~Takahashi Residence~
Ren's old house stood quietly under the pale glow of the moon.
It had once been filled with the noise of a child running through narrow hallways, of arguments over vegetables, of late-night strategy talks disguised as casual conversations. Now, it was still. Dust motes floated lazily in the air, silver under moonlight filtering through the paper windows.
In the garden, two figures leaned against each other under the moonlight.
Juichi sat with his back against the tree, one arm resting loosely around Sayaka's shoulders. She leaned into him as if that was the most natural place in the world to be.
For a while, neither of them spoke but the silence wasn't uncomfortable.
Juichi broke it first.
"How much time do you have?" he asked quietly.
Sayaka rested her head more firmly against his shoulder before answering.
"Not much," she said honestly. "I can feel it… thinning."
She let out a soft breath.
"I already went to see Tsunade-nee."
Juichi gave a small huff. "And?"
Sayaka chuckled faintly. "She was well… she was her."
Juichi's lips curved slightly.
"She cried," Sayaka continued, amusement and sadness blending together. "Then she hit me for a bit. Then she cried again. Then she drank. And then she fell asleep mid-sentence."
Juichi let out a short laugh, shaking slightly. "That sounds about right."
"Shizune carried her back to the Senju compound," Sayaka added softly. "She's exhausted. Healing Ren and Itachi after what they pulled… and then this."
Juichi's fingers tightened around her slightly.
"Well, what did you expect?" he said gently. "With strangers, she acts tough. With people she cares about… she doesn't know how to hide anything."
They both smiled faintly at that then the silence returned for longer this time.
Juichi swallowed before asking again, voice lower.
"Did you talk to Ren?"
Sayaka's expression shifted.
"Behind the mask… many times," she said. "As Yoru, as Boss-Man."
She paused.
"After taking off the mask… just once."
Juichi nodded slowly. He reached up and gently patted her head like he used to when they were younger.
"Go talk to him again," he said. "Otherwise you'll regret spending your last moments with me."
He tried to chuckle but it didn't come out very convincing and Sayaka immediately tightened her grip on his hand.
"I never regret a single moment I spent with you," she whispered.
Her voice trembled for the first time.
"I love you, Ju-kun."
The words hit him harder than any blade ever had. Juichi's throat tightened. His remaining hand shook slightly as he squeezed hers back.
"I love you too, Sa-chan."
Tears slid down his face before he could stop them and for a few minutes, they just stayed like that.
Leaning together, fingers intertwined, listening to each other breathe.
The world outside didn't exist. Just two people who had once fallen in love under a much simpler sky.
Finally, Juichi inhaled shakily and forced himself to move. He gently pushed her shoulder.
"Go," he muttered. "You're dying."
His voice cracked.
"I can't bear to watch it again."
Sayaka stood slowly, but she didn't let go of his hand immediately.
She looked down at him. In the moonlight, he looked older than she remembered, more tired, more fragile.
"Ju-kun," she said softly, "don't hurt Sayo, okay?"
Juichi blinked, confused for a second.
"But Sayo was just a cover," he protested weakly. "So people would think I moved on. So they wouldn't question anything. I can't love anyone other than you."
Sayaka stepped closer again and she leaned down until their foreheads touched.
"Shhh…"
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"I know."
She closed her eyes.
"I know your heart."
She smiled faintly.
"But the heart of a maiden in love is fragile. Even if it started as a lie… feelings can grow. Just… keep an open mind."
She drew back slightly, looking at him one last time.
"Let nature flow its course. Don't chain yourself to a ghost."
Juichi stared at her and for a long moment, he couldn't speak. Then he nodded once.
"Okay."
It sounded like surrender.
Sayaka's smile softened, tears rolled down her cheeks freely now.
"Goodbye, Juichi-san," she whispered.
The formal address made his chest ache.
"Loving you was the best thing in my entire life."
That did it.
Juichi broke completely. He grabbed her hand tightly, shoulders shaking.
"Me too," he choked out. "I love you so, so much."
He wanted to say more, wanted to beg, wanted to demand that fate reconsider.
But he didn't, because he understood her, because he knew she had already made peace.
Sayaka leaned down one final time and pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead.
