Naraku's mind awoke before his body did.
He stared blankly at the system interface for a while, trying to struggle upward.
Finding that he truly could not wake up yet, he remained still within his mental space.
After a long time, his thoughts stabilized, and he hesitantly asked, "Did it succeed?"
[Your jutsu has been successfully activated.]
Naraku let out a long sigh of relief.
After a moment of respite, he asked the system to open websites from the modern world, hoping to find some clues.
He clearly remembered Sakumo's warning: "There are others."
The inexplicably dispelled Kyoka Suigetsu, Sakumo's battle that shouldn't have been so difficult, and that final warning...
The anime began to play.
In the new episode, Naraku had woken up from his coma, looking almost like a mummy wrapped in bandages.
He looked pitifully at Kakashi, who was spoon-feeding him rice porridge, which he obediently swallowed.
Behind them, Kana was shoveling fried rice into her mouth, her cheeks puffed out like a red-furred hamster.
[Feeding time! Hehehe! This is wholesome content!]
[No, this is just too cute... my heart can't take it.]
[Uchiha Kakashi! It's confirmed!]
[Has Kana not seen food in ages? Look at her go.]
[The Hatake father and son now have a family of four.]
[Later, Sakumo might even pick up a few more children at this rate.]
[Sakumo: The pressure of supporting this family is getting heavy.]
In the scene, Sakumo suddenly sensed something and left the hospital room.
He went outside to speak with Fugaku, who had come to visit.
The conversation revealed that the Uchiha had no idea why Naraku's mission had truly failed.
The truth had been buried deep.
When Sakumo re-entered the room, the oppressive atmosphere was broken by Kana's antics.
Naraku laughed so hard his wounds twinged, earning him a scolding from Kakashi for being an idiot.
[The Uchiha were totally deceived. Hiruzen Sarutobi, you old fox!]
[Fugaku, you big fool! Your home is being dismantled and you're still grinning!]
[Dark, truly dark. Sakumo looks angry enough to kill someone.]
[Who could accept their child being sacrificed? No father would tolerate it.]
The audience initially thought these dark matters would remain unresolved for a while.
But the screen darkened and then brightened to the next day.
Konoha was already rife with rumors and a foul atmosphere.
The anime meticulously depicted the development of these rumors from Kakashi's perspective.
The public opinion gathered like an undercurrent, forming a mountain of oppression on Kakashi's young shoulders.
The usually proud genius bowed his head for the first time, falling asleep with unease and sorrow.
He even held back his sighs for fear of waking Naraku.
[These villagers are too malicious toward Sakumo. If he hadn't aborted that mission, someone else would have died.]
[Here we go, pointing fingers at the Uchiha. I knew who was behind this!]
[Besides that one-eyed shady old man, who else could it be?]
[People today know that words can be a blade that truly kills.]
[Not a single sensible person among the villagers Sakumo has protected for years.]
[Even if there were, they wouldn't dare speak up in this climate.]
[God, that look in his eyes is piercing my heart. Sobbing.]
[I feel so sorry for Kakashi; he doesn't even dare to let Naraku know.]
[Konoha, give me back my spirited genius Kakashi!]
[In just one day, the entire village turned into hell for the Hatakes.]
Kakashi wanted to keep the truth from Naraku, but fate played its hand.
When Naraku woke up in the middle of the night, he happened to overhear the medical staff gossiping.
Naraku, dragging his broken body, went to speak with Fugaku.
He hoped Fugaku would help and revealed the real reason for his injuries.
He spoke calmly of the suspicious points of that mission and the mysterious ninja squad in the Land of Fire.
He spoke as if he were an outsider telling a story unrelated to himself.
But the bandages visible on his body told the audience the pain he had personally experienced.
[It's intentional! Absolutely intentional! If not, I'll eat my hat!]
[Take it easy, baby, you still have a hole in your stomach!]
[Decisive and truly brave.]
[Naraku truly sees through everything.]
[Revealing his own wounds must be so painful.]
[I feel like he's so heartbroken that he no longer cares about Konoha.]
On the way back, the audience watched from Uchiha Fūyō's perspective.
Naraku was reticent, his dark eyes filled with emotions that even the evening breeze couldn't soothe.
The young man, once seen as pure and kind, had changed overnight.
Yet every part of his transformation left a trace.
[Wow, a princess carry from the Uchiha big brother!]
[Kakashi: Another rival???]
[Naraku is either suffering or on his way to suffer.]
[Now Naraku doesn't really smile anymore unless he's with his family.]
[Enough, I'm truly heartbroken for him.]
[Kakashi and Naraku are both so miserable.]
When they returned to the hospital, Kakashi angrily confronted Naraku.
The interaction between the two finally made the audience laugh after a heavy episode.
[So funny, Naraku is terrified of Kakashi scolding him.]
[He can't stay tough for even a minute.]
[Naraku: Giving in isn't being afraid... it's tactical retreat!]
[Only with Kakashi and Sakumo can Naraku be himself, even if only on the surface.]
[The 'What are you doing?' from before is making me cry.]
[The comments section is always full of people trying to make me laugh and cry at the same time.]
In the next episode, the Uchiha Police Force arrested the rumor-mongers.
This at least cooled down the public outrage for a moment.
Kakashi didn't hear the insults anymore when he went out, but his heart remained heavy.
He asked Naraku why all of this was happening.
Naraku didn't answer directly, only saying that if the day ever came, he would save Kakashi no matter what.
The surroundings were silent as the evening breeze blew.
Naraku's gentle, firm voice struck the heart of every viewer.
"I will spare no effort, no matter the cost."
[The Uchiha are still reliable; they just get straight to the point!]
