"Okay!" As expected, Naruto agreed without any hesitation.
Hearing Naruto’s firm response, Kurama could only shake his head. "So, I really don’t agree that you and Sasuke aren’t a pair. You two care about each other so much, calling each other brothers is almost an understatement."
"Huh?" Naruto didn’t quite understand Kurama’s meaning.
"Heh. You don’t need to understand." Kurama said with a mysterious smile, and the sealing space became quiet.
Naruto knew that Kurama had gone to learn Ninjutsu from the Eight-Tails, Gyuki. He exited the seal space and looked at the lights in the hallway, his gaze drifting through the window toward the outside. The morning sunlight was already shining on the earth, and the entire sky was a deep blue.
He clenched his fists.
"For Sasuke! I will definitely learn Rasengan!"
After leaving a message for Sasuke with the nurse, Naruto ran off to find Jiraiya and continue his Rasengan training. He would also take the opportunity to learn some sealing techniques.
Only a week remained. Naruto had already completed the first two stages of Rasengan training. Now, all that was left was the third stage, which involved gathering chakra without relying on a water ball or balloon. A week wasn’t much time, but Naruto believed in himself.
Around midday, Sasuke woke up. The white curtains surrounding his bed shielded him from the outside world. Sakura stood by his side.
Sasuke gritted his teeth, sitting up despite the pain. He looked around before his gaze fell on Sakura.
"Sakura, where’s Naruto?"
Sakura paused for a moment while organizing medical supplies. She then gently turned to face him and smiled softly.
"Sasuke, you’re awake. Naruto asked me to tell you that he’s training. He’ll come to see you tonight."
Sasuke was taken aback.
It wasn’t because Naruto was training, but because of Sakura’s attitude.
It was strange. Sakura’s tone was calm, and though she smiled, it gave Sasuke a strangely peaceful feeling. This was the first time they had been alone together, and Sakura didn’t cling to him like before.
He wasn’t used to it. It felt odd.
But somehow, Sasuke thought that this version of Sakura felt more real than the one he had known.
Sasuke fell silent for a moment, then slowly asked,
"Where is he training?"
"I’m not telling you." Sakura stepped forward and adjusted the pillow behind Sasuke.
Her gaze never left what she was doing as she spoke.
"Naruto said you were hit head-on by a Tailed Beast Boom. The explosion of chakra caused serious injuries to your body. The curse mark can enhance your healing ability, but for now, you need to stay in the hospital and rest."
Sasuke felt awkward. This was the first time Sakura had refused him.
"I’m fine. I don’t need to rest..."
"Whether you’re fine or not isn’t up to you," Sakura interrupted him, her voice calm but firm. "Kakashi-sensei will come by later, and I’ll call the doctor. For now, eat your meal."
Sakura then retrieved a meal box, which was still warm to the touch.
Sasuke felt a bit helpless. He took the meal box, feeling its warmth. A sense of guilt suddenly rose in his heart.
"I’m sorry, Sakura..."
Sakura paused again as if someone had pressed the pause button on her.
"You... don’t need to apologize. I’m the one who’s sorry. I’m weak. I’m sorry."
"I didn’t mean that." Sasuke didn’t know why he felt the need to explain himself, but hearing the self-doubt in Sakura’s voice made him want to clarify.
"Because the situation was too dangerous, I only talked to Hokage-sama and Naruto about it. Even Kakashi doesn’t know. I didn’t mean to..."
"I know." Sakura continued cleaning up, her back turned to Sasuke, so he couldn’t see her expression. But the slight tremble in her voice left Sasuke speechless.
Her back still to him, Sakura’s voice grew less calm.
"I know I’m weak. I know I’m far behind all of you. When I think about how I used to look down on Naruto, thinking he was just the extra member of our team... I was such a fool."
"Now that I think about it, I was the one who was the extra."
A single drop of water fell onto the ground, leaving a mark on the smooth stone floor.
"Why am I so weak? I didn’t understand at first. I thought it was because I hadn’t made up my mind. I thought it was because I was too cowardly. But the night before last, I realized. When I could only watch Naruto and the others from behind, I understood."
"Sasuke, the reason I’m so weak is because I never really faced the reality of you all..."
Sakura’s shoulders trembled slightly.
"I thought my achievements were enough. I thought Naruto was the bottom of our team."
"I thought you would always be you, but you’re not... Sasuke, I have good grades, but I never thought about why. I just wanted to watch you."
"I thought Naruto was always the bottom of the class, but just the other night, I suddenly realized that Naruto could already handle such powerful enemies, while I don’t even have the right to keep up. I like you, but I’m getting further away from you."
"I thought you would always be you, but I never considered why you are who you are. It turns out you could also be someone else, saying things that the old you couldn’t, using lies to make me feel at ease."
Tears fell, gathering on the ground. Only three drops, but they felt like waves, rushing and overwhelming.
"Sasuke, I know I’m stupid, fooling myself like an idiot. I like you, but... I’m starting to hate myself."
"An arrogant, self-centered person who wants you to look at me, but puts the hope of saving you in someone else’s hands... Why, why am I ? When I realized it, I really wanted to understand why you never cared about me anymore."
Sasuke looked at Sakura’s back, opened his mouth wanting to say something, but realized he didn’t know how to comfort her. He could only remain silent, watching her retreating figure, as if the only thing he could say was: "Right now, you and the old me... are very similar."
That me who hated being weak and despised being useless.
At that time, the question I asked myself the most was ’What should I do?’. What should I do? Sakura, what should you do?
Sakura wiped the tears from her face and turned to look at Sasuke. She still wore that bright smile, the same smile as before, but her eyes no longer held the cheerfulness they once had.
"Sasuke, I will get stronger and catch up with you."
"Like the foolish Naruto from before, chasing after you all by himself, like the idiot Sasuke, chasing without hesitation."
Sakura took a deep breath. "Before, Kakashi-sensei asked us about our dreams. Naruto wanted to become Hokage, you wanted to kill that person, and back then, I wanted to get your attention. But now, my dream has changed."
"I will catch up with your pace, stand by your side, and when you see me, you will be surprised and say..."
’Sakura, you’ve become this strong.’
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