It was early morning when Jiraiya crossed the gates of Konoha, the sun just beginning to light up the rooftops of the village. The air smelled of damp earth and cherry blossoms, and the morning breeze brought a faint comfort after the tension of recent days.
Tsunade was waiting for him in her office, visibly tired, papers stacked high on her desk and a cup of cold tea beside her.
"Well, I thought you'd show up in a few more days, Jiraiya."
"And miss the chance to see you grumpy first thing in the morning? No way."
Tsunade smiled with a mix of fondness and exhaustion.
"You know what? I could really use a drink… for old times' sake. But at this rate, not even sake will wake me up."
Jiraiya looked at her for a few seconds, letting the silence between them speak of long-standing friendship.
"I've got news. It's confirmed—Akatsuki is centered in Amegakure. Everything I found points there."
Tsunade nodded slowly, then straightened up a little.
"Makes sense. Not long ago we captured one of their members alive… it was an Edo Tensei. We managed to get some information before the summoner cancelled the technique. I'm certain we'll see Hidan again. And yes, thanks to Yamanaka persuasion, he confirmed that Akatsuki's leader resides in Amegakure."
"Hmm. Then it's time to move bigger pieces."
"That's exactly what I was going to propose. I'm about to reorganize the village's forces… and I want you to lead a special mission. Meanwhile, I'll gather allies and resources. But you… you'll take Naruto to Mount Myōboku. I want you to train him in senjutsu."
"Senjutsu? You're already thinking about the worst-case scenario."
"I'm thinking about survival. And there's more…"
Tsunade looked at him seriously, her voice lowering.
"I received reports about Naruto's Rasenshuriken. I want you to be the one to tell him, when you start his training. The Jutsu is monstrous, yes—but also suicidal. If he keeps using it at close range… he'll end up unable to use chakra in that hand. Or worse."
Jiraiya frowned. "It's that bad?"
"It severs the internal chakra ligaments. It'll destroy him from the inside if he keeps pushing it like that. Until he figures out how to throw it from a distance… only clones. Nothing else."
Jiraiya nodded, accepting the weight of what he'd just heard. Then, with a lower and almost nervous tone, he changed the subject.
"You know… someone brought up the topic while I was visiting another village. About restoring bloodlines that are at risk of extinction. And for a moment… I thought of you."
Tsunade raised an eyebrow, amused. "Are you saying you want to be the father of a new Senju clan?"
"I'm saying that… if there's still a chance, and if you're interested… maybe it's not such a crazy idea."
She didn't reply immediately, but the smile she gave him was sincere—and for the first time in a long while, she looked a little younger. She knew her ancestor Kyo Senju had a part in that small comment of his, but for a moment, she chose not to worry about it. And honestly answered him.
"You never claimed you weren't crazy, did you?"
"That's why you like me."
They both laughed, and for a moment, the weight of the world felt a little less unbearable.
<<<< o >>>>
Hiashi stepped out of the great hall expecting he'd have to wait a while for his turn. His daughter Hinata had already sat down to meditate—it was clear that maintaining her effect on Hamura was far more exhausting than she let on. She still made subtle, unconscious gestures reminiscent of when she was a child. Further back stood Haru, Tsuki, and Toneri. None of them dared speak, standing silently in anticipation.
A few minutes later, Hanabi emerged with a gentle smile on her face. She felt different… I noticed that both Tsuki and Toneri seemed to pick up on something that deeply surprised them.
Hanabi approached me and said, "Father, he wishes to speak with you now."
I placed my hand on her shoulder and gave her a faint smile. For a moment, I glanced at Hinata, still meditating. The subtle smile on her face told me she was fully aware of everything around her. I took a breath and moved forward to face my ancestor.
I entered the great hall and saw him now lowered to earth, sitting atop his stone coffin. As I approached, he stood and began walking toward me. When we were only a few steps apart, I began to bow, as one is expected to do before their elders.
