Battle of the Valley of the End

At the third watch of the night, the sound of the waterfall echoed under the starry sky.

The two, their long hair fluttering in the wind, appeared astonishingly calm, their gazes locked together.

Though the scene bathed in moonlight possessed a dreamlike beauty, the air vibrated with a palpable tension, a premonition of the fierce conflict about to erupt.

"Shukumo, I told you, if you get in my way, I'll kill you. I'm in a hurry... move aside."

"I won't let you pass, nor will I let you go. Even if I have to use force, I will bring you back to the village."

"...Then you are my enemy."

Shuri's eyes turned red, three tomoe appearing within them.

"Like Teacher Kagami, a three-tomoe Sharingan..."

"Kagami...? That guy is a good-for-nothing who couldn't even protect his own disciple. The thought of him being related to this makes me sick to my stomach."

Shuri spat with loathing, lifted the hem of her split kimono, and took out a scroll from the ninja pouch tied to her thigh.

The scroll, unfurled in the air, let out a puff of smoke.

Emerging from the smoke was a giant club, as tall as a person.

"It's huge."

"This is prepared to destroy Diejian's Wood Release."

Shuri's voice was cold as she displayed a practiced demonstration of wielding the club.

The sound of shattering stone.

Cracks appeared on the head of the Hashirama statue.

The demonstration ended, and Shuri slammed the club down at her feet.

She spread her legs wide, lowering her body as if to prostrate herself.

But Shuri's body, save for the soles of her feet, did not touch the ground.

Her legs, supporting Shuri in an unstable posture, displayed the beauty of whip-like, supple muscle lines.

Shukumo snapped back to attention.

The dance seen under the moonlight was truly too beautiful.

"Yeah..."

Shuri, slowly standing up, kept her head bowed, looking downwards.

She seemed to be gazing at the flowing water, but perhaps she was looking nowhere in particular.

"Diejian is the 'only' bond I finally managed to obtain! If you want to take away my 'closest person' from me... Shukumo, even you...!!"

What drove Shuri was the fear of losing what was called "love."

If she had dwelled in those lonely days, there would have been no fear.

If she had been in that period when she constantly told herself the Senju clan was evil, there would have been nothing to fear.

The existence of something to protect, something precious, had instead made Uchiha Shuri vulnerable.

Because Diejian was there, thanks to him—this thought, in turn, became the extreme self-negation of "I can do nothing without him."

Uchiha Shuri denied her own existence.

She believed all the connections she possessed were illusory, only established because of Senju Diejian as an intermediary.

Conversely, it meant she lacked autonomy.

Attributing all reasons to Diejian, telling herself "It's mostly Diejian's fault," she moved towards self-preservation.

That's why Shuri always said: The incompetent Diejian needs me, Uchiha Shuri.

By establishing her existence in this way, Shuri had desperately protected her own being.

In other words, "Uchiha Shuri relied on Senju Diejian for all her interpersonal relationships."

It was an illusion that would crumble the moment Diejian disappeared, and now, that moment had arrived.

"Shuri, I cannot let you go. For my feelings, and... for your own sake."

Shukumo lowered his gaze in sorrow, embracing the fervent thoughts churning in his heart.

When he raised his head again, his eyes flickered with the Will of Fire, a heart that cared for his comrades.

That light displeased Shuri greatly.

Those eyes that seemed to see through everything.

Shuri did not perceive what lay hidden in their depths.

She couldn't see through it, even with the strongest dōjutsu, the Sharingan, because her eyes were blinded.

In Shuri's vision, only a deep darkness was clearly reflected.

"For my sake!? What do you know about me! Only Diejian! Only Diejian!! Only Diejian is the one and only one who found me...!!"

Shuri raised her head, her expression terrifying, as if consumed by rage.

But to Sakumo--

"Hey, Sakumo. Please, let me go... let me see Diejian..."

--it sounded only like the wails of a girl on the verge of tears.

Like a lost child.

A pitiable girl who knew neither the path forward nor her destination.

Knowing only darkness lay ahead, yet unable to stop moving forward.

Sakumo understood clearly.

