UCHIHA LIBERATOR (NARUTO X MALE UCHIHA OC)

Chapter 20

3RD POV

Haru stood silently by the hospital bed, his pupiless eyes fixed on Ryuichi's pale, bandaged form. The rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor filled the sterile room, a constant reminder that Ryuichi was alive—but barely. His left hand, heavily damaged and wrapped in thick bandages, rested limply at his side. The sight of it made Haru's chest tighten. He could still vividly recall the battle, every agonizing moment etched into his mind like a scar.

The mission had gone horribly wrong. Kushimaru Kuriarare, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, had cornered them, his vicious needle-like blade weaving through their defenses like it was toying with them. The man's killing intent was suffocating, his strikes precise and unrelenting. Haru and Fuyumi had been pushed to their limits—and beyond.

They would have died. Haru had no doubt about it.

But Ryuichi had refused to back down. Even with his body trembling from exhaustion, his chakra reserves nearly depleted, he had stepped forward, a fierce determination blazing in his Sharingan. And in the end, Ryuichi had done the impossible. With a final, desperate attack, he had brought Kushimaru down. The image of Ryuichi delivering the killing blow—blood spraying through the air, his left hand mangled in the process—was seared into Haru's memory.

Kushina had arrived moments later, her face a mask of panic and fury. She didn't waste a second, sprinting to Ryuichi's side. Her red hair, usually vibrant and full of life, had seemed dulled with worry as she knelt beside him, frantically checking his vitals.

"Stay with me, Ryuichi! Don't you dare quit on me now!" she had yelled, her voice shaking with emotion.

Without hesitation, Kushina had lifted Ryuichi onto her back, her strength and speed suddenly dwarfing what Haru and Fuyumi thought possible. She bolted through the battlefield and the streets of Konoha, so fast that Haru and Fuyumi couldn't hope to keep up. The doors to the hospital had slammed open as she burst into Tsunade's office, demanding the legendary medic's help with an urgency that brooked no argument.

And now, here Haru was, standing over his unconscious teammate, replaying it all over and over in his head.

He clenched his fists at his sides. Guilt gnawed at him. It should have been me.

The silence of the room was broken by the soft rustle of Ryuichi's breathing, but it wasn't enough to comfort Haru. His teammate—his friend—was lying here because he had taken on more than his share, because Haru and Fuyumi hadn't been strong enough to hold their own against someone like Kushimaru.

Haru's voice came out in a whisper, raw and strained. "Ryuichi... why did you have to push yourself so far?"

He lowered his gaze, his fingers tightening around the edges of his sleeves. "You saved us. You saved me. But at what cost? What if you hadn't made it? What if—"

The lump in his throat grew unbearable, and Haru bit down on his lip to stifle the rising emotion. His Hokage dream, his goal to protect others... it all felt hollow in this moment. Ryuichi had done what Haru should have been able to do. Haru was supposed to lead, to protect his team, and yet he had been powerless.

"You're an idiot, you know," Haru muttered, his voice trembling.

As he stared down at Ryuichi, Haru felt a familiar presence behind him. He turned to see Kushina standing in the doorway, her arms crossed, her eyes shadowed with worry. She gave him a small, encouraging smile, though it was tinged with her own guilt.

"Sensei..." Haru said softly, unsure what to say.

Kushina walked over and stood beside him, her gaze falling to Ryuichi. She sighed deeply, her expression pained. "Ryuichi's tougher than he looks, Haru. He'll pull through. You've just got to have faith in him."