"Take care of our son," she whispered.
Then she slowly pulled her hand free.
Juichi tried to hold on, hut he didn't.
He let her go.
She walked toward the door quietly.
Moonlight wrapped around her figure as she stepped outside.
Juichi remained seated against the tree, alone now.
The house felt larger suddenly, emptier.
He pressed his face into his hand and cried openly, not caring who might hear.
Outside, under the quiet sky of Konoha, Sayaka paused for just a second before moving on.
There was still one last goodbye left to give.
~~~
Above the Hokage Monument, the wind was colder than usual.
Ren sat on Tobirama Senju's stone head, legs dangling freely over the edge as if he were just some bored kid skipping class instead of the future Hokage who had just shaken the entire ninja world in a single day.
The village below looked calm now, too calm.
Smoke rose lazily from chimneys. Lights flickered on as families prepared dinner. From up here, it all looked peaceful and ordinary.
Ren rested his elbows on his knees as footsteps approached from behind, light but disciplined.
Kimura stopped a few paces back and knelt.
"As you had expected," he reported calmly, "Danzo sent Fu Yamanaka to kidnap your teammates."
Ren didn't turn around.
"And?" he asked lazily.
"Once he realized he was no match for me, he withdrew," Kimura replied. "It did not seem like a committed operation. More like… an opportunistic attempt. If it had been a priority, Fu would not have abandoned it so easily."
Ren nodded slowly.
"Yeah. Sounds like him."
He clicked his tongue softly.
"Danzo knew even if he managed to take them, the leverage would be minimal. Too risky for too little gain. So it was probably just a casual try."
He tilted his head slightly.
"But still. Good work."
Kimura remained silent.
Ren finally glanced back over his shoulder. His blue eyes flickered faintly as he focused on the shadow standing behind him.
Above Kimura's head, the familiar system interface hovered quietly.
[Level: 78]
Almost peak Jonin.
Ren's lips curved upward slightly.
In just a short period of time, Kimura had jumped from an ordinary Jonin to an elite one standing at the edge of the highest tier. If anyone in the village knew, they would be stunned.
If they knew what kind of training Kimura endured under Ren's supervision, they might just faint.
Ren chuckled under his breath. "You're about to get busy, Kimura."
Kimura lifted his head slightly. "My lord?"
"I'm planning on forming an Eight Gates squad soon," Ren said casually. "Guy will be at the head. You'll assist him. Make sure everything runs smoothly. I want discipline and efficiency. No idiots opening gates without control."
Kimura nodded without hesitation. "Yes, my lord."
Ren waved him off lazily. "Go rest while you can. The next few years won't be kind."
Kimura vanished in a flicker and silence returned.
The wind picked up slightly, brushing Ren's hair back. For a moment, he simply stared ahead at the horizon. Then he spoke without turning around.
"You can come out, you know."
From the edge of the forest below, a figure stepped forward quietly.
Sayaka.
She didn't speak as she walked up the monument path. Her steps were calm, almost soundless. When she reached Tobirama's head, she climbed up without assistance and sat down beside Ren.
They sat there for a long time, saying nothing.
The village lights flickered on one by one beneath them. From this height, Konoha looked small. Fragile. Like something that could be crushed if the wrong hand reached down from the sky.
Sayaka's gaze remained steady on the rooftops, on the streets, on the faint movement of people returning home after a long, chaotic day.
After a while, she spoke.
"You remind me of father."
Ren didn't turn. His legs swung lazily over the edge of Tobirama's stone head.
"But sometimes," she continued softly, "some of your actions are so similar to uncle Hashirama that I begin to doubt myself. The way you laugh in the middle of danger. The way you carry people with you without them realizing it."
Ren snorted lightly. "That sounds dangerously optimistic."
She smiled faintly.
"You have father's intelligence, his sharpness. His ability to see ten steps ahead. But you also have Uncle Hashirama's ideals… and his stubborn passion."
She turned toward him fully now.
"A mix of both. The First's heart and the Second's mind… the village will have a great Fifth Hokage."
Ren leaned back on his palms and looked up at the sky.
"The Third was supposed to be great," he said casually. "The Fourth too."
He paused.
"One fell to the weakness of being human."
Another pause.
