Chapter 109 - 108: Left Behind No Longer

Chapter 109: Chapter 108: Left Behind No Longer

"Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall."

— Confucius

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Another hour passed...

Only a handful of students remained behind him.

Naruto was in front. Of course he was. He was an Uzumaki, and on top of that, the Nine-Tails’ jinchūriki.

Just behind him was Sayuri.

Sasuke followed close behind them.

Sasuke gritted his teeth as his confidence took blow after blow.

He couldn’t even beat Sayuri in a simple endurance test.

Then he glanced sideways.

It was Hinata.

Not a single bead of sweat had appeared on her forehead.

Meanwhile, he was using everything he had just to stay beside her.

"...How...?"

His lungs burned, his vision blurred.

Yet...

Hinata looked as though she’d merely gone for a walk.

I...can’t even beat Hinata?

His eyes drifted toward Sayuri.

She wasn’t slowing down either.

Another hour...

The forest floor was littered with exhausted students.

Some lay flat on their backs, while others had collapsed against trees, gasping for air. Only a few were still moving.

Naruto was breathing heavily now. Even Sayuri’s shoulders had begun rising and falling. Hinata’s breathing had become uneven.

But Sasuke... he was panting like a pig, his lungs feeling as though they were about to give out.

His legs had long since gone numb.. Everything in front of him was becoming blurry.

Otis sensed it immediately.

The boy had already gone past his limit. But he refused to stop.

Otis smirked.

Some things never changed.

...

(Sasuke’s POV)

I staggered forward.

One more step.

Then another.

Every step hurt. It hurts so much thaat i just want to stop right here right now

My vision doubled.

NO! i will not stop. Not here. Not now

Not in front of them.

Not again.

Images flashed through my mind.

Nii-san... Mother.

Sayuri’s victorious grin after defeating me.

"...You’ll awaken it eventually."

Her teasing voice echoed inside my head.

My fists clenched.

NO

I won’t be left behind.

Not by Nii-san.

Not by Sayuri.

Not by anyone.

MY body screamed in pain, and my knees buckled.

But I forced another step.

Then another.

YES i can do it!

"...Sasuke."

"I wont be left behind"

"...Sasuke."

My eyelids slowly opened.

A white ceiling?.

...

(Third person POV)

The smell of medicine hit his senses.

Sasuke sat up and looked around.

"...Hospital?"

"You finally woke up."

Sasuke turned his head.

Otis leaned against a nearby pillar with his arms folded.

"You fainted during the run."

Sasuke stared blankly at the blanket covering him.

"...I lost."

His voice barely came out.

Sasuke looked down at his hands.

"So... I still got left behind."

Otis pushed himself off the pillar and walked over.

"I don’t think you did."

Sasuke frowned.

Otis reached into his pocket.

"...Look."

He held up a small mirror.

Sasuke stared for several long seconds...

"..."

"..."

his eyes widened.

His black eyes...Were no longer black. A brilliant crimson stared back at him as a single tomoe slowly revolved within each eye.

(Pic)

His breathing stopped.

His fingers trembled.

"...I..."

His voice cracked.

"I-I awakened it."

His hand slowly reached toward his face.

"...I did it."

"I finally awakened it!"

The hospital room door suddenly slid open.

"Yo."

Sayuri walked in carrying a basket of fruit. Behind her came Hinata and Naruto, grinning from ear to ear.

"Told you he’d wake up!" she said, nudging Naruto.

Hinata smiled warmly.

"I’m glad you’re okay."

Sayuri looked into his eyes and nodded.

"So you finally awakened it."

Then she sighed dramatically.

"What a shame." (￣3￣)

Sasuke blinked.

"What do you mean?"

Sayuri shrugged.

"Mother and I had already decided that if you never awakened your Sharingan..."

"...we’d just marry you off to some strong clan and use you to improve the Uchiha bloodline."

She shook her head with exaggerated regret.

"Such a waste."

"We had a whole business plan."

"But I guess that plan won’t work anymore."

A vein bulged on Sasuke’s forehead.

"...WHAT?!" (╬?益?)

He lunged straight at her.

Sayuri laughed and darted out of the room.

"You’ll have to catch me first!"

"SAYYYURIIII!"

Sasuke chased after her without thinking.

Naruto burst into laughter.

Hinata covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.

Even Otis couldn’t help smiling. Some things...Never changed.

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