerability in Naruto's voice.
"…But today I realized… I'm still way too weak."
The wind rustled Sasuke's hair, brushing strands across his forehead. For once, the silence between them wasn't awkward but heavy, and filled with unspoken resolve.
"Naruto," Sasuke said after a moment, "You're annoying."
He paused for a moment before continuing, "But you're also the only one who pushes forward without hesitation. That's why… I'm going to say this clearly."
He stepped closer, eyes locked with Naruto's. "I am not going to fall behind. Next time, it will be me who will attack and defeat that bastard. I will avenge my father."
Naruto blinked, and then a slow, confident grin spread across his face.
"Heh. You don't have to tell me twice." He jabbed a thumb at his chest. "After all, that's who you are... I'm just waiting for you to say that."
Sasuke let out a short exhale, something that might have been a laugh.
"Good." He turned back toward the village, watching the sun dip lower behind the ruined rooftops. "Because next time… I won't let myself feel helpless."
Naruto stepped beside him, the fire in his eyes matching Sasuke's. "And next time… I'm not letting anyone get hurt like this again."
Their shoulders brushed barely, and neither pulled away.
The wind carried their determination across the broken village, a promise silently carved into the remnants of the day.