It took a long while before Sasuke's eyes finally regained focus.
"I'm… not dead?"
He lay there in a daze, instinctively reaching for the place where he'd felt a searing wound moments ago. There was nothing. No pain. No blood. His body felt perfectly intact.
"…Where's my injury?"
"Oh? You're awake at last. You've been out for quite a while."
Fujimoto Tōma's voice drifted over. Sasuke jolted upright instantly, muscles tensing on instinct, ready to defend himself.
Then he froze.
His body was fine. Completely uninjured.
"…Genjutsu?" Sasuke frowned, then looked at Tōma. "When did you use it?"
As soon as he said it, he relaxed. For some reason, Tōma had always felt more like an older senior than an enemy. Someone who helped him even when there was no clear benefit.
What Sasuke didn't know was that Tōma's reasons were far more practical than sentimental. Still, help given freely was help nonetheless.
"I don't really use genjutsu," Tōma said flatly. "That was yours."
"…Mine?" Sasuke blinked, genuinely confused.
"Hold on."
Tōma pulled a scroll from his pouch, unsealed a mirror, and handed it over.
Sasuke stared.
Crimson eyes stared back at him. Two tomoe spun slowly within each pupil.
"Sharingan?! When did I—"
Realization hit him like a thunderclap. He snapped his head up, eyes burning as he looked at Tōma.
"So it really was because of earlier…"
"Yeah," Tōma said casually. "You awakened it when you were pushed into a real life-or-death situation. You tried to save yourself with genjutsu. I reflected it back, and you got caught in it instead."
Sasuke's breathing quickened.
If that kind of pressure awakened two tomoe in both eyes… then another time might push it even further. Three tomoe. Just like him.
Maybe once wasn't enough.
Maybe again. And again—
"It won't work."
Tōma's words cut through his thoughts like cold water.
"Why not?" Sasuke demanded.
"Because it only works the first time," Tōma replied. "You already know I won't kill you. Your subconscious knows it too. Without real fear, there's no breakthrough."
Tōma took back the mirror and sealed it away.
Sasuke fell silent. He couldn't deny it. Even now, he knew Tōma wouldn't cross that line.
After a long pause, Sasuke spoke again.
"…Sorry."
Tōma blinked. "For what?"
"You were helping me," Sasuke said, turning his head away. "And I doubted you. I won't do that again."
Tōma stared at him for a moment, then chuckled softly. There was something almost nostalgic about this version of Sasuke. Straightforward. Earnest. Still human.
He reached out and ruffled Sasuke's hair.
"Hey—! I'm not a kid anymore!"
Sasuke tried to block him, but the effort was half-hearted at best. He gave up quickly, cheeks faintly red.
"Not a kid, huh?" Tōma pressed his palm lightly on Sasuke's head, comparing their heights. "Sure doesn't look like it."
"Tch. You early-developing freak."
Tōma laughed, then glanced at Sasuke's eyes. "Turn off the Sharingan. Even Uchiha burn chakra keeping it active."
"Oh. Right."
Sasuke did so reluctantly. The world immediately felt duller.
"You've met your team leader, right?" Tōma asked.
"Yeah. Hatake Kakashi. You know him?"
"Not personally. But I know of him," Tōma replied. "Honestly, he's a good fit for you."
"…Is he?" Sasuke frowned, recalling Kakashi's lazy attitude.
"You'll understand later," Tōma said. "More importantly, you've got teammates now. Don't let revenge consume everything."
Sasuke's jaw tightened. The image of his brother surfaced unbidden.
"I can't just let it go."
"I didn't say to give it up," Tōma said quietly. "Just don't drown in it. Look around. There are people who care about you."
Sasuke didn't respond.
"You're on a team with Naruto," Tōma continued. "If you ever move toward revenge, he won't stay out of it. Neither will Sakura. And right now, none of you are strong enough for that path."
"Naruto…?" Sasuke muttered, picturing the loud blond with absurd stamina.
"And don't rush," Tōma added. "That man is five years older than you. That's five extra years of physical development. You've only just entered your growth phase."
"But even then," Sasuke argued, "he'll still have five more years than me."
"True," Tōma nodded. "But you can still catch him."
Sasuke looked up sharply. "How? He was a jōnin at thirteen."
"Because he has flaws," Tōma replied calmly.
Sasuke waited.
"He grew up in unstable times. Most shinobi from that era extracted chakra early. That speeds growth, but it also brings limits. Unless you have an absurd constitution, your chakra capacity hits a ceiling fast."
Sasuke thought back. His father hadn't allowed chakra extraction until he was six. Even at the Academy, teachers constantly warned them not to overdo it.
"…So his chakra is a weakness?"
"It can be," Tōma said.
"Like Naruto?" Sasuke asked suddenly.
"Yes," Tōma nodded. "Uzumaki Naruto. Uzumaki clan. Massive chakra reserves. Early extraction hurts them less than others."
Sasuke felt a flicker of envy.
Tōma noticed and smirked. "What are you jealous for? Your Sharingan isn't inferior to Naruto's stamina. If anything, I should be the jealous one."
Sasuke froze.
Only then did it truly sink in.
Tōma had no special bloodline.
No clan advantage.
Then how had he reached this level?
Effort alone? Talent?
Tōma ruffled his hair again. "So don't rush. Every step you take closes the gap. You'll get your revenge someday. Just don't sacrifice everything else for it."
He paused, then added quietly, "And until you're strong enough, if you ever meet him, run. Otherwise you'll drag Naruto and Sakura into your death with you. They won't abandon you."
Sasuke hesitated. "Then… what about you?"
"If it were me?" Tōma smiled faintly. "I think you'd be better off never letting that man meet me."