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When Naruto opened his eyes again, he found himself lying on the ground, surrounded by a crowd.
"Well then, Sasuke will be under your and Kakashi's supervision while he's in the village, Minato."
'That was Granny Tsunade's voice.'
"Don't worry, Lady Tsunade." That was his father's voice.
Naruto turned his head and saw Minato and Kakashi talking with Tsunade. Then he looked to the other side, where Sasuke was leaning against a big tree with a bored expression, while Sakura stood by, anxiously watching him.
Around them, the trees and ground were filled with masked Anbu members.
"Sasuke! Sakura!" Naruto jumped up and ran toward them. "What's going on, I say?!"
"Naruto! You're awake!" Sakura turned her head, surprised and happy.
"Sakura, what's happening?" Naruto looked around, confused.
"Hmph, it's nothing," Sasuke chuckled lightly. "They're just worried that I might be a threat to Konoha."
"No way!" Naruto walked up to Sasuke and looked at him seriously. "You wouldn't do that. I believe in you, Sasuke."
"I believe in you too, Sasuke-kun," Sakura quickly chimed in.
Sasuke looked at their serious expressions, then shifted his gaze away, speaking indifferently. "It's fine. It's only natural that some people would doubt me."
"You really can't come back to Konoha…?" Sakura's voice choked a bit. "Sasuke-kun."
For the first time, Sasuke made prolonged eye contact with Sakura, his black eyes filled with sincerity.
"I'm sorry, Sakura."
Sakura quickly lowered her head, biting her lip, trying to hold back tears.
"It's okay, Sasuke-kun," she whispered. "I was too abrupt."
"Sakura!" Naruto grew anxious. "Are you crying? Hey, Sasuke, say something!"
"Naruto! I'm fine." Sakura raised her tear-stained eyes, forcing a strained smile. "Sasuke-kun, I was just being too simple-minded. I've put you in a difficult position."
"It's alright. Even though Sasuke is no longer a ninja of Konoha, we can still be friends, like me and Gaara. Right, Sasuke?" Naruto clumsily tried to comfort them.
Sasuke looked at their expectant eyes, opened his mouth, and finally muttered, "Yeah."
"Great! Sakura!" Naruto cheered immediately.
A genuine smile appeared on Sakura's face.
"What are you all talking about?"
Minato's voice rang out, and Naruto quickly turned to wave at him.
"Dad, Kakashi-sensei, where's Granny Tsunade?"
"Lady Tsunade has already left."
Kakashi made a hand signal as he walked, and with a swooshing sound, all the surrounding Anbu disappeared.
"Sasuke, for now, you'll be staying at Minato-sensei's house."
"Thank you for the hospitality, Uncle Minato." Sasuke stood up and gave a proper bow to Minato.
"No need to be so formal," Minato smiled. "That sparring match earlier was impressive, Sasuke."
"You've improved a lot," Kakashi added.
"Oh, the match!!" Naruto suddenly shouted exaggeratedly, turning to point at Sasuke. "The match isn't over yet! Let's go again, Sasuke!"
"Hmph, it's already over, loser." Sasuke crossed his arms and smirked.
"No way, we haven't decided the winner yet!" Naruto grew even more agitated.
"You lost, Naruto," Minato said, placing a hand on Naruto's head. "After Sasuke activated his Mangekyou Sharingan, it was over for you."
"No way!" Naruto suddenly remembered.
"Keep working hard," Minato patted his head lightly.
"I will!" Naruto immediately regained his fighting spirit, staring intensely at Sasuke. "Next time, I'll definitely beat you, Sasuke!"
"Yeah, I'll be waiting," Sasuke replied seriously. "I won't let you catch up to me!"
After that, they all began heading back toward the village.
After entering Konoha's gates, Kakashi and Sakura left first, and then Sasuke suddenly stopped walking.
"Uncle Minato."
"Hm?" Minato looked at him kindly. "What is it, Sasuke?"
Sasuke turned to look in the direction of the village outskirts.
"I want to visit the Uchiha cemetery."
"Of course," Minato agreed immediately. "I'll go with you."
Sasuke looked at Minato's sincere expression and solemnly said, "Thank you."
"Alright then," Minato said. "I'll accompany Sasuke to the Uchiha grounds. Naruto, head home on your own."
"I know, Dad!"
Surprisingly, Naruto didn't say much and waved as he jumped onto a nearby rooftop, disappearing in an instant.
"Let's go, Sasuke."
"Yeah."
Minato called out, and the two of them began walking toward the Naka River.
"Sasuke, you've been out before, right? When Naruto and the others went to rescue Gaara," Minato said. "Why did you suddenly go back to the Northern Sea?"
Sasuke glanced at him in surprise.
"Surprised?" Minato smiled. "Since you always leave the ninja world from the north shore of the Land of Frost, people have guessed that your base must be hidden in the Northern Sea."
"It seems when Uncle summoned you to help on that island, you already figured out our general location," Sasuke responded.
"That's right," Minato nodded openly. "Unfortunately, even with that, your base wasn't near that island, and I couldn't find it, could I?"
Sasuke silently nodded.
"Something must have happened that caused you to return there without finding Itachi," Minato speculated.
Sasuke raised his eyes to look at him but remained silent.
"No need to be nervous, Sasuke," Minato laughed heartily. "I'm just curious. After all, I'm very interested in Uncle's grand mission."
"Saving the world?" Sasuke couldn't help but blurt out.
"That's right!" Minato gave him a thumbs-up. "That's been my dream since I was young. Isn't it exciting?"
'Where did this old man's childish enthusiasm come from…' Sasuke gave him a strange look. As expected of Naruto's father, he was just as peculiar.
"You can ask Uncle yourself," Sasuke said, taking out a small paper figure. "This is a communication talisman Uncle made. Just input a bit of natural energy, and you can talk to him directly."
"Is that so? Thank you, Sasuke." Minato took the talisman and carefully put it away.
At that moment, a familiar voice called out from ahead.
"Sasuke-kun? Is that you, Sasuke-kun?"
Sasuke turned to see Team 10 standing on the other side of the street, with Ino waving at him.
On the other side.
"Hey, hey, the Fourth Hokage and Uchiha Sasuke? Those are some troublesome people," Shikamaru yawned and spoke lazily. "Why bother with them, Ino?"
"I'm just saying hello, Shikamaru!" Ino glared at him.
"Hello."
Minato and Sasuke had already walked up to them.
"Fourth Hokage."
The three greeted respectfully, and Minato smiled and nodded.
"Yo, why are you back, Sasuke?" Shikamaru casually greeted Sasuke.
"There are some things I need to deal with," Sasuke didn't want to elaborate.
"Then we won't bother you." Shikamaru nodded and started walking forward.
"See you, Sasuke."
"Come find me if you're free, Sasuke-kun!"
Choji and Ino passed by Sasuke.
"Shikamaru," Sasuke suddenly called out.