THE LAST MEMORY

Sasuke's eyes narrowed, sending a silent message to Naruto: 'What exactly did you just say, Dobe?' His gaze was a clear demand for an explanation, an unspoken command.

Naruto was about to respond with a subtle eye movement, a secret signal to Sasuke, when his eyes flickered and caught Hinata looking directly at him.

Their eyes met for a brief, charged moment, and then both quickly looked down at the ground, a blush creeping up in Hinata's face out of embarrassment. They were standing quite close.

'Darn it!' Naruto thought, his mind racing. 'Did Hinata see me and Sasuke talking with our eyes? Now she's going to doubt us for sure, dattebayo!'

Hinata's thoughts were a flurry of panic. 'Oh, what a big failure I am! Naruto-kun would definitely think I'm keeping eyes on him. But he was making some weird eye movements! I better apologize for staring at him, or else he'll think the others asked me to keep an eye on him!'

Resolved, Hinata took a tentative step forward and began to walk towards Naruto.

Naruto looked up and saw Hinata approaching him.

'Shoot! She's coming towards me and will question me!' he thought, his heart doing a nervous flip.

"Umm... Naruto-kun," Hinata began timidly, her voice barely a whisper.

Before she could say anything else, Naruto cut her off loudly, his voice booming across the cavern. "Ino! Tenten! You guys brought food, right, dattebayo?! Can you share with me? I'm feeling super hungry!"

Lee chimed in immediately. "Tenten! Same here! I am also feeling very hungry!"

Ino, sensing a chance to defuse the lingering tension and get everyone focused, clapped her hands together. "Alright, everyone! Let's have some food first, and then we can think about what's to be done next!"

Sasuke, ever practical, turned to Ino, a hint of annoyance in his voice. "What do you mean by 'we will see what's to be done next,' Ino? It's obvious! We have to search for methods to get out of this hole!"

"Sasuke-kun," Hinata said softly, stepping closer. Sasuke looked at her, his eyes still holding a hint of impatience. Hinata continued, choosing her words carefully, "I think it would be best if we rest for some time first. That way, we can preserve our chakra and even infuse some more while we eat."

Sasuke didn't reply immediately. He turned his head and looked around the cavern, assessing their surroundings and the seemingly endless walls.

He said nothing, but the lack of argument, the way he simply surveyed the area, was a clear gesture that he agreed with her practical suggestion.

Soon, everyone began to sit down on the dusty floor. Ino pooled her food first, revealing beautiful, traditional Jubako – stacked lunch boxes intricately lacquered in black with delicate golden designs. Each of the six layer held different tasty foods.

Their bamboo water bottles, simple and practical, were collected and placed together nearby to quench their thirst, ready for everyone to share.

Naruto eagerly grabbed a portion from one of the Jubako layers and wolfed it down. "Got any more, dattebayo?!" he asked, his mouth full, already eyeing another section.

"Hey! Hold on, Naruto!" Ino quickly tapped his hand. "There's limited food! We have to make it last!"

While everyone was settling down and eating, Hinata quietly rose. Seeing Karin still sitting a little apart with Sakura, she walked over to them. "Karin-san," Hinata said softly, "we're having some food. Please come and join us."

Karin looked up, surprised but also a little pleased. 'Wow,' she thought, looking at Hinata's gentle face. 'Are the Konoha shinobi really this good? Even after all that chaos, they're sharing food.' She nodded, and carefully got up making her way over towards the group.

Soon, everyone was gathered, sharing the meager rations from the elegant Jubako, their bamboo water bottles passed around.

The sounds of chewing and quiet conversation temporarily replaced the earlier arguments. Even Sasuke ate his portion, though he remained quiet, his gaze occasionally drifting to his younger, unconscious self.

As the last bites were being savored, Lee looked around the cavern, his eyes thoughtful. "So," he began, breaking the comfortable silence, "how do we get out of here, everyone?"

Sasuke, ever practical, swallowed his mouthful. "We could try climbing," he suggested, his gaze fixed on the high walls. "Using kunai to get a grip, or even infusing chakra into our feet to walk up the wall."

Neji, still recovering from his injuries, sighed slightly. "You guys can try that," he said, gesturing to himself. "I'm not in any condition for climbing right now."

Lee nodded understandingly. "We understand that, Neji! No need to worry." He then turned to Sasuke, his eyes gleaming with determination. "Sasuke-kun, let's do it together!"

Sasuke, with a piece of food still balanced on his chopsticks, simply nodded in agreement, his focus already shifting to the task ahead.

