Neji and Tenten were moving forward quickly after hearing Sasuke's frantic shouting from the front. They struggled through the deep snow, trying to reach the rest of the group to see what was wrong.
Lee was following right behind them, pushing himself to keep up. However, as he stepped forward, his foot hit a patch of solid ice hidden under the soft snow. His leg flew out from under him, and he let out a loud, sudden scream as he began to tumble.
"AAAAAAHHHHHH!"
Lee yelled as he lost his balance completely.
He slid forward with a lot of force. His foot crashed right into the back of Karin's leg, just below her knee. Karin, who was already shivering and unstable, had no time to react. The sudden impact knocked her legs out from under her.
"KYAAAAAA!"
Karin shrieked in pain and surprise. Both of them fell hard into the deep, freezing snow.
The sudden noise of their shouting and the sound of them crashing down echoed through the cold mountain air, adding to the chaos of the evening.
The group was in a state of panic as they circled around the small, frozen boy. Sasuke continued to rub the child's hands, but his mind was spinning with dark, fearful thoughts.
'He's so cold. If his heart stops because I was too slow to find shelter, I will never be able to look at myself in the mirror again.' Sasuke thought.
'This is all my fault for pushing everyone so hard through this storm. Please, don't die...if you'll die then I will also....'
Hinata, seeing how desperate the situation was, suddenly looked up. Her eyes were wide, but she spoke clearly. "Sasuke-kun! Use your ninjutsu! You can use your Katon Gokakyu no Jutsu to create heat for him!"
Sasuke's eyes lit up as he realized she was right. "Good thinking, Hinata!" he shouted. He stood up immediately and rushed toward a nearby frozen tree, desperately searching for a branch he could break off to use as fuel for a flame.
While Sasuke was searching, Sakura stayed focused on the boy's slow breathing. She turned to Naruto with a serious face.
"Naruto! Give him a little bit of your chakra. Your chakra is warm and full of life—it might help jumpstart his system and keep his heart steady!"
Naruto nodded quickly, placing his hands over Mini-Sasuke's chest. He felt a surge of hope that he could actually help. "Right!, Sakura-chan! I'm on it!"
Back where the impact had happened, Lee lay face-down in the freezing snow. His head was spinning, and everything felt heavy and cold. Slowly, he began to open his eyes bit by bit. Through the whistling wind, a muffled, distant voice reached his ears.
"Lee... Lee! Get up, you're going to freeze!" Neji's voice sounded far away, as if he were speaking through a thick wall.
Hearing his name, Lee's eyes snapped wide open, instantly filling with tears from the stinging cold and the shock of the fall. He looked up and finally heard Neji's voice clearly as the older ninja leaned over him.
"Give me your hand," Neji said firmly. He grabbed Lee's arm and pulled him up, helping him sit down on a slightly flatter patch of snow so he could regain his balance. "Sit here for a second and clear your head."
Once Lee was sitting down, still sniffling and rubbing his eyes, Neji looked down at him with a stern expression.
"Stop crying and pull yourself together!!," Neji scolded him, though he stayed close to block the wind.
"You need to watch where you're stepping. If you keep being this clumsy, you'll end up falling off the cliff next time. Now, take a breath and walk carefully. We have to reach the others."
Lee wiped his eyes with his sleeve, nodding quickly as he tried to stop shivering.
A few feet away, Karin was in a much worse state. She was sitting in the snow, sobbing loudly. The pain in her leg from Lee's kick was sharp, and the freezing cold was making her feel even more miserable. Tears streamed down her face.
Tenten rushed over to her side, looking worried. She leaned down and put her arm around Karin's shoulders to give her some support.
"It's okay, Karin! Take it easy," Tenten said softly, trying to calm her down. She gripped Karin's arm firmly and slowly helped her stand up. "Just lean on me. Don't try to put all your weight on that leg yet."
Karin leaned heavily against Tenten, still crying and shivering. "It hurts so much! And it's so cold!" she wailed, her voice cracking.
Tenten kept a strong hold on her, making sure she didn't slip again. "I know, I know. Just keep moving slowly. We need to check infront what happened."
Neji, Lee, Karin, and Tenten finally reached the others. They walked slowly through the thick snow, looking tired and cold. When they arrived, they saw that the group had gathered closely together to protect the smallest member of their team.