"And the other got punctured in the stomach by an overgrown fox."
He shrugged. "So I'm not really keen on being 'great.'"
Sayaka laughed softly at that. "Then just be good," she replied. "Lead the village well, protect it." She tilted her head slightly. "And maybe just don't try to harm it."
Ren's lips curved upward.
"First two are done." He glanced at her from the corner of his eye. "Not sure about the third. It depends on the mood."
She shook her head, amused.
Silence returned, but it wasn't heavy, just calm. Then Sayaka asked quietly,
"Are you ready to fight the world yet?"
That made Ren pause and he didn't answer immediately this time. The wind shifted and faint chill passed through the air.
"Not yet," he said finally.
"How long?" she asked.
"Six years."
His voice was steady.
"I'll need six years to reach the peak. By then…" his eyes sharpened slightly, "…I won't fear anything, not the Five Kage, not the Akatsuki. Not even the world itself."
Sayaka exhaled softly, almost in relief.
"That's good," she whispered.
She raised her hand and gently patted his head.
"Just be ready."
Her tone softened.
"And don't shoulder it all alone."
Ren didn't react outwardly, but his eyes flickered.
"You have Itachi," she continued. "I doubt many others will truly understand the weight you carry. But he will. He stands at the same height you do."
She leaned closer slightly.
"So don't hesitate to ask for his help."
Ren nodded once, then he looked at her properly.
"It's time?"
Sayaka glanced up at the moon hanging pale in the sky. Her form flickered faintly at the edges now.
"It is."
She smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry I couldn't talk to you much after taking off the mask."
Ren waved a hand lazily. "It's fine." But his voice was quieter than before.
Sayaka stood slowly.
She walked toward the edge of Tobirama's stone head, her steps light, almost weightless.
"I'll destroy this body," she said calmly. "It wouldn't be good if someone got their hands on it. So you don't have to worry."
She turned fully to face him and the wind caught her hair gently.
"Goodbye, my child."
Her voice trembled just slightly now.
"You are someone the world wants to kill. That much is clear."
Ren's jaw tightened faintly.
"But that does not mean you don't belong here."
She placed a hand over her heart.
"This world, this village, they are your home."
Her blue eye softened.
"You are my son and you are loved."
Her voice grew firmer.
"No matter what happens in the future, no matter what the world calls you… remember that. Okay?"
Ren lowered his head slightly and he nodded slowly.
"Okay."
Sayaka smiled through the faint shimmer of her fading form.
One foot slipped over the edge of Tobirama's head.
"Goodbye, my child."
She inhaled softly.
"I love you."
Her eyes glistened.
"Take care of your father, take care of the village, for me."
Ren's throat felt tight, but he forced the word out.
"Okay… Mom…"
Sayaka smiled and took one last look at him. Then one last look at the village behind her.
Her gaze lingered on the rooftops, the Hokage Tower, the mountain beneath her feet.
'I protected the village, father,' she thought silently. 'Now your grandson will do the same. Please bless him.'
She closed her eyes and stepped back.
Her body fell in silence, there were no scream, no hesitation. Just a quiet surrender to gravity.
Ren didn't move, he watched her fall.
Her form began to dissolve before it even reached the lower cliffs, fading into light, scattering like mist in moonlight.
Gone.
The wind howled faintly over the monument.
Above the Second Hokage's stone face, Ren tilted his head back and looked at the moon.
For a moment, his vision blurred and he lifted a hand to his cheek.
He let out a quiet breath.
"Man…"
His voice cracked just slightly before he steadied it.
"What a bad day for rain…"
~~~~~
{Wow… even I didn't expect it would go like this, but it somehow did, comparing Chapter 4 and then this chapter, it's been a long journey of writing.
There could still be many improvements in this chapter, however this was the best I could do with my current skills, so I hope you guys would ignore any mistakes I made.}
{Also, with this the Shadows War Arc finally ends, there are many things left like rewards and hostage exchange, however this arc is officially over, I'll make an info chapter to talk about somethings, however this is the end.
I hope you guys loved it, this was my best work till date, and I hope you appreciated it as much as I did, thank you for being such a great audience, may god bless you, may all your wishes come true, thank you.}