"Hey, you guys!" Naruto piped up excitedly, a sudden idea sparking in his eyes. "I can try my Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu! I'll create a bunch of clones, and we can all start climbing the wall together, dattebayo!"

Ino's eyes lit up. "That's great! Why didn't we think of that before? Naruto's definitely the most perfect one for this job!"

Naruto, beaming at the praise, was halfway to standing up, ready to spring into action. But before he could fully rise, Sasuke's hand shot out, catching his arm.

"Naruto," Sasuke said calmly, pulling him back down. "First, eat. You can do that later."

Naruto paused, midway through his energetic leap, then slowly sat back down. "Right, dattebayo," he mumbled, realizing Sasuke was correct.

Sasuke gave him a pointed look. "First, finish eating, or else your chakra will drain even faster trying to climb. Also, before doing anything, let's rest for a while." As he said the last few words, his eyes subtly shifted to Lee, a silent request for agreement.

Lee nodded, a serious expression on his face. It was a clear, silent gesture of understanding and agreement between them.

With the plan to rest settled, the remaining food was carefully put away. The girls, Hinata, Ino, and Tenten, gently placed the beautiful, stacked Jubako in a proper, sheltered spot against one of the cavern walls, ensuring its precious contents would remain safe. All the bamboo water bottles were collected and placed beside them.

Soon, everyone began to settle down, getting ready for some much-needed rest.

They spread out in a loose, protective circle on the cold cavern floor. Neji and Lee lay close together on one side, positioned so they were facing each other, ready to sense any disturbance.

Across from them, Tenten and Hinata settled, also facing inwards towards each other. A little further along the circle, Sakura who was still unconscious gently laid down and Ino curled up next to Sakura, both facing each other. Jatin was a little faprcfrom the two girls but faced the same direction.

At the very bottom of this circular formation, Mini Sasuke was carefully positioned. Older Sasuke was beside him, his body angled protectively, his gaze fixed on his younger self.

On Mini Sasuke's other side, Naruto settled, also facing towards the unconscious boy, completing the guarded trio.

The silence of the cavern soon filled with the soft sounds of breathing as the exhausted shinobi drifted off to sleep, a strange mix of allies and temporal travelers resting in the heart of the unknown.

Mini Sasuke's eyes snapped open in sheer terror. His heart hammered against his ribs like a trapped bird, and the icy grip of a nightmare still clung to him. He shot upright, gasping, his small body trembling.

Instinctively, he pulled his knees to his chest, wrapping his arms tightly around himself, trying to squeeze away the lingering fear from the vivid dream. It felt too real, too dark.

"Yo..."

A voice. Low, smooth, and entirely unexpected in the dead quiet of the cavern. Mini Sasuke froze, his head snapping up. 'Who spoke...?' he thought, his blood running cold.

It sounded close, too close. He realized the voice had come from his right side.

He slowly, cautiously, turned his head. In the dim light filtering through the cavern, a figure was sitting, remarkably relaxed, seemingly unfazed by the sudden noise or the hour.

The figure's silhouette was unmistakable, even in the gloom.The figure continued, its voice calm, almost casual.

"You awake?"

It was him. Uchiha Sasuke.

He was sitting with his back comfortably propped against the cold, rough cavern wall. One knee was slightly bent, the other leg casually stretched out, and his arm rested idly on his raised knee.

He looked completely at ease, like he hadn't moved an inch since everyone had fallen asleep. His dark eyes, however, were wide open, watching Mini Sasuke with an unreadable expression.

Mini Sasuke stared at the figure, his panic slowly giving way to confusion and a flicker of recognition. "It's... it's you," he whispered, his voice small. "The one who... who did something with the Sharingan..." He quickly stood up and started to move backward a few steps, putting a little more distance between them.

Older Sasuke just arched a brow, a faint, almost amused curve to his lips. "Impressive," he murmured, his voice low. "You know the Sharingan."

"Who are you?!" Mini Sasuke demanded, his voice gaining a bit more courage despite his fear. "How do you own the Sharingan, and I've never seen you in the clan before!"

Older Sasuke didn't blink. "Let me ask you some questions first," he stated calmly, his gaze steady. "Then I'll answer all of yours." He spoke softly, deliberately keeping his tone even. He didn't want to stress the kid's little mind any more than it already was.

Mini Sasuke frowned, a familiar Uchiha stubbornness already showing. "What questions do you have?" he challenged. "And you still think I'll answer them after what you just did to me?"

Sasuke leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping to a persuasive, almost conspiratorial tone. "Look around you." He gestured vaguely at the sleeping forms.