Mini-Sasuke was now lying on Hinata's lap. She was sitting very still, rubbing his small hands with hers to keep his blood moving.
Suddenly, a large, heavy clump of snow fell from a tree branch directly above them. It landed right on Hinata's head and began to slide down, about to hit Mini-Sasuke square in the face.
Before it could touch him, Naruto's hand flashed forward. He caught the cold snow mid-air, flicking it away before a single drop could hit the boy.
Naruto looked down at the child with a warm, bright smile and poked him gently on the forehead.
"Don't worry, little guy," Naruto said softly. "I've got you. I'll always be here to protect you, no matter what."
When Mini-Sasuke heard those words and felt the gentle poke on his head, his eyes flickered. The way Naruto spoke and the way he reached out felt so familiar that it hurt.
'That felt just like... him...'
'That's what Ni-san always used to do. He would poke my forehead and tell me he was there for me. I miss him so much. I miss his voice and the way he made me feel safe.' Mini Sasuke thought.
A single, warm tear escaped from the corner of Mini-Sasuke's eye and rolled down his pale cheek. The memory of Itachi was so strong that it made his heart ache even more than the cold.
Sasuke finally spotted a thick, dry branch high up on a tree. He reached out and grabbed it, but the wood was covered in a slick layer of ice and heavy snow.
As he tried to pull it down, his hand lost its grip and his feet slid out from under him. "Darn it! Not now!" Sasuke shouted as he felt himself falling through the air.
He tumbled toward the frozen ground, but his ninja training kicked in instantly. Instead of crashing, he twisted his body mid-air and landed firmly on his feet. He skidded slightly in the white powder, but he kept his balance and stood tall, breathing hard.
He didn't waste a second and immediately reached back for the wood, his eyes full of determination to get that fire started for his younger self.
He came running back through the deep snow, clutching the wooden branch tightly. As he got closer, his heart began to race. He saw the whole group gathered in a tight circle, and he could hear the muffled sounds of their voices mixing with the wind.
To him, the scene looked like an emergency.
Fear gripped him instantly, and his mind began to spiral into dark, panicked thoughts. 'Why is everyone crowded around him? '
'Did his heart stop? Am I too late? I spent too much time looking for this stupid wood while he was fading away.' he thought.
His thought didn't let his speed down but it still raced further. 'But if he's gone, how am I supposed to keep going? How did I even survive this long without him?'
'If I lose him now, I'm losing the only piece of my past that is still pure. Please, just let me hear him breathe.'
He didn't care about the cold or his own exhaustion anymore. Every step felt like an eternity as he rushed toward the circle, terrified of what he might find when the others moved out of his way.
The group realized they needed to keep Mini-Sasuke's mind active so he wouldn't drift off into sleep. They all began to talk and act silly to make him laugh, despite the freezing cold.
Naruto started it off by making funny faces, pulling his cheeks out and crossing his eyes. "Hey, look at me! I bet I can make a face uglier than a mountain toad!" he joked, making a loud popping sound with his mouth.
Ino joined in, tickling the boy's sides gently. "You think Naruto is funny? Look at his hair! It looks like a bright yellow bird's nest!" she laughed, poking Naruto's arm.
Sakura smiled warmly and began telling a silly story about a mission where Naruto accidentally tripped into a giant bowl of ramen. "He was covered in noodles from head to toe!" she giggled, leaning close to the boy to see his reaction.
Hinata, usually shy, whispered a funny little poem she made up about a grumpy snow-rabbit, which made Mini-Sasuke's eyes crinkle at the corners.
Lee didn't want to be left out. Even though he was tired, he started doing a "sitting dance," moving his arms in big, dramatic circles. "Feel the power of youth, little Sasuke! My spirit is so hot it could melt this whole mountain!" he shouted with a big, goofy grin.
Seeing everyone acting so strange just for him, Mini-Sasuke let out a small, weak giggle. It was a tiny sound, but it gave everyone hope.
Sasuke rushed into the center of the circle, the branch in his hand now flickering with a steady, warm flame from his Katon.
The orange glow reflected in the worried eyes of his friends as he knelt down beside the boy.