Juri was, at this moment, in the midst of darkness--

"Juri, I... I don't want to just watch you desperately pull on that spider silk from the heavens."

With Diejian gone, the only one who could stop Juri was Hatake Sakumo, who had spent years by her side. No one else.

Kagami Uchiha was too close.

Yamanaka Ina was too far.

This was Sakumo's pride, as a friend, as a comrade, and then as a man.

If left unchecked, Juri would find Kinkaku and Ginkaku and try to kill them.

But no matter how much the Sharingan grew, her enemies were beings who could rival the "Kage."

Juri stood no chance.

Even so, Juri would fight, and then she would die.

She must not repeat the mistake of their friend from childhood, who recklessly challenged Kakuzu and was killed.

Absolutely not.

Since that day, Sakumo had relentlessly pursued strength.

The ninja way he resolved to uphold was--to risk his life to protect his cherished friends.

Sakumo slowly untied the bandage on his forehead.

His silver hair was freed from its bonds, flowing in the wind.

Sakumo quietly drew his short sword from its sheath at his waist, holding it reversed before him.

Electricity coiled around his body, crackling and emitting a ringing white light that tore through the darkness.

"You're not drawing your sword, Sakumo? For someone like me, this is enough? Don't underestimate me...!!"

"Are you angry? I am too. Actually, there's something that's made me quite furious."

"You... you say you're furious?"

The anger, so clearly pointed out, flustered Juri somewhat.

"That's right. I'm not usually the type to get angry easily, but this one thing has really ticked me off."

"Don't joke, Sakumo. That... it's the same for me."

"Yeah, so--it seems we have no choice but to fight. Let's give it our all, clash with each other. Let's have a big argument."

"An ar-argument... Don't joke, Sakumo. You're as much of a nuisance as Kagami!!"

"So, does that mean you feel as close to me as you do to Teacher Kagami?"

"Sh-shut up!... Fine, Sakumo. I'm going to beat your mouth to a pulp so you can never speak again!!"

Juri's body became enveloped in azure flames.

In Sakumo's senses, he detected a tremendous pressure.

The fiercely burning flames, the explosively generated chakra, were unnervingly stable.

Sakumo marveled inwardly at Juri's technique, simultaneously performing nature and shape transformation.

He revised his assessment, thinking it would likely take more effort than he'd anticipated.

However, he would not draw his sword.

This was an argument.

A desperate argument to teach a stubborn friend a lesson with a punch.

"After I punch you, there's something I need you to correct."

He smiled gently, but his expression tensed.

Failure here would directly impact the future of Team Six.

And Juri's life.

These were not things Sakumo should bear.

But he believed that, simply as a friend, as a comrade, it was permissible to correct Juri's sorrowful perception.

The battle between white light and azure flames was as beautiful as a drama.

Unlike Diejian, who relied on the scale of chakra and techniques to formulate tactics, both of them focused on efficiently using less chakra to hone a killing blow.

Compared to Diejian, who was Tobirama's disciple, their fighting styles were more akin to Tobirama's.

Sakumo suddenly crouched, and the spot where his face had been was grazed by a club that tore through the air.

If it had hit directly, his head would likely have been sent flying like a shuttlecock, but Sakumo dodged it without even twitching an eyebrow.

Maintaining a low posture, Sakumo intended to strike Juri with the scabbard of his short sword, but sensing Juri's knee kick, he was forced to switch to defense.

He blocked the surprise attack by crossing his arms momentarily, but Juri's leg strength was unimaginably powerful, and Sakumo was blown away, tumbling through the air even with his defensive stance.

Sakumo groaned in pain, arching backward to mitigate the impact.

However—

"Is it the Body Flicker Technique!!"

"Too slow! Fly away for me!!"

Juri, using the Body Flicker Technique, caught up to the airborne Sakumo and smashed the club towards his exposed abdomen as he arched backward.

Sakumo instantly shielded his abdomen with his arms, but he couldn't completely negate the momentum and was sent flying away even faster.

Sakumo, skidding across the water's surface like a skipping stone, saw the scenery blur past at an astonishing speed.

His defensive arms were numb.