"These people, who are sleeping right now, they're not your friends. They're your enemies... because they know you pushed them down that hole. But they are my comrades. And I'm the only one here who can protect you from their accusations, because I trust you. I believe there must have been a good reason for what you did."

Mini Sasuke hesitated, his wide eyes darting to the other sleeping figures, then back to the older boy. The words about protection seemed to sink in. Slowly, cautiously, he walked back and sat down cross-legged directly in front of Older Sasuke.

'Is he really my younger self...?' Sasuke thought, a wave of disbelief washing over him. 'This kid seems... innocent. Naive. But I remember being strong, even then. I was already focused, already burning with a quiet anger. My six-year-old self had a foul mouth, not this mild-mannered act. Was I truly this... dumb back then? Or maybe... maybe it could be like the Dobe said... someone from the future, like my son or something ridiculous.'

He found himself staring intently at the boy's face, searching for a hint of the fire he remembered.

Mini Sasuke shifted uncomfortably under the intense gaze. "Do you really trust me, or are you playing games with me?" he asked, a hint of suspicion in his voice.

Sasuke snapped out of his thoughts. "No, I trust you," he said, his voice firm again. "But first, tell me your name."

"Sasuke," Mini Sasuke replied, a touch of annoyance. "Uchiha Sasuke is my name."

Older Sasuke's eyes narrowed, a cold suspicion hardening his gaze. He still wasn't convinced by this kid's demeanor. 'He's not acting like I would have, even at six.' He leaned in slightly, his voice a low, challenging growl.

"Are you sure...? Are you lying?"

Mini Sasuke, clearly annoyed by the continued questioning and the older boy's obvious doubt, puffed out his cheeks a bit.

"I'm not in a mood to joke," he grumbled. "And I don't understand why I would answer questions to someone like you, who first hurt me and then asks so frankly. You must really need something from me."

Older Sasuke let out a short laugh, a rare sound. 'Okay,' he thought, a genuine grin touching his lips. 'Those lines. He is definitely my younger self. No doubt about it now.'

"I just mistook you for someone else, that's why I attacked you," Sasuke explained, a trace of amusement still in his voice. "And what I need are answers to my questions."

He then smoothly unfolded himself from his comfortable position against the wall, moving a little closer to Mini Sasuke. His voice grew serious, all traces of humor gone.

"What was the very last thing happening before you came into this strange forest and this cavern?"

Mini Sasuke looked at Older Sasuke, his expression thoughtful. "So, whichever names I'll tell you," he asked calmly, "are you sure you'll know them?"

"Yeah," Sasuke confirmed, a confident smirk touching his lips. "I'll know all of them. Just continue."

Mini Sasuke nodded, then began. "So, it was night. I was in Konoha, near the Naka River. Nii-san and Shisui-san were talking about something important." He paused, remembering. "I was returning from the Academy, and I heard some elder people talking that Nii-san had just returned and that he would join the Clan Meeting the next day. So, instead of going home, I started looking for Nii-san, and I eventually reached the Naka River."

'So that's it, huh?' Older Sasuke thought, his mind racing. 'I was right. He's from just before the Uchiha Clan Massacre. And at the time just before Shisui-san's death. This is crucial.'

"And my search led me right to the Naka River," Mini Sasuke continued, his voice lowering slightly. "I noticed that when Nii-san and Shisui-san were talking... Shisui-san's one eye was not there."

Older Sasuke's jaw tightened. "Any idea about what they were talking?" he pressed, his voice carefully neutral. 'This is my only chance to know the truth. Did Itachi really kill Shisui-san, or did something else happen?'

"No, I was too far," Mini Sasuke replied, shaking his head. "And I was hiding behind a tree so they couldn't discover me." Mini Sasuke paused again, then continued, his voice barely a whisper. "Then, Shisui-san... he took out his other eye and handed it to Nii-san. Then, suddenly, he stepped back... and just jumped into the river."

Sasuke's eyes widened in genuine shock. "You mean he jumped willingly into the river?"

"Yeah!" Mini Sasuke exclaimed, his own eyes wide, confirming. "I mean it! He was in an attempt to... to end his life. But then..."

"But what?" Sasuke urged, leaning forward.

Mini Sasuke's eyes grew even wider. "Suddenly, something happened, and Shisui-san didn't die! He was saved by a man who had long, white hair... and he had a toad with him too!"

'But how is that possible?!' Older Sasuke's mind reeled, trying to reconcile this new information with his own memories.

