Shinraku Tanuki, Shimura Homai, and Aburame Ryōma—those who went into hiding, vanished; those who died, were gone for good.
With this, after Danzō's death, the last vestiges of Root were finally and utterly uprooted, erased from the stage of history.
Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, the two advisors who tried to use Root to overthrow Tsunade, were also swept away—thanks to Naruto's intervention and Shikaku's cunning. Faced with the ironclad truth, they had no defense.
Yet, for the sake of their status as Konoha elders—heroes of the early ninja wars—Konoha spared them the death penalty.
But while their lives were spared, punishment was unavoidable.
They were exiled from the village, forever forbidden to call themselves Konoha ninja or set foot on Konoha soil.
Bang!
The great gate slammed shut.
Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu cast one last lingering look at the village before shouldering their packs and disappearing into the night.
Standing atop the walls, watching the two aged figures fade away, Tsunade's heart felt heavy.
"Maybe… there could have been another way…"
Shikaku said quietly, "Life rarely goes as we wish. And besides, this is the path they chose—they must bear the consequences."
Tsunade: "Will Sasuke come after them?"
Shikaku: "Once the news spreads, I expect he will—unless he chooses to abandon his revenge. But with Naruto not intervening, that's unlikely…"
"Shikaku…" Tsunade hesitated.
Shikaku: "You want to know how much I actually know about Naruto's secret, don't you?"
Among everyone in Konoha, only Shikaku and Hinata knew the truth from Naruto himself. Even Tsunade was kept in the dark.
That she still chose to help, despite not knowing, made her trust all the more precious.
But Tsunade admitted: she could never trust as unconditionally as Hinata. Her faith in Naruto was, in part, influenced by Jiraiya's attitude.
But even so, that was already remarkable.
"No need to tell me—because even if you did, it wouldn't change what I do…"
She turned, then paused.
"Shikaku, from now on, have Kakashi ready to take over as Hokage at any time…"
So, she had already prepared herself to step down in disgrace, if need be.
That same night, Senju Kokushō was quietly brought back to the village by his escort.
When he arrived, he was wrapped in a thin sheet, silent, huddled in a corner.
Because Kabuto had used extreme methods to transfer large amounts of cells to Sasuke, Kokushō's body was frail in the extreme.
But more than the physical wounds, it was the scars on his heart that ran deepest.
After all, at such a young age, he had endured such torment.
He was left in a state of utter distrust toward the world.
It would take more than a day or two to heal those wounds.
…
Land of Fire, temporary hideout of Sasuke and Kabuto.
On a moonlit mountain peak, Sasuke replayed his conversation with Shikaku, sorting through his tangled thoughts.
"Is ignorance truly innocence…?"
By now, Sasuke had accepted that idea, but he'd also taken it further:
"Then, by the same logic, those who know are guilty, and the guilty must pay!"
"The Third Hokage, Danzō, Mitokado Homura, Utatane Koharu, and… those who carried out the massacre that night—Root's members. All must die!"
"But the Third Hokage is already dead. Danzō has been executed. That leaves… the two advisors and the scattered Root remnants."
"The Root remnants are scattered, their whereabouts hidden. Tracking them down will take time. So… the two advisors are my first targets for revenge!"
"But I've already promised—not as long as Tsunade remains Hokage, I won't strike at Konoha again."
A gust of wind swept by, and Sasuke's expression turned uncertain.
"Wait until Tsunade steps down, then break into Konoha to kill those two advisors?"
"But… if those innocent, ignorant people get in my way again, what should I do?"
"Nara Shikaku said I should be grateful to them. That gratitude means I can't hurt them. When I asked what I should do, he told me to find my own answer…"
"What answer? That's just sophistry—a roundabout way to make me give up revenge…"
"Sasuke-kun…"
A gentle voice called out, and the murderous glint in Sasuke's eyes faded.
Kabuto wheeled himself out of the cave.
Though he'd undergone surgery, his wounds were too severe to heal overnight. But lately, the snake protruding from his abdomen had begun to regain feeling.
That was a good sign!
"Still awake?"
Sasuke leapt down from the peak.
Yakushi Kabuto said, "I had been asleep, but just received some intel."
As a former spy, Kabuto had his own network. His snakes gathered information from all over, and if something important came up, they'd wake him even in his sleep.
Sasuke: "What news?"
Kabuto: "Root has been completely wiped out…"
Sasuke was stunned. "When did this happen?"
Kabuto: "Just last night. All the core members were eliminated. The remaining small fry are being hunted down by Konoha. In a few days, they'll be gone for good…"
"…," Sasuke lowered his head, silent.
Kabuto smiled faintly. "You don't look very happy."
How could he be? Sasuke had wanted to take his own revenge, not let someone else do it for him.
Kabuto pushed up his glasses. "There's another piece of news I think you'll want to hear…"
Sasuke: "What is it?"
Kabuto smiled: "Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura—the two advisors who orchestrated the Uchiha massacre—have been expelled from Konoha for conspiring with Root's remnants in a coup…"
Sasuke's head slowly lifted, a fierce light blazing in his lone eye!