[Kakashi's only true confidant is Naraku.]
[How is this not a confession?]
[Is it Naraku's turn to heal Kakashi now?]
[The straightforward Uchiha live up to their reputation!]
[Sisters, on the forums they're calling Naraku the 'Uchiha King of Sweet Talk.']
[Kick out the one ruining the mood!]
[Hahahahaha, I'm dying.]
Naraku's mouth twitched in his mental space.
"What the hell is the Uchiha King of Sweet Talk...?"
He tried to keep a straight face, but within seconds, he let out a low laugh.
He secretly cursed himself for his own ridiculous sense of humor.
The Police Force cells were nearly full.
Fugaku waited in his office, only to receive an order from the Hokage to release the prisoners.
He argued with the elders but ultimately chose to obey.
Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura also had a dispute in the Hokage Building.
After Danzo mentioned the "untrustworthy" alliance between Sakumo and the Uchiha, Hiruzen finally relented.
[Hiruzen Sarutobi, you're playing favorites!]
[Don't back down, Fugaku! Don't do it!]
[If he doesn't back down, the Uchiha would be rebels. He can't gamble with thousands of lives.]
[Sakumo is being slandered just because he's friends with the Uchiha? Tobirama would be spinning in his grave.]
[Friends, I need a word more vicious than 'bitch' for Danzo.]
[How about this: from now on, when we curse someone, we call them a 'Danzo.']
[And if someone defends them, we call that person a 'Hiruzen.']
[Holy crap, that's savage!]
[I love it.]
Naraku spoke with Fugaku again without success and was escorted back by Uchiha Fūyō.
As Naraku walked up to the second floor, the background music became eerie and unsettling.
Combined with Naraku's sudden turn, it startled the audience.
The command from the Root member showed that Danzo was arrogant enough to openly reveal himself.
He wasn't afraid of exposure, and this attitude triggered a wave of censored comments.
Naraku returned to the hospital room in silence.
The only sound was that of his own footsteps.
On the companion cot, Kakashi was still asleep under the genjutsu.
His brows were furrowed, perhaps dreaming of the faces of the villagers.
Naraku reached out to smooth the boy's brow, his eyes flickering with light and shadow.
The screen went black, and Naraku's whispering voice was heard.
"Kakashi... I'm sorry..."
[Don't go! Root is no place for a human!]
[If he goes, he's 100% dead. Sobbing.]
[Naraku probably wants to protect them since his own disease is incurable anyway.]
[The Uchiha won't fight Danzo for a dying kid. It's not worth it to them.]
[I have a bad feeling about this!]
[Sakumo, come back quickly!]
The next episode showed Tsunade returning to examine Naraku.
She attempted to seal his excess Pupil Power, matching Naraku's memory.
But one scene made Naraku fall into a long silence.
After the children left the room, Sakumo revealed a gloomy look he had never shown before.
His whisper indicated that he had long ago decided to resist Danzo.
It turned out Sakumo wasn't planning suicide back then; he was preparing for the worst.
That was why he had that calm, ready-to-die look in his eyes.
Logically, Sakumo shouldn't have struggled so much against Danzo.
There was something Naraku didn't know.
The audience, unaware of the future, was captivated by Sakumo's resolve.
[So handsome... the charm of a man on the edge of darkness.]
[I totally get it.]
[Sakumo, go! Take down Danzo!]
[Kill that shameless old man!]
With his Pupil Power sealed, Naraku's pain was greatly reduced.
Kakashi poked his forehead again, calling him an idiot.
Naraku looked pitiful and apologized, and Kakashi immediately softened.
But Kakashi still pretended to be tough, saying he'd never speak to Naraku again if he did it again.
[His Sharingan awakened too fast for his body to handle.]
[Naraku: I was wrong, I'll do it again next time.]
[Kakashi: (Angry ninja noises)]
[Finding candy in a pile of broken glass hurts.]
[The plot is too cruel to these kids.]
Naraku asked Tsunade if he was cured, but the answer was cruel.
Kakashi didn't want to break down in front of Naraku, so he made an excuse to leave.
He missed Naraku's sad gaze and tightly pursed lips.
Kakashi walked alone, the malice of the village almost tearing at his soul.
The scene flashed back to Naraku's promises of saving him at any cost.
Kakashi closed his eyes.
"Me too."
"So we are both destined to make mistakes, Naraku."
[Even Tsunade has to figure this out step by step; bloodline diseases are terrifying.]
[So heartbreaking—they didn't even look each other in the eye.]
[Neither wants the other to worry.]
[They both know the other is sad, but they're suffering in silence.]
[Why can't I punch through this screen and help them?]
[No! Kakashi, this is not a mistake!]
[The courage to sacrifice for friends is the best part of humanity.]
Exhausted, Kakashi chose to go home and confess his despondency to his father.
Sakumo insisted that shinobi are not tools and comforted his son.
He told Kakashi to leave the village for medicinal materials to clear his mind.
Kakashi agreed, feeling his bad mood would only hinder Naraku's recovery.
However, after he left, Tsunade's arrival made the audience realize the truth.
Sakumo just wanted an excuse to send Kakashi away from Konoha.
Neither Tsunade nor the audience believed the "clear his mind" excuse.
[Sakumo's will is so firm; he hasn't changed despite the pressure.]
[A true man.]
[It's good to leave. Kakashi would have spiraled if he stayed in that environment.]
[Wait, the medicinal materials are fake??]
[When a father sends his son away like that, he's planning something big!]
[Brothers, I have a bad feeling!]
[What is Sakumo planning?]
[He wouldn't really try to take down Danzo alone, would he?]
With these questions, the episode ended.