Sasuke had fulfilled his revenge.
As the flames died away, only two human-shaped piles of ash remained.
He murmured, "So, with this… the hatred between the Uchiha and Konoha is finally over."
A torrential rain crashed down, and a strange emptiness swept over him.
Sasuke gazed up at the sky, lost. "What am I supposed to do now?"
For seventeen years, his life had revolved around vengeance. Now that it was done, he felt adrift, with no place to go.
"Sasuke-kun."
Yakushi Kabuto approached.
"Kabuto." Sasuke turned to face him.
After a moment's hesitation, Kabuto adjusted his glasses and spoke, his voice grave. "There's something I've been thinking about since returning from Konoha. I believe… it's time I told you."
"What is it?"
Kabuto's uncharacteristic seriousness made Sasuke uneasy.
Kabuto took a breath, then said softly, "It's time for us to part ways."
A heavy silence followed. Sasuke frowned. "Why?"
Kabuto replied earnestly, "There's something I have to do—something I must see through alone. I don't want to drag you into it, Sasuke-kun."
Sasuke clenched his fists. "Is it that important?"
Unable to meet Sasuke's wounded gaze, Kabuto stared up at the rain-soaked sky. "I've always believed everyone has their own purpose. After everything that's happened, I'm more desperate than ever to find out what mine is."
Sasuke pressed, "Didn't you want to train me to surpass Naruto, to prove you were better than Orochimaru?"
A faint smile touched Kabuto's lips as he shook his head. "But if I did that, I'd be forcing my own meaning onto you—making your existence serve my purpose. I realize now… that's selfish. A ninja's worth isn't measured by strength alone. I've seen a lot more clearly lately, so I'm letting go of that idea."
After a long pause, Sasuke said quietly, "But what if I said I don't mind?"
Kabuto was visibly moved, but his resolve didn't waver. "You have your own life to live. The paths before us are different now. That's why… parting here is best for both of us."
Sasuke lowered his head, his voice barely above the rain. "But I… don't know what to do."
Kabuto placed a gentle hand on Sasuke's shoulder. "Then go find out. Step out of the whirlpool of revenge. See the world. Let your heart settle, and discover the road that's truly yours."
"…"
Sasuke looked up, tears streaming down his face. At last, he let his true feelings spill out: "But… I don't want to leave you!"
Kabuto's breath hitched, his own eyes shimmering with tears. He pulled Sasuke into a tight embrace, stroking his trembling back. "You're a fledgling hawk, Sasuke-kun. Only by leaving my side can you soar to even greater heights. No matter where you go, no matter how far apart we are, I'll always wish you well."
Through his tears, Sasuke asked, "Will we ever meet again?"
Kabuto met his gaze, his own eyes wet. "We will. I believe it. Once we each find our own purpose, fate will bring us together again. When that day comes, we'll drink and share everything in our hearts."
The two of them clasped hands, holding on for a moment longer.
"Kabuto, promise me—whatever you do, you must survive."
"I will. And… this is my farewell gift."
Kabuto produced a scroll and summoned a fan from it.
It was the Uchiha Gunbai—the very one shattered by reanimated Might Guy's Evening Elephant during the battle with Naruto. Now, it had been painstakingly restored.
Kabuto held out the gunbai with both hands. "This is the symbol of Uchiha pride. I've repaired it—take it with you on your journey."
Sasuke wiped his tears and accepted the fan with both hands.
Then, slicing open his finger, he collected his blood in a small vial and handed it to Kabuto.
"Kabuto, I don't have anything else to give you. If something ever happens to me, use this blood to bring me back with Impure World Reincarnation. If you're the one to do it, I'll accept it willingly. So please—promise me you'll stay alive. Do it for me."
With trembling hands, Kabuto took the vial.
"Take care, Sasuke-kun."
With that, Kabuto steeled himself and turned away.
Sasuke watched him go, eyes tracking his silhouette until it finally vanished into the night.
He slung the gunbai onto his back, turned, and strode off in the opposite direction.
His cloak billowed, the lone Sharingan staring coldly into the darkness.
A gust of wind scattered the two piles of ash.
Having avenged his clan and said farewell to the past, Sasuke stepped into the vast ninja world, searching for the path he would walk next.
"Naruto, this time, you didn't show up to stop my revenge. Was this the outcome you wanted?"
"Before, you could have killed Kabuto, but you let him go."
"Was it for me? Or for some secret plan of yours?"
"No, you've spared not just Kabuto, but others far more dangerous than him."
"You talk about becoming Hokage, yet when you were closest to it, you betrayed Konoha."
"But after that, you protected the village from the shadows."
"What are you really after?"
"What is the path you're walking?"
"What… am I to you?"
"Just wait. Even with only one eye, I'll see through every illusion you've spun. I'll surpass you—and once more, I'll stand ahead of you!"
And so, Uchiha Sasuke set out.
—
At the border of the Land of Rain.
Itachi paused.
Orochimaru glanced back. "What is it, Itachi-kun?"
"Nothing."
Itachi continued on, but a soft, knowing smile appeared at the corner of his lips.
"Sasuke… go forward in your own way. This time, your big brother won't interfere in your life anymore…"
—
By candlelight, Naruto read a letter from Shikaku.
Konan brought tea and food. "Well?"
Naruto: "Sasuke's finished his revenge."
Konan: "Should we bring him back? He's a rogue ninja, out there alone. Isn't that dangerous?"
Naruto considered. "Let's wait until he finds peace with himself. As for threats to him out there… the only ones I can think of are Black Zetsu and Madara."
Konan: "Those two vanished overnight, like they just evaporated. It's creepy."
Naruto: "Keep looking. Use everything we've got. Even if we have to turn the ninja world upside down, we're going to find Madara and Black Zetsu."
—
Far away, in a nameless village in the Land of Water…
"Madara, dinner's ready…"
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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