What monstrous strength, Sakumo cursed inwardly.

"Waterfall...!!"

Skidding across the water like a skipping stone, Sakumo finally broke through the river's surface and flew into the sky above the Valley of the End.

Changing direction in mid-air and adjusting his posture for landing, a cyan figure blocked the moonlight above Sakumo.

"Juri—!"

"Disappear, Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!!"

Juri, forming hand seals at an astonishing speed, spat out a massive fireball that crashed down upon Sakumo.

Sakumo was helplessly engulfed by the fire jutsu and plummeted towards the waterfall pool like a dragonfly with its wings clipped.

Watching Sakumo disappear, Juri landed on the water's surface and looked back expressionlessly at the statue of Senju Hashirama.

"Idiot... What?"

Suddenly, the water surface beneath Juri's feet began to bubble.

"These aren't waterfall bubbles!"

Juri immediately leaped from her spot and used her club to deflect a kunai that was rapidly approaching her.

From behind Juri, who was running across the water's surface at incredible speed, a water dragon lunged with its gaping maw.

"Water Dragon Jutsu... Is that Sakumo's technique! Hmph, too naive!!"

Juri ran and turned, sweeping her flame-wreathed club across the water dragon's face.

Though supposedly at a disadvantage in terms of elemental affinity, Juri's exceptional strength allowed her to overcome it.

"Did you think such a surprise attack would work on an Uchiha, you shallow fool... What?!"

The next second, Juri's ankle was grabbed by a hand emerging from the water, dragging her beneath the surface.

Startled by the sudden turn of events, she sputtered underwater, losing air and growing anxious.

She glared at her feet, where Sakumo's face, wearing a hateful grin, was visible.

With veins bulging on her temples, Juri deliberately dove deeper into the water.

Unable to use ninja tools properly underwater, their battle devolved into unarmed combat.

He parried punches, blocked kicks, deflected elbows, and countered knee strikes.

The exchange of blows continued relentlessly, neither giving quarter.

Juri's strike aimed at his face was deflected upwards by Sakumo's whip-like, agile wrist.

Using the momentum, Sakumo struck towards Juri's abdomen with the heel of his palm, but Juri bent her deflected arm and smashed her elbow down towards Sakumo's head.

Abdomen and head.

Both had taken critical hits, expelling a significant amount of air.

Unable to remain submerged, Juri rushed towards the surface, at a disadvantage due to the initial loss of air.

Struggling to breathe, Juri couldn't help but cover her mouth.

The next second, an astonishing water pressure assaulted Juri, accompanied by pain and impact like a heavy blow to the body, blasting her out of the water.

Water and air violently rushed into her nose and mouth, her internal air stolen, but immediately after, Juri was thrown into the air.

"Ha, ha, ha—"

Pressed against the exposed rock face, Juri's shoulders heaved violently as she desperately tried to draw in the long-lost oxygen.

The numbness from the impact still lingered on his back, adding to the pain.

"Where is that guy!?"

Juri immediately gathered her chakra, wrapping flames around her fists, and scanned her surroundings with her sharp, crimson eyes.

"Damn it... chakra..."

Sakumo, slowly emerging from the water, propped himself up on his elbows as if he were on land.

He lay on the water's surface, urging his trembling body, and with great effort, pushed himself up to a kneeling position.

Sakumo also convulsed, his shoulders rising and falling, but it wasn't solely due to difficulty breathing.

"Guh, the wound..."

Kneeling, Sakumo swayed, losing his balance.

He supported himself with one hand, while the other pressed against his temple.

A warm sensation—it wasn't water heated by body temperature.

Sakumo's silver hair was stained crimson.

Hatake Sakumo wasn't just recovering from illness; his wounds had never fully healed.

The wound that had been pierced directly reopened, causing sharp pain.

"An opportunity...? Goodbye, Saku—"

"Earth Style: Tracking Fang Jutsu!"

"Gah... What?!"

Juri, pressed against the rock face, pulled a kunai from her pouch.

She didn't intend to kill.

Just to cripple one of his legs—.

As soon as she thought this, Juri was hit by a heavy impact from behind.