'I was never a witness to Shisui-san's suicide. And I never remember finding Itachi at the Naka River until after the Clan Meeting, when I was 6 yrs old. Am I forgetting something? Did Shisui-san jump two times? And this was the first one, and then the next time he jumped, he seriously died? But how is that possible? As much as I remember, Shisui-san died just before the Clan Meeting. So this point in the timeline, before the massacre, is valid. But me being the witness, or this sequence of events... it's not possible. No, Shisui-san definitely didn't jump twice. This doesn't make sense. That means that the night which he is talking about is the night when Shisui-san died and the blame went to Itachi for killing him.'

Sasuke quickly, almost instinctively, blurted out, "No, you are wrong! I was never the witness!"

Mini Sasuke frowned, a familiar Uchiha stubbornness surfacing. "What do you mean by 'not being the witness'?! It is me we are talking about! I saw it!"

Sasuke mentally kicked himself for his slip. He quickly rephrased, his voice calmer. "I mean... try to remember. Did something else happen that eventually led you to the Naka River? Think carefully."

Mini Sasuke tilted his head, his brow furrowed, and began to think, trying to recall every detail.

Suddenly, his eyes widened slightly. "Of course!" Mini Sasuke exclaimed, snapping his fingers. "How could I forget such an important thing?!"

Sasuke leaned forward, his interest piqued. "What? Did you remember something?"

"I never reached the Naka River in the first place to find Nii-san or Shisui-san!" Mini Sasuke declared, as if stating the obvious. "Because I never knew they were there!"

Sasuke's brow furrowed. "Of course, you've got a point," he conceded, realizing the flaw in his previous assumption. "It's not like you'd just know they were both there. So, how did you end up reaching the river, then?"

Mini Sasuke explained, "After I heard the conversation between the elder people of the clan, I just started to run in excitement, trying to find Nii-san. Then, as I was going, I passed through the training ground, and I saw two strange men."

Mini Sasuke paused, his eyes growing distant as he recalled the memory. "They were very tall." He paused again, a shiver running through him. "And they didn't belong in the clan either..."

---

QUIZ QUESTIONS

What was the turning point that made Older Sasuke truly believe the boy in front of him was his younger self?

A) When the boy revealed his name was "Sasuke Uchiha."

B) When the boy described seeing Itachi and Shisui by the Naka River.

C) When the boy said said the line, "First you hurt me and then you come frankly at me," to Sasuke, which made Sasuke understand that the boy in front of him was his younger self as he spoke these kind of lines to Lee.

D) When Naruto showed everyone that the boy had the Uchiha crest on his back.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

This chapter, 'The Past Memory,' was a journey into the depths of recollection and revelation, wasn't it? 🧠 It's prominent because it perfectly captures how old truths can be re-written, and how a single memory can shatter everything we thought we knew. It was a deep dive into Sasuke's own past, twisted by unforeseen circumstances. 🌀

In this chapter, things kicked off with some classic Naruto secret and dishonest activities! 🤣 Our favourite knucklehead tried to awkwardly dodge Hinata's questions (and her blush! 😊) by shouting for food, which, surprisingly, worked out perfectly thanks to Ino and Lee's timely hunger! After everyone settled down and shared some precious rations from Ino's beautiful Jubako boxes, the real heart of the chapter unfolded. 🍱

Mini Sasuke, waking from a nightmare, found himself face-to-face with his older, mysterious self. Their dialogue was everything – a tense dance of suspicion and recognition! 😲 Older Sasuke's initial doubt about this innocent kid evaporated the moment Mini Sasuke grumbled that iconic line, "First you hurt me and then you come frankly at me." That was the undeniable proof, right there! ✨

But the biggest bombshell dropped when Mini Sasuke recounted his "last memory" – witnessing Shisui's tragic jump into the Naka River, only for him to be miraculously saved by a long-haired man with a toad! 🐸 This revelation shattered Older Sasuke's understanding of his own history, throwing everything he thought he knew about Itachi and Shisui into question. And just when you thought it couldn't get any more mysterious, Mini Sasuke revealed he'd seen 'strange and tall men' just before ending up in this cavern! 😱

As our confused genin start plotting their escape from this mysterious hole, the next chapter is going to be intense! 🏞️ Get ready for the shocking reveal of those 'strange and tall' men – true shinobi connoisseurs will instantly recognize the chilling figures who are about to make their grand entrance. 😈 And our young heroes will be putting their heads (and their chakra!) together, trying every trick in the book to climb their way out of this underground prison. 💪 Will they succeed, or are they about to face an even bigger nightmare? Keep those eyes peeled for the next chapter! 👀