After leaving the sacred land of Shikkotsu Forest, Naruto and Sasuke rested briefly by the roadside on their way home.
Recalling how, half an hour earlier, those slender hands had pulled the two great heroes back to their feet, Naruto couldn't help feeling deeply ashamed.
"We really got taught a proper lesson."
"We once stood at the very peak of the shinobi world. We thought nothing and no one could ever surpass our understanding again."
"First, Akira gave us a crushing defeat we hadn't experienced in years. Then Yu appeared and woke us up in time."
"Failure isn't frightening. What's frightening is losing your composure and losing sight of the path ahead."
Sasuke nodded in agreement.
"Yeah… now I understand even more deeply what Itachi once told me."
'Everyone lives by their own knowledge and perceptions, yet is bound by them, calling them reality. But knowledge and perception are ambiguous things. That so-called reality may be nothing more than an illusion. People live inside their own consciousness.'
"This loss… really wasn't unfair."
As scenes from their brief battle with Yu replayed in his mind, a different kind of worry surfaced in Sasuke's tired eyes.
"Still… there's something bothering me."
"Shikotsumyaku, Scorch Release, Ice Release, Lava Release, Corrosion Release."
"She used five different Kekkei Genkai in that fight."
"Except for Scorch Release, the other four have all been recorded in Kirigakure. Considering her ancestors supposedly lived in the Land of Water, it fits on the surface."
"But I just can't imagine someone being born with so many Kekkei Genkai—and mastering all of them."
"It reminds me of someone."
Sasuke turned to Naruto, who was also deep in thought.
"You thought of him too, didn't you, Naruto?"
"The one you personally defeated."
"Hiruko."
"The former friend of Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya. He created the Chimera Technique to absorb five Kekkei Genkai."
"Yu's number matches exactly."
"Only that technique can explain her abilities."
"So the question is—how did she learn it? And whose bloodlines did she take?"
"If we dig deeper, her background may not be as clean as she claims."
Naruto placed his bandaged hand on Sasuke's empty sleeve.
Sasuke fell silent.
Then Naruto spoke earnestly,
"Sasuke… let's not dig into this."
"Who doesn't have a past?"
"I can feel it. Yu isn't a bad person. Absolutely not."
Past…
Thinking of his own past, Sasuke let out a self-mocking smile.
"That's true."
"If anyone's past is unforgivable, it's mine."
"How could I deny others the right to have one?"
"Alright. I'll trust your instincts."
After a pause, he added,
"Still, this trip didn't give us any useful information about Akira."
"Who says we got nothing?" Naruto turned and smiled.
Sasuke blinked.
"Huh? We did?"
"At least now we know Katsuyu Sage Art has a move called 'Living Scroll' that reflects projectiles!"
"Next time Akira uses something like that, we'll be ready!"
Sasuke froze for a moment, then burst out laughing.
"Hahaha… that's actually true."
"Right?!"
Their laughter was bitter, but genuine.
Only they understood what it meant.
Walking shoulder to shoulder, they looked down the road ahead.
"Akira's matter can't be rushed," Sasuke said.
"We'll take it one step at a time."
"Let's wait until after the Chūnin Exams."
"Yeah. Today's Himawari's tenth birthday. I've missed too many already."
"No matter what, I'm spending tonight with her."
"Sasuke, you should go back and be with Sakura and Sarada too."
They set off toward home.
Meanwhile, beneath the Sacred Waterfall in Shikkotsu Forest, Yu and Sage Katsuyu were saying goodbye.
Katsuyu didn't mention Akira at all.
"Stay and take a bath, have a meal, then go," she said gently.
Deep in his heart, Akira felt guilty toward Katsuyu.
Before coming to Shikkotsu Forest years ago, he had carefully learned about her personality from Tsunade.
After much thought, he chose to use Twin Blossoms to transform into Yu.
Partly to conceal his identity as "Akira."
Partly to reduce emotional distance, so Katsuyu would teach him sincerely.
At first, it was simple.
Follow the process. Learn the skills. Leave.
If she ever needed help, he'd repay her kindness.
That was all.
Who could have imagined…
During those six months, Katsuyu treated him like family.
She cared for him without asking anything in return.
He was human. How could he not feel guilty?
So later on, he began showing more of his true self.
He stayed by her side like a child, giving this secluded sage a taste of human warmth.
But no banquet lasts forever.
Outside, he had family and a village to protect.
Before leaving last time, he considered confessing everything and bringing her to his side.
But he knew—
Katsuyu was a cultivator who valued peace and detachment.
She helped only when asked.
Otherwise, she never interfered.
He couldn't bear to drag her into worldly conflicts.
So he never revealed the truth.
He never expected to meet her again like this, five years later.
If not for Konan's bizarre request today…
If not for turning into Yu again by accident…
He wouldn't even know how to face her.
Suppressing his tangled emotions, Yu smiled sincerely.
"Master Katsuyu, I have things to take care of back home."
"I'll come visit you again when I can."
"Alright." Katsuyu nodded.
"I won't keep you, then."
She formed hand seals.
"Whoosh!"
Light enveloped Yu as the reverse summoning began.
"Yu," Katsuyu suddenly called.
Yu turned back.
"Yes, Master?"
"If you ever have something you can't say…"
"You can always tell me."
She tilted her head slightly and gave Yu a pure, gentle smile.
Yu's chest tightened.
Her eyes stung.
"Poof!"
The summoning smoke covered the single crystal tear that fell.
Darkshade Village, High Tower.
Yu reappeared, crouching on the ground, covering her eyes.
Madara, Obito, Tobi, and Konan were all waiting.
"Are you alright?" Konan asked.
Crackling sounds echoed.
Yu's slender figure shifted back into Akira's tall, solid form.
He lowered his hand.
The Rinnegan and Eternal Mangekyō reappeared.
"I'm fine."
His calm, resolute aura returned with his appearance.
Konan turned away discreetly.
Akira walked to the table, removed Katsuyu's Sage Robe, and froze it in the Time Zone.
He unfolded his black ceremonial robe and put it on.
Then he picked up his watch and put it back on his wrist.
1:40 PM.
Konan turned back.
Akira noticed two paper sticks in her nose.
"…What happened to you?"
Before she could answer, Tobi shrugged.
"When you got summoned away, she suddenly had her period from her nose."
"Whoosh! Whoosh!"
Paper spears shot out.
"Ahhh! So scary!"
Tobi jumped around frantically.
Obito sipped tea calmly.
He thought: One day, she's really going to kill him.
Why did he now think of her as "Konan" instead of "that woman"?
The forehead protector at his waist seemed to answer that.
"Hey, Obito, save me!"
Konan paused, glaring.
Obito said coldly,
"Go stand aside. You brought this on yourself."
He finished his tea.
Why would he ruin his improved relationship with Konan for this idiot?
"Didn't we agree to watch her poop together?!"
"Pfft!"
Obito spat out his tea.
"What nonsense! That was you alone!"
Silence.
Konan's face turned into folded paper.
"!"
Obito tried to activate Kamui—
But Tobi wrapped him in vines.
Konan whispered,
"Both of you… die."
"BOOM!!"
"AAAAAAH!"
In the distance, Deidara hovered.
"Huh? Paper lady's doing art again? Seems more frequent lately."
By the window, Madara laughed heartily.
"Hahahahaha! I love this place!"
Konan walked back calmly.
"We'll need more funds to repair the tower."
She smiled at Akira.
"As promised. You can use it."
"Thank you."
Akira placed his hand on her shoulder.
His left eye glowed crimson.
— Twin Blossoms.
"Crackle, crackle…"
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