It was the morning after we had left the World's Maw. Our small transit camp clung to the lee of a rocky slope, canvas tents shivering in the crisp mountain air. The embers of the night's fire still smoldered, sending faint threads of smoke curling into the pale dawn. I had shared the night watch with Naruto; both of us were still awake when the first light crept over the horizon. I admit that seeing the horizon like this reminds me of when we used to do it with my brother in the Uchiha district a lifetime ago.
As the women in our travel group awoke, something felt… different. I could sense it in the way Hinata moved—her aura sharper, more focused than before. Kuro and Mitsue lingered close to her, uncharacteristically silent.
Tsunade was the first to break the quiet, stretching her shoulders. "I heard what happened at the Five Kage Summit in the Land of Iron… I'm sorry, Hinata. Is there anything Konoha can do to help?"
Naruto turned sharply, startled. "What happened? And why are you apologizing to Hinata?"
Sakura shot him a steady look, and he immediately fell silent. It was clear Hinata, Tsunade, Kuro, and Mitsue had already learned of the events through whatever connection they shared with Yumegakure.
Hinata's voice was calm but heavy. "In the middle of the summit, Madara Uchiha—or someone claiming to be—appeared. Before leaving, he made my father vanish in front of everyone. The alliance's attacks meant nothing to him. Then, as Akatsuki's representative, he declared war on the new alliance of the Five Great Nations and their hidden villages."
The silence that followed pressed down on us, but I'd already guessed there was more. "Did they leave any message?"
She met my eyes, a flicker of surprise crossing her face. "Yes. They want to trade my two fathers… for Nagato's Rinnegan."
Naruto's brow furrowed, connecting the dots. "You… knew this was going to happen, didn't you?"
Tsunade's frown deepened. "You kept the Rinnegan, knowing they'd come for it. Why?"
Hinata's silver eyes glimmered faintly, hesitation plain. "I can't say… not here, not now. I can only tell you I have good reasons. That's why I have to go to the place they've chosen for the exchange."
Tsunade's tone sharpened. "You plan to hand over an extremely powerful weapon to an enemy who's declared war on the shinobi world?"
Hinata closed her eyes briefly. "There won't be a war. I won't see what happened in Yumegakure repeated here. That much I can promise. That's why I have to go—to make sure this war ends before it begins. You know my power in Yumegakure, but I've grown beyond that since."
Tsunade's gaze swept over us. She could see my resolve to back Hinata without hesitation, Naruto's mix of doubt and trust, and Sakura's steadfast support to her teacher. After a moment, she sat back down. "I've seen your strength in Yumegakure, but things here are different. If someone could face Jiraiya and the other Kage, their power isn't to be underestimated."
Hinata opened her eyes, silver deepening with an intense golden ring along the irises. The feeling that washed over me was indescribable. "Perhaps… but now, even if the real Madara stood before me, he would find I'm not an opponent to underestimate." The gold faded, her gaze returning to her normal silver.
My decision was instant. "Then I'll be at the exchange." After what she'd done for me and my brother, I couldn't do less.
"I'm going too," Naruto added.
Sakura tapped him lightly on the head. "Don't even think about it, idiot."
Tsunade allowed herself a faint smile. "Naruto… you're their target. You can't be taken to that meeting. This war is being fought to protect you from them."
Hinata looked at me, a mix of surprise and understanding in her eyes. "Are you sure? With the elders tied up in the Fire Capital, this might be the best time to finish your revenge and help restore the Uchiha clan's rightful place."
She wasn't wrong—it was a tempting opportunity. But I shook my head. "I'm sure. There will be another chance. I won't let you face this alone."
She exhaled softly, resigned and . "Then, Lady Tsunade, I'd like to formally request Konoha's special services—Sasuke Uchiha as my bodyguard for the meeting." Her slight smile showed that she was happy with my decision.
Tsunade lowered her gaze, considering. "Very well, Iron Princess. Sasuke Uchiha will serve as your personal guard for this exchange."
Sakura opened her mouth to say she would go as well, but Tsunade held up a hand, cutting her off.
"No, Sakura. You're staying. I need someone reliable alongside Naruto while we're scattered. As my personal apprentice, you have the skill and my complete trust to do so. And I'm not going to send the two of you after Hinata, leaving the enemy's primary target without medical and tactical protection. Understand that this isn't just any mission."
Sakura's gaze flicked from Tsunade to Sasuke, but she didn't reply. She just nodded, her tension subdued.
