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Is this really Konoha? Konohamaru wondered as he looked around. He wasn't sure what he was seeing anymore. This place—ruins everywhere. He felt like he was walking through a graveyard.
Ruins were everywhere. The once-familiar streets were now tangled with debris, and the air was thick with dust and the acrid smell of smoke. He felt like he was walking through a nightmare. Other people moved around him—shinobi, their faces grim and determined as they searched desperately through the rubble for any sign of life. But every time they pulled out a body, it was cold and lifeless.
He watched as a fellow shinobi gripped a massive piece of fallen rock, half-sunken into the ground and stained with dark splatters of blood. Konohamaru stood in silent horror as the rock was lifted, revealing a grotesque sight—a mangled mess of blood, skin, bones, and organs. The sight was so visceral, so raw, that it barely seemed real.
Was that... a person? he wondered, his mind struggling to comprehend the scene before him. He couldn't tell; it didn't look like anything human anymore. Just then, a firm hand rested on his shoulder.
Startled, Konohamaru looked up to see a Jonin standing beside him, his face etched with sorrow and exhaustion. The man's mouth was moving, forming words that seemed distant and muffled as if coming from underwater. His gaze drifted back to the mutilated remains for a moment before the Jonin gently turned him away. Another shinobi produced a body bag from a seal on his shoulder, and they started collecting what was left.
Konohamaru began to walk aimlessly. He didn't know where he was going; his feet just moved on their own. Soon, he reached the main crossroads of the village, near where the Hokage's office once stood—a proud symbol of their strength and unity. Now, it was reduced to rubble and ash.
The area was filled with people, all moving with a haunted emptiness as they sifted through the debris. Konohamaru stared numbly at the carnage before him; body parts were scattered amid the wreckage. The sheer scale of the devastation was overwhelming.
So much blood, he thought. He knew that the human body carried about five liters of blood, but seeing it pooled and smeared across the ground was something else entirely. The earth itself seemed to bleed, turning dark red under the fading light.
His brown eyes drifted downward, catching sight of something near his feet. Lying on the ground was a severed hand, eerily pale against the dirt and debris. A simple ring adorned the index finger, its metallic surface glinting faintly. The sight sent a cold chill down his spine, rooting him to the spot.
"Konohamaru!"
The voice pierced through the haze. Konohamaru turned toward the sound, his eyes meeting Moegi's frantic gaze. She was sprinting toward him, her face flushed and streaked with dirt and tears. She skidded to a stop in front of him, doubling over as she tried to catch her breath.
"Moegi?" he uttered, his voice barely more than a whisper. There was a numbness in his tone.
"Konohamaru, I can't find Udon!" she cried, her eyes wide with panic. She grabbed his shoulders, her fingers digging in as if he might slip away. "Please, tell me you know where he is!"
His heart sank. He realized with a jolt that he hadn't seen Udon at the safe location on the mountain or anywhere else since the attack.
"...I don't know," he said softly, the words tasting bitter on his tongue. It felt like admitting defeat. Moegi's hopeful expression crumbled, her eyes welling up with tears.
"Is he..." Her voice broke as she swallowed hard, unable to finish the sentence. Saying it out loud would make it too real.
"He is not dead!" Konohamaru shouted suddenly, the force of his own voice surprising him as much as it did her. Moegi flinched, stepping back, and guilt immediately gnawed at him. He hadn't meant to scare her. Taking a deep breath, he softened his tone. "I'm sorry. I just... I know he's alive. He has to be."
Without waiting for a response, he grabbed her hand. "We just have to check the safe bunkers around the village first. I'm sure he's in one of them," he said, injecting as much confidence into his voice as he could muster. He flashed a hopeful smile, and after a moment, Moegi nodded, clutching his hand tightly.
They took off at a run, their voices ringing out through the shattered streets. "Udon!" they called. "Udon! Where are you? The fight is over!**" Their pleas echoed off the remnants of buildings, carried away by the wind.
They stopped every shinobi they encountered, describing Udon—the glasses, the shy smile, the way he always sniffled when he was nervous. But each person shook their head, eyes filled with pity or exhaustion. Hours blurred together as they combed through the wreckage, their desperation mounting with each passing moment.
Just as the sun began to dip toward the horizon, casting long shadows over the ruins, they noticed movement near one of the larger bunkers. The heavy doors creaked open, and survivors began to emerge. Medical shinobi rushed forward to assist, and the area buzzed with a flicker of life amidst the devastation.
