Under the cold, quiet moon—
Sarada rested her chin in her hands, listening silently as Obito finished telling the story of Rin… and the three of them.
She looked up at him.
"So… from what you said…"
"…Rin actually liked that silver-haired genius, didn't she?"
Obito smiled softly.
"Yeah… back then, she did."
"But loving someone—"
"sometimes it's enough just to see the light in their eyes."
"She'd glance at me once in a while…"
"And I'd feel so happy I could explode."
A long silence followed.
Sarada sighed.
"…You're amazing, Obito."
"How so?"
She pressed her hands to her chest.
"I… I couldn't do that."
"If the person I'm looking at…"
"…isn't looking back at me—"
Her voice trembled.
"It would feel like a snake wrapping around my heart."
"I'd go crazy."
She lowered her gaze.
"…Am I just… selfish?"
Obito shook his head gently.
"I don't think so."
"Everyone experiences love differently."
"And self-perception… is always subjective."
"Like looking at flowers through fog."
"You can't truly see yourself."
"Only when you actually face it—"
"do you understand what's inside."
He paused.
"Whether it's obsession… or darkness…"
"That's something carved deep into us."
"Not something willpower can erase."
"That force… is strong enough to destroy everything tied to us."
"…And in the end—"
"You realize the only thing it destroyed…"
"…was yourself."
"That's what we call a trial."
Silence.
Sarada stared at him—
mouth slightly open.
"…Sorry."
"Too heavy, huh?"
She shook her head.
"No… I don't fully understand…"
"But I feel like I get it."
She smiled faintly.
"…It's strange."
"We just met…"
"But it feels like I've known you forever."
Obito's eyes softened.
Good… she's opening up.
"Hey, Sarada."
"I'll teach you a jutsu."
"…Eh?"
He stood under the moonlight.
"No matter why you came here—"
"You can't keep standing still."
"People have to move forward."
Sarada lowered her eyes.
He's right…
I've been stuck… acting nothing like a ninja.
He noticed me… helped me…
Maybe… this place… isn't what I thought.
Maybe Boruto understood that already…
She took a breath.
Then spoke firmly:
"There's something I need to say first."
"I may have left my village…"
"But I won't become an An'yin ninja."
"If that's a problem…"
"…then please don't teach me."
Obito smiled warmly.
"Why would I mind?"
"Whether you belong here or not—"
"You're still one of this world's hopes."
Something inside her broke.
She removed her glasses—
tears streaming down.
"…Why are you crying?"
"It's nothing…"
"Just sand in my eyes."
…You're wearing glasses though.
She wiped her tears.
Put them back on.
Her eyes—
burned red.
Three tomoe spun.
"Please."
"Teach me."
The Technique Passed Down
Obito raised his hands—
forming seals slowly:
Ox → Rabbit → Monkey
Then—
gripped his right wrist.
"Crackle—!!"
Violent blue lightning surged—
condensing in his palm.
Sarada's eyes widened.
"…That's…!"
Obito spoke quietly:
"This jutsu…"
"is called Raikiri."
"My best friend created it."
"A thrust technique—"
"that reaches its true potential with the Sharingan."
Sarada trembled.
"…Chidori…?"
"…This is my dad's jutsu!"
Elsewhere — A Different Path
"…Ugh…"
Blinding white light pierced through half-open eyes.
Ao groaned—
lying on an operating platform.
"…So… I'm alive."
He tried to move—
but his left side didn't respond.
"Don't move."
A low, steady voice came from the side.
Cough—!
Smoke filled his lungs.
He turned his head.
A man sat at the console—
orange glasses,
graying hair,
thick beard.
A cigarette hung from his mouth—
ash nearly falling.
His hands moved rapidly—
typing.
Above Ao—
mechanical arms installed components into his body.
Reality clicked.
I survived…
Rescued by Kara…
He spoke carefully:
"…If I'm not mistaken…"
"…you're Amado, from the Inner?"
No reply.
Only after finishing manual input—
switching to auto mode—
did the man respond.
He crushed the cigarette.
Lit another.
Inhaled deeply.
Exhaled smoke.
"…That's right."
"Ao."
"You completed Koji's mission."
"And survived."
"Per agreement—"
"You are now…"
"an Inner member."
Silence.
"…I see."
Relief.
Akira…
It worked.
The hunt for Ada—
has truly begun.
Enjoyed these chapters? Access advanced chapters and exclusive content by visiting my Patreon. https://patreon.com/WillOFD129?