Outside the operating room.
Future Sasuke sat quietly on a chair, waiting to receive news about the surgery's progress at the earliest possible moment.
Staying up all night was nothing out of the ordinary for him.
Click~
The tightly closed door of the operating room slowly opened.
Tsunade walked out, massaging her shoulder, and said to him, "The injuries are no longer life-threatening."
"Thank you." Future Sasuke let out a slight sigh of relief.
When Itachi fought this world's him, he hadn't even considered leaving himself a way out. The overuse of Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi was simply destroying his own body.
If he hadn't arrived in time, and Itachi had maintained the third form of Susanoo for a while longer, it would have been uncertain whether he could have been saved at all.
"Don't thank me just yet," Tsunade said, waving her hand. "His body now is like a great tree gnawed by ants and insects. It might look alright on the surface, but internally, it's already in ruins."
"As an Uchiha, you should understand the reasons better than I do."
"I know." Future Sasuke nodded.
Before the Mangekyo Sharingan was fused with a relative's eyes to ascend to the Eternal Mangekyo, it was fundamentally a consumable item that would kill a thousand enemies at the cost of eight hundred of oneself.
"His body can no longer allow him to use the Mangekyo."
After delivering this warning, Tsunade left the hospital directly.
She wasn't worried about him reneging on their deal; Itachi Uchiha's current physical state simply couldn't withstand the ordeal of a long journey.
Save one, get two free – no matter how she thought about it, this deal was a bargain.
"Please follow me. Lady Tsunade has other important matters to attend to," Shizune said, walking up to him.
She had been Lady Tsunade's assistant during the surgery.
Following Shizune into a hospital room, Itachi Uchiha and this world's him lay on separate hospital beds.
Although their faces were still somewhat pale, their lives were no longer in danger.
"Sasuke Uchiha only has some superficial wounds; he can be discharged tomorrow. The main concern is Itachi Uchiha. Lady Tsunade should have already told you about his condition. He needs a good period of rest and recuperation," Shizune said.
"I understand." Future Sasuke nodded.
"Their diet during this period should preferably be light. Spicy, irritating, or overly greasy foods should be avoided," Shizune instructed.
"Call me if you need anything. Don't try to handle things haphazardly yourself."
Watching the door close, Future Sasuke gently walked to Itachi Uchiha's bedside, pulled up a chair, and slowly sat down. He gazed at the sleeping face on the bed, gradually becoming lost in thought.
Itachi, from childhood until now, you've always been the one taking care of me. Now, it's finally my turn to take care of you…
"Itachi!" a mumble escaped.
Sasuke Uchiha seemed to be having a nightmare and abruptly sat bolt upright.
But when he saw the man lying on the hospital bed not far away, sleeping with steady breaths, his terrified expression gradually faded.
"Hooo…"
"You're awake."
Hearing his future self's voice, Sasuke Uchiha's gaze shifted to him, his lips slightly parted.
"Call me 'Jugo'."
Seemingly sensing his past self's difficulty, Future Sasuke said.
"Jugo, how is Itachi's condition?" Sasuke Uchiha quickly asked.
"He needs a period of quiet recuperation."
"That's good." Sasuke let out a sigh of relief. After learning the truth of the matter, his hatred for Itachi had long since dissipated.
What remained was only endless remorse – remorse for not discovering his painstaking efforts sooner, remorse for blindly blaming Itachi for everything without trying to understand the truth.
"Where are we now?" Sasuke Uchiha asked, puzzled, as he looked at the fine quilt covering him and the exquisitely decorated room.
"Konoha."
"Why? Aren't we enemies? Shouldn't we be seeking revenge on Konoha?" Sasuke Uchiha looked at him in disbelief.
Konoha was the chief culprit behind the massacre of their Uchiha clan!
"Revenge? With what will you seek revenge?" Future Sasuke asked calmly.
"With your life? Or Itachi's? What makes you think you can exact revenge on Konoha?"
"…" Sasuke Uchiha wanted to speak, but he dejectedly found that, aside from hysterical shouting, he could do nothing.
He stared blankly at the white ceiling.
Just like before, he was still that useless person who couldn't do anything, couldn't change anything.
"You need to understand one thing: the order to massacre the Uchiha clan was given by only a small number of people. The vast majority of the villagers were merely puppets led by those individuals," Future Sasuke sighed softly, offering comfort.
Although they were from two different worlds, the other's current thoughts were merely a rehash of his own past mistakes.
"Your target for revenge should be the people who gave the order, not those innocent villagers."
"It is because of their existence, their public pressure, that you were able to grow up safely in Konoha. They haven't forgotten the kindness the Uchiha once showed them."
"Shimura…"
Future Sasuke stopped him from saying more.
"Before you have the corresponding strength, do not reveal your thoughts to others," Future Sasuke said, shaking his head.
Sasuke Uchiha nodded lightly, indicating he understood.
"Do you know Itachi's ideal?" Future Sasuke leaned back in his chair and asked.
"…No."
Future Sasuke turned his head to look at the man lying on the hospital bed and said, "Itachi is someone who loves the village very much. But equally, he is also an older brother who deeply loves you."
"For the sake of the village and you, he resolutely chose to bear the darkness and became a missing-nin."
"Do you know what kind of person possesses this village-centric way of thinking that he has?" Future Sasuke continued to ask.
However, before he could answer, Future Sasuke said, "A Kage. His way of thinking is that of a Kage."
"If he hadn't been born into the Uchiha clan, Itachi might have become Konoha's Fifth or Sixth Hokage."
"But now, his past no longer allows him to become Konoha's Hokage."
Sasuke Uchiha got out of bed and walked to the window. His gaze passed through the transparent glass, looking towards the Hokage Rock on the distant cliff.
"Was Itachi's ideal to become Hokage…"
"Are you trying to get me and Itachi to return to Konoha?" he asked, turning back.
"I've already discussed it with the Fifth Hokage. If you are unwilling, I can take you away," Future Sasuke nodded.
"No, I'm not leaving." Sasuke Uchiha looked at Itachi sleeping on the hospital bed, his older brother, and said in a deep voice:
"I will become Konoha's Sixth Hokage! To realize Itachi's ideal!"
Naruto's figure had just appeared in the room when Sasuke's declaration reached his ears. He looked awkwardly at the two of them.
"My timing… is it a bit inappropriate?"
"You are… Naruto?" It took Sasuke Uchiha a moment to match the face of the man before him with the one in his memory.
"Long time no see, Sasuke." After greeting him, Naruto turned his head to look at the man sitting in the chair.
"The little guy was really worried, so he asked me to come and see."
"Boruto?" Future Sasuke paused. He had almost forgotten he still had that conveniently acquired disciple.