Night before the final arena battles.
After dinner, Naruto and Toneri walked together.
"Toneri." Naruto's voice—casual. "Honestly? I'm surprised you made it through."
"Under that format, I couldn't have done it alone."
Naruto glanced sideways. "Realized how reliable comrades can be?"
Toneri said nothing. Maybe the word 'comrades' felt too embarrassing.
Naruto's gaze returned forward. His next question—pointed. "Tomorrow. Arena battles. What if you face your comrades as opponents? What if they desperately want to win? What would you do?"
"My dad doesn't know I'm his and Mom's daughter. So I need to become Earth-class—make him see me and Mom differently. Let him know he has a mother worth being proud of!"
Sarada's words echoed in Toneri's mind.
"I..." His voice caught.
"The airdrop boxes had Magic Cards, right?"
Toneri nodded. "Yeah. But I'd already mastered those techniques. So I gave them to the girl I teamed with."
Magic Cards. Genjutsu-based learning tools. Recorded the entire process of mastering a technique—subjective experience and all. Later learners could absorb that knowledge.
Take Rasengan. Naruto had perfected it. But he couldn't create a card for it. Why? He'd already learned it.
Creating a Rasengan Magic Card required two things:
Different techniques. Different difficulty. Card creation complexity increased geometrically.
Also—Magic Cards were one-time use. Once learned, the card became useless.
"Here."
Naruto pulled a golden card from his coat. Handed it to Toneri.
"This—this is?!" Toneri's eyes went wide.
Naruto smiled. "The one and only Flying Thunder God Magic Card in existence. Fast-tracks the entire technique. You know how long your Uncle Obito's been eyeing this?"
"Such a precious card—save it for Uncle Obito!" Toneri's protest—immediate. "I'm still young. I'll master Flying Thunder God on my own eventually!"
"But tomorrow's Round Three." Naruto's tone—matter-of-fact. "You've got signature jutsu. Plenty of them. But foundation? You're lacking. Learn this—you might actually have a shot."
"..." Toneri hesitated.
"Hey. You know what happens if you take first place in the arena battles?"
"First place?"
"You get the Heaven-class Ninja Challenge Right. Immediately."
Toneri's breath caught.
"Outperform everyone. Get first. You receive the challenge right—same as Eternal Earth-class ninja. Course, Eternal Earth-class can challenge every tournament. Arena champion's right? Limited to that tournament only."
"If the challenge succeeds?"
Naruto's smile widened. "You won't wait five or seven years. You'll replace the Heaven-class ninja you challenged. Become the newest Heaven-class. If your strength holds—you keep the throne." He paused. "This mechanism? We call it One Step to Heaven."
Toneri's face—shock written clear. "One Step to Heaven. Has anyone succeeded?"
Heaven-class ninja appeared starting from the fifth tournament. Eight tournaments total. The sixth through eighth—called the "latter three."
Naruto clasped his hands behind his head. "Latter three tournaments? Only one person succeeded. Kakashi Hatake."
"Kakashi participated from the first tournament. Always fell short at the end—chakra quantity shortcoming. People mocked him. 'Eternal Common Ninja.' 'Ninja Turtle.'" Naruto's grin turned proud. "But last year? He pulled an upset. Took first place. Challenged the tenth-ranked Heaven-class. Won. Completed One Step to Heaven."
"Doesn't that make the tenth-ranked one unlucky?"
"Not at all. Those ten thrones were never meant to be permanent. One Step to Heaven exists to motivate people. Remind them. Even if you're bottom-tier today—through strength, effort, and a bit of luck—you can become elite tomorrow. A Heaven-class ninja."
Naruto's eyes met Toneri's.
"Don't you want that?"
Outside Rain Village. Small dwelling. Far from civilization.
Karin and Sarada's home.
Sarada—fresh from the bath. Karin dried her hair.
"Hey, Mom. What kind of person is Dad?"
Karin's gaze—gentle. Complex. "Your father seems cold outside. But he's warm inside. He made mistakes in the past. But these years? He's been making amends. Earned everyone's forgiveness. Became a respected ninja."
"At the Exhibition, I met a boy. Cold outside, warm inside too."
Karin smiled. "Really? Did you become friends?"
"Probably. I guess."
Actually— Sarada's internal monologue—I've been thinking something terrifying. Could Toneri's dad be my dad? All the signs point that way.
"Hey, Mom. Why isn't my name Uzumaki Sarada?"
"Eh?" Karin froze. "Why do you ask?"
"Mom, you're an Uzumaki, right—achoo!"
Sudden coughing fit.
"Did you catch a cold?"
Sarada sniffled. "Yeah. A little."
Battle royale, second night. Hiding from powerful opponents—she'd submerged in water. Completely soaked. To avoid troubling Mitsuki and Toneri, she'd kept wearing the wet, freezing clothes.
Result: cold.
Karin pressed her hand to Sarada's forehead. Checked her own temperature. "This won't do. You'll get a fever. I'll get medicine. After you take it—bed. Early."
"Okay."
Medicine taken. Lights off.
Sarada lay in bed. Stared at the ceiling. Troubled.
If Toneri's dad really is my dad, then Toneri and I would be siblings.
I should be happy. So why can't I feel happy?
She reached under her pillow. Pulled out a deep blue card.
Magic Card. Found in an airdrop. Recorded jutsu: Chidori.
Toneri already knew Chidori. So he'd given it to her.
"Whatever. Right now—most important thing is reuniting with Dad. Then getting Dad and Mom back together."
She placed the card on her forehead. Fell asleep.
Crackle.
Magic Card's dream effect—triggered.
Her Sharingan activated. On its own.
Outside the cave.
Mitsuki gazed at cold moonlight. His eyes—no longer hollow.
Orochimaru approached. Bathrobe outlining graceful curves. Wine glass swirling. Voice—hoarse. "You've confirmed his power."
"Yeah. Strength's decent. Experience is lacking."
Orochimaru's vertical pupils flickered. "You'll become each other's suns. Illuminating one another. Not just literal. There's something complementary between you."
"One day, you'll complete Toneri. That's the consensus he and I reached. The fundamental reason you could be born."
Orochimaru's hand trembled. "Though ultimately—that's not fair to you."
"Even so. I have no regrets."
Mitsuki closed his eyes.
Crackle.
Reopened them.
Mangekyō Sharingan. Unprecedented tomoe pattern. Both eyes.
Mitsuki smiled. "After all. He's my brother."
"If this is your chosen path—as your mother, I'll bless you." Orochimaru's voice—soft. "After that day, I'll give you another gift. No less valuable than these eyes."
She drained the wine. One gulp.
Three children. Three separate concerns.
Welcoming the Grand Martial Exhibition's final stage.
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