The episode ended, but Naraku did not proceed to the next one; instead, he browsed the comment section.
As expected, the comments were a battlefield of arguments.
Because the plot had genuinely hurt so many people, a significant portion of viewers who usually lurked emerged to curse "The Old Thief" for being inhumane.
The sheer volume of messages resulted in a comment count fifty percent higher than previous episodes.
"You should save that energy for cursing Black Zetsu," Naraku muttered to himself.
"I estimate you'll have plenty of reasons to curse him later."
The final episode.
Kakashi walked with heavy, agonizingly slow steps.
When he arrived home, drenched to the bone, the entire residence was swallowed in darkness.
There were no lights and no one to greet him.
He walked through the entrance and flicked on the lights.
Disregarding the rainwater soaking the floor, he made his way to the living room.
His once warm and lively home was now desolate, with only him remaining.
[He and his best friend are in perfect sync, getting drenched in the rain together.]
[Kakashi is truly miserable; he goes on a trip, and when he returns, everything is suddenly gone.]
[Counting from Hashirama's generation down, Kakashi's current misery is among the worst.]
[Clearly, Naraku is more miserable. He went from nothing to everything, then lost it all—and now he's dying.]
[Stop arguing! They are both fellow sufferers. Is there really a need to debate who has it worse?]
A sharp pain suddenly shot through his mind.
Kakashi grunted as his body swayed.
He collapsed to his knees, clutching his forehead as his breathing hitched in agony.
The animator seemed unwilling to let the audience misunderstand Kakashi too much.
In the previous episode and this one, subtle clues about his abnormal behavior were released.
As for whether it would expose the mastermind?
As long as the animator didn't show Madara or Black Zetsu, the viewers could rack their brains and never guess the truth.
At most, they would realize an existence hidden even deeper than Danzo was at play.
[What's wrong with him?]
[I suspect Kakashi is possessed. Otherwise, how could he have acted like that in the last episode?]
[The person above... you actually have a point.]
[Yeah, it really feels like possession. Could Kakashi have been ambushed?]
[Hiss—let me think this through carefully.]
[Don't argue! I'm over here overthinking everything!]
"Alright, so there are side effects, huh?" Naraku noted.
"System, add another death penalty for Black Zetsu."
The System remained as professional as ever.
[Understood. It has been noted in your records.]
Fortunately, Naraku was already learning Medical Ninjutsu.
He would have to find an opportunity to check on Kakashi later to ensure the boy didn't develop any lingering issues.
It took a long time for the pain in Kakashi's head to recede.
He didn't bother getting up; he simply sat on the floor, staring out the window at the rain.
He worried if Naraku had returned in time, terrified his friend would fall ill before his injuries healed.
He didn't know how much time passed before the wind died down and the rain finally stopped.
The dark clouds dispersed, revealing a bright full moon in the night sky.
Kakashi sat there, watching the moon until dawn.
On the other side of the village, Naraku found Tsunade.
He asked her to teach him Medical Ninjutsu and Sealing Jutsu, finally receiving her permission after persistent effort.
When he emerged from Tsunade's office, he stopped by a window at the end of the corridor.
He too gazed at the round moon, lingering for a long time before leaving.
[Kakashi, you big idiot! If you're worried about Naraku, just go find him!]
[I'm crying so hard my stomach hurts. Kakashi, you better really be possessed.]
[Naraku hasn't even turned dark after all this. He really... I'm crying my eyes out.]
["May we live long and share the beauty of the moon, though a thousand miles apart."]
[So many important scenes with Kakashi and Naraku happen on moonlit nights. It feels like tragedy was predestined for them.]
[No, it's not! If you ask me, this full moon is an omen that they will have a perfect ending!]
[I only believe the person above me. Naraku and Kakashi will definitely have a happy ending!]
After dawn, the perspective shifted to Kana.
A slender hand reached out from under the covers to silence a piercing alarm clock.
The red-haired girl pushed aside her quilt, sat up, and stretched with a wide yawn.
Kana walked into the bathroom, washed up quickly, and changed into her everyday clothes.
She left for school with her small bag, greeting Kushina, who was coming out to dispose of trash next door.