Her feet, pressed against the rock, lost their grip, and the unsupported Juri was sent flying towards the water.

What happened—Juri's rolling eyes landed on a dog.

"Saved... Pakkun."

"Look at you, pushed this far. That girl, she's worthy of the Uchiha."

The talking dog, a ninja hound—Pakkun, looked with admiration towards the woman he had sent flying.

Sakumo thanked Pakkun, who had run to his side, and slowly stood up.

If you ask when he summoned him, it was from the very beginning.

This ninja hound, obtained from a certain young girl and bound by a summoning contract, had been kept by Sakumo as a normal dog, lurking in the shadows of the grass, prepared as a trump card for emergencies.

"—Sakumo, to your right!"

"Damn it!?"

A sudden projectile of flame struck Sakumo, sending him flying.

Although he jumped aside just before the direct hit, he couldn't completely evade it.

Assaulted by the heatwave and spray, Sakumo's vision was momentarily lost as water entered his eyes—and then his back.

He was too slow to react to the club sweeping in a straight line towards his back.

"—Pakkun!"

The ninja hound shielded its master from danger.

It pushed Sakumo aside, taking the blow of the club with its body, and disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Sakumo immediately regained his composure, turning his attention to Juri, who was attacking him.

Then—he completely saw through the next pursuit strike.

He dodged the club with a high jump, and as it brushed past him, he grabbed the club a few centimeters below his body, forcibly changing his trajectory.

"This, this isn't human movement!"

Sakumo had no time to spare for Juri, who stared with wide, astonished eyes.

He used the momentum of the swung club to perform a handstand on it.

This was an astonishing maneuver born from a body honed through countless trials.

"Damn it!?"

Sensing Sakumo's next attack, Juri instantly tried to release the club—but it was too late.

Sakumo nimbly changed direction with his fingertips—and swung his raised leg down like a whip.

Do not mistake this for a mere heel drop.

The crunch of bone overlapped with the woman's groan.

Sakumo's slashing kick, aimed at Juri's shoulder, sent her body flying.

This time it was Juri's turn to tumble through the air like a skipping stone.

Water splashed everywhere.

"Ha... ha..."

Two ragged, heavy breaths echoed through the air.

Their clothes clung tightly to their bodies, soaked through by the water.

Blood was washed away, and the cooling water dulled the sting of their bruises.

At a glance, neither seemed severely injured, yet both were gasping in agony.

"You bastard, not bad at all!"

"You've got some nerve saying that to someone who just recovered from an illness."

"Bullshit, you lowly commoner! I'll kill you, I'm going to kill you!!"

Juri bared her canines, slamming a terrifying glare into Sakumo.

Sakumo, conversely, felt a sense of kinship with the impassioned Juri.

Perhaps this was the first time she had ever vented her emotions so directly at him.

Perhaps, deep down, this was what she had always wanted... and this was still a dream of a friend that could be salvaged.

They both tightened their fists.

The Blue Flame Dancer burned fiercely.

The beast baring its sharp fangs whipped up swirling azure flames with its entire body.

White Fang was wreathed in roaring lightning.

The blade he had honed to a razor's edge remained sheathed at his waist, waiting for the moment of its true release.

"Sakumo--!!"

"Juri--!!"

A fist of white light and a fist of blue flame—the two fists crossed paths—

--Why go this far... why...

Amidst his fading consciousness, the sound of someone crying lingered in his ears.

"Oh my, you're awake? Honestly, you really overdid it."

"..."

He felt the warmth of a human body against the back of his head.

It must be a lap.

The soft sensation was comfortable, as if it were luring him back into a shallow sleep.

But the pain signals radiating from his entire body prevented it.

That's right, I had a dream.

--A record of a certain boy and girl.

The two were childhood friends who always played together.

Sometimes they fought together, sometimes they were scolded together.

The boy was suddenly killed, and the girl wept in despair.

When he miraculously revived and woke up, the girl hugged the boy tightly in joy.

At some point, the boy's presence in the girl's heart had grown immense, becoming a man she couldn't take her eyes off of.

But that guy had become head over heels for another woman in their class.

