Chapter 45

Naruto had once read an article about Raiden's controversial methods for treating internet addiction. At the time, he hadn't paid much attention to it. But when he saw Sasuke Uchiha spiraling into paranoia, he couldn't help but recall the concept of electrotherapy. Desperate to help his friend, Naruto decided to give it a try, even if it was unconventional. To his surprise, it worked—perhaps too well.

After apologizing profusely to the hospital staff and promising to cover the damages, Naruto and Rock Lee escorted Sasuke back to his ward. Sasuke sat on the edge of the bed, his expression a mix of confusion and despair. The electrotherapy had jolted him out of his emotional turmoil, but it had also left him vulnerable, his mind reeling from the weight of his memories.

In just one day, Sasuke had gone from being the carefree heir of the Uchiha clan to a broken orphan, his worldview shattered by the horrors he had witnessed. The kaleidoscope illusion of Tsukuyomi had twisted his perception of reality, leaving him lost and unsure of what to do next. He felt like a ship adrift in a storm, with no compass to guide him.

Naruto sat down beside him, brushing the dust from their earlier battle off Sasuke's shoulders. "Let's go over this again," Naruto said gently. "Maybe it'll help you make sense of things."

Sasuke didn't respond, but Naruto continued, his voice steady and calm. "Your brother, who always loved you, suddenly changed overnight. He wiped out the entire Uchiha clan—but he spared you. Doesn't that seem suspicious to you? Do you really think Itachi could've done something like that on his own? What if there's more to the story? What if this isn't the whole truth?"

Sasuke's eyes widened slightly, a flicker of hope breaking through the haze of his despair. For as long as he could remember, Itachi had been the center of his world—more than his parents, more than anyone else. The betrayal had cut deeper than any physical wound, but now Naruto's words were planting seeds of doubt in his mind. What if Itachi wasn't the monster he had believed him to be? What if there was a reason—a terrible, hidden reason—behind everything that had happened?

"Naruto," Sasuke said, his voice trembling. "You don't think… Itachi could really be…?" He trailed off, unable to finish the sentence. The hope in his voice was fragile, like a thread on the verge of snapping.

Naruto shook his head. "I don't know the truth, Sasuke. Neither do you. Maybe no one does—or maybe someone does, but they're hiding it. What I do know is that the Itachi you described—the one who was kind, who cared for you—doesn't sound like someone who could do something so horrible. There's more to this, Sasuke. You just have to find it."

Naruto's voice grew softer, almost wistful, as he gazed out the window at the setting sun. "I used to have so many questions too. Why did everyone hate me? Why did they call me the Nine-Tails demon fox? Who were my parents? Did they even care about me? For the longest time, those questions haunted me. But eventually, I realized something. Life is full of wrong turns, betrayals, and pain. But it's also full of hope. As long as you're alive, there's a chance to find the truth."

He turned back to Sasuke, his blue eyes filled with determination. "The worst thing you can do is let hatred blind you. If you do that, you might end up hating the wrong person. Don't let that happen, Sasuke. You're stronger than that."

Naruto placed a hand on Sasuke's shoulder, his grip firm but reassuring. "You're not alone in this. You've got me, Rock Lee, and everyone else. We'll help you find the truth, no matter what it takes. But you have to promise me one thing: don't let hatred consume you. Itachi wanted you to become stronger, right? Then that's what you'll do. You'll get stronger, not for revenge, but for the truth. You're an Uchiha, Sasuke. And Uchihas don't give up."

Sasuke sat in silence, his mind racing. The effects of the Tsukuyomi still lingered, the pain and confusion clouding his thoughts. But Naruto's words were like a beacon, cutting through the darkness. There were too many unanswered questions, too many inconsistencies in the story he had been told. If he let hatred control him, he might never find the answers he needed.

Finally, Sasuke looked up, his eyes clear and resolute. "Naruto," he said, his voice steady now. "I understand what you're saying. No matter what the truth is, I need to get stronger. Only then can I face Itachi and find out what really happened. I'll carry the pride of the Uchiha name. I'll revive our clan, and I'll uncover the truth. From now on, I'll need your help—and yours too, Rock Lee."

Rock Lee, who had been quietly listening, burst into tears. "Sasuke! I'll do everything I can to help you! We'll find the truth together!" he sobbed, his voice filled with emotion.

Naruto smiled, his expression warm and proud. "That's the Sasuke I know," he said. For a moment, his smile reminded Sasuke of Itachi—gentle, reassuring, and full of quiet strength.

Later that evening, the three of them found themselves at Ichiraku Ramen. Teuchi, the owner, had closed the shop early, leaving them as the only customers. The aroma of freshly cooked ramen filled the air, a comforting contrast to the heaviness of their earlier conversation.

Sasuke stared down at his bowl, his thoughts drifting back to the last time he had eaten here—with Itachi. His brother had been so kind then, so patient. He would gently wipe the soup from Sasuke's mouth and laugh at his enthusiasm. That memory felt like a lifetime ago.

Now, everything had changed.

Sasuke ate mechanically, shoving noodles into his mouth as if the act of eating could somehow fill the void inside him. Tears welled up in his eyes, but he refused to let them fall. He was an Uchiha. He had to be strong.

"Slow down," Naruto said gently, noticing Sasuke's trembling hands. "No one's going to take it from you."

But Sasuke didn't stop. He couldn't. Eating felt like the only thing he could control. "I need to eat," he muttered, more to himself than to Naruto. "I need to be strong. I need to train. I need to face him and ask… I need to know the truth."

Tears spilled over, dripping into his bowl. Sasuke quickly lifted the bowl to his face, hiding his shame. He couldn't let them see him like this. He was supposed to be strong. He was supposed to carry the pride of the Uchiha name. But the tears kept coming, mixing with the broth, salty and bitter.

Naruto watched silently, his heart aching for his friend. He knew what it was like to feel lost, to carry the weight of a past you didn't understand. But he also knew that Sasuke would find his way. He was too stubborn not to.

"Let's eat," Naruto said, picking up his own bowl. "We've got a long road ahead of us."

Rock Lee, ever the optimist, slammed his hands on the table. "That's the spirit! Let's eat three bowls each! Then tomorrow, we'll train three times as hard! Hard work