Uzumaki Mito had arranged for her to stay with Kushina so they could look after each other.
Although Kushina's cooking still needed work, Kana always finished her meals happily.
Kushina was one of her few relatives—warm, kind-hearted, and caring for her like a true sister.
[It's good to see Kana relax a bit. I can't take the tension anymore.]
[I've been gutting fish for ten years; my heart is as cold as my blade.]
[You can't hurt me, hahahaha! I have already achieved enlightenment!]
[You two... if you have the guts, take off your sunglasses and show us your tears.]
After attending a full day of classes, Kana bought fresh fruit after school and headed straight to the hospital.
She had learned early yesterday that Naraku was awake.
However, the staff had told her he couldn't stay conscious for long, so she waited until the recommended visiting hours.
Kana finally saw Naraku awake in his room.
She didn't cry loudly like the last time; she only wiped her eyes twice and set the fruit on his bedside table.
Seeing that she was still grieving for him, Naraku's eyes filled with guilt.
"If I didn't always make her worry, Sister Kana would be so happy in Konoha, wouldn't she?"
"Why do I always cause those around me to get hurt?"
He clenched the pristine white bedsheet as the darkness in his eyes deepened.
But when Kana spoke to him, he reverted to his gentle, cheerful demeanor.
He perfectly mimicked his old smile.
[A zero-frame startup on that fake smile. I can't dodge this pain at all.]
[My favorite character always stabs me in the heart when I least expect it.]
[Naraku, wake up! Don't take all the blame on yourself!]
[Naraku is completely broken. He subconsciously believes all suffering around him is his fault.]
[Baby, you don't have to smile when you're sad.]
[Masking emotions is the most painful thing a person can do.]
After a brief chat, Kana urged him to rest and left, worried that staying too long would hinder his recovery.
By the time she returned home, it was dinner time.
Kana held her bowl distractedly, recalling how strange Naraku had seemed today.
She wondered if he was in pain and simply enduring it.
"Maybe Kakashi knows something. I'll ask him tomorrow," she thought, inwardly praising her own plan.
But when she went to find Kakashi the next day, she didn't find the spirited young genius.
She found a cold, sullen shinobi.
Hearing that Naraku's condition was poor, Kakashi tightened his grip on the doorframe until his knuckles turned white.
In the end, he still refused to visit the hospital and offered no explanation.
[Kakashi! You are heartless, you are cruel, you are unreasonable!]
[This isn't the "cool guy" I wanted! You rotten Old Thief!]
[Kakashi's current appearance is exactly the kind of ninja Konoha wants. Heh.]
[It must be Danzo's doing!]
[Danzo Shimura, you've committed too many sins!]
Naraku watched this segment carefully.
Even Kana couldn't detect that faint trace of abnormal chakra within Kakashi.
Perhaps only a sensor strong enough to detect Black Zetsu himself could notice it.
"That's good," Naraku thought.
"As long as Black Zetsu's jutsu isn't broken, Kakashi is safe."
Filled with questions, Kana went to the hospital alone.
She wanted to ask Naraku what was wrong with the two of them, but the words died in her throat.
If Kakashi didn't come, and Sakumo remained comatose, Naraku would be all alone.
So, she began visiting the hospital almost every afternoon, temporarily setting aside her training.
When Kushina learned why Kana was missing practice, she often prepared snacks for her to take along.
It wasn't until the day before his discharge that Kana finally asked the question bothering her.
Naraku simply said they were fine.
But even if his smile was a perfect fake, his sluggish, inactive chakra betrayed his true emotions to Kana's senses.
She knew he wasn't doing well at all.
[Thankfully, Naraku has Sister Kana. Otherwise, I don't know how he'd manage.]
[Uzumaki Kana: the reliable human lie detector.]
[The literal embodiment of a forced smile. I finally know what it looks like.]
[If Kakashi is a big idiot, then Naraku is a big fool. Both of them just silently torment themselves.]
[Exactly! Both are emotionally clueless!]
The final episode ended just as Kana left the hospital.
The animator didn't show the scenes of Naraku searching the river for the necklace.
It seemed he wanted to save that particular blow for the audience later.