As dawn breaks, the streets of Konoha gradually awaken.
Smoke rose from the breakfast stalls, ninjas made their way to the mission meeting place in twos and threes, and children ran towards the Ninja Academy laughing and playing. The commotion of last night seemed to have never happened, and the shocking images projected on the Heavenly Screen seemed to be just something to talk about over tea.
"A bowl of miso ramen!"
How should today's D-level tasks be assigned?
"I heard the Chunin Ninja Exams are going to be reformed?"
Ordinary conversations intertwined in the morning light, unaware that just last night, the darkest roots of Konoha had been completely severed.
The desk in front of Tsunade was piled high with scrolls seized from the Root's base, each bearing a scarlet "Top Secret" seal.
"Sure enough..." She opened a yellowed document, her pupils contracting sharply. "Even the deployment map for the Night of the Nine-Tails showed signs of tampering."
Shizune handed over a cup of hot tea. "The Interrogation Department just sent over a preliminary report; all the Root members except those still in training have been marked with the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal.'"
"Ha, Danzo doesn't even trust his own people." Tsunade gathered Chakra between her Tsunade and lightly touched a name— Aburame Torune's file suddenly revealed a hidden passage. "I see... He even planted spies in his ally, Sunagakure."
She heard children's laughter outside the window, and when she looked up, she saw Konohamaru, who had overslept, rushing towards the school.
(You brat...)
The pen suddenly left a long ink mark on the document. She discovered a top-secret record about the "Uchiha Clan Massacre Shimura Danzō Massacre," and next to Shimura Danzo's seal at the end... there was a faint trace of the Third's fingerprint.
Ibiki Morino's scars appeared even more gruesome in the dim light as he slowly arranged the torture instruments.
"The 19th person to be interrogated." He opened Aburame Torune's file, "His entire body is covered in Nano-Sized Venomous Insects; a vacuum barrier should be used."
From next door came the screams of Yamanaka Fū, as the ninjas of the Mental Interrogation Squad searched his mind for information. What was chilling was that the tough guy's screams were mixed with laughter—his pain receptors had long been modified by Danzo.
"Interesting." Ibiki lit a cigarette. "Bring me serum number 23. I need to test his insects' reaction to the neurotoxin."
Deep within the dungeon, a young Root member suddenly grabbed the iron bars. "I... I'm willing to confess! Danzo... he still has... in the Land of Rain..."
Before he could finish speaking, the Cursed Seal under his tongue suddenly glowed.
"Step back!" Ibiki shoved his men aside, and the prisoner's head exploded like a watermelon, splattering red and white matter onto the plaque bearing the words "Rooted Nature."
On the top floor of Konoha Hospital, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, happened to be there for their physical exams. The two advisors gazed out at the bustling street, their voices barely audible, like whispers:
"Tsunade is too radical."
"Without a root of checks and balances, the Anbu will inevitably spiral out of control sooner or later."
Unbeknownst to them, a Kikaichū was lurking inside the vase. As the two elders left, the Shibi Aburame emerged from behind a pillar and silently retrieved the insect.
The people of the Shinobi World were still busy preparing for the start of their day.
"Whoosh--!"
The Heavenly Screen lit up again without warning!
A blinding light instantly enveloped the entire Shinobi World, and everyone involuntarily looked up.
"What happened?!"
"The Heavenly Screen... has started again?!"
The once noisy street fell silent instantly; the ninjas stopped in their tracks, and the vendors' shouts ceased abruptly.
"Hey, no preview this time?" Shikamaru tilted his head back, squinting. "This is so annoying..."
However, as the image in the Heavenly Screen gradually became clearer—
In the Heavenly Screen, the morning light pierced through the thin mist of the Valley of the End, sprinkling onto the ravaged land.
Naruto slowly opened his eyes, his azure pupils reflecting the dawn sky. He blinked, his voice hoarse:
"Where am I...? Have we really arrived at the Pure Land this time?"
A soft chuckle came from beside him. Sasuke lay on his back among the rubble, his black hair glistening with morning dew. "Looks like we slept until dawn." He turned his head, a rare smile playing on his lips. "So we didn't die after all."
"Damn it..." Naruto tried to sit up, but the pain made him fall back down. "My body still won't obey me..." He glared at Sasuke resentfully. "I still want to beat you up. This time, I'm going to beat you awake!"
Sasuke suddenly burst out laughing.
"What are you laughing at, you jerk!"
"Even now..." Sasuke gazed at the early birds circling in the sky, "Do you still want to fight?"
"Of course!" Naruto exclaimed excitedly, his wound bleeding again. "No matter how many times!!"
Sasuke was silent for a moment, then said softly, "I admit it... I lost."
"Idiot!" Naruto suddenly roared, startling a flock of birds nearby. "There's no winner or loser in this battle! My buddy's not thinking straight, and I just wanted to beat him awake!" His golden eyelashes trembled in the sunlight. "The match I want... is yet to come!"
Sasuke gazed at him silently, a ripple seeming to spread across the depths of his dark eyes. "Hey, Naruto... I acknowledge you."
"If I die here, the long karmic entanglement that the Sage of Six Paths spoke of will finally come to an end... It could be considered a revolution."
"The way to break the Infinite Tsukuyomi..." Sasuke continued, "Is to transplant it to Kakashi after I die."
"Don't think you can settle this with death!" Naruto abruptly turned his head, staring intently at Sasuke's face. "Rather than die, live and help me! What I want is for all ninjas to work together—" He paused, "And that includes you!"
Sasuke his face away. "Even if you agree... others might not."
"Alright!" Naruto threatened, baring his teeth. "Try arguing and saying another word, or I'll beat you up again!"
"I might even oppose you," Sasuke said calmly.
"Then I'll stop you again!" Naruto's eyes widened. "But... you won't do it again."
Sasuke was stunned. "What makes you so sure?"
"Don't make me repeat myself so many times, you idiot!" Naruto suddenly noticed that Sasuke's eyes were a little red, and his voice softened immediately, "How can you still not understand... Well, you're actually much dumber than I thought."
A morning breeze swept by, and the two fell silent. The view of the Heavenly Screen slowly zoomed out, revealing a breathtaking scene—
Naruto's lost right arm and Sasuke's lost left arm formed a crimson bridge in the pool of blood. Their blood mingled together, like two invisible hands that, after years of destiny, finally clasped tightly together.
The rising sun cast its golden rays upon the two of them.
They gazed at the same sky, as pure as newborns, and as clear-headed as those reborn.
--This is the sunrise that belongs only to them.
This is the first morning after severing all ties.