Chapter 319 – The War Comes to an End
After that, the Sage of Six Paths informed everyone of the method to release the Impure World Reincarnation.
One by one, the souls of the shinobi who had been brought back through Edo Tensei began to rise, their forms slowly dissolving into gentle streams of light as they returned to the afterlife.
The Sage of Six Paths then bid farewell to Kaguya.
Mother and son finally came to understand each other's feelings after countless years of misunderstanding and pain.
Kaguya forgave the Sage of Six Paths, and in turn, the Sage of Six Paths handed over the last of his remaining power to Black Zetsu, allowing Black Zetsu to become a fully independent individual.
Meanwhile, Tsunade arranged for Kaguya to stay in Konoha. After all, no matter what had happened, she was still the ancestor of all chakra.
Uchiha Obito was also placed under Tsunade's protection, given the status of a former missing-nin. With Hatake Yusuke's presence, the shinobi from the various villages didn't dare say much. After all, this was the man who had personally crushed the masterminds behind the war until they couldn't even fight back.
The war was over.
Although it should have been something to celebrate, the truth was that the comrades and family members who had fallen on the battlefield would never return.
Hatake Yusuke, however, didn't dwell on that.
This war had completely overturned the entire structure of the shinobi world.
He didn't spare a glance for the people around him. Turning away, he vanished from the area and reappeared somewhere no one else could see.
Ahead of him, a young man sat with a cold expression.
Long hair draped over one side of his face, partially hiding a deep-purple Rinnegan.
"What's wrong? Not happy?" Yusuke asked casually.
The young man glanced at him, then turned his gaze away again. Hatake Yusuke walked over and slowly sat down beside him.
"What's your purpose for coming here?" the young man asked in a cold tone.
"I came to see you. Did my presence mess up your plans?" Yusuke replied.
"W-what are you talking about? I don't know what you mean," Sasuke said, a hint of tension creeping into his voice.
In truth, it was only a plan he kept in his heart. But the man in front of him was someone who had single-handedly defeated multiple Six Paths-level powerhouses.
It was impossible not to feel pressure standing before someone like that.
"No need to hide it, little Sasuke. I know your plan well enough. You don't intend to walk the path Itachi chose, do you?" Yusuke said calmly.
Sasuke fell silent.
He didn't know how to answer.
"Whether you admit it or not, little Sasuke, Itachi's path doesn't suit you," Yusuke continued.
"Why not? This world is too dark. If the shinobi world is going to change, then it has to be reformed from the shadows. I'll become the darkness that protects this world," Sasuke said, his voice firm.
"Do you really think Itachi chose that path because he wanted to?" Yusuke asked. "He had no choice. On one side, there was the village. On the other, his clan. And your existence was the main condition that forced his hand."
"Me?" Sasuke muttered.
"Yes. You. No matter what he chose, you would've been hurt. No matter how strong the Uchiha were, facing all of Konoha was like a mantis trying to stop a carriage. Itachi knew from the very beginning that the Uchiha would lose. To make sure you could live, he could only stand on Konoha's side."
Yusuke looked straight at Sasuke as he spoke.
"At that time, there wasn't a single person in Konoha who could help him choose differently. If Shisui, that foolish kid, had still been alive and stood beside him, maybe Itachi wouldn't have ended up like that."
Sasuke's chest ached.
After learning the truth, he no longer hated Itachi, but he still blamed him.
Why did it have to be that way?
Now he understood.
Back then, Itachi had no one on his side. There was no better option. The most innocent person in all of this had always been Itachi himself.
"Little Sasuke, you're different from Itachi," Yusuke said as he lay down lazily beside him. "Whether you defect from Konoha or not, there are always people around you who'll support you. But you're not a child anymore. It's time to make a choice."
"You're not going to stop me?" Sasuke looked at Hatake Yusuke.
"No. Naruto will stop you. I don't need to get involved," Yusuke replied casually.
"Hmph. I get it." Sasuke stood up. "I'll go back to Konoha. If this drags on, that idiot will just give me a headache."
A faint smile appeared at the corner of his lips, as if the heavy weight on his shoulders had suddenly been lifted.
Sasuke turned and slowly walked toward where Naruto was.
Yusuke stood up, watching Sasuke's back as it grew more distant. The chakra gathered in his hand quietly dispersed.
He lay back down on the ground, staring up at the night sky filled with countless stars.
Not long after, another figure appeared.
"Nii-san, you really are taking it easy. Over there, Sister-in-law is completely swamped," Kakashi said as he stepped out from the shadows.
"What can I do? I've never been good at dealing with that kind of stuff," Yusuke replied indifferently.
The two brothers lay down together, gazing up at the star-filled sky.
It had been a long time since they'd lain like this side by side.
After making sure there was no more movement nearby, Yusuke stood up and vanished from Kakashi's side.
"Sasuke… it looks like you really did make the right choice," Kakashi murmured, a flicker of relief shining in his eyes.
He had actually been keeping an eye on Sasuke the whole time.
When he saw Sasuke come to this place, he followed, planning to comfort his student. What he didn't expect was that his older brother was already here.
Based on his understanding of Hatake Yusuke, if Sasuke had given the wrong answer, Yusuke would've killed him on the spot.
Thankfully, Sasuke's choice satisfied him.
This was why Hatake Yusuke had come to talk to Sasuke in the first place.
Pity?
Not really.
In Yusuke's eyes, Sasuke was just a stranger.
Even if he was his little brother's student, he was still a stranger.
If Sasuke had stubbornly clung to his path, Yusuke would have killed him without hesitation.
But since Sasuke had let go of that intent, Yusuke was willing to let him live.
Time passed.
Inside a house, everyone gathered together in a warm, joyful atmosphere.
"Come on, let's congratulate Kakashi-sensei on becoming the Sixth Hokage!" Naruto said, looking at Kakashi with a wide grin.
"That's right. Congratulations, Kakashi," Minato added with a gentle smile.
…
…
…
But hearing that, Kakashi's face immediately darkened.
Clearly, becoming Hokage didn't make him very happy at all.
"Kakashi, smile a little. Don't look like you're about to die," Yusuke said as he flicked Kakashi's forehead.
"That hurts, Nii-san," Kakashi complained, rolling his eyes with a tired expression.
"Kakashi, becoming Hokage is a good thing. Don't make that face," Tsunade said, chewing on her food without caring about how he looked.
"I know," Kakashi replied shortly.
That day, everyone gathered at Kakashi's house to celebrate his appointment as the Sixth Hokage.
Yusuke had even cooked a massive feast for everyone.
"By the way, Sister-in-law, there's something I need to talk to you about," Kakashi said, setting his chopsticks down.
"What now? You're Hokage already. Don't dump every little problem on me," Tsunade replied impatiently.
"Uh… well…" Kakashi hesitated.
"Just say it."
"The Fifth Mizukage… has proposed a political marriage with Konoha," Kakashi said after a moment of thought.
"Isn't that a good thing? It would strengthen the relationship between the two villages," Minato said.
"Right. Something this trivial, why are you even asking me?" Tsunade added.
"The problem is… she personally proposed it. And the person she asked for as her partner is…"
Kakashi turned his head toward Yusuke, who was calmly enjoying his dessert.
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