But he stopped me with a gesture, saying, "That won't be necessary, Patriarch Hiashi Hyuga. My legacy—or what remains of it—can only be passed to one or two people. You and Hanabi are the only ones capable of receiving it. You both bear the purest Byakugan that my bloodline has produced in this generation."
I could see it now—that was what I had sensed in Hanabi. "Then… Hanabi..."
Hamura nodded slowly. "Yes. In your daughter, I sensed a pure heart. You've done well with her. I could say with both your daughters… but I feel that what happened with Hinata was… not ordinary."
He could see the knot in my stomach, the one that tightened every time I looked at Hinata. Somehow, I felt like I could speak freely with him now—at the end of his journey. Maybe he could help me.
"Even now I can't reconcile how I was capable of making the decisions I made with her. So detached… as if she wasn't my own flesh and blood. I resisted, I know. She was born weak. My legitimate heir, a sickly child… Even when I looked at her, I saw her mother. When they tried to kidnap her… I saw the elders' view as valid. She was a risk to the family, and her Byakugan a risk to herself. I accepted placing the seal on her to protect her… but when I did, something in me broke. I stopped being able to feel anything for her. I watched her grow up apart from the legacy of her clan… When the clan's seal activated along with her Byakugan, she miraculously survived… I felt something, but I didn't realize it until a man came asking to take her under his care, wanting to adopt her. That was when I found a letter she wrote to me as a child, and I couldn't accept his request. Not until I saw her with him… blind, marked by my clan's seal on her forehead—but smiling, happy with the man who wished to adopt her. And… and… all I could do was nod. I saw… I had failed her. My weakness allowed her to be marked with the clan's seal. I knew the bridges I had burned could not be rebuilt. I knew she had no future in a ninja clan… and I hoped that with this man, she might find one… But I saw it. In no time, she recovered what was lost. She showed abilities that surpassed every expectation… She… she… built bridges to her past— with a sister she never knew… and with the father who failed her..."
Tears streamed down my face as the knot in my stomach finally began to unravel, one truth after another.
I felt a comforting energy wrap around me, silencing my voice, wiping away my tears. Then I heard him:
"I understand, Hiashi… but your mistakes allowed your daughter to achieve something incredible in my eyes. I sense that she is forging her own legacy—one that will not be lesser than my brother's or mine. And so, I will give you the other half of my legacy."
I could only bow to my Ancestor. To receive part of his legacy was beyond anything I could have imagined. "I am honored, ancestor."
"I believe you've learned from your mistakes. And so, in that spirit, I must tell you: Hinata bears a deep wound in her soul… something only visible to me in my current state. I can see how she uses her power to sustain me. You will be able to use my power to heal her. Within the legacy I give you, I will leave you the knowledge of how to do so. But be warned—it will reduce the strength of the legacy you receive. The remainder, you can rebuild before passing it to the next generation."
As he spoke, a light emerged from him and entered my chest.
In that instant, I felt eternity—a network of golden light and purpose—and the memory of how to heal her. A blessing, a burden, and a path to redemption all at once.
I was deeply moved by this opportunity. I could only kneel and press my forehead to the ground.
"Ancestor, you have no idea how grateful I am for this opportunity."
<<<< o >>>>
We had arrived in Konoha, and I still couldn't quite believe how thoroughly Hinata had planned everything. Throughout our journey, we stopped at various locations already prepared by wandering samurai from the Land of Iron—each one far from known civilized centers. At the first stop, we waited for the rest of Hebi, who, to my surprise, claimed to have been guided by a "mysterious force," according to Jugo. My eyes only settled on one of the onis at my side whose red ears betrayed her as the one responsible. Even so they were clearly surprised when they found Itachi had joined us as a companion and our unusual destination.
It was also obvious how quickly Itachi's condition was deteriorating. Even with Mitsue and Karin's treatments. The medications he used to suppress it were becoming less and less effective. When we reached the final post, a special ANBU squad assigned by Tsunade was already waiting for us. Under the cover of night, they led us secretly into Konoha.