"He must be there!" Konohamaru exclaimed, a surge of hope propelling him forward. He nearly dragged Moegi along as they sprinted toward the bunker. They stood on tiptoe, scanning the faces of those filing out—dirty, tired, but alive.
Konohamaru's heart pounded in his chest. Each face that wasn't Udon's chipped away at his optimism. He craned his neck, eyes darting frantically. Any moment now, he'd see that familiar face, maybe a wave or a shy smile.
But as the flow of people dwindled, reality began to sink in. The last survivor stepped out—a wounded man leaning heavily on a medic—and the bunker doors closed with a resonating thud.
"He... he's still alive," Konohamaru whispered, his voice barely audible over the distant sounds of the village's aftermath. "He must be."
Moegi's eyes shimmered with unshed tears. "Maybe he was taken to another bunker," she suggested, her voice trembling.
"Yes!" Konohamaru seized on the idea. "There are others. We just have to keep looking."
They raced to the next bunker, and then the next, their legs growing heavy, breaths ragged. At each one, hope flared anew only to be extinguished. The village seemed endless in its ruin, a labyrinth of loss.
"Udon!" Konohamaru's voice was hoarse now, his throat raw from shouting. The sky had turned a deep indigo, stars beginning to prick through the veil of night. Moegi stumbled beside him, exhaustion evident in every step.
"Do you think..." Moegi began tentatively, "...that maybe he got out of the village? That he escaped before things got worse?"
Konohamaru stared ahead, his gaze unfocused. "Udon's smart. He could have found a safe place. Maybe he's waiting for us to find him." He clung to the possibility like a lifeline.
Soon, they approached the last bunker. A crowd had gathered around it—survivors being treated for wounds, families desperately searching for loved ones, medics rushing back and forth. This bunker was located in what used to be the eastern section of the village. Unlike the rest of Konoha, this area was mostly undamaged. Though some buildings had collapsed, it seemed almost untouched compared to the devastation elsewhere. It might even serve as a temporary refuge until the village could be rebuilt.
Konohamaru and Moegi hurried toward a man holding a clipboard thick with pages. A sizable crowd had formed around him, and three shinobi stood nearby to prevent anyone from overwhelming him. As they drew closer, the murmur of anxious voices grew louder.
"Please, my son's name is Gruker. Is he on the list?" an elderly woman begged, her voice quivering with desperation.
"I'm really sorry, ma'am, but he's not," the man replied sincerely after scanning his pages. Konohamaru watched as the woman's face crumpled, tears streaming down her cheeks. A man—perhaps her husband—wrapped an arm around her shoulders, guiding her away from the crowd.
A cold knot formed in Konohamaru's stomach. The sight of the grieving woman made the reality of their situation sink in even deeper. He felt his hope waver but clenched his fists, refusing to let it falter entirely.
Stepping forward, he found himself face-to-face with the man holding the clipboard. The official looked at him with a weary, sympathetic expression. "Who are you searching for?" he asked gently.
"Udon Ise. He's my age," Konohamaru said, his voice barely above a whisper. The words felt heavy,.
The man nodded and began flipping through the pages. Each turn seemed to take an eternity. Konohamaru's heart pounded in his chest, the suspense almost unbearable. Beside him, Moegi clutched her hands together, her knuckles white.
After several agonizing minutes, the man looked up, his eyes filled with regret. "I'm very sorry, but his name isn't on the list."
A numbness spread through Konohamaru's body. He wanted to ask the man to check again, to look one more time, but he knew it wouldn't make a difference. The truth was staring them in the face.
With a heavy heart, he turned away. The sounds of the crowd faded into the background, a distant hum he could barely register. Moegi sank to her knees beside him, tears streaming silently down her face, dripping onto the dusty ground. Konohamaru sat down next to her. It felt as if someone had driven a cold blade into his heart.
If this is a dream, I want it to end, he thought bitterly. Reaching out, he gently pulled Moegi to her feet. They walked away together, neither knowing where they were going but unable to stay in that place.
As they wandered through the ruined streets, Konohamaru tried to block out the grim sights surrounding them—the bodies lying still, the wreckage of homes, the lingering smell of smoke. This part of the village hadn't been cleared yet. Even with chakra and jutsu to aid the efforts, it could take months to recover all the bodies and debris.
