_AFTER A WHILE_
The heavy wooden door of the meeting room clicked shut, muffling the sounds of the clan heads leaving. Soon, the large room was empty except for Naruto and Shikamaru. The air, still thick with the earlier tension, slowly began to lighten.
Naruto let out a long breath he hadn't known he was holding. He pushed himself back in his chair, a small, tired smile touching his lips.
"Man, that was rough," he said, rubbing his eyes. "But I'm really glad everyone believed Sasuke. They trusted him, dattebayo!"
Shikamaru nodded, his arms still crossed over his chest. "Yeah, that's a good thing. It could have gone way worse. Their loyalty to Konoha, and to you, is strong. But it also means they truly believe the Rinnegan man is pulling the strings." He paused, his eyes thoughtful. "The situation is still pretty bad, though. Kirigakure is serious. Twenty-four hours isn't much time."
Naruto slumped a little, his earlier relief fading slightly. "I know. It's a huge pain. But we'll figure it out, right?" He then looked around the quiet room. "Hey, Shikamaru," he said, his brow furrowing slightly. "Something just hit me. Why weren't Koharu-sama and Homura-sama here? The elders? This was a super important meeting. They should have been here."
Shikamaru blinked. He hadn't thought of it until now. His eyes widened a fraction. "You're right, Naruto," he mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck. "That's... really odd. They never miss anything this important, especially when it involves the village's safety. What a drag."
Just then, a soft but firm knock echoed through the room. It broke the silence sharply.
Naruto and Shikamaru looked at each other. Both of them felt a cold twist in their stomachs. 'Please don't be more bad news,'
Naruto thought, his brief moment of relief completely gone. Shikamaru's face grew serious. 'Just what we needed,' he internally sighed.
"Come in!" Naruto called out, his voice trying to sound strong, but a hint of worry crept in.
The door slowly opened. Sai stepped inside. His face, usually calm, was now deeply troubled. His eyes looked sad, and his shoulders seemed to slump a little.
Naruto sat up straighter. "Sai? What's wrong? You look... really upset. Is something the matter?"
Sai walked further into the room, his gaze fixed on Naruto and Shikamaru. He stopped a few feet from the table. His voice was quiet, almost a whisper, but very clear. "Naruto.
Shikamaru. You both need to prepare yourselves for what you're about to hear."
Naruto and Shikamaru exchanged a quick glance. A new wave of dread washed over them. Sai's words made their hearts pound. 'Prepare for what?' Naruto thought, his mind racing through all the terrible possibilities. 'Is it about the war? Has Kirigakure already attacked?' Shikamaru's eyes narrowed. 'This doesn't sound good at all. Whatever it is, it's major.'
"Just tell us, Sai," Naruto said, his voice firm, ready for anything.
Sai took a deep breath. His eyes met Naruto's, then Shikamaru's. "It's about Koharu-sama and Homura-sama," he said. His voice was low and heavy. "They're dead. They were found... at the Leaf Police Headquarters."
Naruto and Shikamaru stared at each other. Their faces went completely blank with shock.
'Dead?' Naruto's mind screamed. 'The village elders? But how? And at the Police Headquarters? That's... impossible! Who could do that? Was it the Rinnegan man again? Is he still here?' A knot of fear and confusion tightened in his gut.
'This is bad. This is really bad,' Shikamaru thought, his mind spinning wildly. 'First the attack, then the war threat, and now the elders are dead? In a secure place? This isn't random. This is calculated. Someone is trying to break Konoha from the inside. Is this connected to the Rinnegan man? Or is it something even worse? This is a nightmare scenario.'
Naruto and Shikamaru stared at Sai. The news that Homura-sama and Koharu-sama were dead hit them hard. The quiet room felt colder.
"Dead?" Naruto repeated, his voice barely a whisper. His blue eyes were wide with shock. "Sai... when? When did this happen? Do you have any idea?"
Sai nodded slowly, his face still sad. "Based on their wounds and how they looked... they were killed when the village was still under the attack of the Rinnegan man." He paused, taking another breath. "Probably about eight or nine hours ago."
A tiny wave of relief, like a small, unexpected breath of fresh air, passed through Naruto and Shikamaru.
'Eight or nine hours ago?' Naruto thought, his shoulders dropping a little. 'So, not just now. That means... the village isn't under a new threat right this second. It happened during the big attack. Thank goodness.' He felt a mix of sadness for the elders and a strange calm that the danger wasn't current.
