What Happened After He Left

10 advanced chapters on my Patreon: Fiction Haven

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[Uchiha Sasuke's POV]

Two weeks had passed since Naruto's defection and I still couldn't wrap my head around what happened. Things were looking up for me. My goal had become clear and I knew what path I should. I was expecting to follow Naruto's path. I was expecting him to accompany me, like a… I guess I was at fault for thinking that way.

Naruto is not my brother, after all.

A scowl marred my face at that particular thought. Even after telling Naruto I was no longer caught up with Itachi, at the end of the day, I still needed a brother figure. But is that a wrong thing? I knew Naruto would say that if he was here. A sigh escaped my mouth. The dobe used to be annoying. I wished he had remained that way, so I would be unbothered by his defection.

Tossing around on my futon for a moment, I decided to get up. It was already five in the morning, after all. I had no reason to stay in the bed any longer. I cleaned myself before cooking breakfast and ate. My mind sometimes wandered to the days Mom made breakfast for me. A scowl found its way to my face. Sweet memories always managed to bring me pain.

"Why is it only happening to me?"

A snort escaped me as soon as I finished those words. I was not the only one suffering. Naruto had lost a lot. He had lost his parents and his freedom to live as a human to protect the village, but everyone scorned him. I had never seen him complain. Compared to his circumstance, mine was nothing.

"Though, we have enough reason to leave this hellhole. It has taken a lot from us."

Konoha had taken Itachi's sanity and Naruto's happiness. I could understand why he left the village. I had thought about leaving the village more than once in the last two weeks. However much I wanted to, I couldn't bring myself to do that. The Hokage and his subordinates were hiding something from the public.

"Reality is the truth, but people like to have their own. If you want to take a risk living a bitter life, find out the truth and if you don't… make your own. My message is to trust no one but yourself."

What Naruto said only reinforced that notion. Although Naruto had enough reason to spite this village, I knew he wouldn't kill the Anbu before leaving the village. He would do more than that. Konoha would have lost a significant amount of area if Naruto had decided to take revenge on it. He must have a reason to kill the Anbu and Danzō.

I put on my Chūnin vest and left the compound. It used to assure me that I was getting closer to Naruto, but it did no more. Naruto was far away from me. I doubted I would ever catch him, but I would keep chasing him. If I failed to figure out the truth on my own, I would make him tell me about it.

Knock! Knock!

"Hokage-sama," I announced as I stood before the Hokage office. I had a feeling the Hokage would know the truth.

"Enter," came the answer.

I opened the door and found the Hokage looking at me with an incomprehensible expression. Jiraiya the Sannin was standing beside her with a serious look on his face. A look of anticipation flashed across his eyes as he looked at me. I frowned but kept my politeness in check.

"Do you need something from me, kid?" the Hokage asked bluntly.

"I want to know why Naruto left the village," I responded, equally bluntly.

The Hokage acted like nothing happened, but I caught her eyes gleaming. Jiraiya's muscles also twitched slightly, further convincing me they knew what happened.

"The brat lost his mind and decimated three-fourths of the Anbu along with Elder Danzō. There is nothing more to it," Hokage-sama denied vehemently. "I am sorry, kid. The truth hurts. I am not your enemy, so cease with the Sharingan."

Hokage-sama didn't believe what she said. She couldn't fool my eyes. That was why she was worried. However, it was too late. Her discomfort had convinced me they were hiding something. Again, Naruto became a victim of this village.

"Very well," I said as I deactivated my Sharingan. "May I suggest a retrieval mission for Uzumaki Naruto, then?"

"Pfft! The brat is listed as an SS-Ranked Nukenin in Konoha's and Iwa's Bingo Book. Iwa hates him as much as they do his father, but even they don't act rashly. Did you know that Naruto had beaten Iwa's Jinchūriki senseless? Even Kiri gave up on sending Kari-Nin to retrieve Kiba from him. That brat has killed 32 Kari-Nin who went after him in two months," Jiraiya scoffed.

"So?" I quirked an eyebrow.

"Your meager skills mean nothing before him, brat. That is what I am saying."

"I just need to train harder," I scowled, Sharingan activating on instinct.

