"Of course. I'm Uchiha Madara — no one can take my place. But to think I've been played by you from beginning to end… that's really irritating."
"Don't blame me. It's all for the future. So, can I borrow your Rinnegan?"
"Take it. It's useless to me now."
"Then… can I use Edo Tensei to bring you back someday?"
Madara chuckled. "You're talking like I agreed to it the first time you did it."
"Yeah, sorry. But this time, I'm actually asking."
Kiyosuke plucked out his own Rinnegan and fitted it back into Madara's eye socket. Madara stared at him, puzzled.
"What are you doing?"
Kiyosuke swapped in his own eyes and smiled.
"This way, after I take you down and revive, I'll still have both of mine."
"..."
"Do as you wish." Madara pressed his hands together. "Let me at least do one good thing before I go."
"You've made up your mind?"
"I've spent my whole life killing… It's time I saved someone. Outer Path: Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique!"
A soft green light rose from Madara's body, spreading outward in all directions, flowing into the bodies of countless shinobi who had fallen in the war.
But the number of those revived was limited. Some corpses had been destroyed or cremated by their comrades. Others had lost vital organs, leaving no way to return to life. Only those whose bodies remained mostly intact — perhaps missing an arm or a leg — could be restored.
Madara's hair turned completely white, his breathing growing weaker and weaker.
Hashirama walked toward him, coming to see his old friend off one last time.
"Hashirama?"
"Yeah, it's me."
Kiyosuke nodded to him, then turned away to help elsewhere.
The Five Kage were already organizing their people to clean up the battlefield. With Madara barely able to stand, there was no longer any danger.
...
Naruto was helping Kakashi regenerate his eye. Since Kakashi had returned Obito's Sharingan, Naruto used the Yang Release power he'd received from the Sage of Six Paths to restore Kakashi's own vision.
"You know," Kiyosuke said as he walked over, "if Obito had just given Kakashi his eye, and then you helped Obito grow a new one, he could've had another Sharingan."
"Eh?! I totally forgot about that!" Naruto gasped.
Kakashi laughed. "Forget it. Without the Sharingan, my burden's a lot lighter. My chakra won't be constantly drained anymore."
He had lived like that for over a decade — always on edge, always exhausted.
Now, finally, he could breathe freely again.
...
Just then, the Fourth Hokage and Kushina approached.
The couple bowed deeply to Kiyosuke, their voices full of heartfelt gratitude.
"Kiyosuke, thank you — truly. You raised Naruto into such an exceptional ninja. You've worked so hard all these years."
"Oh, it's nothing. Please, stand up."
He helped them to their feet and smiled.
"That kid can be a handful, sure, but back when he was just a toddler, it was Lady Mikoto who took care of him. I had no idea how to raise a one- or two-year-old."
Kiyosuke rubbed the back of his neck, a little embarrassed.
"Naruto was always obedient, really. A good kid — easy to take care of. Oh, and Jiraiya-sama also taught him ninjutsu."
"What?! Jiraiya-sensei taught him ninjutsu?!" Kushina's expression instantly fell, like she'd just heard the worst news possible.
"Naruto! Jiraiya-sensei didn't teach you anything weird, did he? You better not have picked up his bad habits!"
Somewhere across the camp, Jiraiya — in the middle of chatting with Orochimaru — suddenly sneezed.
He hadn't contributed much in this war, just played a minor part. Since Minato and Kushina were busy with Naruto, he decided not to bother them.
Kiyosuke wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead.
"It's not that bad. Jiraiya-sama's not that kind of person."
"Not that kind of person? Jiraiya-sensei is exactly that kind of person!"
Alright, fair enough. In Kushina's eyes, Jiraiya might be a respectable mentor — but definitely not a reliable adult.
If Naruto picked up Jiraiya's bad habits, she'd never forgive herself.
"Probably not," Kiyosuke mumbled, sweating a little more.
...
Stretching his arms, Kiyosuke turned to see Hiashi Hyūga approaching with his daughter.
"Hello, Fourth Hokage, Kushina-san," Hiashi greeted politely.
"Hyūga-san," Minato's wife said, smiling brightly at her in-law.
Kushina immediately pulled Hinata close, holding her hands warmly. She was clearly pleased with Naruto's fiancée.
The family stood together, smiling, laughing — a scene of peace at last.
Kiyosuke spotted Mei Terumī across the field. He walked over, pulled her gently into his arms, and whispered,
"It's finally over, my wife. I just want to go home."
"Then let's go," Mei said softly, patting his shoulder. "You've done so well, my love."
"I don't feel tired at all," Kiyosuke murmured, holding her close. "Once the battlefield's cleared, we'll head back. I'm planning to take a good, long rest."
"You deserve it," Mei smiled. "You really do need some time off."
"Mm. Sounds good."
...
Later, Kiyosuke retrieved Madara's corpse and the Rinnegan.
The Nine-Tails returned fully to Naruto's body, both halves now merged as one, and his chakra surged even higher.
The tailed beasts all went their separate ways, no longer bound as weapons of war. The shinobi villages had agreed not to use them as tools anymore.
They would live freely in their own lands, leaving humankind in peace.
The Eight-Tails chose to remain with Killer Bee, but once Bee passed away, it too would return to nature.
Kurama planned to do the same.
After all, the only human he ever acknowledged — was Naruto.
...
The sun rose over the horizon.
After four long days, the Fourth Great Ninja War had finally come to an end.
Everyone washed up, regrouped, and made their way back to Konoha without rest.
The Fourth Hokage and Kushina didn't immediately release the Edo Tensei — they stayed a little longer.
"Happy birthday, Naruto!"
"Happy birthday!"
It was Naruto's seventeenth birthday, and they wanted to celebrate it with him.
This birthday party was even livelier than Kiyosuke's last one — after all, aside from the Five Kage, every Hokage in history was present.
The First Hokage. The Second. The Third. The Fourth. The Fifth.
Oh — and their future Sixth Hokage, Hatake Kakashi.
Tsunade had decided to retire and hand over the title to Kakashi, with Uchiha Obito serving as the Hokage's assistant.
Having been under control for so long, Obito had little influence left in the village. He couldn't be Hokage himself — but that didn't bother him. Helping the Hokage was just another way to fulfill his purpose.
The celebration was full of laughter and noise. They even took a massive group photo — one for everyone.
Then came smaller group shots.
Kiyosuke hadn't planned to join Naruto's family photo, but Naruto and Hinata dragged him in anyway. Mei, Karin, and Haku joined as well.
They all sat together, smiling — a picture of peace and happiness.
Even decades later, Kiyosuke would still keep that photo close, treasuring it forever.