UTBW: Ch. 70

The current situation of the shinobi world was orchestrated by you from the shadows, Junichi thought. In other words, the current state of affairs is exactly what you wanted to see. Even so, I won't try to change it. Nor do I have the right to interfere.

A bunch of powerless ordinary people standing atop powerful ninjas, it was an entirely unreasonable situation. But strength itself was the greatest reason.

The Sage of Six Paths was invincible in the shinobi world today; his will was the unquestionable truth. Therefore, he chose to endure. It wasn't out of cowardice, but respect and awe toward the strong.

"Just writing a single letter is enough to settle the matter of the Hokage's seat. It's no trouble for me at all." he smiled, and seeing the ink had dried, he folded the letter and placed it into an envelope.

Then, he sealed it with wax. After thinking for a moment, he called over an elite clansman with and instructed him to immediately set off and deliver the letter to the daimyō.

The clansman was stunned at first but quickly became flushed with excitement. "Yes! I will complete the mission!"

He carefully stored the letter, secretly gathered a few other clansmen, and quietly left the village.

---

Meanwhile, at the home of Fugaku, the clan's medical-nin finished the examination, packed up his tools, and prepared to leave.

"It's not too serious, just excessive blood loss. After about ten days of rest, you should be able to get out of bed."

"Thank you for your trouble," Fugaku half-sat up and expressed his gratitude.

"You should stay lying down," the medical-nin shook his head and pressed him back down. Afterward, with Mikoto seeing him out and handing over the payment, he left Fugaku's home.

At that moment, Sasuke was finally allowed to approach.

"Father..." His eyes were red, and he walked uneasily toward Fugaku's bedside like a frightened little animal.

When he saw his father's empty right sleeve, his nose stung, and he couldn't hold back his tears: "Your hand... why is it gone?"

"It's alright, Sasuke." Fugaku smiled and reached out with his left hand to hug Sasuke.

Being hugged only made Sasuke cry even harder. Through his sobs, he said, "And Nii-san... why did he die? What exactly happened tonight in the clan? Why won't anyone tell me anything?!"

The sounds of his grief and panic echoed throughout the room.

Mikoto, who had just returned to the doorway after seeing off the doctor, also silently wept upon hearing his words.

Why hadn't they told Sasuke? Because he was just an innocent child. No one knew how to explain it to him.

"Sasuke..." Fugaku let out a deep sigh and lifted him up, so they were face-to-face.

"Father?" Sasuke stared at Fugaku in confusion.

Fugaku's expression grew extremely serious as he said, "You're a smart boy, but you lack experience. If I tell you too much too early, it will only cause you confusion."

"Just like Itachi..." He paused slightly, grief flashing through his eyes. He had taken Itachi to the battlefield too young, forcing him to ponder life and death far before he was ready. That was what led Itachi to become so extreme and unstable.

"Like Nii-san?" Sasuke couldn't quite understand, looking even more puzzled.

"In any case, as you grow up, I will gradually tell you everything," Fugaku said, not expecting him to fully grasp it. "For now, what I can tell you is this: tonight, there was a war. Many people from our clan and the ANBU have died. My arm, and your brother... were both lost in that war."

War? Sasuke's eyes widened in shock. For him, war had only ever been something he read about in textbooks, something distant and far away.

He never imagined... That tonight, it would happen right beside him? No wonder the school had kept him detained after hours, it was to keep him away from the fighting...

He instinctively began to think deeply.

"Each year you grow older, I will tell you more," Fugaku said, gently stroking Sasuke's head, his eyes deep and serious. "When you turn sixteen, I believe I'll be able to tell you the whole truth."

"Mm-hmm!" Sasuke nodded vigorously, eyes full of hope and expectation.

Seeing this, Fugaku smiled. This time, he would use a different approach to raise his second son, Sasuke.

A correct approach, teaching him the right things.

The mistakes made with Itachi would never be repeated again!

---

The next day, Konoha passed through a strangely peaceful night in an unusual calm. The events of the previous day were quickly buried. All information was contained at the jonin-level and did not spread any further. After all, it was not something to be proud of.

"Hmm…" In the hospital, Hiruzen slowly opened his eyes, his consciousness regaining clarity.

He saw an unfamiliar ceiling. The air was filled with the smell of disinfectant and medicine.

Is this... the hospital? he slowly recalled what had happened, gaining a rough understanding of his situation.

Yesterday, in a fit of rage, he had passed out. Others must have brought him to the hospital.

"Mmm mmm mmm" Hiruzen tried to call out, but only muffled, incoherent sounds came from his mouth, and saliva uncontrollably dripped down.

No way...

He hurriedly tried to move, attempting to sit up. But the next second, his expression turned to horror.

No feeling! His body had no feeling at all! His limbs and torso seemed no longer his own, he couldn't move them at all.

He could barely turn his neck, and even that was only a fraction of his usual range.

Am I paralyzed?

"Mmm mmm mmm..." At this point, he also realized that his mouth was numb. He couldn't freely open or close it; even his tongue was difficult to move. As a result, he couldn't stop the saliva from leaking out bit by bit.

"Mmm mmm mmm!!"

How could this be happening to him? How could he be paralyzed!? He hadn't defeated the Uchiha clan yet, he hadn't avenged the Sarutobi clan yet!

Suddenly, the door to the room was opened, and a group of people rushed in anxiously.

They had heard the commotion and guessed that Hiruzen had woken up.

"Mmm mmm mmm!!" Hiruzen cried out louder, his eyes desperately wide. He didn't want anyone to see him like this.

But it was already too late.

"S-Sandaime-sama...?" The group who entered froze, their expressions clearly changing the moment they saw him.

His face was twisted, his mouth drooped to one side, and his whole body was stiff. What they saw wasn't the kind, wise Third Hokage they once knew, it was an elderly man paralyzed and twitching on a hospital bed.

In an instant, their expectations fell sharply, crashing several levels downward.

"Please stay calm! I'll go get the medical-nin right away!" One of them reacted quickly and rushed out of the room.

Hiruzen could do nothing to stop him. He could only shut his eyes in pain.

The room fell into a heavy silence. Everyone else shifted uncomfortably, eyes flickering as they contemplated inwardly.

But no one spoke.

They needed to wait for the medical-nin to examine and confirm his condition before showing their reactions. Still, a strange, heavy atmosphere had already begun to fill the room.

"..."

Hiruzen lay there with his eyes closed.

He knew he was finished. Everyone would now push him down like a crumbling wall.