The Next Day
The sun rose on a Konoha still reeling from the aftermath of the Konoha Crush. Jiraiya and Naruto had departed early, their figures already small in the distance, embarking on their journey to find Tsunade. The village, though slowly returning to a semblance of normalcy, bore the scars of the recent conflict, a somber reminder of the losses suffered.
Sasuke Uchiha, his dark eyes resolute, stood before Kakashi Hatake at the training grounds, which was quiet, save for the rustling of leaves and the distant chirping of birds. Kakashi leaned against a weathered training post, his single visible eye narrowed in thought.
"Kakashi-sensei," Sasuke began, his voice low and firm, "I request your assistance in training."
Kakashi raised an eyebrow, his expression a mixture of surprise and contemplation. "Sasuke?" he said, his voice laced with his usual casual drawl. "Training? Now? I'm rather busy with village affairs, you know, post-Konoha attack incident and all that."
"And you should be resting now. Even though your injuries were minor."
Sasuke's gaze remained unwavering. "I understand, but I must become stronger. I need your guidance."
Kakashi sighed, his visible eye softening slightly. "Alright, alright," he said, pushing himself off the post. "A brief sparring session, then. But don't expect miracles."
________
The following day, Sasuke found himself in the sterile, white corridors of Konoha Hospital. The air was thick with the scent of antiseptic and the hushed murmurs of medical-nin. He paused outside a shared room, his expression unreadable, before sliding the door open.
Inside, Choji Akimichi lay propped up against pillows, his large frame still and pale, sleeping. Shikamaru Nara and Ino Yamanaka sat beside his bed, their expressions a mix of concern and surprise at Sasuke's arrival. Choza Akimichi and Asuma Sarutobi sat on the other side.
Choza smiled warmly at Sasuke, his large face creasing with genuine kindness. "Sasuke-kun," he said, his voice a low rumble. "It's good of you to come."
'He shows a concern not often seen from the members of Uchiha clan.' He internally thought of the Uchiha clan's isolation.
Sasuke nodded curtly, then his gaze shifting to Kiba Inuzuka, who lay in the adjacent bed, surrounded by his teammates Hinata Hyuga, Shino Aburame, Kurenai Yuhi, and his sister Hana Inuzuka. They all stared at Sasuke, their expressions a mixture of shock and curiosity.
"Sasuke?" Kiba croaked, his voice hoarse. "What are you doing here?"
Before Sasuke could reply, the door slid open again, revealing Sakura Haruno and Tenten, their expressions tired but determined. They had been assisting the overwhelmed medical staff. Sakura's eyes widened when she saw Sasuke, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.
"Sasuke-kun!" she exclaimed, her voice a mix of surprise and delight.
Ino, her eyes narrowed slightly, internally thought, 'He's… he's actually being kind? Is he really Sasuke?'
Sakura internally thought, 'He's so kind! Just as I expected from the man I love!'
The others members in the room exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of confusion and cautious optimism. 'Is he… alright?' they wondered. 'Is he really becoming… caring?'
Shikamaru, his expression thoughtful, observed Sasuke's interactions, his mind racing. 'He's definitely different,' he thought, his eyes narrowing slightly. 'But is it genuine? Or is it some kind of… tactic?'
He remembered the ruthless efficiency with which Sasuke had dispatched the Sound Shinobi in the Forest of Death, a chilling reminder of his potential for violence. 'Still… it's less troublesome if he's changed for the better.'
__________
Root Base
Deep beneath the village, in the dark and secluded depths of Root headquarters, Danzo Shimura sat in his austere office, his single visible eye burning with cold fury. The room was devoid of warmth, lit only by a single flickering candle that cast long, distorted shadows across his face.
"Incompetence," he hissed, his voice a low, venomous rasp. "Hiruzen survives. Orochimaru fails. And now, Jiraiya leaves to fetch that useless woman."
He clenched his fist, his knuckles white. "They squander Konoha's potential," he growled. "They cling to sentimentality and weakness. Only I can restore this village to its rightful glory."
His eye closing as he thought, 'Why can't I be Hokage? I am the only one who can make this village great.'