On the sunlit mountain where Konoha's orphanage stood—
Naruto and Sasuke stood side by side at the summit, gazing at the setting sun.
Ten days had passed.
Their bodies had recovered from exhaustion and injury.
But the wounds in their hearts… had not.
Including the fallen members of the Sarutobi clan, and the missing—Shikamaru and Tenten, whose fates remained unknown—
Konoha had lost 180 people in the Nine-Tails Defense Battle ten days ago.
With financial support from the Land of Fire's daimyo, reconstruction had begun.
Yet for now, everyone remained displaced—forced to take refuge in the mountains around the orphanage.
Homeless.
When Naruto learned from Sasuke that Jigen truly was Isshiki—the very enemy Akira had warned about—
He went three days and nights without speaking.
Without eating.
On the third night, he learned something even more shocking—
From Kakashi, who had finally awakened.
The "future."
A future shown through Obito's genjutsu.
Without his Sharingan, Kakashi couldn't recreate the vision directly—but through his words, Naruto and Sasuke could piece together its weight.
Afterward, Kakashi spoke heavily:
"Naruto… Sasuke… it's likely true."
"Uchiha Akira really can see the future."
"But the future he saw… was one where he hadn't yet intervened."
"He tried to change it. He attempted to cooperate with Konoha early on."
"But due to resistance… he failed."
"So he chose another path."
"He revived Madara and Obito with Edo Tensei… showed them that future… and gained their support."
Naruto had stood there, pale, hollow.
Kakashi placed a hand on his shoulder—
—and said nothing more.
For seven days and nights after that, Naruto barely slept.
He thought.
And thought.
And thought.
In the end… he reached a conclusion.
There was no grand conspiracy.
Everything Akira had done—
—lined up perfectly with that "future."
The contradictions, the confusion—
All of it finally made sense.
Why Akira spared him and Sasuke… even after defeating them.
Why, until ten days ago, Akira had never truly taken the lives of Konoha's shinobi… or any village's shinobi.
He had always been trying—
—in his own way—
—to convey his beliefs.
Naruto clenched his fists, staring at the sinking sun.
"Even if I understand him… I still can't accept it!"
"I can't accept Uchiha Akira's way of doing things!"
"Even if that future is real… there has to be a better way than this!"
"Just like before—we can unite the entire ninja world! Gather everyone's strength!"
"We defeated Kaguya together—we can defeat Isshiki too! And Kara!"
"Why… why does Akira have to choose such an extreme path!?"
"Has he never once tried to trust everyone else!?"
Sasuke spoke quietly, his voice low and steady.
"…I can understand him. A little."
Naruto turned.
Sasuke continued:
"He's like Indra… like I used to be."
"Ordinary shinobi… probably don't even register in his eyes."
"He wants to walk the path of elites. Precision over numbers."
Naruto shook his head firmly.
"I don't accept that. I never will."
Sasuke paused, then asked:
"Naruto… if you had known from the beginning that Jigen was Isshiki…"
"Would you still have fought that battle ten days ago?"
The question cut deep.
Only Sasuke would ask something like that.
Naruto fell silent.
For a long time.
"…I…"
"…I can't accept gaining power by sacrificing Kurama's freedom."
"Even if it's for protection."
"…But I probably wouldn't have gone straight into a fight."
"I would've tried to show him…"
"The right path."
Sasuke glanced at him.
"The right path?"
Naruto nodded, emotion rising in his voice.
"Yeah!"
"He could've done what I did—earn the trust of the tailed beasts!"
"Make them willing to help him!"
"Not treat them like tools—like livestock—and throw them into the Demonic Statue!"
"The tailed beasts aren't unreasonable!"
"If he had just explained things—if he had truly tried—they would've accepted him!"
"And if he had gained their trust…"
"…I'd even give my life to help him succeed!"
His voice trembled.
Tears welled in his three-tomoe Sharingan.
"But he didn't!"
"He never even tried to talk to them!"
"Why!?"
"He wants peace in the ninja world… so why won't he listen to the voices of the tailed beasts—who want that same peace!?"
Naruto didn't know—
Akira's original plan had been exactly that.
To unite with Naruto.
To connect all nine tailed beasts through him.
Akira, who deeply understood the power of the heart—
Knew better than anyone—
If the tailed beasts truly fought together, willingly…
Their combined power could rival—even surpass—the Ten-Tails.
Naruto's Baryon Mode was proof of that.
But that possibility—
Had been crushed at the very beginning.
By Konoha.
By Naruto himself.
And with time running out—
Akira had no choice left—
But to walk the path of absolute force.
Sasuke clenched his hand—the one formed from Hashirama's cells.
"…He probably thought there wasn't enough time."
"Isshiki and Kara… they're already too close."
Naruto wiped his tears, stubborn as ever.
"I still don't believe Isshiki is as strong as Akira says."
"If he really were that powerful…"
"Why hide in the shadows for a thousand years?"
"Why not just come out and take everything?"
"This feels just like Black Zetsu all over again!"
"I think his strength is being exaggerated!"
Sasuke didn't argue.
Without seeing that future firsthand—
Without feeling its despair—
It was hard to truly believe.
After a moment, Sasuke spoke again.
"…Regardless, Kawaki is the key."
"If Isshiki really comes…"
"…we should hand Kawaki over."
Naruto's expression tightened.
But he didn't lash out.
"…Why?"
Sasuke answered calmly.
"No matter how strong Isshiki is—if we fight him now, in our current state…"
"The cost will be catastrophic."
"Compared to that… giving up Kawaki is the only rational choice."
"It buys us time."
"Time to recover. To grow stronger."
"Time to either find another path… or rebuild cooperation with Akira."
Behind them—
Hidden in the shadows of the trees—
Kawaki clenched his fists tightly.
Naruto spoke.
His voice calm.
But unshakable.
"…Maybe you're right. Strategically."
"But I won't do it, Sasuke."
"Kawaki is one of us."
"He stood up to protect Himawari. He fought to protect us."
"I see him… as my own son."
"What kind of parent would hand their child over to the enemy?"
"Not now."
"Not ever."
"The Will of Fire… never bends to force."
"If Isshiki comes…"
"Then we'll face him."
"With everything we have."
"With everyone in Konoha."
"No matter the cost."
Sasuke fell silent.
He had no words to reply.
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