Shikamaru let out a quiet sigh. 'Okay, that makes sense. If they were killed just now, it would mean an active threat, someone still inside Konoha. But if it was during the Rinnegan man's attack... that fits.' He still felt bad about the elders, but the immediate fear for the village's safety lessened. 'So, the threat is probably gone for now. What a drag, but at least that's something.'
"So," Shikamaru said aloud, his voice thoughtful. "It was probably the Rinnegan man who killed them, then." He looked at Naruto and Sai. "It makes sense. They were at the police headquarters, trying to stay safe, maybe gather information. He could have found them there."
Naruto nodded quickly. "Yeah, that has to be it, dattebayo! He was attacking everywhere. He must have gotten to them. It's just so sad..." He trailed off, thinking of the elders, even if they were sometimes a pain.
Sai also nodded in agreement. "It's the most likely explanation given the timing and his abilities. He definitely could have done it."
Naruto took a deep breath, pushing down his sadness. He had to be Hokage. "Alright," he said, standing up from his desk. His voice was firm again, full of purpose. "Sai, I need you to do something very important."
Sai stood straighter. "Yes, Naruto?"
"Inform the whole village about this," Naruto ordered. "Tell everyone that Homura-sama and Koharu-sama have passed away. Make it clear that they were victims of the recent attack." He paused, his voice softening slightly, a sign of respect. "And arrange for their funeral. It will be held within an hour."
Sai's expression remained sad, but he gave a sharp nod. "Understood, Naruto. I'll take care of it right away." He turned and quickly left the room.
Naruto watched him go, then sank back into his chair, rubbing his face with his hands. The weight of his duties felt heavier than ever.
_ONE HOUR LATER_
_KONOHA MEMORIAL STONE GROUND_
Just as the sun began to dip low, painting the sky in soft oranges and purples, the entire village of Konoha gathered at the Memorial Stone ground. It was a place usually filled with quiet remembrance, but today it buzzed with a shared sadness and worry. Almost everyone wore dark clothes, mostly black, showing their respect for the dead. The air was calm, but a heavy quiet hung over the crowd.
Naruto, standing before the large, smooth Memorial Stone, looked out at the faces of his people. He saw Hinata standing solemnly with Himawari by her side, both wearing black. Kakashi stood nearby, his head slightly bowed. Shizune was there, looking sorrowful, and Sai stood quietly. Sakura was also in the crowd, her face grim. Many other shinobi and villagers were present, a sea of dark clothing under the fading light. But one key figure was missing – Sasuke.
Naruto stepped up to a simple podium, his eyes sweeping over the crowd. He took a deep breath, trying to steady his voice.
"Thank you all for coming," he began, his voice carrying clearly across the quiet ground.
"Today, we gather to say goodbye to Homura-sama and Koharu-sama. They were important elders of our village, and they dedicated their lives to Konoha." His voice was heavy with sadness. "They were taken from us during the recent attack, victims of the great danger that hit our village."
Naruto paused, his gaze hardening slightly. "This attack... it caused much pain and damage. And now, I must tell you something else, something very serious." He looked out at the worried faces. "Because of this attack, there has been a big misunderstanding between Konoha and the Hidden Mist Village. It's a misunderstanding that could, if we are not careful, lead to a war."
He did not say Sasuke's name. He did not say that Sasuke was the one being accused.
In the crowd, Sakura watched Naruto. She saw his strong face, how he chose his words carefully. Her eyes grew a little wet. 'Naruto...'
she thought, a wave of deep, thankful emotion washing over her. 'He's not telling them it's Sasuke. He's protecting him. He knows how hard this is for Sasuke, being blamed for something he didn't do. He's stopping people from hating Sasuke, from judging him unfairly.
Thank you, Naruto. Thank you so much.' Her heart ached for Sasuke, alone and carrying such a heavy burden, and she was so thankful for Naruto's loyalty.
Naruto continued, his voice full of hope and strength. "We are working hard to clear up this misunderstanding. We are doing everything we can to avoid war. Konoha has faced many tough times, but we have always faced them together. We will find the truth, and we will protect our peace." He finished, his voice strong and clear. "Homura-sama and Koharu-sama dedicated their lives to Konoha. It is our duty to honor their memory by protecting this village and working for a future of peace."
As Naruto spoke, the people stepped forward in a slow, silent line. They placed white flowers in front of the large pictures of Homura and Koharu. Each flower was a quiet promise, a symbol of sorrow and respect.
_UCHIHA HOUSEHOLD - SARADA'S ROOM_
Sasuke was not at the funeral. He was at his home, in his daughter Sarada's room. The room was quiet. On the bed, Sarada lay still, unconscious. Her face was pale. She was hurt badly in the attack, but Sakura had already taken care of her wounds. Sakura made sure Sarada was comfortable and safe before she left for the funeral.