"Where are they now?!"
"Supposedly, on their way to seek refuge at the Fire Daimyō's mansion…"
"I see…" Sasuke clenched his fists.
Kabuto: "Can't hold back anymore, can you? If you want to go, go."
Sasuke forced himself to stay calm. "They've lost Konoha's protection. Finding them isn't a matter of now or never. Right now, you're still not fully healed. Taking you along would only slow your recovery…"
His thoughtfulness moved Kabuto deeply.
Kabuto: "You could go alone. I'll be safe here."
But Sasuke shook his head. "No. I wouldn't feel right leaving you alone. Besides, you need someone to look after you. So… revenge can wait."
Kabuto: "If those two reach the Daimyō's mansion and are protected, things get complicated. The Daimyō is the supreme leader of the Land of Fire; Konoha is subordinate to the Land of Fire. Attacking the Daimyō's mansion would mean making enemies of both Konoha and the entire country. That precious opportunity would be wasted. I don't want that—and I doubt Shikaku does, either…"
Sasuke: "Then what can we do? I guess… their time just hasn't come yet."
Kabuto's eyes hardened. "To keep from repeating the mistakes of the past, I have to stand up—right now, right here!"
Sasuke was shocked. "How? Even if you force yourself to stand, it doesn't mean you're healed!"
"I have a way. If it works, maybe I can…"
The snake drooping from Kabuto's abdomen began to move, slowly, painfully.
Sasuke: "Wait, you're not thinking—"
"Exactly! It's the only way!!"
Kabuto gripped the wheelchair's arms with all his strength, his whole body trembling in agony.
Sasuke couldn't help but sweat for him.
With his paralysis not yet healed, this was almost impossible!
The snake managed to rise halfway, then sagged again…
"Huff… huff… huff…" Kabuto was drenched in sweat, gasping for breath.
Sasuke stepped forward. "Come on, Kabuto… I believe in you. You can do this!"
"Sasuke-kun…"
Encouraged, Kabuto wiped his face, eyes burning with determination.
"Aaaaaaaahhhh!!!"
After repeated attempts, the snake finally stood tall!
"All at once—now!!"
Yakushi Kabuto formed hand signs.
Gurgle gurgle gurgle…!
The snake's mouth snapped open, and a pale arm reached out!
Sasuke rushed forward, prying the jaws open with both hands!
Splat splat splat…!!
A new Kabuto tumbled out in a mess of viscous fluid!
He'd done it—using the Orochimaru-style Molting Technique, he'd shed his wounded self and emerged whole and uninjured!
The Kabuto in the wheelchair was now just a snakeskin.
Rising from the sticky pool, Kabuto pushed up his glasses and flashed Sasuke a brilliant smile. "Now I can go with you!"
Sasuke smiled back, reaching out to pull him up. "Welcome back, Kabuto."
And so, Sasuke and Kabuto set out together on their path of vengeance!
—
At dawn.
The two exiled advisors, resting, saw a fierce wind rising at the edge of their vision.
Utatane Koharu: "So, it's come at last…"
Mitokado Homura: "Let's face it. We can't let anyone think we're cowards."
"Wait for me…"
Utatane Koharu stepped into a dark room, opened her pack, and revealed a set of battle-worn kunoichi armor, a flail, and a set of scrolls.
Her wrinkled hands caressed the armor, her old eyes full of memories.
She removed her outer robe, revealing skin crisscrossed with scars—each one a tale of life and death.
Once armored, she hesitated, then picked up her dusty forehead protector, brushed it clean, and tied it around her neck.
Outside, Mitokado Homura hung a scroll around his neck, gazing at a short blade.
Utatane Koharu: "Thinking of White Fang?"
Mitokado Homura: "He was the only disciple I ever trained. If not for that incident, he'd have become Hokage. Really, it was after his death that we became so timid…"
Utatane Koharu: "There's no turning back for a ninja."
Mitokado Homura: "We're both destined to die alone. At this point, Koharu, there are things I…"
Utatane Koharu: "Deep feelings can't compare to lasting companionship; profound love needs no words. We were never meant for sentimentality—why pretend otherwise?"
"You're still the same as ever…" Mitokado Homura stood tall, pride flashing in his eyes. "Come on, let's meet that young man. After a lifetime of silence, let's make this final battle a glorious one!"
The two strode out together.
"So, you've come. I'll give you this—you've got some backbone. Tell me: were you the ones who ordered Itachi to wipe out the Uchiha?"
The Kusanagi Sword flashed, his right eye spinning into the Sharingan—Sasuke's killing intent was palpable.
"That's right, Uchiha brat. We had Itachi act from within to destroy the Uchiha. We've never regretted it. The Uchiha deserved it. If you've got a problem, come at us!!"
Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu steeled themselves to bear all the grudges between Konoha and the Uchiha, facing Uchiha Sasuke's revenge head-on!
"Fine. As you wish—I'll send you to meet Danzō and the rest of Root!"
"Come, boy!!!"
The battle for vengeance—Uchiha Sasuke's final reckoning—had begun!
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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