Chapter 44: Chapter 44
In the past, if Sasuke had played with an unfamiliar boy, her older sister would have stepped in to deliver a preventive lecture.
But now... Sasuke not only played with an unfamiliar classmate but even brought him home.
"If my sister were still the same as before..."
As Sasuke stepped through the Uchiha clan's main gate, memories of her sister, parents, and their teachings flooded her mind.
Naruto wasn't afraid of ghosts or monsters. The reason he slowed his pace earlier was that this was his first time entering the Uchiha compound, and he wanted to take it all in.
Following Sasuke past the gate, he saw a long corridor-street flanked by wooden shops stretching tens of meters in depth.
After crossing the lifeless, eerily silent street, they reached the residential area.
The living quarters and the commercial district were distinctly separated into different zones.
It was Naruto's first visit, so he looked around curiously.
Meanwhile, Sasuke grew increasingly quiet and pensive the moment she stepped through the gate.
Haunted by sorrow, every time she returned here, she couldn't help but recall the scenes of her sister slaughtering their clan and the deaths of her parents.
"Sasuke, your house is huge!" Naruto finally broke the silence.
"Hmph, so what? To me, it's just a bigger cage."
Hearing this, Naruto wisely chose to stay silent.
The massacre had occurred only two days ago.
As they walked, the faint metallic tang of blood still lingered in the soil—blood spilled from the members of the Uchiha clan.
Given such an environment, the fact that a seven-year-old Sasuke hadn't lost her mind was already remarkable.
"Wow, so many luxurious courtyards. Sasuke, which one is yours?"
The further they walked, the grander the houses in the residential area became. Eventually, Naruto couldn't help but ask.
"That one up ahead."
Following Sasuke's gaze, Naruto spotted it and couldn't help but marvel. It truly was fitting for the clan leader's family—its gate alone was a meter taller than the others.
As they entered the compound, Naruto immediately noticed the refined and lavish design—a sprawling complex with front and back courtyards.
"Wow…"
The depictions of the Uchiha clan's buildings in the original story were one-sided. Naruto had assumed the compound would resemble a large, simple village. Seeing it in person now, the contrast was stark.
"Hmph."
Hearing Naruto's amazed reaction, Sasuke let out a cold snort and strode down the wooden corridor leading to her room.
"Sasuke, wait for me!" Naruto awkwardly smiled at her cold reaction. He realized his excitement might have rubbed salt into her wounds.
The corridor's wooden floor creaked faintly under their steps. Not far ahead, a clear pond surrounded by smooth pebbles came into view. Floating on the surface were vibrant green lotus leaves, resembling miniature umbrellas.
This time, Naruto held back his curiosity. Even when he recognized scenes from the original story, he chose to remain silent.
Sasuke soon slid open a wooden door, removed her shoes, and stepped inside.
Naruto stood at the entrance, peering into the dark interior.
Click.
Sasuke turned on the light with practiced ease, then glanced back at Naruto. "This is my room."
"Oh, oh."
Naruto removed his shoes and stepped into what was now Sasuke's boudoir.
Even after her transformation into a girl, Sasuke's room had the pinkish tones typical of a young girl's preferences.
As Naruto entered, he caught a faint, refreshing fragrance. He couldn't tell whether it came from the room itself or was Sasuke's natural scent lingering in the space.
"We're at my house now. So, what do you want to say?"
Seeing Naruto show no intention of leaving, Sasuke finally asked.
"Uh…"
Caught off guard, Naruto scratched his head awkwardly. "Well, could you show me around the other rooms?"
"No."
Naruto's request was met with immediate rejection.
"Just one look, and I promise I'll leave," Naruto persisted.
"No. The other rooms are sealed off," Sasuke replied firmly.
Naruto frowned, realizing Sasuke wasn't going to budge. His request wasn't driven by idle curiosity but by a specific purpose.
"How about this—we compromise. Just show me your sister's room."
Naruto's tone was sincere, but even so, his words struck a nerve.
Sasuke abruptly stood up, her previously clear eyes turning blood-red. The Sharingan with a single tomoe spun into view.
"That woman… Why? Why do you want to see her room?"
Faced with Sasuke's piercing gaze, Naruto didn't hesitate. He decided to speak the truth.
In situations like this, hesitation—even for a moment—would be exposed under the scrutiny of the Sharingan.
But honest thoughts, prepared in advance, could be spoken without delay.
"No special reason. I'm just curious."
Seeing Naruto's unwavering gaze, Sasuke scoffed. "Her room has been mostly emptied. There's nothing interesting to see."
Realizing his attempt had failed, Naruto decided to play his trump card.
"In that case… I'll use one of the oaths. That way, it's a fair trade."
Yes, after their duel by the river, Sasuke had owed Naruto three favors.
The first had been repaid by helping Naruto obtain 20,000 silver taels. But the remaining two had been left unfulfilled, leaving Sasuke uneasy.
Now, Naruto was willing to use one of those oaths on this request.
"Hmph, fine. But you'll owe me a favor in return."
Naruto was about to argue when Sasuke's expression suddenly darkened. "Tomorrow marks the third day since my parents' deaths. As my friend, will you come with me to pay respects?"
Naruto understood immediately.
It wasn't about Sasuke being afraid of ghosts or spirits. Rather, she was a young girl facing the immense pressure of mourning her entire clan alone.
"Deal," Naruto agreed. "When?"
"Tomorrow morning, after training."
With that, Sasuke led Naruto to another room.
"This was her room… no, that woman's room."
Sliding open the wooden door, they were greeted by a nearly empty space.
Much of the original furniture and decor had been removed, leaving behind only a few personal items like clothes, shoes, and toys.
"Don't touch anything in the room."
Sasuke, unwilling to step inside, gave her stern warning before turning back toward her own room.
Naruto, of course, agreed.
But as soon as Sasuke left, his curiosity surged, and he could no longer hold back.
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