The morning sun stretched gently over the golden dunes of the Wind Country, bathing the walls of Sunagakure in light.
Kakashi stood beside the village gate, arms folded, his gaze resting calmly on the team gathered near the edge of the canyon path.
Gaara approached them slowly, his movements steadier now. His red hair ruffled in the breeze as he stood in front of Naruto.
Naruto stepped forward, their eyes meeting silently for a moment.
Gaara lifted his hand.
Naruto grasped it firmly.
"Next time…" Naruto said with a grin, "we all fight together."
"I'll hold you to that." Gaara's eyes softened, more emotion than he usually showed.
Behind him, Temari stood with her arms crossed. Her gaze moved from Naruto to Kakashi, and finally, she gave a respectful nod. "Thank you… all of you."
Kankurō limped forward, one arm in a sling. Sakura approached him quietly and handed over a small pouch of medicine.
"Make sure to take one dose a day for the next week," she instructed with a small smile.
"Thanks, doc," Kankurō muttered.
With one last look, the team turned toward the desert path. The golden sand slowly gave way to cracked earth, then soft soil, then rolling green. The trees grew taller with every step, the wind gentler, the skies bluer.
Kakashi walked slightly ahead, silent and thoughtful. His Mangekyo Sharingan Eyes saw more than the trees, he could feel the tension in the air. He knew that Pain wouldn't let this slide so he had to be ready.
Naruto chatted behind him, arms swinging as he spoke excitedly to Sakura about what kind of training he'd do next.
"I need to make a Rasengan even bigger, like double the size!"
"You'll knock yourself out," Sakura laughed, her pink hair swaying.
Sasuke remained quiet, walking just behind them. His hand rested casually on his sword's hilt, but his eyes were distant.
The victory in the desert hadn't filled the hole inside him. Something still tugged at his thoughts, his Mangekyō, and what it might cost him.
…
By the time they reached the tall, familiar gates of Konoha, the clouds overhead had begun to soften with dusk.
The gates opened at once. Two guards saluted them as they entered.
At the top of the stairs that led toward the Hokage Tower, Tsunade waited with arms folded and a faint smile on her face.
She looked at each of them carefully.
"You brought him back. Good," she said simply.
"Hospital. Now." Sakura straightened proudly, but Tsunade waved a hand.
Sakura smiled and turned, walking with Shizune who had just come running from the hallway.
"I want the whole med team briefed on Sasori's poisons," Shizune said as they vanished into the tower.
"ANBU headquarters. You'll debrief them on Akatsuki's tactics." Tsunade's golden eyes turned to Sasuke.
Sasuke gave a slight nod and disappeared with a flicker of movement.
Now, only Tsunade and Kakashi remained.
They walked together slowly through the wide corridors of the tower, their steps soft.
"Your eyes," Tsunade said finally. "Do they hurt?"
"No. With my regeneration… It's like I was made for them." Kakashi said as he looked at her sideways.
She stopped him in the hallway. Without a word, she stepped close and wrapped her arms around him.
He held her gently.
"They're strong. Too strong," she murmured.
"I know. And I intend to use them… before the war begins."
Tsunade stepped back slightly, her face calm but concerned. She knew, Kakashi's instincts were rarely wrong.
Akatsuki wasn't done.
…
That night, Naruto sat alone at Ichiraku Ramen.
The steam from the bowl rose lazily into the night air. He stirred the noodles with his chopsticks, slower than usual.
Teuchi leaned forward over the counter, drying a bowl with a towel.
"Quiet tonight," he said.
"Yeah…" Naruto said softly.
"What's on your mind, Naruto?" Teuchi tilted his head.
Naruto looked up at the sky.
"I'm strong now… but it still doesn't feel like enough."
He sighed. "My friend Gaara almost died again. Next time… it could be me. Or someone else."
A moment passed before a quiet voice answered.
"You were enough today."
Naruto turned. Kakashi now sat beside him, ordering quietly.
"But tomorrow's coming." Naruto looked down at his ramen.
"It always does. So we keep going." Kakashi nodded once.
They sat together in silence, the lantern above them swaying gently in the breeze.
…
At the edge of Training Ground Three, far from the village's sleeping homes, Sasuke stood alone.
The moonlight gleamed off the surface of his sword as he slashed it through another wooden dummy. Sparks flew. Another puppet replica fell apart.
His Mangekyō burned red, flickering with power.
Then he dropped to one knee as he had completely exhausted his chakra, but the moment passed.
He reached up and blinked. The special chakra seal Kakashi had given him, one linked to the Serpent Seal, held strong. His chakra steadied again.
He exhaled.
In the silence, he remembered Kakashi's words on the rooftop:
"Walk beside me."
Sasuke stared at the blade in his hand, then looked toward the stars overhead.
He wasn't sure what the future held.
But he would be ready.
…
Rain poured endlessly across the metal city of Amegakure.
High above, standing on the tip of a metallic spire, stood Pain. His cloak fluttered in the wind. Water streamed down his shoulders, pooling around his feet.
Konan appeared behind him, soaked but silent.
"You're going?" she asked.
Pain nodded once.
"They killed five of us. I will answer them myself."
He raised his hand.
The rain paused, just for a heartbeat.
"The Leaf… will feel pain."
Behind them, in the deeper shadows, a single orange mask shifted silently.
Tobi watched. Unmoving. Calculating.
…
The sky above Konoha was quiet now, stars blinking gently between thin clouds.
On the wide balcony of his estate, Kakashi stood still with his arms folded.
Below him, the village lights glowed like fireflies. Peaceful. Warm.
Inside, he could hear soft humming. Mei was in the kitchen, her voice low and smooth as she stirred the pot. Kurenai was helping her slice vegetables.
On the couch, Tsunade sat reading a scroll, one leg crossed over the other. Her expression was focused but calm.
Anko was curled up in a chair, napping with a half-eaten bag of dango beside her.
Home.
Kakashi looked up.
The breeze ruffled his hair. The smell of miso, ink, and jasmine drifted past.
His Godless Eyes flickered to life. Red Mangekyō spiraled slowly, catching the moonlight.
There was peace here…
…but it wouldn't last.
And that was fine. He didn't need peace to stand strong. He only needed his team.
He whispered, "Let the storm come."
Behind him, the laughter of women and the smell of home filled the air.
The scene faded quietly into the night.