"And you think you can catch up to him?" Jiraiya quirked an eyebrow.

"I must."

Jiraiya looked at me silently for a moment before smirking. He turned to Hokage-sama and then said something crazy.

"I am going to teach the kid."

"Huh? Do you want to corrupt another innocent mind?"

"What do you think I am going to teach him?"

"Perverted things, most definitely."

Jiraiya scowled but didn't deny it. "Do you accept, brat?" he asked after some time.

"How strong can you make me?" I asked skeptically, though I had already decided to accept.

"Strong enough to beat Itachi's ass."

"Jiraiya," Hokage-sama admonished.

"Oh…uh…sorry."

I waved my hand dismissively. "What about beating Naruto?"

"… We will see," Jiraiya drawled.

It was quite disappointing, but I understood. I was well aware of the gap between Naruto and me. I didn't blame Jiraiya for doubting my ability. Nonetheless, I would prove him wrong. Even if I couldn't beat Naruto, I would still force the truth out of him.

***

[Yamanaka Ino's POV]

Naruto-kun's defection was a major shock for everyone. Even three weeks after his defection, everyone still talked about it as if it had just happened yesterday. Naruto-kun had eliminated three-fourths of the Anbu and the most powerful Elder of Konoha, Danzō-sama. Even Sarutobi-sama admitted he would have a hard time facing Danzō-sama. Naruto-kun killed him after decimating the majority of Anbu.

The feat was legendary in a bad way. Those who used to refer to him as the Second Coming of the Yellow Flash now referred to him as the Golden Death God. The damage their fight had left behind was devastating. Many people would have died if it had occurred in a more populated area. Thanks to that, everyone feared Naruto-kun.

"Yondaime-sama slew thousands of Iwa Shinobi by himself in the Third Shinobi War, didn't he? If the Golden Death God is as skilled as Yondaime-sama, what would happen to us?"

"I never treated him badly. It is all your fault! He wouldn't have left if you had used your brains."

"B- But… he has that Demon inside him, right? Maybe, that is—"

"Hmph! Even after all this time… regardless, you have wronged him. What we can expect is forgiveness from him. Though I won't blame him if he doesn't."

Naruto-kun had lost a lot of things to the village. I was glad that at least someone got it. Nonetheless, it was hard to accept what he had done. I could understand his sentiment, but that shouldn't justify the death of unrelated people.

"Did the Anbu do something to Naruto-kun, Dad?"

"If any, they had been protecting him since he was a child."

"Then, why did he do that?"

I remembered the way Dad looked at me when I asked him about that. Dad knew something that everyone didn't. There was a bigger scheme behind Naruto-kun's defection. My detective sense was tingling. Until I knew what truly transpired, I wouldn't blame Naruto-kun.

Even if he is guilty, he is too handsome to be punished, isn't he?

Many people would call me crazy and I agree. Naruto-kun was crazy to a certain degree and I was sure we would make a great couple.

"Ah, Hinata-chan."

I stopped thinking to myself in favor of taking a good look at Hinata-chan. She had changed after beating that Hyūga prick. Instead of wearing her baggy clothes, she was wearing a qipao dress that was modified to give her legs more room to move and knee-length shorts underneath. Her shoulder-length hair was tied in a bun with some of them framing her face.

"Ino-chan," Hinata-chan greeted back. "Are you also going to see Sasuke-kun off?"

"Huh? He is leaving?" I asked in confusion, hearing it for the first time.

"He is going to look for Naruto-kun with Jiraiya-sama and Kakashi-sensei. I thought Haruno-san had already informed you."

I wanted to deny it, but then a memory flashed in my head. Sakura had told me about it, but I had conveniently ignored it. I had nothing against Sasuke-kun, but I no longer cared for him as I had in the past. I was only interested in Naruto-kun.

"Hinata-chan, are you perhaps… with Sasuke-kun?" I teased.

"Quit the joke, Ino-chan. My heart only belongs to Naruto-kun," Hinata-chan said harshly.

I didn't expect that response from her. On the one hand, I was proud of her for being so straightforward, but on the other hand, how dare she compete with me!