Sakura quickly reached out. "Give it to me, Sasuke-kun!" she said, taking the burning branch and holding it carefully near Mini-Sasuke's shivering frame.
She positioned it just close enough for the radiating heat to reach his skin without the smoke stinging his eyes.
As the warmth began to seep into the air, Sasuke sat back on his heels, his gaze fixed on the small, pale version of himself. The sight triggered a wave of guilt that felt colder than the snow.
'I did it again. I chose the wrong path, and now he's the one paying the price for my arrogance.' Sasuke thought.
Suddenly, a sharp, bitter memory flashed through his mind—a voice echoing from earlier in their journey.
"See it with your own two eyes... whose fault is it now?"
Neji's words from their encounter with the Iwagakure shinobi rang in his ears like a curse. Back then, Sasuke had been warned, but he had pushed forward anyway, convinced his way was best.
Now, looking at the child's trembling hands, the weight of that mistake felt crushing.
'I haven't changed at all,' he thought bitterly, clenching his fists until his knuckles turned white.
'I keep leading the people I care about into disasters.'.
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✍️ AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Author's Note- The Weight of the Lead
The core of this chapter was the transition from chaos to a desperate, focused unity. Seeing the team set aside their own pain—like Lee's fall and Karin's injury—to form a protective circle around the child shows how much they have grown as a family. ❄️🤝
Writing the moment of Naruto's forehead poke was essential. It creates a bridge between Naruto and the Uchiha past that is deeply emotional. For Mini-Sasuke to see Ni-san in Naruto's kindness is a powerful way to show that even in a broken timeline, some bonds are universal. 😭✨
Finally, Sasuke's internal guilt brings back the weight of Neji's previous warnings. It wasn't just a battle against the cold; it was Sasuke's battle against his own pride. The fire he lit wasn't just for warmth—it was a symbol of his desperate need for redemption. 🔥⚖️
🗣️ TALK TO ME!
That was a heart-stopping chapter! The group truly stepped up when the world turned to ice. Let's hear your thoughts! 👇
The Forehead Poke! 😭 Did your heart break when Mini-Sasuke thought of Itachi? Seeing Naruto unconsciously mimic that "sacred" Uchiha gesture shows just how deep their connection goes. Do you think this will change how Mini-Sasuke looks at Naruto from now on? 🍥🎭
Sasuke's Guilt! 💔 Neji's words came back to haunt Sasuke in the worst way possible. He feels responsible for the child's blue lips and fading heartbeat. Do you think Sasuke is being too hard on himself, or was Neji right about his leadership? ❄️
The "Sitting Dance"! 😂 Even in a life-or-death situation, Lee and the others tried to make the little guy laugh. Which "silly" distraction was your favorite? Do you think the group's spirit is what ultimately saved him? 🟢🔥
📜 TEASER FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER
A towering wall stands guard with silent might, 🏯
As winter's teeth begin to lose their bite. 🌬️
The heavy gates swing wide to greet the dawn, 🚪
Where shadows blend and weary breaths are drawn. 🌫️
The golden frog surrenders every grain, 💰
To buy the peace that follows after pain. 🍲
Disguised as one, they walk the iron street, 🎭
Where warmth and wonder finally start to meet. ✨
📢 A NOTE TO THE READERS:
Author's Thought🔍
Keep a sharp eye on this specific line: "Please, don't die... if you'll die then I will also...." This isn't just a moment of fear; it is a confession that changes everything about their connection. ❄️⛓️
Behind these words lies a dark riddle: If the mirror shatters, what happens to the reflection? If the root is poisoned, can the branches survive? Sasuke has tied his own existence to the boy's heartbeat.
He isn't just protecting a child; he is guarding the only piece of his soul that isn't broken. If that small flame goes out, the man he has become will simply cease to be. 🌑👤
This "hidden pact" is the real anchor of their journey. As they move towards Tetsu no Kuni ahead, remember that every step is a gamble where the stakes are two lives, but only one heart. The shadow cannot exist without the light, and now, they are officially bound by a single fate. ⏳💔
SNEAK PEEK LINES 💬
"Don't shout... They'll hear you."
"Youth never freezes!"
"I'm not letting a bunch of snow beat us now! Just a little further, guys, you know!"
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—With love, one forehead poke away from collapse,
Sakura Shinomiya 💫
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