"Looking at it this way, Konoha didn't lose that much."
Deidara said carelessly.
Onoki flew over beside Deidara and tapped the section of the report about Shukaku.
"The important thing is that Shukaku appeared in Konoha."
Deidara immediately understood, "There's trouble on Sunagakure's side."
Deidara's mind worked quickly, and he instantly thought that Konoha might retaliate against Sunagakure.
Onoki was thinking even further ahead. Even though Konoha had focused on development these past few years, Konoha still had many powerful people. Their strength couldn't be underestimated.
Once Konoha declared war on Sunagakure, it could easily turn into the Fifth Great Ninja War.
"Our spies found Konan among Konoha's combat personnel."
"Go gather some information and find out what's going on."
Deidara had always been a member of Akatsuki. Even though the organization hadn't been active these past few years, he never left it.
Naturally, it was because of his Brother Sasori.
Onoki didn't bring that up because Akatsuki had close ties with the Uchiha.
Maybe they would be useful someday. And now, they really were.
"Perfect. I also want to make a trip to Konoha," Deidara agreed immediately.
Because Deidara had a goal now, he had spent much less time causing trouble over the years. Onoki had long stopped restricting his freedom.
It was just that Sasori wasn't around, so he never felt like going out.
He also hadn't seen Brother Sasori for a while. It happened that his Dust Explosion Technique had already started taking shape.
He wanted to go share it with this close friend.
The more Onoki looked at this disciple, the more satisfied he became. He only reminded him, "Go early and come back early."
"Your Dust Explosion Technique still needs improvement."
"Don't worry, old man!"
"Kurotsuchi, prepare the things for the trip."
Onoki casually instructed afterward.
"Got it," Kurotsuchi was a little unhappy, since she had to separate from Deidara again.
But she didn't make a fuss about following him.
———
[Uchiha Hospital]
Sasuke Uchiha, wrapped in bandages, slowly opened his eyes with a frown.
Looking at the white ceiling, Sasuke was dazed for a moment.
Several seconds later, his thoughts gradually returned.
He suddenly sat up, his expression turning savage.
"Obito! AAAAAAHHH!"
"Mm…", He had just tried to get out of bed when he forgot his hand was broken.
The moment it touched the bedside, piercing pain shot straight into his brain.
"Ahhh!", Sasuke's hand gave out, and he fell directly off the bed.
The hospital bed wasn't high, but Sasuke was covered in injuries. The fall left his mind blank from the pain.
Tap! Tap! Tap!
Unhurried footsteps approached, followed by the sound of the door opening.
Sasuke raised his head and found Rengoku looking at him with disappointment.
"Shi… Shishou…" Sasuke looked at Rengoku pitifully.
Rengoku reached out and helped Sasuke up.
"Where are you trying to go before your injuries are healed? Reattaching your hand took quite a bit of time."
Sasuke had no mind for that. His eyes were red as he looked at Rengoku.
"Shishou, Nii-san and Father…"
Rengoku didn't show the slightest trace of sadness. He only nodded calmly.
"I know."
Sasuke completely broke down. Tears poured down his face.
His voice carried grievance and anger, "Shishou, where did you go? If you had been there, Father and Nii-san wouldn't have died!"
Rengoku quietly looked at Sasuke. His face showed no expression, and he didn't reply.
Sasuke cried and sobbed at the same time.
Sasuke had never gone through the Uchiha Clan Massacre Night. This time, he lost the two people closest to him all at once.
Even though he was already sixteen, he still couldn't stop crying.
After Sasuke calmed down a little, Rengoku finally asked, "Are you blaming me?"
His voice was calm. It was only a normal question, but Sasuke still shrank back a little.
Then he wiped his tears.
"Sorry, Shishou. I shouldn't have spoken like that."
Rengoku let out a cold snort, a trace of chill in his eyes, "You should understand. I'm not your babysitter. I'm not supposed to stay beside you all the time protecting you."
"Besides, even if Obito managed to ambush Fugaku, he still wasn't Itachi's opponent."
"I already told you that Obito has space-time ninjutsu. He's extremely dangerous. Yet you still went and dragged Itachi down."
"How Itachi died, you know better than I do!"
Great pain filled Sasuke's eyes. His Mangekyo Sharingan opened.
Countless blood vessels spread across them. He looked like a beast driven into despair.
"It was me! I'm the one who killed Nii-san!"
Sasuke grabbed the bed board hard. Veins bulged on his arm as he screamed hysterically.
Massive hatred and pain drowned Sasuke like a flood.
He hated Obito, and he hated his own uselessness too.
That enormous hatred made blood tears flow from his eyes. His emotions had already reached the limit.
Rengoku could easily sense Sasuke's chakra boiling nonstop like hot water throughout his body.
But this kind of stimulation still needed limits. Seeing Sasuke's unfocused eyes, looking like he was about to faint again, Rengoku pressed a hand onto Sasuke's shoulder.
"If you want to save Itachi and Fugaku, then calm down."
His words struck Sasuke like lightning.
Sasuke's whole body shook. Focus instantly returned to his eyes, and he grabbed Rengoku's hand like a lifeline.
"Shishou! Nii-san and Father can still come back even after dying?"
His eyes were full of pleading.
Rengoku reached out and tapped Sasuke's forehead.
"What do you think Konoha gives Orochimaru so much funding for biological science research every year for?"
Sasuke didn't know that during the time Rengoku had returned, many people had already been revived.
Whether it was Sasori's parents, Karura, Gaara's mother, or the three members of the Hyuga clan, none of them had shown themselves outside after being revived.
Sasuke had been training inside the clan these past few days, and nobody deliberately told him.
Hearing his master say this clearly meant his dead brother and father could still be saved.
Hope filled Sasuke's eyes. It looked like he wanted to swallow Rengoku whole.
Rengoku knocked Sasuke on the head, making a thump sound.
"Calm down. Do you think reviving people is that easy?"
"A lot of preparation is needed, and it consumes a huge amount of resources."
Sasuke had completely stabilized now, and his intelligence quickly took over again.
He pulled on Rengoku and asked, "Shishou, then how long do we need to prepare before reviving Nii-san and the others?"
Rengoku looked Sasuke over.
"Heal your injuries first. You'll be seeing them very soon."
"You just need to know about our resurrection ability yourself. Don't tell the other clan members."
"Anyway, nobody else knows Fugaku and Itachi are dead."
Sasuke was completely full of energy now. His face was filled with joy and hope.
"Yes! I understand, Shishou!"
Rengoku snorted, "You brat, lie down and rest first."
Life's highs and lows came too quickly. Sasuke's emotions felt like a roller coaster, rising and falling nonstop.
After calming down, the pain across his body hit him again.
His eyes also hurt badly.