They walked in silence for what felt like hours. Their feet ached, and exhaustion weighed heavily on them both. Eventually, they came upon a house with stone steps leading up to it. Miraculously, the house was still standing, though the roof had collapsed inward and cracks ran along the walls.
Deciding to rest, they sat down on the steps. Moegi leaned her head on Konohamaru's shoulder, her quiet sobs the only sound breaking the eerie stillness. He stared straight ahead, his eyes burning with unshed tears. But he refused to cry; he felt he needed to be strong for both of them.
Konohamaru wasn't sure how long they had been sitting in front of that broken house. Time felt distorted—seconds, minutes, or hours.
"KONOHAMARU!"
Both he and Moegi turned toward the sound, their hearts leaping at the familiar voice. Relief washed over them, Iruka, running toward them.
"Iruka-Sensei!" they cried in unison, scrambling to their feet and rushing toward him. They clung to his legs, their small bodies trembling. Iruka knelt down, wrapping his arms around them.
"I'm so glad you two are alright," Iruka said. His smile, though genuine, couldn't mask the exhaustion etched into his face.
Konohamaru pulled back slightly, looking up at his sensei with wide, pleading eyes. "Sensei, do you know where Udon is?"
Iruka hesitated, his face faltering. "I—I don't know, Konohamaru. But I'm sure he's around here somewhere. We'll find him."
"HE'S NOT!" Moegi's voice cracked. "We searched everywhere!" Her outburst made Iruka's heart sink even further, and he sighed, knowing there was little comfort he could offer.
Iruka placed a gentle hand on Moegi's shoulder, then looked between the two of them, his face somber. "Konohamaru, Moegi, listen to me. We will find him. The search teams are doing everything they can. Sooner or later, they'll find him." His words felt hollow, even to himself. He wanted to promise them that Udon was safe, that their friend was waiting for them—but he couldn't. He didn't have the answers they so desperately needed.
And yet, he had more to tell them.
"Konohamaru," Iruka said softly, his tone changing. He knelt fully now, lowering himself to Konohamaru's eye level. His hands gently rested on the boy's shoulders, steadying him.
"What is it, Sensei?" he asked, his voice small. Please don't tell me Udon is dead. Please...
Iruka took a deep breath, steadying himself. "Konohamaru... I'm so sorry, but I need to tell you something." His voice wavered, his eyes full of pain.
"What is it?" Konohamaru's voice was barely a whisper now, his breath caught in his throat.
"Konohamaru," Iruka began. "Your grandfather... Hiruzen Sarutobi... he's dead."
He couldn't breathe. His vision blurred, the world around him dissolving into nothingness. His mind screamed in denial, but no sound came from his lips. He was frozen.
Moegi gasped, her hand flying to her mouth, tears spilling over her cheeks. But Konohamaru... he couldn't cry. He couldn't speak. He couldn't do anything but stand there, staring at Iruka in disbelief, the words echoing in his mind over and over again.
Grandfather is dead.
His world had just fallen apart.
Sasuke - One Week Later
Make the Text more Engaging: Sasuke never thought he would ever live to see such a powerful village like Konoha be brought down to this level. The entire thing was in ruins.The Shinobis were trying their hardest to keep things in control, but it was a losing battle.
The whole village was closed off. For now, they were trying to rebuild, but despite the Earth Users working nonstop, he knew the worst had only just started.The village could not accept any more missions, and all businesses were shut down and destroyed. This meant that there was no income coming towards the village right now.
They were using Konoha's money in its treasury, and he heard from some people that the small council had already contacted the Fire Daimyo about giving them funds so they could pass this crisis.They still didn't know how many people died, but they were too many.
They had estimated that at least two thousand civilians had lost their lives in this war, and around two hundred shinobis were dead, not counting the children training in the academy. Konoha was falling apart, and they were not ready to defend themselves if a foreign country decided to start an attack. Even a smaller village like Land of Wood could become a danger to them.
But Sasuke paid little attention to Konoha. Since that day, Kakashi Sensei has been a mess. The man rarely spoke a word to them, and his habit of being late was gone.
Sakura still felt guilty about what had happened to TenTen, but Sasuke told her there was nothing she could do about it and that blaming herself would not help anyone. Instead, she should use that guilt as anger and turn that anger into a desire to become more powerful.
