Chapter 65 - 65: BattleChapter 65: Battle

    As Ryosuke led the other two toward Konoha Hospital, he could immediately feel the atmosphere shift the moment they stepped into the main hall.

    It was as if time froze.

    Every gaze locked onto them.

    Silence fell over the room like a heavy blanket.

    Nobody said a word, but the emotions in their eyes—cold, sharp, and filled with disdain—spoke volumes.

    Hinata instinctively tightened her grip on Ryosuke''s hand, her head lowering as nerves overtook her calm facade. She could feel every pair of eyes drilling into her, and it made her chest tighten.

    But Ryosuke didn''t flinch.

    "Excuse me... where''s Uchiha Sasuke''s room?" he asked calmly, as if completely unfazed by the suffocating atmosphere around them. His voice was steady, direct.

    With Hinata in tow, he walked straight to the front counter like he didn''t notice the hostile stares at all. Sёar?h the novёlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Feeling the firm grip of Ryosuke''s hand, Hinata slowly relaxed.

    The woman at the desk hesitated at first. But under Ryosuke''s piercing gaze—his white eyes practically glowing—she caved.

    "Room... 405," she answered quietly.

    Ryosuke nodded. "Thank you."

    He glanced once at the hospital''s internal map, double-checked the ward location, and turned to leave with Hinata and Naruto.

    As soon as they disappeared down the hallway, the tension in the hall began to ease, conversation returning in hushed, venomous whispers.

    "Why are the Hyuga clan''s heir and heiress with him?"

    "Look at that damn whisker-marked face... could he be—"

    "Shhh! Don''t say it. Bad luck."

    Even though they spoke in low voices, Ryosuke heard everything.

    His powerful perception made it impossible not to.

    Still, his face showed nothing. Not even a flicker of emotion.

    Naruto, on the other hand, had been quiet ever since they walked in. He finally spoke.

    "Ryosuke... you''re really something," he said softly, bitterly.

    "You just... deal with people like that without even blinking."

    Ryosuke remained silent.

    Naruto had come far—he''d trained hard and grown stronger. But at heart, he was still a kid trying to be accepted.

    Ryosuke had lived two lives. There were people and things he simply couldn''t be bothered with anymore. He''d learned not to waste energy on those who didn''t matter.

    Naruto hadn''t reached that point.

    He cared. Deeply.

    That was exactly why he looked up to Ryosuke and tried to follow in his footsteps—to become strong, to be kind, and to earn acknowledgment.

    ---

    "Four-oh-five," Ryosuke murmured.

    The hallway was quiet as they arrived on the fourth floor and stood in front of Ward No. 405.

    Just then, Ryosuke sensed something.

    For the first time in a long while, he could feel Sarutobi Hiruzen''s presence watching them.

    Word had clearly gotten out that they were visiting Uchiha Sasuke.

    Figures.

    Knock knock.

    Ryosuke tapped the door lightly before opening it.

    It was a small private room. Nothing fancy.

    On the hospital bed sat Uchiha Sasuke. He hadn''t changed much—leaning against the pillows, staring blankly out the window, eyes lifeless.

    Even as the three of them stepped inside, he didn''t react.

    "Sorry to intrude," Ryosuke said politely.

    He guided Hinata and Naruto into the room, closing the door behind them.

    Only then did Sasuke slowly turn his head.

    His dull, empty gaze shifted to them.

    The moment he recognized Ryosuke and Hinata, a flash of coldness lit up in his eyes.

    "What''s the Hyuga clan doing here?" he said icily.

    "Come to laugh at me?"

    There was venom in his voice—a mix of resentment and pain boiling beneath the surface.

    It was clear that Sasuke had mostly recovered physically. But mentally? The damage from Uchiha Itachi''s actions still lingered.

    "We''re just showing the way," Ryosuke said calmly, ignoring Sasuke''s glare. He pulled out a chair and sat down with Hinata beside him. "We''re not the main event."

    "I''m the one who came to find you, Sasuke," Naruto said, stepping forward confidently.

    Sasuke frowned. "You?"

    "I want to challenge you," Naruto said with a smile.

    Sasuke blinked, confused.

    "Challenge me?"

    He looked past Naruto, directly at Ryosuke and Hinata.

    "You brought him here to humiliate me?"

    Clearly, he had no idea what had been happening at the academy recently.

    "You were out on leave," Ryosuke said with a slight smile. "Naruto ranked first in practical combat. Third in theory. First overall in the grade."

    "...First place?" Sasuke turned back to Naruto in disbelief.

    He looked the blonde up and down, scoffing.

    "You? The guy who never even fought once in class? How the hell did you come first?"

    In Sasuke''s eyes, Naruto had always been the weird kid who lingered on the training grounds after school, never participating, just watching.

    He didn''t realize that no one wanted to spar with Naruto.

    He thought Naruto was just too scared to fight.

    "I''ve already submitted my application for early graduation," Naruto said. "I don''t want to leave the academy with regrets. That''s why I asked Ryosuke to bring me to you."

    He looked Sasuke in the eyes.

    "To me, being first in the grade only means something if I can beat you."

    He didn''t mention Ryosuke''s strength. He knew Ryosuke preferred to keep things low-key—just like he himself had been hiding his potential.

    "Early graduation?" Sasuke''s tone shifted sharply.

    "You''ve only been in school for one year. You really think you can pass the assessment?"

    He clenched his fists and stood up, his blood boiling.

    "Fine. I accept your challenge."

    He glared at Naruto, voice sharp. "Your name''s Naruto, right? I''ll show you what it really means to be top of the class—what it really means to be a ninja."

    "A ninja isn''t some flashy performer with nothing to back it up."

    As he said that, he cast a long, mocking glance at Ryosuke and Hinata.

    Ryosuke simply smiled.

    Hinata remained expressionless.

    Naruto hesitated. "Shouldn''t we reschedule? Your body—"

    "I didn''t stop training just because I was in the hospital," Sasuke snapped, cutting him off. His voice dropped, colder.

    "This fight is outside the academy. If you''re going to challenge me, be prepared for the consequences. Including death. Got that?"

    His tone was dead serious.

    The thought of Naruto, a one-year student, applying for early graduation was like a slap to the face.

    It triggered something deep inside—memories of him.

    The man who always smiled gently... the man Sasuke both admired and resented.

    Just as the tension was about to boil over, Ryosuke finally spoke.

    "If it''s alright... do you mind if we watch?"

    Sasuke glanced at him, then at Hinata.

    He snorted, eyes sharp and voice cold.

    "Do what you want."

    Check my Patreon for (40) advanced Chapters

    Patreon .com/Fanficlord03

    Change (a) to (a)

    Discord Link Here:

    .gg/MntqcdpRZ9