Chương 21: Ch-21 You are not alone.
Choza sighed, realizing Inoiki was absolutely right. The Hokage's involvement in the monitoring of the Uchiha Clan was well-known among the inner circles of Konoha. If Anbu had been stationed there, they couldn't have missed the massacre. The only explanation was that the Hokage had sanctioned this tragedy. The room fell into an uneasy silence, the weight of the realization settling over everyone.
After a few moments, it was Shikaku who broke the quiet. His voice was calm, but laced with a tired pragmatism. "What happened is terrible, no doubt. But there's nothing we can do about it. We should treat it like the rest of the village does. We don't need explanations." He glanced at each person in the room, his gaze unwavering.
Reluctantly, everyone nodded, agreeing with Shikaku's words. Even though the truth of the Uchiha massacre was unsettling, there was nothing to be gained by delving deeper into it. It was a dark chapter in the village's history, one that could only lead to more questions—and possibly more danger—if they tried to uncover its secrets.
With a solemn look, Shikaku continued, "What worries me now is how other villages will react when they learn about the Uchiha Clan's annihilation. They might see this as an opportunity, a moment of weakness, and decide to attack Konoha. We could be looking at the possibility of war."
The room grew tense again. Faces turned grim as the reality of Shikaku's words sank in. An internal massacre like this could send shockwaves across the shinobi world, and rival villages might seize the moment to strike.
But Inoiki, being a reincarnator, knew better. He remained calm, aware that no full-scale war would break out because of the Uchiha massacre. There might be tensions along the borders, a few skirmishes perhaps, but not the widespread conflict everyone feared. He didn't voice his thoughts, choosing to let the others stew in their own concerns.
Seeing the seriousness in the room, Shikaku sighed and offered a slight smile to lighten the mood. "Let's not overthink this. If it comes to that, we'll deal with it. But until then, we should continue living our lives as normal."
Once again, everyone nodded, agreeing with his words. The tension eased just a little, but the gravity of the situation still hung in the air.
Inoichi, glancing over at his son, added, "By the way, Sasuke survived. He was at the academy late that night. He's in the hospital now. You should go visit him—after all, he's your classmate."
Inoiki nodded, though inwardly he was unsure of what he could say to Sasuke in such a devastating time. This is the beginning of his journey, Inoiki thought. One that will be filled with darkness and pain. But knowing the future didn't make it any easier to witness, and Inoiki could only hope that Sasuke wouldn't be consumed entirely by the events that had shattered his life.
----
Inoiki headed to the courtyard where he usually trained, but today, his heart wasn't in it. The weight of the Uchiha massacre and the heavy atmosphere in the village clouded his thoughts, making it hard to focus. Still, he forced himself to continue, determined to maintain his discipline. Training was his anchor, the one thing he could control. After he finished his routine and had breakfast, he left for the academy with Ino by his side.
When they arrived at the classroom, it was clear that everyone was buzzing with the same grim topic—the Uchiha Clan massacre. Conversations filled the room, voices hushed and uneasy. Even Naruto, usually loud and carefree, had gone quiet after hearing the full story from Sakura. He wore a look of sadness and confusion, as though trying to process how someone like Sasuke could lose everything in a single night.
It wasn't long before Iruka entered the room, his face unusually heavy. The class fell silent as he spoke. "I'm sure you've all heard by now about what happened to the Uchiha Clan. Sasuke… is the sole survivor of that tragedy." Iruka paused, his eyes scanning the students, each one tense with sympathy and uncertainty. "I want you all to go visit Sasuke after the academy today. He's your classmate, and he'll need your support now more than ever."
The class nodded quietly, the gravity of the situation settling in. No one made any jokes, and for once, the usual chatter and noise were absent. Everyone knew this was different—this was real.
When the academy let out for the day, Inoiki, alongside his friends—Ino, Shikamaru, Choji, Naruto, Shino, Kiba, Hinata, and Sakura—made their way to the Konoha Hospital. After asking around, they found Sasuke's room. The moment they entered, they saw Sasuke sitting on his hospital bed, staring blankly out of the window, lost in his own world. The weight of his grief was palpable, like a dark cloud hanging over him.
Hearing the door creak open, Sasuke turned his head. His eyes, usually sharp and focused, were hollow, and for a moment, it seemed like he barely recognized them. But as his gaze fell on his classmates, a flicker of acknowledgment crossed his face.
Inoiki, standing at the front of the group, took a step forward. His voice was quiet but steady as he addressed Sasuke. "I'm sorry for your loss," he began, choosing his words carefully. "I can't imagine what you're going through right now, so I won't pretend to offer any empty words about moving on or forgetting hatred. But as your friend, I don't want to see you fall into darkness."
He paused, making sure Sasuke was really listening before continuing. "I know you'll want revenge. And when that time comes, remember that you don't have to face it alone. We're your friends, and if you need our help—if you need us to stand with you when you face Itachi—don't hesitate to ask. You're not alone, Sasuke. We're with you."
Sasuke's expression didn't change much, but there was a flicker of something—perhaps gratitude, or maybe just acknowledgment—that passed through his eyes. He didn't speak, but his silence wasn't one of rejection. It was the silence of someone who had lost everything and didn't yet know how to respond.
Inoiki stood there for a moment longer before stepping back, letting the others approach. Naruto fidgeted awkwardly, trying to find the right words, while Sakura hesitated, unsure of what to say in such a situation. But it didn't matter. In that room, surrounded by his classmates, Sasuke knew he wasn't as isolated as he felt.
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