Sasuke was never a good friend of the other Konoha teams, but he knew their names. From what he knew, Team 9 was hit the hardest by Naruto's betrayal. According to Shikamaru, Asuma was still alive and recovering, but Sasuke couldn't remember him looking so depressed.
Sakura told him that Shikamaru and Naruto were best friends and that Ino was his lover or something. He wasn't really sure, but still, Naruto's betrayal had hit the two hard.When it came to other teams, he heard rumors that Hinata was training. Neji, despite losing his eyesight in both eyes, was training under someone called The Elder of the Hyuga clan. Sasuke didn't know who that was and didn't really care.
Today, as Sasuke worked alongside other shinobi to clear the debris from the village, a kunai embedded itself in the ground near his feet. Attached to it was a small note, the paper fluttering in the breeze. Sasuke pulled it free, and his eyes scanned the familiar handwriting.
Meet me on the western side of the village, near the Water Bridge. Eleven o'clock tonight. Don't tell anyone.
He didn't need to wonder who had sent it. He knew the handwriting well enough. Naruto had promised to tell him the truth after the Chunin Exams, and Sasuke hadn't forgotten. Whatever that truth was, he intended to find out.
Sighing, Sasuke gazed down at the artificial river running through what remained of the village. Despite the destruction, the water still flowed. Large chunks of debris had fallen into the river, disrupting its path, but the current pushed on, dragging the wreckage downstream. The Water Bridge, like so much else, was in ruins, its remains scattered into the water, carried away by the flow.
As night fell, Sasuke sat on the edge of what used to be the Water Bridge, his legs dangling over the side. The air was cool, and the quiet felt almost suffocating. He didn't flinch when he heard footsteps approaching from behind.
"I see you listened to me," Naruto said, his tone casual, as if they were simply meeting for a friendly chat and not standing in the ruins of Konoha.
Sasuke stood up, facing Naruto fully now. His eyes narrowed as he took in Naruto's appearance—dark bags under his eyes, a gauntness that hadn't been there before. Naruto looked... lighter, almost like he'd lost weight in a matter of days. Did he lose kilograms in just a week? Sasuke wondered, but he didn't ask. There were far more pressing questions weighing on his mind.
"How do you have the Sharingan?" Sasuke's voice was sharp.
Naruto's response was casual, almost indifferent. "I don't really know, Sasuke. All I know is that my father, Minato Namikaze, had Uchiha blood in him."
Sasuke's eyes widened in disbelief. "Wait, your father was the Fourth Hokage?!"
"Yes." Naruto's calm tone made it sound like it was no big deal.
"If you're truly his son... then why are you abandoning Konoha? Isn't Konoha your home?" Sasuke's question was laced with confusion, but as soon as the words left his mouth, Naruto's cold glare cut through him like a blade.
Naruto's gaze darkened, and Sasuke involuntarily took a step back, nearly losing his balance by the edge of the artificial river. His heart pounded in his chest as fear briefly flickered in his eyes.
"Konoha was never my home," Naruto said, his voice hard and unyielding. "Konoha was simply a stepping stone."
"A stepping stone?" Sasuke repeated, his brow furrowing in confusion.
"Yes," Naruto confirmed, his voice dripping with disdain. "This place served its purpose in my plan. It had its role, but it's no longer part of it. Konoha is done for."
"Done?" Sasuke echoed. The word felt wrong—he never cared for Konoha, not the way others did. To him, it was just a village, a place. Yet hearing those words from Naruto stirred something in him.
"Yes," Naruto continued, his tone matter-of-fact. "This village is crumbling. Without outside help, it will collapse. The treasury can only feed the people for three more months. That's where I come in."
Sasuke's fists clenched tightly, the anger simmering inside him now threatening to boil over. "What is that supposed to mean?" His voice trembled with barely contained rage.
"That's not important right now, Sasuke," Naruto said dismissively, waving the question away like it was a fly.
"What?! Tell me. What will you do? Haven't you done enough?" Sasuke's voice rose, raw with accusation. He didn't know where the emotion came from—he wasn't supposed to care about Konoha. But he did. He could still feel the blood on his hands, still hear the cries of families mourning their dead.
"Sasuke, you seem to forget that The Sand Village was attacking Konoha. Even if I hadn't been here, people would still have died."