Kuro grew to her normal size, and a living shadow clone formed next to her, politely stepping down so I could climb on top of her.
We sped off. In the distance, I could see some of Sakura's tears, as she maintained a strong stance.
<<<< o >>>>
As we moved swiftly with Kuro's help, the cold air biting against my cheeks, I found myself reflecting on the unlikely presence beside me. Sasuke—someone who, in the original history, would have pursued vengeance at any cost—had chosen to delay a clear opportunity for revenge just to help me. That meant more than I could say. With my Mind's Eye, I could feel the shifts in his spirit, emotions turning over like currents, yet the core reason for his being here remained steady. I could sense him running through scenarios in his mind, weighing possibilities.
Hours into our journey, Sasuke and Kuro's clone drew closer. His voice was steady, tinged with concern. "Now that we have some privacy… will you tell me why you kept those eyes, knowing they'd try to reach them through the people you love?"
He had chosen to be here; the least I could do was give him something. I reached for a silver thread of energy, linking our minds so we could speak without words—shielding our exchange from the ever-persistent Zetsu, still shadowing us despite our speed. Bringing him down now could ruin my family's plan.
Don't be alarmed, Sasuke. Through this, we can talk safely. There's an enemy I've named the Red Monk. I don't know his true past identity, but he's the reason I had to take this course of action. My fathers asked for it… to stop me from doing it myself. My thoughts carried frustration; I disliked their plan, but I had to endure it.
I don't blame them. I've seen you fight. Honestly, you're more reckless than is healthy, Sasuke replied without hesitation. He'd seen more of me in battle than I cared to admit.
Heat rose to my face—anger, embarrassment, and the sting of truth—hidden, I hoped, by the rush of cold wind. That doesn't change the fact that I don't like this. But they let themselves be taken so that when the Red Monk appeared, Yumegakure would swallow him and end his existence.
Why is he so dangerous? Sasuke's question was sharp, the kind you expect from him.
He can influence others, turn them into his unwitting pawns. His knowledge of the world and its key figures runs deep, and if his plans were fully exposed, his aim is to destroy all existence. I knew more questions would follow.
So your family's measures haven't been triggered yet?
No… I've had no word of it, and it worries me.
Then in the worst case, you'll have me—one more ally you can trust. You'll get them back. His certainty steadied me. I signaled Kuro to push ahead of his clone, hiding the renewed warmth in my cheeks.
Thank you, Sasuke-kun. Through the Mind's Eye, I felt his faint smile. His Sharingan was active, and I knew he could see the red in my ears.
Beside us, Kuro's true form ran silent, his focus locked forward, while Mitsue glided effortlessly along, the tip of her tail flicking once at Sasuke's words—an unspoken approval.
<<<< o >>>>
The trip back to the Iron Capital was swift thanks to Kuro's tireless pace, her muscles coiling and releasing like steel springs beneath me. When we arrived, the tension in the air was almost palpable—a week still remained before the date set for the exchange with Akatsuki, but the city was already bracing for the storm.
I introduced Sasuke to Lord Enshun, to Maeko, and to her children, Taro and Rin. Maeko's smile was warm but tight; I could see the worry in her eyes. She squeezed my hands just a fraction longer than usual, a silent gesture of strength. Seeing them all again steadied me more than I expected.
Lord Mifune, with Goro at his side, was already moving to steady the other lords. Many had come in person upon hearing that my father—the daimyo, the pillar of the Iron lands—had vanished. Martial preparations were underway everywhere, an unspoken acknowledgment of Akatsuki's war declaration.
Mifune led me through the echoing halls and out into the courtyard where my father's sword still stood embedded in stone. It had remained untouched since the moment my father released it before being taken by Obito Uchiha. According to Mifune, anyone who tried to grasp it felt an unbearable burning in their hands.
I stepped forward, the world narrowing to the hilt before me. My fingers closed around it, and the sting of Jiren's poison seeped up my arm—mutated somehow by Michel's touch. That was the burn everyone else had felt. But I was immune now; I had endured this venom before and adapted to it. The blade slid free as if the stone were water.
Behind me, I heard Maeko's breath catch, and when I glanced back, her eyes glistened, pride and worry mingled. I sheathed the sword in one fluid motion and said aloud, with a voice steadier than I felt, "All that's left is to meet Akatsuki."
From further back, Sasuke's faint, knowing smile met mine.