"Are you really not going to save him? I remember that although the Third Hokage never showed you any special favor in the strictest sense, ever since you were born, he cared for you just as he cared for the children of the village. When you showed enough talent, he did not hesitate to cultivate you as Konoha's successor, nor did he hesitate to hand the village's resources over to you. Are you sure you're just going to watch him die like this?"
Beneath the black hood was an impenetrable darkness, like mist concealing the black-robed figure's face. Yet from within that darkness came a reassuring voice, slightly low but inexplicably pleasant—a woman's voice.
"How rare. You're actually taking the initiative to advise me because of something as trivial as feelings."
At that, the figure in white robes with flame patterns embroidered along the hem seemed to pause slightly. Then, seemingly with a smile, he said this.
"I just don't want to get too entangled in emotions. It's not like I've cut off all feelings and desires... Why does that sound so awkward coming from you?"
The black-robed figure said so.
Yet there was a hint of coquettish anger in her words. The reassuring feeling she gave off began to carry a soul-stirring charm.
"Sorry, sorry. But at a time like this, the Third Hokage probably wouldn't want me to rescue him."
The figure in white robes with flame patterns clearly did not wish to dwell further on the previous topic of "feelings" with the black-robed figure and replied.
"Then why have you shown yourself? Uchiha Nobuhiko has been looking for you all along. Shouldn't you be here at a time like this?"
A soft laugh seemed to come from beneath the black-robed figure's hood as she spoke.
"You mean