Though the girl reluctantly gave up, she kept waiting for that man.

The girl kept watching as the man grew closer to the other woman--

Who could say for certain that she never felt the anxiety of "he might be taken away"?

Who could say for certain that she never felt the loneliness of waiting?

Who could say for certain that she never had complicated feelings toward the one who might become her rival?

But even so, that girl always--

--Stop, Juri ceased her thoughts.

She inadvertently looked to her side.

Then, Juri gasped.

Wrapped tightly in bandages like a mummy, the man was sleeping peacefully right there.

Hatake Sakumo... the wound was one she herself had inflicted—

"He said not to worry about the wound," she muttered, "this guy."

"Sakumo..."

—At the moment of their final clash, Sakumo had deactivated all his ninjutsu, "receiving" Shuri's attack.

In the instant their attacks crossed, Shuri realized Sakumo had completely relaxed his power.

Was it ironic that she could see that split second only because her Sharingan had grown?

With confusion, Shuri turned towards Sakumo based on her split-second judgment, and saw—his gentle smile.

Shuri gasped.

The instantaneous release of force in his attack had turned Shuri's blow into a killing strike.

Shuri instantly wanted to stop her attack, but it was too late.

The powerful blow had already landed on Sakumo.

However, the "bond" Sakumo had shown by sacrificing himself struck Shuri's heart with immense force.

Sakumo, collapsing, leaned against Shuri—and slowly sank into the water.

The friend's body slipping from her grasp—an incomprehensible situation that shattered all her false concepts.

Mentally broken, Shuri lost consciousness, just as Sakumo had, sinking into the water.

Shuri's fist possessed the power to destroy even Diejian's Wood Release.

She should have personally experienced during the battle that taking a direct hit was dangerous.

Despite that, why had Sakumo taken Shuri's attack and stopped his own?

The answer was self-evident.

Shuri already knew the answer.

She wasn't so foolish as to fail to understand that sentiment.

"Damn it, a flash bomb!"

In that moment at the tea shop, Sakumo had truly been caught completely off guard, losing his vision and becoming defenseless.

At that time, Shuri could have incapacitated Sakumo.

If she had left him, Sakumo would certainly have pursued her.

She knew this perfectly well.

Shuri had even said, "If you get in my way, I'll kill you."

But if he had truly been in her way, Shuri should have acted then.

She could have inflicted injuries on Sakumo's defenseless body that would prevent him from pursuing, sent him back to the hospital, and left the village without any trouble.

But Shuri hadn't done so.

Sakumo had believed the meaning of that... believed that "answer."

"Waa, waa... Sakumo... I... I... I..."

So, at the moment their attacks crossed, Sakumo had deactivated all his attacks.

It was a dangerous gamble.

Shuri, consumed by profound loss, had a higher chance of actually killing Sakumo.

But if what happened at the tea shop wasn't a coincidence—

Sakumo had wanted to believe.

He had wanted to declare, "I am here."

He had wanted to confirm, even at the cost of his own life.

To confirm the feelings in his heart.

To confirm the bond they had nurtured together.

—To confirm his friendship with Uchiha Shuri.

"Ah, ah... Ahhhhhhhhhhh!!"

"Honestly, you really are a crybaby."

A single drop of water trickled down Shuri's cheek, her lips bitten tightly, trembling slightly.

Warm fingers wiped away that tear.

A soft touch brushed Shuri's cheek.

The owner of that voice, with a gentle smile that seemed genuinely troubled, appeared.

The source of that voice, that warmth, Shuri knew.

Because they had always, always been together, it was impossible to forget.

The encounter with that person... Right, it was before Uchiha Shuri met Senju Diejian--

"Ina..."

In Shuri's heart, steeped in darkness, only a single ray of light named Diejian pierced through.

"Yamanaka..."

The moment that name was called, gentle moonlight shone into Shuri's dark world.

The warm moonlight melted the ice in Shuri's heart--the tomoe pattern in Shuri's eyes disappeared.

Uchiha Shuri, understood then.

The one thing Hatake Sakumo wanted her to correct, even at the cost of his life.

