That night—
An'yin Village did not sleep.
First Movement — Trial by Fire
Deep in the rear mountain training ground—
The earth was torn and cratered.
Dust.
Blood.
Fatigue.
Xue lay on the ground—
covered in dirt and wounds, barely able to move.
Madara looked down at her.
After a brief silence, he rolled his shoulder slightly.
"That's it?"
"…No."
"I can still fight."
She clenched her teeth—
forced herself up.
Her eyes snapped open.
"Buzz—!"
The Sharingan spun back to life.
Cold. Sharp.
Madara smiled faintly.
"Good."
"Remember this feeling."
"Every time you think you've reached your limit—"
"that is the moment you break it."
Boruto… has the Karma.
And Wind… has awakened Mangekyō Sharingan.
Both will grow like monsters.
But I won't lose.
Because I am Father's daughter.
"Boom—!"
Blue chakra erupted from Xue's body.
Her long hair lifted wildly.
Hands formed seals.
Chakra peaked—
"BOOM!"
A Wood Dragon burst from the ground—
roaring toward Madara!
"Excellent."
"You've mastered Hashirama's technique."
Madara's tone shifted—
fierce.
"But as my disciple—"
"I demand more."
"Go beyond it."
"BOOM!"
A half-body Susanoo ignited around him—
muscle-bound, violent.
Twin swords crossed—
blocking the dragon.
"Next lesson."
"Control the dragon—"
"and CRUSH my Susanoo."
"While I'm attacking you."
"CLANG!!"
Two additional arms erupted from Susanoo—
blades flashing downward!
Xue grit her teeth—
barely dodging.
Shrapnel tore her cheek—
blood splattered.
But she didn't stop.
"AAAAAH!!"
She drove the Wood Dragon forward—
clashing head-on with Susanoo!
The mountain roared.
Second Movement — A Quiet Conversation
Outside the training field—
Sarada gripped the wire fence.
Her eyes trembled.
"…This is her training?"
Same age.
Different worlds.
Everything I thought was "hard work"…
is nothing.
"No wonder even Boruto…"
"I… how could I even compare…"
"Instead of standing here feeling sorry for yourself—"
"why not do something useful?"
She turned—
startled.
Obito stood behind her.
"When did you—!?"
He stepped forward calmly.
"I've been watching you."
"Since you arrived."
"…Monitoring me?"
He chuckled.
"Think carefully before saying that."
She paused.
Then shook her head with a bitter smile.
"…Right."
"I'm not worth monitoring."
"Just a runaway genin."
"Then why follow me?"
Obito stood beside her—
watching the battlefield.
"I'm an Uchiha."
"I can't ignore a lost junior."
Sarada blinked.
"…You're Uchiha too?"
"Yes."
"Though I'm already dead."
"Like Madara."
That honesty—
lowered her guard.
"I always thought…"
"Our clan was just me… and my parents…"
"But here…"
"Everyone is stronger than me."
"Adults… stronger than my dad."
"Even kids…"
Her gaze dimmed.
"I don't know whether to feel happy… or miserable."
Obito glanced sideways.
"You noticed they're stronger than Sasuke."
"…Not bad."
Sarada frowned.
"You know my dad?"
"…Old acquaintance."
"You should know me too."
"…Your name?"
"…Uchiha Obito."
Silence.
"…I don't recognize it."
"…Seriously?"
She scratched her cheek awkwardly.
"I… don't really study history…"
"I only know Fugaku, Itachi, and Shisui…"
Obito's mouth twitched.
…I understand Hashirama now.
He sighed internally.
"…Anyway."
"You're troubled."
"I know why."
Sarada narrowed her eyes.
"You don't."
"I do."
He said calmly:
"Love."
"…!?"
She froze.
Obito looked at the stars.
"I've felt it too."
"That urge to give everything for someone."
"And I know…"
"How far that can go."
"…Because I've lived it."
Sarada stared—
drawn in.
"…You… had someone you loved?"
"…Yes."
"She's watching from the sky."
"…!"
Her curiosity turned to guilt.
"I… I'm sorry…"
"It's fine."
His gaze softened.
"…Do you want to hear about her?"
Sarada hesitated—
then nodded.
"…I do."
The battlefield roared in the background—
but it no longer mattered.
"Let's go somewhere quieter."
"I'll tell you slowly."
They walked away—
under the stars.
Third Movement — The Night's Final Note
Elsewhere—
in the quiet of home—
breath intertwined.
heat rising.
hearts accelerating.
"Akira…"
"I'm close…"
"…Me too."
"…Ah…!!"
The night—
played its final movement.
And An'yin—
remained awake.
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