"Don't sell me that bullshit, Naruto!" Sasuke spat. His anger flared, his Sharingan flashing briefly. "I know you could've done something—anything—to stop it." Then, as if a veil lifted from his mind, the pieces clicked into place. His eyes widened with a sudden realization. "I see it now. I understand why you did all this, why this village is in ruins."
Naruto's expression barely changed, but his eyes flickered with curiosity. "What reason is that, Sasuke?"
"Your hatred," Sasuke said, his voice low and accusatory. "I never knew you well, but I remember my mother telling me about you—about how you had no parents, how the people of this village hated you." Sasuke's voice grew sharper, more certain. "Is that it? You destroyed this village because of your childhood, because of your hatred for everyone here."
For a moment, Sasuke thought he had struck a nerve. But much to his surprise, Naruto simply shook his head, a tired sigh escaping his lips.
"Sasuke," Naruto began, his voice calmer than before, "tell me, what do you know about the Uchiha Massacre?"
Sasuke blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift. The Uchiha Massacre? What did that have to do with anything? "Itachi killed—" Sasuke started, but the words burned in his throat. His anger surged like wildfire. "He butchered my entire clan! Everyone knows that. And they found you there, so why are you even asking?"
"You're only half right. Itachi did kill many of the Uchiha, but you don't know the full story."
Sasuke glared at him, confusion and fury twisting inside him. "The full story? What the hell are you talking about, Naruto?"
"The truth about the Uchiha Massacre," Naruto said. "It's time you knew what really happened."
.
.
Sasuke stared blankly at the water below his feet, his eyes wide with disbelief and growing anger just underneath the surface. Naruto remained near but didn't say anything and waited for him to come to a realization on his own.
"This...This is...This is not possible." Sasuke muttered under his breath in clear disbelief. He swallowed deeply, trying to calm himself, but he just couldn't. In the moving water, he could see them; he could see their faces, his parents, and Itachi.
They all were there. Things that he used to not think much about now made more sense. Suddenly, he remembered his brother's tears before using his Mangekyo to make him fall asleep.How is this possible? Konoha, it was all Konoha's fault from the beginning...Sasuke breathed heavily, trying to calm himself but failing.
"Konoha ordered Itachi to destroy our family, Sasuke," Naruto's voice cut through the haze like a sharp blade, calm but cold. "You asked why this village is suffering, why there is so much death. Well, now you have your answer. But don't mistake me—I'm not doing this out of revenge alone. Konoha's collapse is part of a much larger plan."
But Sasuke wasn't listening. He was still staring at the water, his mind racing, the images flashing faster—memories, truths, lies. His Sharingan spun violently, its tomoe fusing into a six-pointed star, the Mangekyo burning crimson in his eyes. Blood dripped down his cheeks, but he didn't care. The pain was nothing.
"Where is Itachi?" Sasuke's voice was low and dangerous, each word laced with venom. He stood abruptly, finally facing Naruto, his glare piercing. He jabbed a finger into Naruto's chest, the hatred clear in his eyes. "I don't believe you, Naruto. I want to hear it from him. I want to hear the truth from Itachi himself."
Naruto's expression didn't change. He met Sasuke's glare without flinching, his face calm, almost indifferent. "I'm afraid that's not possible right now."
"WHAT?!" Sasuke roared, his Mangekyo flashing with fury. "I demand to meet him! Now!"
"You can't demand anything from me, Sasuke." Naruto's voice was steady, unbothered by Sasuke's outburst. "But I understand your need to know the truth. It's admirable, really. You want to meet Itachi? You will. But first, you have to do something for me."
Sasuke's fists clenched. "What do you want?" he spat, the words barely containing his rage.
Naruto handed him an envelope, his demeanor cool and in control. Sasuke hesitated for a second before snatching it from his hand. "There's someone I need you to bring to me. His name is Yukimaru. He's in an old Orochimaru lab in Iwa."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed, suspicion creeping in. "And why should I do this for you?"
"Because inside that envelope," Naruto continued, ignoring Sasuke's skepticism, "you'll find everything you need. A photo of Yukimaru, the details of the lab, and where you can find me afterward. Bring him to me, and you'll get your meeting with Itachi."
Sasuke's mind raced with questions, doubts, and frustration, but he knew Naruto wasn't lying.
"This is a promise," Sasuke said, his voice dropping dangerously low. "If you turn your back on your word, I'll kill you." His Mangekyo flared, burning with the intensity of his threat.
