"Yes, I killed him. I avenged you."
Kawaki Aoba nodded, tears spilling down his face again. "Shinku, hold on. I'm taking you back to the village to see Lady Tsunade. She can heal you. Please don't give up!"
"Aoba... I... I don't think... I can hold on..."
Yuhi Shinku shook his head, his breathing growing weaker. "My Chakra... is completely gone... The wound... is too deep... I... I can see... my father..."
"No! You can't go!"
Kawaki Aoba held Yuhi Shinku tight and shook him desperately. "Shinku, don't talk. Save your strength. We're almost at the village, almost there! You promised we'd go back together, that we'd finish the mission together. You can't break your promise!"
"I'm sorry... Aoba..."
Yuhi Shinku's voice faded. His hand slowly fell, and his gaze began to lose focus. "I... I did my best... I... I love you... Aoba..."
"Shinku?! Shinku!"
Kawaki Aoba shouted Yuhi Shinku's name, but no answer came. Holding him, Aoba broke down in tears. "Shinku, wake up! Please wake up! I love you too. I've always loved you! Don't leave me alone. Please don't leave me!"
On the empty battlefield, only Kawaki Aoba's sobs remained, amid the scattered puppet fragments and blood.
The sun sank in the west. Its golden light fell across the battlefield, illuminating Kawaki Aoba's lonely figure and Yuhi Shinku, who was growing cold in his arms.
After a long while, Kawaki Aoba stopped crying. He wiped the tears from his face, his eyes hardening with resolve. Carefully lifting Yuhi Shinku, he stood and walked toward the village.
"Shinku, I'm taking you home."
Kawaki Aoba's voice was low and steady. "I'll finish the mission we couldn't complete. I'll protect our village and the people we wanted to protect.
"I'll always remember you. I'll never forget you."
He had