(Morning, Three Days After the Attack)
The sterile white of the hospital room, once a stark and clinical space, now bore the marks of visitation. Get-well cards lined the windowsill, and a small vase of wilting flowers sat on the bedside table. Sasuke sat upright in the bed, his dark eyes fixed on the blank wall opposite, his movements still a touch stiff.
Sakura fussed over him, her green eyes filled with an almost frantic concern.
"Are you sure you're feeling alright, Sasuke-kun?" she asked, her voice soft, her hands adjusting his bandages with delicate precision.
Ino leaned against the wall, her arms crossed, her expression thoughtful. "Those guys were strong," she murmured, her green eyes narrowed. "Especially that bone guy. I've never seen or heard about jutsu like that."
Naruto paced the room, his blue eyes filled with a rare seriousness. "Orochimaru… he's really after you, huh, Sasuke?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.
Kakashi stood by the window, his single visible eye scanning the room, his expression unreadable. "You were lucky," he said, his voice neutral. "That poison could have been much worse."
Sasuke's dark eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched. "I won't be lucky next time," he said, his voice firm, his gaze hardening. "I need to get stronger."
'Three days… and I still feel weak,' he thought, his internal monologue accompanied by the faint glow of his system interface:
(Name: Sasuke Uchiha)
(Age: 13)
(Chakra Reserves: 29,000/29,000 [Elite-Chunin])
(Chakra Control: 50%)
(Ninjutsu: Advanced)
(Taijutsu: Advanced)
(Shurikenjutsu: Advanced)
(Genjutsu: Proficient)
(Kenjutsu: Adept)
(Sharingan: 20/100 [Level 3])
'I need to work hard and get stronger and fast. Orochimaru won't wait,' he concluded, his eyes burning with a cold determination.
Throughout the days, various members of the Konoha 12 visited, their expressions ranging from concern to awkward attempts at cheerfulness. Kiba, still sporting a bandage on his arm, recounted his own hospital stay, empathizing with Sasuke's situation. Choji brought a bag of chips, offering them to Sasuke with a small smile. Even Hinata, visited briefly, her soft voice barely audible as she wished him a speedy recovery.
_____
Tsunade entered the room, her expression serious, her emerald eyes scanning Sasuke with a clinical intensity. Shizune followed, carrying a clipboard, her expression professional.
"The poison is almost completely neutralized," Tsunade said, her voice firm, her hands examining Sasuke's bandages. "But your chakra pathways are still recovering. You were fortunate."
She looked directly at Sasuke, her gaze unwavering. "Orochimaru is a dangerous opponent. You barely survived this encounter. Do not underestimate him."
Sasuke nodded respectfully, his dark eyes fixed on Tsunade. "I understand, Hokage-sama. But I need to train."
Tsunade sighed, her expression softening slightly. "You will train, when your body is ready. Until then, you will rest. Your body needs time to heal."
As Tsunade and Shizune turned to leave, Tsunade paused at the door, her gaze lingering on Sasuke. "Patience, Sasuke. Rushing will only lead to more injury."
_____
(Afternoon)
Sasuke sat alone in the room, the lingering scent of disinfectant mixing with the faint aroma of the wilting flowers. His thoughts were consumed by the Eight Inner Gates.
'The Gates… they hold immense power,' he thought, his brow furrowed. 'But how do I open them? I remember the concept, but not the technique.'
He glanced at the window, his gaze hardening. 'I need to find Might Guy or Rock Lee, later,' he decided.
He began to do light stretches, testing his body's recovery, his muscles still slightly stiff. 'I need to condition my body to handle the strain,' he thought, his jaw clenched.
'Even if I learn how to open them, my body needs to be able to handle the stress.'
_____
(Evening)
Under the cover of dusk, Sasuke slipped out of the hospital, making his way to a secluded training area within the hospital grounds. The small clearing, surrounded by trees, was bathed in the soft glow of the setting sun.
He began his conditioning, starting with basic exercises: push-ups, sit-ups, squats, and some streching around the clearing. He focused on controlled movements, pushing his muscles to their limits, but stopping before causing further injury.
'This pain… it's nothing compared to what I'll might face,' he thought, his breath coming in ragged gasps. 'I need to push myself, to surpass my limits.'
He thought about the Gates, the immense power they held, the key to surpassing his current limitations. 'That power… can help me in killing orochimaru though I still need to work on Raikiri as well,' he thought, his eyes burning with a cold determination.
Sasuke, sweat dripping from his brow, pushing through the pain, his resolve hardening with each grueling repetition. The faint glow of the setting sun reflected in his dark eyes, mirroring the burning determination within him.