Chapter 30: Perspective

Asura's eyes fluttered open, and he was immediately met with the bright, sterile light of the hospital room. He tried to sit up, but a sharp pain in his left eye jolted through his head, making him grit his teeth. It felt as though a thousand needles were piercing into his eye, throbbing with an intensity he hadn't felt before. After what seemed like an eternity, the pain finally dulled, becoming more bearable.

Before he could process the situation, a nurse quietly entered the room, noticing Asura was awake. "The clan head has summoned you," she said softly. "He will be here shortly. Please wait patiently." Asura nodded, leaning back against the headboard. He took a deep breath, trying to piece together what had happened.

His mind drifted back to the battle. He remembered running through the forest, the adrenaline coursing through him as he reached Madara and the others. He recalled the sharp clash of steel, the Hyuga's fierce resistance, and then… his vision changing. He could still see it, the strange pattern that had appeared in his eye. It felt different, like a surge of power that was both familiar and foreign at the same time.

The flap of the tent opened, and Tajima entered, his presence commanding immediate attention. The atmosphere was tense as he approached Asura's bed. "How are you feeling?" Tajima asked, his voice calm but with an underlying hint of concern.

Asura nodded, "I'm fine. A bit sore, but I'll live." He paused, hesitating before asking, "What happened?"

Tajima sat down beside the bed, his eyes steady. "We encountered Madara and the group carrying Izuna back to camp. They were running, and we stopped them to ask what had happened. Madara told us you came to their aid and fought off the Hyuga so they could escape. When I heard that, I was shocked. But I quickly ordered a few Uchiha to escort them back to the camp while the rest of us rushed to where you were."

Tajima's voice lowered, as if recalling a grim memory. "It took us ten minutes to get there. When we arrived, the scene… it was chaos. Corpses, blood, and a massive crater where there should've been earth. The Hyuga clan and Senju clan were surrounding you, and you were lying on the ground, barely conscious, bleeding heavily. The Senju were just about to attack you when we intervened. We protected you, and at that moment, you passed out."

Asura remained silent, letting the words sink in. He hadn't realized just how close he had been to death. Tajima continued, "The Senju backed off after we arrived. Butsuma Senju and I took a moment to assess the situation. Neither of us wanted to escalate into a full-scale battle. He told the Hyuga to retreat and avoid further casualties, looking to me for agreement. I wasn't happy about it, but I ordered our forces to fall back, prioritizing your safety over continuing the fight. We returned to the main camp, and you've been here, unconscious, for a week."

Tajima's expression softened as he finished. "That's what happened. Now, I need to know… What happened from your perspective?"

Asura took a moment to gather his thoughts. "After you ordered me to help Madara, I ran as fast as I could. When I arrived, Madara and the others were fighting against the Hyuga. I managed to kill the Hyuga attacking them and rescued Izuna, but then their main force showed up. I knew we were outnumbered, so I told Madara and the others to retreat while I stayed behind to buy time."

He paused, his eyes narrowing as he remembered. "When I turned to face them, my vision changed. Everything was clearer, sharper… I felt stronger. I looked down and saw my reflection in my blade, and there was a strange new pattern in my eye."

Tajima raised an eyebrow but remained silent, encouraging Asura to continue.

"I fought without using much chakra at first, trying to conserve as much as possible. But there were just too many of them. I had to use a large-scale jutsu — I created a tornado to kill a lot of them and buy myself some breathing room. But then, a group of Hyuga managed to get behind me. They stabbed me, multiple kunai and a sword… I was bleeding out." Asura's voice grew quieter as he recalled the pain. "I… I don't know what I did. It was like something took over, a familiar but strange ability. I released a massive shockwave, creating a crater and killing any Hyuga who couldn't escape."

He took a deep breath before continuing. "I knew I was running out of strength, but I couldn't let myself die. They would've chased after Madara and Izuna. I used an ability I called Hakaikami. My wounds healed, and the blades were pushed out of my body. I felt… powerful, invincible even, but I could also feel myself weakening. So, I ran at them, killing as many Hyuga as I could. After a while, I found their clan head and tried to kill him. We fought, and I nearly had him, but then I heard the Senju coming to their rescue. I backed off, trying to catch my breath, but my eye… it started to hurt, and I felt like it was burning. I had no more strength left. I fell to my knees, and then… I saw you arrive. After that, everything went black."

Tajima listened intently, a look of admiration mixed with contemplation on his face. "You've done well, Asura," he said finally. "Very well." He paused, studying Asura for a moment before asking, "This pattern you saw… can you show me?"

Asura nodded, focusing his chakra. His Sharingan activated, and then it shifted, forming into the new Mangekyo pattern. Tajima's eyes widened slightly, surprised. "I see… There are records of something like this in our clan's texts. I'll need to investigate further, but I have an idea of what it might mean."

He stood up, giving Asura a nod. "If you're feeling well enough, you're free to leave. You've more than earned some rest."

"Thank you, Tajima," Asura said as Tajima left the room. He slowly got out of bed, gathering his things. As he stepped outside, he saw two familiar figures waiting for him — Madara and Izuna. They immediately ran up to him, bowing deeply.

"I'm sorry, Asura!" Izuna said, his voice choked with guilt. "It's my fault… I caused so much trouble and almost got you killed."

Madara was bowing too, his voice softer. "I apologize as well. I was reckless, and… thank you for saving us."

Asura let out a laugh, surprising them both. "There's nothing to apologize for. I was just doing my job," he said, giving them a reassuring smile. "Now go home. It's over, and you're both safe. That's what matters."

The two looked at each other before nodding, thanking him once more before heading off. Asura watched them go, his smile fading into a thoughtful expression. With a sigh, he made his way back to his house, stepping inside and closing the door behind him.

He sat down, closed his eyes, and began to meditate, trying to make sense of everything that had happened. The strange power he had felt, the new form of his Sharingan… there were still so many questions. But for now, he needed rest. Slowly, his mind drifted, and he finally allowed himself to sleep, slipping into a much-needed, dreamless slumber.