Sasuke wanted to get stronger—strong enough to kill Itachi. He was willing to pay any price, even becoming Orochimaru's container, as long as Orochimaru could help him kill Itachi. It didn't matter how Orochimaru used his body, even if it meant dying.
Naruto knew this. Back when he met Uchiha Itachi, Kurama had shared some information about Sasuke and Itachi. But Naruto felt like Kurama was hiding a lot, especially when it came to the reason Itachi destroyed the Uchiha clan. Kurama only mentioned "to awaken the legendary eye."
However, the look on Kurama's face at that time made Naruto feel suspicious.
Now, seeing Sasuke's Three Tomoe Sharingan, Naruto fell silent. It wasn't until a while later that he slowly spoke up: "Kurama told me about Uchiha Itachi, so Sasuke, do you know why Itachi wiped out the clan?"
Naruto wanted to confirm his thoughts.
Sasuke's mind flashed to the scenes from Tsukuyomi, and his eyes involuntarily became bloodshot. "He said it was to test his 'capacity.'"
"Capacity?" Naruto didn't quite understand.
"Simply put, it was to confirm his strength," Sasuke took a deep breath and explained. "He was crazy. To confirm his Sharingan's power, he killed everyone in the clan, including... Mom and Dad."
Naruto fell silent again, then asked with confusion, "But Kurama told me that Itachi killed the whole clan to awaken the legendary eye."
Sasuke suddenly became more alert. "Legendary eye? What's that?"
Naruto closed his eyes and recalled the conversation. He had asked Kurama the same question, and Kurama's answer had been:
"Right now, you're not qualified to know what it is. But I can tell you that to awaken the legendary eye, a person with Uchiha blood must experience the loss of someone they love. The pain of losing that 'love' triggers a special chakra in the Uchiha brain. That chakra is the key to unlocking the eye."
Hearing this, Sasuke was stunned. He stared at his hands in disbelief, his voice trembling: "So... that means, he killed Mom and Dad, and everyone in the clan, just to gain that power?"
Naruto didn't answer.
For some reason, a powerful chakra began to rise from within Sasuke, and the Tomoe in his eyes slowly started spinning, picking up speed until they seemed to merge into a single line.
The huge emotional shock caused Sasuke's Sharingan to stir, as if a more powerful force was about to emerge, but... it still wasn't enough.
The pain in his eyes made Sasuke instinctively close his Sharingan. The spinning Three Tomoe stopped, and Sasuke quickly covered his eyes, his blood-red pupils peeking through his fingers as he stared at the ground. He gritted his teeth hard.
"Just for that thing! That power! He killed my mom and dad!"
"Damned Itachi!!!"
Sasuke shouted, his chest filled with hatred and anger.
Naruto silently watched this scene until Sasuke had finished venting. Only then did he speak.
"Actually, I really doubt what Kurama said. That guy is very cunning, and his favorite thing is to say vague things, waiting for you to misunderstand and fall into a trap so he can laugh at you."
"So you can only trust half of what Kurama says."
Naruto sighed. He had learned from experience, though he still often got tricked.
Sasuke looked up at Naruto.
"Naruto, if killing someone you love could give you that power, would you do it?"
Sasuke's eyes were strange.
Naruto didn't notice, just shrugging as he answered.
"Even if that's was true, I wouldn't do it."
Sasuke stayed silent.
Naruto continued, "My reason for getting stronger is to protect the village, protect the people I love and who love me. But if the way to get stronger is by killing those people, then why would I want to get stronger? Doesn't that contradict itself?"
It seemed like Sasuke understood Naruto's words. His eyes softened a bit.
Then, as if he remembered something, he gave a self-deprecating smile.
"But I don't have anyone to love anymore."
"But you have people who love you," Naruto instinctively replied. "Sakura-chan likes you, doesn't she? Kakashi-sensei too. Even though I'm his student, he only taught you Chidori. And granny Tsunade, when she found out you were hurt, she came personally to treat you. She hasn't even treated my injury yet."
Naruto got angry as he spoke.
Earlier in the morning, Tsunade had come over with a happy look on her face, and Naruto thought she was there to treat him. But Tsunade just glanced at him and told him to "get lost." He was shocked to later find out she came only to treat Sasuke.
At that moment, Naruto was completely stunned, pointing at the heartless Tsunade.
"You have another fox on the side!!!"
Oh right, Naruto was still lying in bed partly because of his own big mouth earlier that morning. After all, with Tsunade's medical ninjutsu skills, if she wanted him to lie down all day, he'd be lying there for at least a full day.
Sasuke seemed to recall these people and lowered his head, lost in thought.
Naruto, seeing his expression, became a bit worried. After thinking for a moment, he spoke.
"Sasuke, you need to figure out why you want to get stronger. If you don't have a goal, then even if you gain the strength to kill Itachi, what will it matter? All you'll be able to do is kill him, but you won't be avenging anyone."
"Goal..." Sasuke murmured.
What was his goal? Killing Itachi was his goal. The desire to kill Itachi had kept him alive until now. Or maybe, he had lived just to kill Itachi.
Sasuke took a deep breath and suddenly spoke.
"Naruto, how strong are you now?"
"Me?" Naruto pointed at himself, surprised, and thought for a moment. "Kurama says that until I learn the Adamantine Sealing Chains, Yin Sealing Jutsu, and Rasengan, my strength is about the same as a Genin or Chunin."
"What about after you learn those jutsus?" Sasuke asked.
"Starting at Chunin level, at least special Jonin," Naruto said with a confident smile.
"Is that so?" Sasuke understood.
His current strength was weak. With his Lightning Release Body Flicker, Taijutsu, Sharingan, and Chidori, he was definitely stronger than the current Naruto, probably at a Chunin level. All he lacked was experience and similar things.
Even if he continued learning from Kakashi, it would take at least a year for him to reach Jonin level, and during that year, he'd have to train nonstop. To reach Itachi's level, he would need at least three years.
Clenching his fists, Sasuke looked at Naruto. "Naruto, if you had to choose between surpassing Itachi in two years but sacrificing your life and body, or surpassing Itachi in three years without sacrificing anything, which one would you pick?"
"The second one," Naruto answered without hesitation. "Even if becoming Orochimaru's vessel could help me kill Itachi, the one killing Itachi would be Orochimaru, not me. Think about it—sacrificing your life and body to let Orochimaru get revenge is a bad deal."
"If it were me, I'd definitely choose to survive, while getting back at the enemy and annoying Orochimaru at the same time."
Sasuke smiled slightly, as if he had thought of something. His Sharingan appeared in his eyes once again. "Naruto, fight me."
Naruto was a little confused. "Now?"
"No," Sasuke's smile grew more pronounced, and his Sharingan started spinning again. "There will be a chance, soon. When that time comes, Naruto, defeat me and show me that my choice was wrong, and then..."
"We'll get stronger together!"
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