Kimimaro watched Sasuke, who had his head down and a calm expression.
He understood Sasuke's hesitation. If a group of people suddenly offered him a syringe of the medicine, he wouldn't use it on his closest family member. He knew Sasuke would be hesitant too.
"You don't need to doubt the effectiveness of Lord Orochimaru's medicine. Like your brother, I also suffered from an incurable disease and should have been lying in a hospital bed to end my life. However, thanks to the Type-1 medicine developed by Lord Orochimaru, I can now move freely. Although this medicine can't completely cure the disease, it can relieve the physical pain caused by it. Of course, whether you believe it or not is up to you."
"We'll give you time to think it over. We'll wait for your answer by the forest outside Konoha Village at dawn the day after tomorrow."
After saying that, Kimimaro and the others disappeared from Sasuke's sight in a flash.
Sasuke tightly grasped the drug in his hand. The pale green liquid emitted a tempting charm in the bright moonlight, and he couldn't help but let out a bitter smile.
"Naruto, it seems that this is the moment when we part ways."
..............
Early the next morning, Sasuke came to the hospital. To his surprise, Shisui was already there, peeling an apple for Itachi.
"Sasuke, you've come to see me?"
Itachi was still the same as before. Although there was no sign of illness on the surface, he was actually enduring the pain of the disease, and his health had always been poor.
"Yeah."
The two brothers chatted idly until the nurse brought the medicine.
Early that morning, he sneaked into the hospital and swapped Orochimaru's syringe of medicine with Itachi's regular one.
He watched as the syringe was slowly pushed into Itachi's body, and his heart tightened involuntarily.
"Brother, how do you feel after the injection?"
"Silly boy, the medicine doesn't work that fast. You won't feel it right away. It'll take at least half an hour for it to kick in."
During this half - hour, Sasuke was constantly worried about Itachi's physical condition, fearing that Orochimaru was up to some tricks again.
"Sasuke, what's wrong with you today? You seem really nervous."
"I'm fine. How are you feeling now, brother? Do you feel any better?"
"Haha, I just said the medicine won't..."
Itachi stopped before he finished speaking. He felt his body and stretched out his five fingers, contracting them repeatedly. He hadn't noticed before, but after Sasuke mentioned it, he realized that maybe they had changed his medicine today. Why did he feel so much more relaxed?
"It seems that I don't feel as groggy as before. Did the doctor change my medicine today?"
Itachi looked up at Shisui with a puzzled expression, and Shisui carefully checked the medicine list.
"According to the medicine list, it's the same as the previous medicine."
Sasuke was slightly shocked. It seemed that the medicine Orochimaru gave really worked. After hearing the result he wanted, he turned around and left.
Itachi watched Sasuke's departing back and couldn't help but feel sad.
"What's wrong with you? You look like you're about to cry."
"I've got a feeling that Sasuke has made up his mind right at this moment. I'm afraid I won't see him for a long time."
"Itachi, you're just overthinking. Your illness ain't gonna get better if you keep thinking like this. What you need to do now is lie here obediently and recuperate. Don't let Sasuke worry about you."
..............
Early the next morning, before dawn, Sasuke packed his bags, left a letter at his home, and took a last look at his warm and happy little home.
The moon was still hanging in the sky. The soft moonlight shone on the villa. Listening to the chirping of summer cicadas and Naruto's snoring, Sasuke couldn't help but think, "Is this dude an old man? Why is he snoring at such a young age?"
Sasuke was a bit dazed as he thought that more than seven years had passed since he'd agreed to the gambling game with the gods and started anew. During this time, he never felt that terrifying willpower again. Was this just a dream, or did gods really descend into the world?
Thinking about it, Sasuke shook his head. It wasn't the time to think about these things. It was time to go.
It was really hard for him to leave the little home where he had stayed for seven years.
Finally, he bowed deeply to the house.
"Sorry, father, mother, brother, Naruto. Although I really want to stay by your side, I also have things I have to do. I hope you take good care of yourselves."
After saying this, he sealed all his attachments within his heart and left his home.
...............
Inside the villa, Fugaku and Mikoto couldn't help showing a faint sadness as they watched the direction Sasuke left.
As parents, they had long noticed the abnormality of their son, but even so, they still didn't mention it.
Because they knew that it wouldn't help even if they mentioned it.
"Husband, shouldn't we go to see Sasuke off?"
As a mother, Mikoto was still worried about her son.
"No. That child has his own way and wants to go his own path. All we can do as parents is support him."
Fugaku noticed Mikoto's down - mood and comforted her.
"However, I believe that even if our son encounters more difficulties, he will definitely be able to overcome them. I'm looking forward to the day when Sasuke returns to the village in glory."
"Yeah!"
After hearing this, Mikoto cheered up a little, and there was more expectation in her eyes.
Their son had grown into an eagle that could soar in the sky and was no longer a fledgling that needed their protection.
An eagle is meant to fly in the blue sky.
..............
In the morning, Naruto's eyelid twitched violently, making him so uncomfortable that he couldn't sleep. The sky was just beginning to lighten, and Naruto had no sleepiness at all. He got up nervously and went to the toilet.
On his way, he found that Sasuke's door was actually open!
"This dude Sasuke is usually so uptight. Why didn't he even close his door today?"
But it was good that he didn't close it! He could also play a prank on Sasuke.
But what should he put? A scary doll?
He doesn't seem to be afraid of this [the thing mentioned earlier, presumably the bugs].
Bugs? At the thought of this, Naruto's face couldn't help but turn a bit ugly. If Sasuke found out that Naruto had put such a dirty thing on his bed, he would surely fly into a rage.
Imagining Sasuke getting angry, Naruto quickly shook his head. Well, it's just a little prank. He just had to make sure Sasuke didn't realize it was him.
Naruto held his breath and gently pushed the door open little by little. Just as he was about to wake Sasuke up, he found that the bed was empty.