Naruto smirked faintly. "There's no need for that, Sasuke. Right now, I'm your best chance at the truth. And your best chance at survival." He turned and began walking away, leaving Sasuke standing alone with his thoughts.
As Naruto's footsteps faded into the distance, Sasuke remained still, his mind spiraling. The image of Itachi floated to the forefront, not the cold, ruthless killer he had grown to hate, but the brother he had once admired. The kind, protective Itachi. Could it really be true?
Sasuke looked down at the envelope in his hand, his grip tightening. He ripped it open, pulling out a small photo of a boy—Yukimaru. The kid looked about Sasuke's age, maybe younger. What does Naruto want with him? Sasuke wondered, though it hardly mattered now. The path was clear.
Sasuke stood there for a moment longer, staring at the photograph before slipping it back into the envelope. He had no time for questions, no time for doubts. The truth was waiting, and he would find it—one way or another.
Itachi... Sasuke thought, his eyes hardening with resolve. If it's true, if everything I've believed has been a lie... His fists clenched once again, and without another thought, he turned and began walking. It was time to leave.
.
.
.
The wind whispered against Naruto's face, as the full moon bathed the cobbled road leading to the Gates of Konoha in pale light. The walls were now in ruins, crumbled away. Only the gate remained standing. The guards? Asleep.
Naruto's eyes lingered on the gate for a moment before he turned, casting his gaze back toward the village. His senses pricked as a figure emerged from the shadows, three meters away.
"Ino," he said quietly, his voice barely carried by the breeze. "I see you found my letter."
The moon's soft glow illuminated her as she stepped forward out of the shadow of the trees. Her blonde hair, usually tied back, was loose, tossed slightly by the wind. But what struck Naruto most was her eyes—once bright, full of life. Now, they were dull, shadowed with exhaustion, and swollen from crying. Redness in the whites of her eyes.
"What do you want, Naruto?" Ino's voice was empty and hollow like she was a ghost drifting through the night. "Where are the guards? Did you kill them too?"
"No." Naruto's reply was soft, but there was an unmistakable sadness beneath his calm tone. "They're just sleeping. They'll wake up soon."
Ino's blank expression didn't waver. "So, why are you here? You said you wanted to talk. Well, here I am. Let's talk."
For a moment, Naruto didn't respond. Instead, his eyes shifted past her to the tree line. "Come out, Shikamaru," he called, his voice firm but unthreatening. "I know you're there."
For a second, there was only silence. Then, with a heavy rustle, Shikamaru dropped from a branch, landing beside Ino. His eyes were red with rage. His fists were clenched tightly at his sides, his whole body trembling with the intensity of his emotions.
"Shikamaru, I—" Naruto began, but the words barely left his mouth before Shikamaru charged.
With a flash of movement, Shikamaru pulled out a kunai and lunged at Naruto.
Blood splattered onto his face as the kunai pierced through the palm of his left hand, which he had raised just in time to block the strike. Pain shot through his arm, sharp and burning, but Naruto's expression remained calm.
Shikamaru's teeth ground together as he tried to push the kunai deeper. His hand trembled, the blade refusing to move any further. Naruto's fingers closed around the bloodied blade, gripping it tightly despite the pain, and with a swift tug, he yanked the kunai free from Shikamaru's grasp.
Shikamaru stumbled back. He quickly jumped back, trying to gain distance, but Naruto wasn't chasing after him. He watched as Naruto slowly pulled the kunai from his hand, the metal slick with blood, and let it fall to the ground with a dull clatter. Naruto hadn't even tried to fight back.
"Why?" Shikamaru's voice was ragged, hoarse from the weight of his fury and disbelief. His chest heaved as he struggled to catch his breath. "Why do this, Naruto? We were friends!" His voice cracked, his composure shattered.
"You betrayed the village... you betrayed all of us. You nearly killed Asuma-sensei! Because of your actions, the village is in ruins! How do you feel no remorse?!" Shikamaru's voice rose to a scream, raw and desperate. His fists clenched, trembling with the overwhelming urge to strike. "Hundreds are dead because of you. People are suffering. You call this peace? This isn't peace, Naruto. This is hell!"
Naruto stood calmly, his face unreadable as he listened to Shikamaru's words. There was no visible reaction, no flicker of emotion. "I don't think my answer will bring you any comfort, Shikamaru," Naruto said, his voice quiet but resolute. "I wanted you both here to say goodbye."
