May You Sleep Peacefully From Now On

To Uchiha Kuro:

By the time you read this letter, I'll probably be dead by now.

Although I had been preparing for this day for a long time, as I approached my end, I was indeed a little nervous.

Of course, I would never say something so lame to your face, because you would definitely laugh at me if you heard it!

... Although you're probably laughing right now.

Ahem, enough with the sentimentalities, let's get down to business.

You probably already know that I resurrected everyone, including the Second Hokage and the Uchiha members who were resurrected by Orochimaru using the Impure World Reincarnation.

Knowing me as you do, you can probably guess my intention.

Although you did defeat me and Madara, and won this war that will determine the future of the Ninja World, the calamities facing the Ninja World are far from over.

Over the years, Madara and I have been secretly investigating the lost history of the Ninja World.

Besides discovering the existence of Black Zetsu, we also made some unexpected gains.

... For example, information about Otsutsuki Kaguya and the Otsutsuki Clan.

Based on our speculation, the White Zetsu army created using the power of the God Tree was probably a preparation made in advance by Otsutsuki Kaguya to guard against the arrival of the Otsutsuki Clan at any time.

After confirming this information, we also prepared some preventative measures.

Madara's idea was to completely integrate himself into the consciousness of the Ninja World, then make the most efficient use of the Natural Energy and Chakra of the entire Ninja World, instantly shatter them head-on when they descended upon the Ninja World, and absorb them as nourishment to strengthen the Ninja World plane.

However, he has already failed, so this plan is no longer of any reference value.

Just take a look; if it sparks your inspiration, then it's a good way to make use of waste.

Let me focus on my preparations!

(Prisoner Madara: I'll fuck you!!)

High Heaven Palace, Kō held the long letter in his hand, his gaze fixed on the vividly written words, and the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

"Even in the letter, you couldn't resist taking a Prisoner Madara. Typical of you, Kenji."

"Having a teammate like you is really stressful for him..."

Kou sat upright in the chair, inwardly complaining as he continued to look behind him, his pupils suddenly narrowing.

With your intelligence network, you probably know a little bit about the preparations I've made.

The Tenseigan was created by the descendants of Hagoromo Otsutsuki brother of the Sage of Six Paths, who left it on the moon, using a large number of Byakugan!

I won't go into detail about how I obtained information about this eye.

There's only one thing you need to know:

The teleportation device left behind by Hamura Otsutsuki is currently in my Kamui Dimension, guarded by Kisame.

Regarding the method of activation, I have secretly ordered Hiruko complete the research over the years and conveyed it to Kisame.

Once you absorb the power from my eyes and travel to the Kamui Dimension, he will naturally tell you all of this.

The reason I didn't tell you these things openly, but instead wrote such important information in this letter, is for another reason.

Although it's just speculation, I have a feeling that there's someone lurking in the darkness of the Ninja World, constantly watching us... who might not just be Black Zetsu!

I made this judgment because even after I regained my sight, I could still feel that occasional, subtle gaze.

However, no matter how hard I tried to find out, I ultimately gained nothing.

Although it's still just speculation, the guy in the shadows... is very likely not a weakling like Black Zetsu, but rather someone with extremely terrifying strength.

You must be very careful about this.

Those Uchiha who awakened the Mangekyo, as well as the Kage of past generations, may have limited strength, but their Dōjutsu and Ninjutsu might still be useful to you, which is why I chose to revive them.

If they follow your orders, that's best; but if they don't... just kill them.

But those two brats from the Kaneki Clan, if possible, I hope you can spare their lives and make sure their families are settled.

... This can be considered my final request to you, on behalf of the few remaining people who still believe in me.

I believe in you, knock.

If it were you, no matter what difficulties lay ahead, you would definitely be able to overcome them.

After all, you've always been... someone who can create miracles.

This is the last thing I wanted to convey to you.

I'm not sure if you already knew about these things, but they should still be of some use.

May you build the world you long for, and in a peaceful night's sleep... greet tomorrow with a smile.

Your friend Uchiha Obito

Kou's gaze lingered on the last line of text for a long time. He clutched the letter, his fingers tightening slightly, leaving several fine creases on the paper.

He remained silent for a long time, long enough that the morning light inside the hall shifted an inch from the threshold.

After a long while, Kou seemed to suppress the shock and emotions in his heart, and shifted his gaze from the letter he was clutching tightly in his hand to the small note tucked behind it.

The note looked quite old, with yellowed edges, but it was well-preserved without any missing corners, which clearly showed that the person who kept it cherished it greatly.

Kou was not unfamiliar with this note.

That was a year ago, before I had even graduated from the Ninja Academy, a yearning for the future that I shared with Obito and Rin...

He remembered that afternoon, under the old tree beside the Training Ground, Obito held the small box and excitedly told them something.

For some unknown reason, Kou never opened the box from the past, and naturally never discovered that his own expectation had never actually been buried under the old tree beside the Training Ground...

Obito left it behind and carried it with him.

Now, this childhood vision for the future, spanning more than a decade, has returned to his hands.

"So, it's been with you all along."

As I read the contents of the note, a mix of emotions welled up inside me.

He recognized the handwriting; it belonged to him more than a decade ago, to a time when he was still in the Ninja Academy, overwhelmed by the pressure of survival and where even getting enough sleep was a luxury—his own handwriting.

"I hope that in the future, I can survive in this trashy Ninja World and protect everyone around me."

Then... get a good night's sleep.

He muttered the brief words on the note to himself, as memories of the past uncontrollably swirled in his mind.

He felt as if he had returned to the distant Ninja Academy, and saw Obito holding that box under the big tree in the afternoon, giving him and Rin a smile as warm as the sun.

That smile lingered in Kou's memory for a long time, so long that he thought it was just an unreal image beautified by time.

But when he looked at the neat handwriting on the note in his hand, that smile suddenly became incredibly clear.

Gradually, the scene of parting with Obito uncontrollably surfaced in my mind...

On the Kage Rock, in the morning light, Obito, no longer young, bore a somewhat relieved smile.

Compared to his childhood self, Obito has clearly undergone a tremendous change, both in appearance and in other aspects.

The only thing that remains unchanged is what is contained in those eyes.

A deep longing for myself and for the future...

"Tick-tock."

A tear fell onto the note, spreading the ink to a small patch.

"Master?"

Karin stared wide-eyed at Koko's eye sockets in surprise, as if she had seen something she had never seen before in him.

Her lips were slightly parted, as if she wanted to say something, but didn't know whether she should.

Hearing Karin's call, Koko gradually came back to his senses.

He looked at the teardrops that had soaked the note, quickly wiped his eyes, and forced a smile at the two people in front of him:

"I'm fine, you don't need to worry."

I'm just a little too tired... I just want to take a nap.

Mei Terumi looked at Kō, who was spouting nonsense again, and sighed silently in her heart.

She was about to say something comforting when her gaze lingered for a moment on the damp note.

Mei Terumi, as if noticing something, gently placed her hand on Kō's clenched hand and softly reminded him:

"Knock, there seems to be something else behind the note?"