Chapter 16: Shattered Dreams
Above the ruins, space twisted as Yu's figure appeared unsteadily, utterly lost and dejected.
His form flickered, reaching the place where Sasuko was sheltered in mere breaths.
The little girl slept peacefully in the shadow clone's arms, her temples damp with sweat against her pale forehead, brow furrowed as if still trapped in nightmares.
Yu carefully took her from the clone's embrace, all murderous aura dissipating as he slowly sat cross-legged on the ground, gently patting Sasuko's back to comfort the person in his arms.
Looking up at the pitch-black sky, everything tonight felt like a nightmare to him as well.
Everything he treasured had been destroyed, leaving only his sister in his arms.
He remembered that night twelve years ago when Fugaku and Mikoto had found him.
Night wind rustled through the bamboo grove, leaves whispered softly, countless stars sparkled brilliantly as the Milky Way poured down from above.
He had lived a beautiful dream.
Fugaku was a father who struggled to express himself, but he loved every child, even an adopted son he'd simply found.
Mikoto was a gentle mother who cared about every detail of home life, always worrying whether her children had eaten well.
A soul lonely in his previous life had finally tasted familial warmth in this one. This beautiful dream had lasted twelve years.
Until now.
The dream was over.
Tears fell in heavy drops.
No matter what pain he'd endured before—broken bones, mangled flesh—he had never shed tears. But now, scalding tears simply wouldn't stop.
Yu held Sasuko close, curling his body as he sobbed quietly.
The powerhouse who had shattered Susanoo with a single punch now cried like a homeless child.
He had finally mastered unprecedented power, but now felt as if he had nothing left.
He resented the hardliners, resented Itachi, resented Danzo, resented Konoha—but most of all, he resented himself for not staying by their side when they needed him most.
"Yu... are you crying?"
Sasuko's voice suddenly sounded beside his ear, carrying confusion and worry.
Yu's bloodshot eyes snapped open, meeting the clear yet troubled gaze of the girl in his arms. He hastily lowered his head, his throat working but unable to produce coherent sound. He didn't dare look into her eyes, couldn't bear to imagine the despair they would show when she learned of their parents' death.
"I'm sorry..."
"I'm sorry..."
He could only mechanically repeat those three words, his voice hoarse and broken, as if only this could slightly ease the guilt churning within.
Sasuko was stunned. She had never seen Yu like this—pained, desperate, shattered. The youth who always smiled gently at her now curled before her, sobbing like a child who'd done something wrong.
Not knowing how to comfort this crying boy, she could only helplessly wrap her arms around his neck, pressing her cheek against his as she gently soothed his still-trembling shoulders.
She had always sensed that Yu knew many things but never told her, always treating her like an ignorant little sister, protecting her well, always smiling in front of her.
Until now.
Her mind recalled the final scene before losing consciousness:
Moonlight streaming into the familiar living room.
Parents lying in pools of blood, faces so peaceful they seemed merely asleep. Against the wall, her brother held a bloodied ninja blade, the edge reflecting cold white light.
Yu stood amid the wreckage, eyes crimson, face twisted—a brutality and madness Sasuko had never seen. The entire room was terrifyingly quiet except for the sound of blood dripping on the floor.
She seemed to understand something, but didn't want to—or perhaps didn't dare to—think about it.
She hoped this was all false, just the most terrible nightmare.
When the dream ended, Mother would surely gently push open her door, calling her to wake with that tender voice. The kitchen would smell of miso soup, eggs sizzling in the pan.
That lazy underachiever Yu would yawn as he passed by, but instantly brighten with a warm smile upon seeing her. Father would scold her with a stern face for not training hard enough, yet concern would show in the wrinkles around his eyes. Her brother's slender fingers would suddenly flick her forehead as he smiled and said, "Next time for sure."
After venting his emotions, Yu's breathing gradually steadied.
Sasuko, usually chattering constantly, had been strangely quiet this whole time, like a soulless doll.
Yu silently held her, his form flickering as they returned to that familiar yet ruined home.
The moment he pushed open the door, the smell of blood still lingered. Fugaku and Mikoto lay quietly on the ground, faces peaceful as if still sleeping—if not for that patch of dried dark red below them.
"Daddy... Mommy..."
Sasuko called out softly.
No response.
Her tears fell silently as a crimson tomoe quietly emerged in the depths of her obsidian pupils.
"Wake up... please..."
She suddenly broke free from Yu's embrace, stumbling toward her parents. Her small hands desperately shook their shoulders, voice gradually changing from whimpering to heart-wrenching wails.
Yu didn't stop her, only quietly retreated to the doorway, leaning against the weathered wall with his head tilted back and eyes closed.
Hours passed. Dawn began to break as Sasuko's sobbing gradually weakened. When Yu approached, he found she had cried herself unconscious beside her parents, dried tears still clinging to her swollen eyelids.
He carefully moved Sasuko aside, then knelt beside Fugaku and Mikoto. His slender fingers gently arranged their clothing, positioning their bodies parallel to each other.
His hands formed seals rapidly.
"Ice Release: Frost Formation."
Crystal ice slowly covered their bodies inch by inch. Frost gradually condensed, finally forming two translucent ice coffins.
Yu's fingertips gently caressed the ice surface as his Mangekyo Sharingan rotated slightly. Space rippled, and the coffins vanished into the distorted air.
Yu had thought all night, remembering legends from his previous life that said reaching certain realms allowed one to reshape life from flesh and blood, turning decay into miracle.
This world's jutsu were strange and varied—some even involved the soul itself. Perhaps there truly was a way to resurrect the dead.
"As long as I become strong enough, there will be a way," Yu whispered to himself, lifting the unconscious Sasuko onto his back.
After packing their belongings, he took one final look at the residence where he'd lived for twelve years.
Yu stood in the courtyard's center, a pale blue flame dancing in his palm. He slowly raised his hand as the flame leaped out like a living thing, expanding rapidly in the wind to instantly devour the entire residence.
"Crackle."
Fire consumed every inch of memory, twelve years of time turning to ash in the flames.
Sasuko stirred restlessly on his back, unconsciously nuzzling her small face against his shoulder.
Yu tightened his grip on the arms supporting her and stepped toward the burning gate.
He didn't look back again.
The burning residence collapsed thunderously behind him, sending sparks flying throughout the sky.