The Valley of the End, where the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, and Madara Uchiha had once fought their final battle. Towering hundred-meter stone statues had been erected here in their honor.
Sasuke arrived here. He stood atop Hashirama Senju's stone statue, and the roaring sound of the waterfall slowly calmed his heart.
Looking at the envelope in his hand, Sasuke could not make sense of Naruto's actions. Why? He could not understand why Naruto had done this.
Sasuke tore open the envelope, eager to learn the answer. The moment he saw the contents of the letter, he could not help but complain, "What awful handwriting!"
Sasuke activated his Three-Tomoe Sharingan and carefully read the contents of the letter.
"Sasuke, I'm sorry. I wasn't mature enough before, and I never considered your feelings. I apologize!"
"In the Land of Snow, we met the princess. At the time, I found it strange that she didn't want to return to the Land of Snow, so I tried to understand things carefully and think from her position!"
"That was why, on our way back from the Land of Snow, I tried putting myself in your shoes too, Sasuke."
"Revenge... I can't imagine the hatred in your heart. But if Iruka-sensei, you, Haku, Kakashi-sensei, Pervy Sage... if everyone died in front of me, I'd definitely be sad, miserable, and hate myself!"
"And as your teammate and friend, while you were unable to grow stronger, I became Pervy Sage's disciple and got stronger. Meanwhile, you carry a blood-deep grudge. If I forcibly kept you in Konoha, I think you'd feel terrible, Sasuke. You might even hate me for the rest of your life!"
"The old me wasn't mature enough. I always took things for granted. If I stayed that way, I could never become Hokage. Sasuke,