Q
Sasuke sat on a chair next to the bed. He sat very still. His dark eyes were fixed on Sarada's face, though he seemed to be looking past her. He felt it was simply not right for him to be at the funeral. He was the one accused of murder, and because of this, a war might start that would hurt his village and his family. The idea of seeing people grieve now felt like a painful preview of the future he feared he might cause. He didn't want to witness it.
His face stayed calm, as always, but his jaw was tight. His shoulders seemed to carry a huge, invisible weight. This quiet room, with his daughter's soft breathing, was where he found a rare moment of peace. He needed to let himself truly understand the massive problem. He had to figure out what to do, how to stop this war, and how to protect everyone from the unfair blame.
_KONOHA HOSPITAL - BORUTO'S ROOM_
Boruto was also not at the funeral. He was at the Konoha Hospital, in a quiet room of his own. Like Sarada, he lay unconscious on a bed, his body still healing from the severe injuries he had taken during the attack. His wounds were clean and wrapped, cared for by the village's skilled medical ninja.
In his room, sitting by his bed, was Sumire.
She watched over him with quiet concern. Her hands rested gently on her lap, and her eyes, though tired, were sharp. She had volunteered to stay with him, making sure he was not alone. The beeping of the medical machines was the only sound, a steady reminder of his slow path to recovery.
_KONOHA MEMORIAL STONE GROUND_
The funeral ended. Slowly, the large crowd began to break apart, people walking away in quiet groups. The air still felt heavy with sadness. Naruto stood with Shikamaru, Sai, and Sakura near the Memorial Stone.
Sakura's face was wet with tears. Her eyes were red, and her voice trembled. "Naruto... how did all of this happen?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper. "How did Sasuke kun get pulled into this? He's innocent! He didn't do any of this, did he?" She looked from Naruto to Shikamaru, her sadness clear.
Naruto put a hand on her shoulder. His face was kind. "Sakura chan, it's going to be okay," he said, his voice soft but firm. "We'll figure it out, dattebayo. Don't worry. We know Sasuke is innocent. We'll prove it."
Just then, Kakashi walked up to their small group. His eye held a calm, reassuring look. He nodded at Naruto, then looked at Sakura. "Sakura," he said gently, "Naruto's right.
Nothing bad will happen to Sasuke. We won't let it." He paused, his gaze softening even more. "You've been through a lot. You should go home now and get some rest."
Naruto also nodded. "Yeah, Sakura-chan. Go home. Look after Sarada. We'll handle things here."
Sakura wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. She looked at Naruto, then Kakashi, and nodded slowly. "Okay," she mumbled, her voice still shaky. She gave them a weak smile, then turned and walked away, heading towards her home.
Once Sakura was out of sight, Kakashi turned to Naruto, Shikamaru, and Sai. His face became serious again. "Alright," he said. "In about an hour, come to the Hokage Office. That's for you, Naruto, Shikamaru, and Sai."
He paused, then added, "And Sasuke too. We have important things to talk about. Matters that can't wait."
Naruto, Shikamaru, and Sai all nodded. "We'll be there," Naruto said firmly.
Shikamaru let out a small sigh, but agreed. "What a drag, but okay. We'll be there."
Sai gave a simple nod. "Understood. I will be there."
With that, the small group split up, each with heavy thoughts about what the next hour, and the coming days, would bring.
_AFTER A WHILE_
The Uchiha house stood strong and calm, a quiet place of peace. It was perfectly fine, safe and sound, untouched by all the destruction Hikaru had caused in other parts of the village.
Inside, in Sarada's room, Sakura was sitting by her daughter's bed. Sarada was awake now, and Sakura was talking to her, asking how she felt. Sasuke was also in the room, sitting on a comfy couch. He was reading a scroll, his eyes moving over the words.
Sakura held a bowl of soup, trying to feed Sarada. "Just a little more, sweetie," she said softly.
Sarada pouted a little. "Mama, I can do it myself," she insisted, trying to reach for the spoon.
But Sakura was being an overly protective mother. She wanted her daughter to feel no pain or trouble at all. "No, no, just relax," Sakura said, a gentle smile on her face. "Let me help you. You need to save your energy to get better."
Suddenly, the house bell rang. The sound filled the quiet room. Sakura looked at Sasuke, a small worried look on her face. She started to get up from her seat. She was going to go open the door.
