The morning felt different—different in the best way. Hinata awoke wrapped in feather-stuffed pillows and silken sheets, a comforting cocoon born from her travels. Over time, her bedding had evolved into a blend of luxuries from the Land of Hot Water and the Fire Country, a little monument to peace and memory. But today, that comfort was made even more special.
Taro and Rin had curled up beside her the night before, refusing to sleep alone. Mitsue had initially protested, jealously protective of her usual spot, but once she discovered they didn't mind her warm coils, she settled in with a resigned huff. That night was full of whispered stories—mysteries, grand feasts, legends of heroes—and to everyone's surprise, it was Mitsue who spun the most enthralling tales. Even if most of her protagonists ended up hunting foxes, her skill in capturing the imagination was undeniable.
Their peaceful morning was interrupted by a gentle knock. Maeko's voice followed, soft but firm. "Rin, it's time to resume your training. And Hinata, you're wanted at the breakfast table."
The children groaned but obeyed. Hinata soon joined Maeko, Takama, and Enshun at the breakfast table. Warm rice, steamed vegetables, and fresh miso filled the air with nostalgic comfort.
Then Takama cleared his throat, his tone oddly formal as he extended a sealed letter toward her. The Uchiha crest gleamed on the wax.
"I recognized the symbol," he said with a half-smile. "And it was addressed to you. I thought I'd deliver it myself."
Hinata's heart skipped a beat. The last time they'd spoken of Sasuke, she had still been blind. Now, with her restored vision, she could see everything: the subtle hope behind her father's composed expression. Hope... and something else.
He wanted grandchildren.
Her cheeks burned. She couldn't meet his eyes.
"Th-thank you, Father," she mumbled, accepting the letter.
Rin leaned forward on her elbows, eyes sparkling. "Come on, open it! What does it say?"
Hinata broke the seal carefully and read it:
Hinata,
After our duel, I promised to notify you before beginning my journey. By the time this letter reaches you, I'll already have handed over your message to Orochimaru. I trust it will have the effect you predicted.
When you can, meet me at the underground lair where we fought. If everything goes well, my allies will be there waiting. From there, we'll search for the last companion to complete our mission.
*Thank you for choosing to help with this.
P.S. Don't expect our next duel to end like the last one.
Your friend, Sasuke Uchiha.
Maeko tilted her head, curious. "And? What does it say? Nothing inappropriate, I hope."
Hinata chuckled and folded the letter. "Looks like I'll be packing light today. I'll be away for a while. Things are moving forward—just as we expected, Father."
Taro climbed into her lap and hugged her tightly. "Nooo! You're always leaving! You never stay long…"
Rin nodded solemnly. "You should stay more. We miss you when you go."
Hinata hugged Taro back and looked at Rin with a warm smile. "You're right. But what matters most is the time we do share—and how we make the most of it. I'm sorry I have to leave again… but I promise to return with new stories and gifts."
"I know," Taro sniffled. "Just… be safe."
Takama's expression sobered. He leaned forward, clasping his hands. "Even with all our planning, the world remains unpredictable. Just be cautious, Hinata. If anything goes wrong, contact us through Yumegakure immediately."
Hinata nodded, her voice calm but full of resolve. "I will. I promise."
<<<< o >>>>
Sasuke sat alone in his room, a space as austere and unadorned as his inner thoughts. The stone walls were bare, his belongings few—just a katana resting against the corner, and a single scroll shelf tucked beneath the small window that let in the dull light of the late afternoon. Even here, within Orochimaru's domain, Sasuke demanded control over his surroundings. Nothing was allowed unless it served a purpose.
He had resisted reading the letter Hinata had entrusted to him. Curiosity had tempted him more than once—but his pride always prevailed. That duel… it had left a mark. Not just because of the loss, but because of what Hinata embodied: someone who had endured suffering, who had grown stronger, and whose purpose reached far beyond mere revenge. Her presence in battle had felt sharper, more focused than he'd expected. It was clear—both he and even his brother were chasing something smaller than what this girl was aiming for. Sasuke had to admit: it was oddly refreshing to interact with a girl who didn't constantly throw herself at him. Was it because she was blind? No… she had demonstrated a way of perceiving the world that rivaled, if not mirrored, what people claimed the Byakugan could do—though perhaps on a smaller scale. Still, those thoughts would have to wait. Until his revenge was fulfilled… nothing else mattered.
