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"Is it really over?"
Naruto stared blankly at Sasuke.
"Yeah."
Sasuke's gaze remained fixed, almost entranced, on the spot where the Gate of the Underworld had vanished.
There, Fugaku and Mikoto had stood among the ranks of the Uchiha clan, stepping through the gate together.
Before disappearing into the darkness, they had turned to look at him one last time.
Now, those final glances from his parents replayed endlessly in his mind.
Perhaps they were the most complex expressions he had ever seen in his life.
Longing, guilt, encouragement, hope—and above all, love.
Maybe it was all just an illusion.
Sasuke thought to himself.
His mother was one thing, but his father? That man had never shown such emotion before.
He couldn't be sure.
"In the end, I didn't even get to say a proper goodbye." Sasuke murmured.
His father had walked into the underworld just like that, while his mother had never even stepped out of Enma's hall.
Sasuke remembered what his uncle had told him.
As the price for casting the true Izanagi and Izanami, the souls of both the casters—Indra and Chiri—as well as all those who had assisted in the ritual, had been permanently marked by the Land of the Dead.
From now on, the deceased of the Uchiha clan could no longer appear in the world of the living.
Perhaps the next time they met would be after his own death.
"What's wrong?"
A hand rested on Sasuke's shoulder.
"Granduncle."
Sasuke turned to look at Izuna, wanting to say something, but the words caught in his throat.
What he really wanted to ask was whether Izuna and Madara would also cross over to the other side, never to be seen again.
After years of training and companionship, the two had become important family to him—second only to Kaito himself.
Of course, he would never let that unreliable uncle of his know that.
The last thing he needed was for Kaito to get even more insufferably smug.
At that thought, Sasuke's eyes involuntarily flickered toward the distant figure of Kaito.
Kaito stood at the center of the battlefield.
Seimei was by his side.
The great yokai were by his side.
The Sage of Six Paths, his brother Hamura, and Asura were by his side.
The Five Kage, the samurai leader Mifune, the monk leader Chiriku, and the last shrine maiden Shion were also by his side.
Everyone was thanking him. Whether it was the complete annihilation of Kaguya or the reestablishment of the underworld, his deeds were nothing short of monumental for this world.
"You truly did it, Kaito."
The Sage of Six Paths leaned on his staff, his expression solemn.
"I merely stood upon the foundations laid by those who came before me."
Kaito straightened, offering a respectful bow.
"And I must thank you for your assistance."
He understood that, regardless of the Sage's motives, his words had dispelled the doubts of the shinobi world, saving Kaito a great deal of trouble.
"Perhaps, as Lord Seimei once said, the future now rests in your hands." The Sage's tone softened slightly.
Kaito, however, shook his head.
"In the end, the future of this world lies in the hands of its people. I was merely fortunate enough to play a part."
"Then remember those words. I will be watching."
With that, the Sage's form gradually dissipated.
Hamura gave Kaito a nod before following his brother into the beyond.
"I'm off to the Land of the Dead to find my brother!" Asura waved cheerfully, grinning widely. "Do your best—you're his descendant, after all. Don't embarrass him."
"Of course."
Kaito responded with an exaggerated, insincere smile.
"My brother's and my chakra will no longer reincarnate." Asura's body began to fade. He cast one last glance toward Naruto and Sasuke in the distance. "Return our chakra to us after those two boys die!"
Kaito watched Asura vanish, then suddenly turned to Seimei with a look of realization.
"Lord Seimei, why does it sound like none of them are willing to reincarnate?"
He rubbed his temples in frustration.
"Who knows how many souls currently lingering in the Land of the Dead will even be willing to enter the cycle of rebirth?"
"Oh? That sounds like a problem for the King of Hell—the ruler of the newly restored underworld."
Seimei emphasized the title "King of Hell" before giving Kaito a knowing smile.
Kaito's headache intensified.
He knew Seimei had seen through his little scheme.
The moment the underworld had been reforged, its rightful sovereign—the King of Hell—had naturally ascended, claiming the authority of the realm.
The fragment of Kaito's soul that had been placed within the King of Hell's vessel had grown tremendously, nourished by the world's acknowledgment.
Now, the King of Hell was no longer an empty shell but a complete being—albeit one that was, in truth, merely a unique extension of Uchiha Kaito himself.
An immortal god of the underworld.
Kaito could merge with this avatar at any time, fully assuming the divine mantle.
But he had no intention of doing so.
Recognizing Seimei's teasing, Kaito could only smile wryly before turning his thoughts to the future.
"Kaito."
Tsunade's voice pulled him from his musings.
Kaito turned to face the gathered leaders, snapping back to attention.
"Everyone."
He smiled politely, his gaze briefly meeting each of theirs.
"I propose we convene for a proper discussion. What do you all think?"
"Agreed."
A, the Raikage, answered without hesitation.
"It's time for us to speak openly."
Ōnoki, the Tsuchikage, nodded sagely.
"A talk sounds perfect. I have quite a few questions myself."
Mei Terumī's lips curled into a smirk.
"Agreed."
Gaara, the Kazekage, was equally direct.
Tsunade, of course, needed no convincing.
"I, too, agree."
Mifune, leader of the samurai, gave his approval.
Shion and Chiriku also nodded in assent.
"Kaito." Mo spoke on behalf of the yokai. "You have full authority to represent Mount Ōeyama in these discussions."
The great yokai behind him studied Kaito carefully but offered no objection.
Kaito blinked in surprise at Mo's trust before nodding firmly.
"In that case…" He glanced toward the faint glow of dawn on the horizon. "The sun will rise soon. After fighting through the night, everyone should rest and recover."
He smiled warmly.
"Let's reconvene tomorrow."
The leaders dispersed with murmured agreements.
The shinobi and samurai forces had already returned to the valley to repair their ravaged camp. At the Kage's invitation, Shion and Chiriku led their own followers to the same location for rest.
"Kaito, we shall return to Mount Ōeyama for now."
Mo bowed deeply to Seimei before transforming into an emerald light, vanishing into the towering sacred tree.
"Seimei!"
Shuten-dōji raised his gourd with a boisterous laugh.
"And you—Kaito, was it?"
He turned to Kaito.
"Indeed. Kaito, at your service."
Kaito maintained his courteous smile.
"HAHAHAHA—!"
Shuten-dōji threw his head back, taking a deep swig before wiping his mouth with his sleeve.
He raised the gourd again.
"We'll hold a grand feast at Mount Ōeyama! You'd better come drink with us!!"