"Goodbye...?" Ino's voice trembled, the word barely escaping her lips as she choked on her emotions.
Naruto nodded, his expression softening just a fraction. "Yes. Our paths are not the same anymore. I'm leaving. For what it's worth, the time we spent together... it was one of the happiest moments of my life. Being part of Team 9—being with you—meant more to me than I can say. But that's over now."
"Why not?!" Ino screamed, her voice thick with sobs as tears streamed down her face. "You said it yourself, Naruto! You were happy with us! What changed?!"
Naruto's eyes darkened, the warmth that once flickered in them replaced by cold conviction. "What changed is that I see the world for what it is. As long as things stay the way they are, there will always be another war, more bloodshed. Chakra has been part of humanity's existence for over three thousand years. It's been over a millennium since the Clan Wars began, and we've had countless chances for peace—but it never lasts. The Shinobi Wars proved that people will never truly understand each other, not for long. Peace, as you imagine it, is just a dream."
"True peace can't exist unless someone is willing to shoulder the burden of doing what's necessary," Naruto continued, his voice cold as steel. "I know it's cruel. I know it's harsh. But it has to be done."
Shikamaru's eyes narrowed, calculating. "And what is this grand plan of yours, Naruto? You say peace will never come, yet here you stand claiming you'll bring it. What will you do that others before you couldn't? How will you achieve this 'so-called peace'?" His voice dripped with skepticism as he stepped closer.
Naruto met his gaze, unwavering. "The OneLife Plan will bring peace. It's the only way."
He then explained his plan in full, every detail. As Naruto spoke, Ino's face paled, her tears drying as she stared at him in disbelief. Shikamaru's expression, however, was different. His mind raced, analyzing every word.
When Naruto finished, Shikamaru scoffed. "So that's your plan? You've lost it, Naruto. You've gone mad. This will never work. Ever."
Naruto's face remained calm, his resolve unshaken. "Now that you know, you can do whatever you wish with that information."
"You're not going to kill us to keep us quiet?" Shikamaru asked, disbelief and suspicion creeping into his voice.
"Never." Naruto's reply was immediate.
He stepped forward, and both Shikamaru and Ino flinched instinctively. Naruto stopped, his expression softening as he reached into his pouch, pulling out a scroll and tossing it toward Shikamaru.
"What is this?" Shikamaru asked, catching it but hesitating to open it.
"It's not a trap," Naruto said simply. He turned, ready to leave, but Ino's choked voice stopped him in his tracks.
"Naruto—" Her voice was barely above a whisper, filled with hurt and desperation. "Did I mean nothing to you?"
Naruto froze, his back still to her. There was a long silence before he finally spoke, his voice quieter than before. "You did, Ino. But this is the end. It has to be this way."
He turned around, his eyes meeting hers. He could see the tears streaming down her face, the pain etched into every feature. For a moment, something inside him twisted painfully, but he forced it down. He had known this day would come. He couldn't apologize for something he believed in, something he knew was necessary. He couldn't tell her he regretted his choices—because he didn't. Ino deserved to move on, to let go of him.
"One day... all of this will end." Naruto's voice softened as he teleported in front of them, the sudden flash of movement startling them both, but they didn't react. They couldn't. "Good luck," he said, his voice filled with a strange, bittersweet sincerity. "We'll see each other again."
He tapped their chests lightly, and seals formed where his fingers touched. In the next instant, Naruto vanished in a yellow flash, leaving nothing behind but silence.
Outside Konoha
Naruto appeared before his loyal followers, who were already waiting for him. Pakura knelt before him, her voice steady and filled with respect. "My lord, what are your orders?"
The others—Fuu, Gaara, Fuuka, Karin, and Roshi—did the same, bowing to one knee, their eyes filled with loyalty.
Naruto gestured for them to rise. "Stand. There's no need to bow."
They obeyed, standing to attention as Naruto spoke again. "Our next objective is to end the Bloody Rebellion in Kirigakure. But first, we have a stop to make."
The group exchanged confused glances. "Where are we going, my lord?" Roshi asked, his brow furrowing in curiosity.
Naruto's gaze was distant, his voice calm but firm. "Tanzaku Quarters."
"Why?"
Naruto's eyes hardened. "The Last Senju is there."
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