Yes, I had a dream--

"But, it's quite surprising when you think about it. When that child was at the facility, she was a very gloomy child."

"Ah, you mean Shuri?"

"Yeah-? She basically ignored anyone who tried to talk to her, and when she did speak, she acted all high and mighty. She even badmouthed the popular Diejian back then."

"Don't say 'back then'."

"Oh, well, there were many difficult things."

The girl smiled gently at the boy, "It's okay to feel a little uneasy, isn't it?"

She spoke her loneliness in her heart.

--I had a dream.

"Hey, you, are you from the Uchiha clan?"

"Yes... but...?"

"My name is Yamanaka Ina. Can you tell me your name?"

Flashed-back memories.

Memories that surged along with the turbulent flow of light.

Why did I forget?

Why did I want to forget?

--Yamanaka Ina had been looking out for Uchiha Shuri "since the Ninja Academy days."

The moment she admitted this, a hazy shadow began to take shape.

Shuri knew Ina liked Diejian, so she deliberately pretended not to notice.

She had also incited things.

She had also looked down on her.

But Ina, sometimes smiling at it, sometimes getting angry, always faced Shuri.

She never thought of blaming her from behind.

Why could Ina watch over Diejian and Shuri becoming close?

Why could she keep watching?

There was only one reason for that.

"Ina..."

Click, a sound echoed in her ears.

It was the amber earrings, containing rose petals, that Diejian had once given her.

It was indeed a gift from Diejian.

But, someone else had made it with her.

That bond should never have been a mere intermediary through Diejian.

If it were merely an intermediary through Diejian, then the bond with that person could never have been as stable as it is now.

Why did I forget?

Yamanaka Ina was the first person Uchiha Shuri "actively" sought out--

"In, Ina..."

"Yes, what is it?"

"Waaah... Ina..."

A gloomy friend, gradually regaining her vitality under the influence of her boyfriend--isn't that wonderful?

It's nothing major.

Ina had been watching over Diejian and Shuri purely because--Uchiha Shuri was a friend as important as Senju Diejian.

Ina, understanding her influence over Diejian, chose not to act.

For the sake of that important, foolish, and silly girl who was attracted to the same man.

"Ina... Ina... Ina..."

"Really, it's alright now. I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."

Her voice was as gentle as ever.

The more he understood, the angrier Shuri became at his own foolishness.

But he couldn't make excuses like before.

Betraying Hatake Sakumo's friendship, betraying Yamanaka Ina's friendship—even if heaven allowed it, Uchiha Shuri would never forgive himself.

"I... na... for... sob..."

"Really, what's wrong?"

Shuri no longer looked away.

Warm water droplets flowed down his cheeks, falling one after another.

Just one word, just one word would be enough.

Shuri had to correct it.

Right here, right now, with this feeling.

People's hearts change, but their true nature does not.

The stubborn and timid girl, as time passed, would surely become unable to speak her mind again.

So now, he had to say it now.

Speak his true feelings.

But his surging emotions hindered him.

The sobs grew shorter, unable to stop the snot and gasps.

"It's okay, Shuri. Don't worry."

"Sob..."

Ina gently took Shuri's trembling hand.

The warmth from her palm gently enveloped Shuri's heart.

In an instant, the trembling stopped.

Shuri's heart, relieved and calm, naturally turned his feelings into words.

--I'm sorry.

My first, friend...

With those words, Shuri's vision blurred with tears.

"...What an idiot."

How deep were the emotions contained in those words?

Beyond Shuri's tear-blurred world—bloomed branches full of Bush Clover.

Thanks to the timely arrival of Yamanaka Ina and Uchiha Kagami's healing, Hatake Sakumo survived.

It was said that with proper rest, there would be no aftereffects.

Although Uchiha Shuri had caused continuous trouble, since the only victim was Hatake Sakumo, it did not escalate into a major problem.

Regarding his unauthorized departure from the village, thanks to Ina's clever handling, the matter was conveyed to Hiruzen and Danzo, and was secretly suppressed. Thus, this small yet significant Ninja Scroll was buried in darkness.

And then—along with the Second Hokage's remains, Senju Diejian returned.