As the Black Mist cleared and Fugaku appeared, Hitoshi could hardly believe his eyes. He glanced at Fujimoto beside him and found him grinning to himself.
"Fugaku, what happened?"
"That's how I helped you awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan. You have a knack for it—you awakened yours after just the first step. Kenichi still needs the second."
As he spoke, Fugaku took out the White Zetsu Cells and used them to mend Kenichi's wounds.
"You two take him back to Konoha. I'll probably need a little more time."
"All right."
Fujimoto hoisted Kenichi onto his back, and the three vanished into the Forest. A wisp of Black Mist drifted away. Fugaku was nowhere to be seen.
In Kumogakure's hospital, the Fourth Raikage's wounds had been treated, though losing an arm would affect his strength.
"Big Brother."
Killer B's voice rang out.
The Fourth Raikage nodded. "How's your recovery?"
"My injuries aren't too bad, but Fugaku Uchiha cut away a small part of Little Eight's body. He's weaker now." The familiar rhythm returned to his voice.
For once, the Fourth Raikage didn't find it irritating. It sounded comforting. If Killer B hadn't come to save him, he could have escaped unscathed.
The Raikage patted Killer B on the shoulder. "Thanks for what you did. If you hadn't stepped in when you did, Fugaku Uchiha might have killed me."
Killer B fell silent. He and his big brother had spent years together and were as close as brothers, but this was the first time he had thanked him so formally.
Behind his dark sunglasses, no one could see Killer B's eyes. They hid the change in his expression well.
"You're making too much of it, Big Brother. You wouldn't have lost an arm if you hadn't been trying to save me."
For once,