"I've never believed I did anything wrong in this matter."
"You, Naruto, and Sakura were my only batch of students. I'm truly glad I met you all."
"Go back and tell the Sixth—no, Danzo—that Hatake Kakashi of Konoha is already dead."
"You…"
"Thank you for coming to see me. I'm really happy."
"Sasuke, it must have been hard."
"But it's precisely that hardship that makes a man stand tall in this world."
"Sorry."
"Hmm, well, I am your teacher after all~"
With those words, Kakashi and Sasuke parted ways, walking in opposite directions.
~~~~~~~
Inside the Konoha command tent, candlelight flickered softly. Sasuke stepped inside. The Sixth Hokage stood upright, leaning on a staff.
"Report. What happened?"
Danzo asked.
"He won't leave."
Sasuke replied.
Danzo fell silent for a long while, followed by a deep, weary sigh.
"For him… this village is important to that extent?"
Sasuke let out a cold laugh, his words merciless.
"Isn't this exactly the outcome you were hoping for? Stop pretending to be sentimental. It's disgusting."
Danzo didn't respond immediately. The candlelight swayed, casting trembling shadows across the tent. Sasuke stood with his arms crossed, staring into a corner of the room. His dark eyes reflected the flickering flame—something seemed to stir within them, yet on closer look, there was nothing at all.
Finally, Danzo broke the silence, speaking as if he hadn't heard Sasuke's earlier remark.
"Sasuke… do you think people become sentimental as they grow older?"
"You want a heart-to-heart? You've got the wrong person."
"If I am today, I might be your future. If you want a future where no one is left to speak with you, feel free to walk away."
"I won't die behind a Third like you did, nor will I steal power that doesn't belong to me."
"Oh? So you'd die for Uzumaki Naruto?"
"I wouldn't. But I would die before him."
"Hmph."
Danzo scoffed, dismissing the topic entirely.
"In that case, don't blame me for being ruthless."
He was referring to Kakashi. Sasuke glanced at him and delivered a sharper judgment.
"Danzo, you're just trash."
Danzo didn't react. He replied calmly:
"And you're the same."
Sasuke said nothing more. He turned and left the tent.
After a few steps outside, he encountered the only person on the battlefield who could stand on equal footing with him—or perhaps, the only one who ever could.
Naruto stood there in blue sleepwear, wearing a frog-shaped sleeping cap, eyes half-lidded from drowsiness.
"Ahhh~ Sasuke… where am I… where's the toilet, dattebayo~"
"You idiot… we're in a war, and you're wearing pajamas?! The mission order was light gear—how do you even have space for sleepwear?!"
…garbled, sleepy complaint…
"You stupid eternal rookie, always a genin in spirit… just go handle it in the bushes. Hey—idiot! Don't come near me, you're splashing all over me!"
"Ahhh~ that feels good~ Huh? Sasuke, what are you doing?!"
"Sasuke suddenly snapped."
BOOM!
"Uzu—ma—ki—Na—ru—to!!! I'm going to kill you!!!"
"Ahhh! Help! Sasuke, stop! Let me finish! AHHHH!!!"