Outside Hidden Rain Village.
Cave entrance.
Underneath an orange mask, a Mangekyo flowed with tears.
Silent pain slid down his face.
The scene in the screen.
That heart-wrenching, bone-piercing feeling.
Few people could understand it.
Obito himself understood it best.
He didn't know what he would be thinking as he walked towards his demise, at the moment his will disintegrated.
His plans, regrets, or beautiful memories.
The screen told him.
Obito chose the beautiful memories.
His heart was indeed hollow.
But the memories of Rin were hidden in a corner of his body.
The guy named Obito didn't want to forget.
The Obito on the screen said that he didn't start the war because of Kakashi and Rin.
How could that be... Konoha.
Ninja Academy.
Observation Deck.
Kakashi was silent, his heart in continuous pain.
Obito knew the truth about Rin's death.
But he still chose to start the Ninja World War.
Kakashi's lingering regret completely vanished.
It wasn't a "misunderstanding."
This made Kakashi secretly breathe a sigh of relief.
It wasn't that Obito was deceived.
The tragedy that occurred wasn't a simple misunderstanding.
But it also kept his mood heavy.
Looking at Obito's hollow heart in the screen.
He gradually began to feel Obito's pain.
If a person loses their heart, what reason do they have to exist?
What exactly has been supporting Obito to this point?
Once, Rin willingly walked towards Chidori.
Now, Obito willingly walks towards Chidori.
This scene.
It is an eternal scar in the hearts of Kakashi and Obito.
Unforgettable, deeply etched... Feeling the oppressive atmosphere on the Observation Deck.
Jiraiya was silent for a long time.
He still couldn't help but say something.
"No one can be without companions, whether they are real companions or companions in their heart."
Even the Obito on the screen, the public enemy of the Ninja World.
The battlefield was like a living hell.
Naruto held a dying Neji.
His last words reached his ears, his voice soft yet powerful.
"Lady Hinata, I am willing to sacrifice myself for you."
"Therefore,"
"Your life—"
"Is not just this one."
"It seems my life is... one of them too."
His breath gave out.
Neji's mind replayed like a kaleidoscope.
'It was you, with those words, who freed me from the curse of fate.'
'Father, I finally understand.'
'When you chose to die to protect your companions,'
'That feeling of freedom.'
At the moment of death, the cursed seal on his forehead also vanished.
But the bird in the cage.
Flew freely in the sky.
His lifelong destiny, Neji found the liberation he desired.
—
Hinata caressed Naruto's lonely face.
Under her Byakugan, two tear streaks hadn't completely dried.
But she still wanted to speak to Naruto first.
"Just now, Neji-nii said,"
"'Naruto's life is not just one,' do you understand what that means?"
Can Naruto understand?
Will he still wallow in loneliness and pain over his broken promises?
"'Never let a companion be killed.'"
"This phrase, this belief, none of it is false."
"Neji-nii remembered this phrase, and he acted upon it."
Neji-nii fulfilled that promise.
So he would rather sacrifice himself to protect his companions, Uzumaki Naruto.
"It's not just you, Naruto, everyone is the same."
"Everyone holds this phrase, this belief, in their hearts."
"Connecting each other's lives tightly together."
"That's why we are companions."
So everyone's life is not just one.
Always ready to sacrifice for companions.
So in order to protect companions.
Everyone can fearlessly charge towards seemingly invincible enemies.
"If everyone gives up this phrase and this belief,"
"If they abandon them,"
"Everything Neji-nii did would be in vain."
"That would truly be equivalent to killing a companion."
"Then we can no longer be called companions."
"That's... what I believe."
The warmth of Hinata's palm gradually transferred to Naruto's face.
The purest Byakugan, the most sincere confession.
"So, stand up with me, Naruto."
"Speak directly and act honestly."
"That is also my Ninja Way."
—
"I have good news for you."
"That is, this so-called bond of yours has created the me of today."
"Remember, that is also a powerful curse."
Obito stood atop the Ten-Tails' head, continuously revealing the "reality" he saw and felt.
Kakashi stood beside Nine-Tails Naruto, looking at Obito together.
Behind them.
Lee cried, holding Neji's corpse.
Kakashi's voice came.
"Naruto, I told you, didn't I?"
"'Never let a companion be killed.'"
"This is also a maxim I use to remind myself."
"Along the way, there were too many companions I couldn't save."
"That's why I tell myself, next time, I must protect them well."
"But each time, it makes me confront the fact that I couldn't protect my companions."
"This means I will face this scar for my entire life."
The golden-cloaked Nine-Tails Naruto interrupted Kakashi-sensei's comfort and admonition.
"So that's why I endure..."
Neji, Hinata, my parents, Teacher Jiraiya... and Kakashi-sensei in front of me.
Lee behind him.
"Aren't we Ninja?"
"How can we forget?"
"That scar."
Nine-Tails Naruto clenched his fist and touched his chest, feeling his beating heart.
"Isn't that proof that our companions live here!"
Humans die twice.
Physical death, spiritual death.
"Companions created in a dream who won't hurt you."
"Are all fake."
"That means erasing true companions."
"No matter if it's a curse or whatever."
"I want to keep the real Neji here."
In his memories.
In his will.
Though the body may decay.
The spirit and will can exist eternally.