We were guided to the Senju Clan compound—huge and, above all, deserted. In the basement of the main mansion, we found a fully equipped medical chamber. And there, just as Orochimaru had described her, was Tsunade Senju, the current Hokage, wearing an expression that could shatter steel. At her side stood a young woman of medium height, with short black hair and a dark blue medical kimono—clearly her apprentice, Shizune.
My thoughts drifted back to the moment I had taken Hinata's hand in Yumegakure and awoke in the real world.
< o >
When I regained consciousness, we were still in the place where the battle had taken place. Next to Hinata was a pale, unconscious man. My brother stood nearby, coughing up blood—a sharp, vivid reminder of just how severe his condition was.
Before we could exchange words, Hinata pulled a scroll from a pouch carried by Kuro. From it, she summoned a body—someone nearly identical to my brother.
"Use Amaterasu to burn this place... including the body and that Zetsu," she instructed.
Both Itachi and I raised an eyebrow.
"How do you know I can do that?" I asked.
She just smiled and put her oni mask back on. "I wasn't sure. But now I am. You're brothers, after all."
My brother gave a faint, tired smile. It was clear she was playing us like a flute, but I didn't mind—for now.
"After this, we need to talk… Onii-chan," I said.
Using Amaterasu wasn't pleasant, but she was right—I was the better choice.
"And now what?" Itachi asked.
"Now you follow me. We're meeting up with the rest of Hebi and heading to Konoha," she replied. Then she stopped what she was doing and turned to us behind her mask. She tossed a bag from Kuro's side toward us.
Inside were an oni mask and a matching kimono.
"Itachi should disguise himself like me. After all, as far as the world is concerned, he's officially dead."
< o >
Tsunade and Shizune were there, surrounded by what looked like a medical facility capable of handling nearly anything. Tsunade just looked at Hinata and Itachi.
"You're always a complicated patient, and now you bring me even more complicated ones. You can take off your masks here—they're not needed."
Both removed their masks, and Itachi immediately had another coughing fit, each one worsening. Fortunately, the facility had a specialized team ready to care for him.
Mitsue joined Tsunade and Shizune to work together to treat my brother. I might have enjoyed Tsunade's surprised face, but I was honestly too worried. The sight of him so vulnerable froze my blood. I couldn't believe he had fought me with that level of illness. It was clear now—my hatred had blinded me in more ways than one.
Suigetsu, Jugo, Karin, and Hinata stood by me, saying nothing but offering strength in their silent presence.
Once Itachi stabilized, Tsunade approached me and led me to another room. We sat in silence for a moment before she spoke.
"Hinata informed me of the disturbing truth regarding the Uchiha massacre. I intend to rectify this—decisively. And I want your help."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. But I also knew there was more.
"I'm listening," I said.
"Akatsuki is a threat to the entire shinobi world. They're after the Tailed Beasts—this includes Naruto."
Hearing his name snapped my attention into focus.
"It's not wise to go after Hiruzen's old friends in the current climate. The village needs stability, and those old men still have their fingers in nearly everything."
She was right—it complicated things.
"But for you, this is an opportunity. You've already defeated the man officially blamed for your clan's murder. Help us stop Akatsuki. Become one of Konoha's heroes. And when your reputation is strong enough, you'll help me personally eliminate those truly responsible. Then we'll ensure your clan flourishes here—with the future it deserves."
I didn't like her plan. Honestly, I wanted to kill those men now. My eyes screamed for vengeance. I wanted destruction.
But I also wanted my brother safe… healed. And this woman was my only path to that—and that path led through this village.
The silence stretched for a long moment.
I knew what I had to say, but it took effort.
When I finally spoke, my voice was firm and direct.
"We have a deal."
Tsunade simply smiled and pulled out a Konoha forehead protector, handing it to me.
"Sasuke Uchiha, it is an honor to welcome you back as a shinobi of Konoha. We'll be launching an operation on Amegakure soon—where the Akatsuki leader hides. I expect great things from you."