But Sasuke raised a hand, stopping her. His eyes were still on his scroll. "Stay seated," he said, his voice calm. He put the scroll down and stood up. Then he walked out of Sarada's room and headed towards the front door.
As he opened the door, he saw Naruto standing outside. Naruto looked surprised to see Sasuke there. "Sasuke?" Naruto said, his eyes wide. He clearly didn't expect Sasuke to answer the door.
From inside Sarada's room, Sakura called out, "Sasuke-kun, who is it?"
Naruto heard her. He grinned and shouted back, "It's me, Sakura-chan! Naruto!"
Sakura quickly came out of Sarada's room and saw for herself that it was indeed Naruto standing there. A small smile touched her lips.
Sasuke looked at Naruto, his face neutral. "What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice even.
Naruto waved a hand, as if brushing away Sasuke's question. "Leave that for now!" Naruto then turned to Sakura, his grin widening. "Sakura-chan, I'm borrowing Sasuke, for a little while!" Before Sakura could say anything, Naruto grabbed Sasuke's arm and pulled him gently but firmly out of the house. Both of them then walked away quickly.
Sakura watched them go, a warm smile on her face. She then went back inside Sarada's room.
"Who was it, Mama?" Sarada asked, her voice a little sleepy but curious.
Sakura chuckled softly. "It was Naruto," she said.
Sarada's eyes opened wide. A small angry look crossed her face. "What?! Nanadaime-sama was here?! Mom, why didn't you tell me?!" She pushed herself up slightly. "If I knew it was him, I would have jumped out of bed to see him!"
Hearing this, Sakura laughed, a happy sound. "Now, now, Sarada," she said, gently pushing her daughter back down. "Just focus on getting better, okay? Naruto will still be here."
_AFTER A WHILE_
_STREETS OF KONOHA_
Naruto and Sasuke walked side by side through the quiet evening streets of the village. The golden light of sunset painted long shadows, and the once-crowded pathways were mostly empty. People had returned home after the funeral, leaving a stillness in the air. For a few moments, neither of them said anything.
Sasuke was the first to break the silence. "You didn't come just to say hello," he said flatly, his eyes focused ahead.
Naruto scratched the back of his head. "Heh, yeah, figured you'd say that," he said with a sheepish grin. Then, his smile faded. "You're right. There's something important. Kakashi-sensei asked to meet us. You, me, Shikamaru, and Sai. It's serious."
Sasuke didn't stop walking, but his expression hardened slightly. "More bad news?"
Naruto's voice lowered. "I'm not sure. But it's about what happened today... and what we're going to do next. Kakashi-sensei said it couldn't wait."
Sasuke nodded, his steps never slowing. "Alright."
Naruto glanced sideways at him. "You doing okay?" he asked gently. "I know you've been carrying a lot lately."
Sasuke didn't answer for a moment. Then he said quietly, "I'm fine."
Naruto frowned. "Sasuke..."
"I said I'm fine," Sasuke repeated, his tone sharp, but not angry. More... tired.
Naruto didn't push. He just nodded and kept walking beside him in silence.
Naruto could tell Sasuke was annoyed. He'd kept asking about how Sasuke felt, and Sasuke clearly didn't want to talk about it. 'Man, I really messed that up,' Naruto thought. 'He probably just wants to focus on what's next, not his feelings check-ups.' He decided to change the subject, to something less personal but still important.
"Hey, Sasuke," Naruto began, trying a new tone. "Doesn't it seem... weird, that the Rinnegan man was an Uchiha?" He looked around at the damaged streets, trying to make his voice sound thoughtful. "I mean, the Uchiha clan was wiped out years ago, when you were a kid. And that guy looked pretty young, not too old. Does that mean another Uchiha survived and had a kid?"
Sasuke's gaze remained straight ahead, but his voice was sharper when he spoke. "It is unusual. Itachi killed every single person, leaving only me."
"Right!" Naruto agreed, nodding his head.
"And it's also strange that he had both Sharingan and Rinnegan, isn't it?" Naruto paused, remembering what people had seen.
"Many people saw him with the Rinnegan.
But then others saw him with the Sharingan.
It's confusing." He turned his head to look at Sasuke. "That's impossible, right?"
Sasuke finally stopped walking. He looked directly at Naruto, his lone Rinnegan eye steady. "Yes, it's impossible. Once a Sharingan becomes a Rinnegan, it can't change back." He pointed to his own left eye, where the Rinnegan swirled with its distinct pattern. "Look. My Rinnegan never changes back to Sharingan. People must have misunderstood what they saw. They might have just thought he had Sharingan."
But Naruto quickly shook his head, his face serious. "No, Sasuke, that's not it. I saw him."