Training consumed the remainder of his day, blade cutting air in rapid arcs. The edge of lightning chakra hummed against the silence. Until a knock came.
A servant informed him that Orochimaru had already left the complex. Sasuke was surprised. Whatever Hinata said in that letter forced the snake to move almost immediately.
That night, standing in his room beneath the flickering light of a candle, he spoke aloud to no one:
"Tomorrow, I leave. I'll go to the Delta Complex and wait. Then… I'll finish it."
The Sharingan flared to life in his eyes, driven by resolve.
But then—
A voice cut through the room from the shadowed corner. "Yes. I have something to settle with your brother too. He possesses something I want."
Sasuke whirled, chakra flashing. A kunai cloaked in crackling lightning burst from his hand, piercing the figure—only for it to vanish in a puff of smoke.
A clone.
Too late. He felt the breath of the intruder behind him.
"Too slow, boy," the voice said, smug and cold.
Then the world twisted.
It was like being devoured by a vortex—spatial, suffocating. A rush of wind, a shift in pressure, and then silence.
He found himself inside a closed chamber—smooth black stone, no windows, and the walls far too even to be natural. No doors. A sealed cell.
Panic didn't reach him. Sasuke was too trained for that. He channeled chakra, flashed through hand signs, and summoned Chidori. He guided the current into his blade, thrusting it into the wall.
The result shocked him—literally. The very air in the room conducted the charge back at him, jolting his nerves. Gritting his teeth, he pressed forward, forcing the Jutsu deeper.
The stone finally cracked… but from the punctures emerged a thin mist. No—it was gas.
A paralytic agent, moving swiftly.
Even the immunity Orochimaru had helped him develop couldn't keep up. His limbs stiffened, joints locking.
His thoughts dimmed.
His final coherent image was the swirling pattern of a single orange mask.
Much later, within the swirling calm of Kamui's space, Obito closed his eye and allowed himself a rare moment of reflection. He recalled the precise steps that had led him to this moment—the web of careful moves, threads whispered by the Red Monk. It had all begun at Tenchi Bridge…
<<<< o >>>>
Obito Uchiha stood at the edge of the Tenchi Bridge, his single eye narrowing behind the swirling pattern of his orange mask. He watched from a pocket of distorted space as chaos erupted between Orochimaru and the young Jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails. The temptation to snatch the boy then and there was strong—so much power, so much potential—but today's prize was far more nuanced.
The Red Monk's words echoed in his mind. This was not a day to hunt beasts… but to set traps.
Zetsu had already done his part, placing a clone on Sai, just as the Monk predicted. Events were unfolding according to the script whispered in the shadows. Obito allowed himself the smallest curl of satisfaction as he followed Orochimaru through the folds of Kamui-space. But the snake was as brilliant as he was maddeningly elusive.
Obito held a rare respect for Orochimaru's cunning. The man had defected from Akatsuki and remained beyond the reach of its resources, a feat few could boast. Even Zetsu—with all his near-omniscient detection capabilities—struggled to trace the serpent's trail for long. Orochimaru left no scent, no chakra imprint, nothing that could be reliably followed. His escapes were a blend of precision, misdirection, and terrifying insight.
Eventually, as expected, Obito lost his trace.
Fortunately, the Monk's information was sound. As planned, Sai led him—unwittingly—to Orochimaru's hidden lair.
Obito waited. He did not move when Kabuto left the base, nor when Tenzo subdued him. That was the moment Zetsu placed another clone upon Kabuto, hidden beneath the folds of chakra and flesh. Another useful tool.
He resisted again—the Mokuton user was tempting, another of Hashirama's strange echoes—but patience was the art today.
Just as the Monk foretold, Orochimaru, Kabuto, and Sasuke eventually vacated the base, leaving it cold and silent. Obito bided his time. When Kabuto, carrying the hidden Zetsu clone, made his way out, Obito observed. Waited.
Thanks to Zetsu, they bypassed Orochimaru's layers of barriers and seals. Step by step, the pieces fell into place.
To Obito's surprise, Orochimaru left only Kabuto and Sasuke behind in the complex. That was the opening.
Night fell.
With Sasuke exhausted from his training, Obito stepped from Kamui-space into his room. There was no struggle. No sound. In seconds, the boy vanished into the void.
Now, at last, he had what he came for.
The difficult part was done.
All that remained… was to negotiate with Sasuke's brother.