Sage Serpent Poison—
the most lethal toxin of Ryūchi Cave.
Even a fingertip's worth
was enough to instantly kill a Kage-level shinobi.
—
It was something even Kabuto himself couldn't fully control.
So—
Using his intellect—
He fused its properties with the principle of explosive tags—
Creating a suicidal technique:
Black Rage Technique.
—
Jigen would not stand still and wait for death.
—Sukunahikona!
—
The spreading toxic cloud—
Was instantly shrunk.
—
Naruto and Sasuke—
Being farther away—
Escaped the range first.
But unfortunately—
They had already inhaled far beyond a lethal dose.
—
"…How… did it come to this…"
Naruto's voice trembled.
"I only did what a Hokage should do…"
"Never abandoning a single comrade…"
"Why… why am I being punished like this…?"
"Again and again… losing the people important to me…"
—
"I did the same as before…"
"So why…"
"Why can't I save anyone…?"
"Why can't I change anything…?"
—
"…I'm sorry… everyone…"
"I think… I'm going to die…"
—
"Buzz—!"
At the brink of death—
As despair consumed him—
A strange Mangekyō pattern flickered briefly in his eyes.
—
Then—
Both he—
And Sasuke, still impaled—
Succumbed to the poison.
Dead.
—
"Whoosh!"
Before Jigen—
The poison cloud shrank—
Into a small black sphere the size of a Truth-Seeking Orb.
—
"Ha… ha…"
Jigen breathed heavily.
—
The amount he inhaled—
Was more than ten times what Naruto and Sasuke had combined.
That didn't mean he was ten times stronger—
Just that—
The stronger one is—
The higher their resistance to toxins.
—
Even so—
"…What a terrifying poison…"
"If I had been even half a second slower…"
"'Jigen' would have died here."
—
"This thing can't be disposed of casually…"
—
With a trembling hand—
He grabbed the condensed poison sphere.
"Whoosh!"
When he opened his palm again—
It had vanished.
—
With his Byakugan—
He looked at Naruto and Sasuke.
Blood flowed from their seven orifices.
No signs of life remained.
—
"Yakushi Kabuto…"
"What a ruthless man."
"To go so far as to kill his own Hokage… and Shadow."
—
"…Though perhaps…"
"Letting them die quickly…"
"Was mercy."
—
"Crack—!"
As he turned—
A fracture spread across his abdomen.
—
"Ugh!"
Jigen dropped to one knee.
—
"This body… is still just human flesh…"
"If it were my true self…"
"This poison would be nothing—"
"—Guh!"
—
Black blood spilled from his mouth.
His entire body trembled.
—
"…Crying from the pain?"
He let out a faint, self-mocking laugh.
"How pathetic… Jigen."
—
"…H-He's… kneeling!?"
"Is this our chance!?"
"Attack!! Save the Hokage!! Avenge our comrades!!"
—
Thousands of Konoha shinobi surged forward—
—
But Jigen—
Still crouching—
Simply tapped the ground with both hands.
—
The countless rods—
Already planted beforehand—
Returned to full size.
—
"AAAAAAHHHHHH—!!!"
—
In an instant—
Another thousand corpses were added.
—
Jigen stood again.
"My stamina may be failing…"
"But dealing with insects like you…"
"Requires none."
—
At this point—
The will to fight in Konoha's forces—
Collapsed completely.
No one dared move forward.
—
This vessel is nearly done.
Kawaki… I must find him quickly.
—
He advanced slowly—
Eyes filled with absolute indifference toward life.
—
"Hand over Kawaki."
"Or tell me where he is."
"Otherwise… I'll kill every last one of you."
—
"SHHK! SHHK! SHHK!"
With every step—
Spikes erupted—
Harvesting lives.
—
The direction of slaughter—
Shifted with the movement of his hand.
—
"AAAAAAHHH!! If we're going to die, we'll fight!!"
The shinobi charged in desperation—
—
"…Naruto-kun… you promised…"
Hinata's Byakugan saw everything.
Her heart collapsed.
—
Then—
Grief turned into rage.
She rushed toward Jigen—
—
"BOOM!"
A figure slammed into her—
Pinning her down.
—
"Sakura, let go of me!!"
—
"And what can you do if you go!?"
"You'll just become another corpse!!"
—
"I don't care!! Let me go!!"
—
"SLAP!"
A sharp sound echoed.
Hinata froze.
Tears streamed down her face.
—
"Sakura… Naruto… Sasuke… they're already…"
—
"I know."
Sakura's voice was calm—
So calm—
It frightened Hinata.
—
Then—
A smile bloomed.
Like cherry blossoms in early spring.
—
"So trust me."
"I will not let them die in front of me."
"What we need to do now…"
"Is get to them."
—
"Until then—no matter what happens—"
"We endure."
"Even if it means surviving like cowards."
—
"My life… isn't more valuable than theirs…"
Hinata trembled.
—
"You can think that."
"But you cannot die."
Sakura's eyes dimmed slightly.
"…Because if Naruto wakes up again…"
"Then aside from you… and Sasuke…"
"He'll have nothing left."
—
"…!"
Hinata suddenly realized—
What Sakura meant.
—
"Sakura… you… don't tell me…"
—
"AAAAAAHHHH—!!!"
Screams filled the battlefield.
—
Over ten thousand Konoha shinobi—
Had fallen.
—
The blood mist in the air—
Turned the moon crimson.
—
After this night—
Mount Yōyō would be renamed—
Mount Mourning.
—
Using the chaos—
Sakura and Hinata circled around—
Reaching Naruto and Sasuke.
—
Under the blood-red moon—
Sakura's smile—
Was both beautiful—
And heartbreaking.
—
"The concept of 'shinobi'…"
"Means nothing before that kind of being."
—
"The fate of Konoha…"
"Is no longer what I can worry about."
—
"Shizune's death made me realize…"
—
"If Konoha doesn't change at its core—"
"No matter how many times I save everyone…"
"It will only be prolonging suffering."
—
"What Konoha needs…"
"Is no longer an unkillable medic…"
"Nor a Hokage buried in paperwork…"
"Nor a friend who blindly accommodates him…"
—
She gently lowered Naruto and Sasuke—
Laying them flat.
—
Sakura sat between them—
Hands forming seals.
—
The light in her palms—
Was not green—
—
But a deep blue.
—
"This is a modified version…"
"Of Granny Chiyo's forbidden technique."
—
"Before the war, I inherited her will."
"After the war, I inherited her jutsu."
"And improved it."
—
"Because we never know…"
"Whether tomorrow—or disaster—comes first."
—
"This version…"
"Doubles the efficiency."
"I alone… can save two."
—
Under Hinata's tearful gaze—
Sakura raised both hands—
One over Naruto—
One over Sasuke—
—
Holding their lives—
And Konoha's future—
In her palms.
—
"…Naruto… Sasuke…"
"I'm sorry."
"I won't be able to keep chasing after you anymore."
—
"So please…"
"Carry my share with you."
—
—Forbidden Jutsu: Super Self Rebirth Technique.
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