Naruto remembered it clearly. "I saw him with the Rinnegan first. And then, later, with the Sharingan." He tried to make Sasuke remember too. "Think about it, dattebayo!
When we were fighting that final battle... where Sarada was with us... I told you then, didn't I? At that time, the Rinnegan man had the Sharingan!"
Both of them became very troubled by this thought. It didn't make sense. The facts didn't fit.
Naruto's brow furrowed further as another strange thought hit him. "And what's even weirder," he continued, his voice softer, "is that the Rinnegan man looked exactly like you, Sasuke."
Right after he said this, Sasuke stopped dead in his tracks. His calm expression shattered. His eyes, both his Rinnegan and his normal eye, narrowed sharply. A sudden, intense anger flared around him. "How are we alike?!"
he demanded, his voice low and dangerous, each word like a cutting edge. "We are not alike at all!" He pointed to his own left eye. "He had a pair of Rinnegan! I only have one Rinnegan in my left eye!"
Sasuke's anger grew, his hands clenching into fists. "And he was a young, seventeen-year-old brat! I'm an old adult of thirty-two years old!" He scoffed, looking away in annoyance. "People are blind for thinking that Rinnegan man was me!"
While Sasuke exploded with anger, Naruto found himself trying to lighten the mood. He didn't think Sasuke would get so offended by just one line. He quickly made a funny face, trying to ease the tension, completely surprised by how deeply Sasuke took the comparison.
Suddenly, both Naruto and Sasuke stopped talking. They stopped moving. The next second, they spun around, turning sharply to look behind them.
Standing there was a tall figure. He had straight, jet-black hair that was long and fell over one side of his face, covering one eye a little. He wore a loose, white robe, like a kimono, with wide sleeves. Underneath, he had a darker blue shirt. A thick, dark olive-green sash was tied tightly around his middle, with a purple rope belt knotted over it. His outfit finished with loose blue pants and traditional shinobi sandals. His eyes were sharp, observing everything.
"Orochimaru!" both Naruto and Sasuke cried out at the same time, their voices filled with clear surprise.
Orochimaru gave a small, sly smile. "I tried to hide myself from you two," he said, his voice smooth. "But it seems it was no use in front of elite shinobi... who are still genin." His sharp eyes seemed to find amusement in their surprise.
Sasuke looked at Orochimaru, his expression quickly returning to his usual calm, though a hint of wariness remained. "What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice even.
Naruto grinned, a wide, excited grin that seemed out of place given the serious talk just moments before. He looked at Orochimaru. "Hey! I sent a whole squad of shinobi to bring you in! It's really unexpected for you to just... show up here yourself!"
Orochimaru's smile did not change. "I never wanted to come," he said, his voice still smooth. "But the circumstances... they forced me to."
Naruto's grin instantly vanished. His face became serious, his blue eyes sharp. "What circumstances?" he asked, his voice low.
Orochimaru's gaze seemed to pierce them both. "The one you two were just talking about," he said. "Uchiha Hikaru."
Sasuke's head snapped towards Naruto.
"Uchiha Hikaru?" he asked, his voice puzzled. "Who is that?"
Naruto looked back at Sasuke. "That's the name of the Rinnegan man, Sasuke," Naruto explained. "Kakashi-sensei told me his name."
Sasuke's brow furrowed. He repeated the name quietly to himself, "Uchiha Hikaru..." He tried to remember, searching his mind for any memory, any sound of that name from his past. He closed his eyes for a moment, sifting through everything he knew about the Uchiha clan, about the past. But nothing came. He had never heard that name before. He opened his eyes, a flicker of frustration crossing his face.
Just then, Orochimaru's smooth voice broke into his thoughts. "The Hikaru you were talking about," he said, his gaze fixed on them both, "having both Rinnegan and Sharingan... that is correct." Orochimaru paused, a strange glint in his sharp eyes. "But actually, there were two Hikaru's. From two different timelines."
Naruto and Sasuke stared at Orochimaru, their faces frozen in complete shock. Their mouths fell open slightly. "Two Hikaru's?" Naruto finally managed to stammer out, his voice a disbelieving whisper. "From... from two different timelines? Repeat that!" he cried, needing to hear it again, needing it to make sense.
Orochimaru slowly repeated his words, his voice calm and clear. "Yes, Naruto kun. There were two Hikaru's. From different timelines."
As the words hung in the quiet evening air, a rush of terrible, impossible thoughts began to flood into Naruto's and Sasuke's minds. Their eyes met, wide with a shared, dawning horror.
---