Naruto listened quietly until Sasuke finished, offering no immediate rebuttal. The setting sun cast shifting bands of light and shadow across his face.
A few seconds passed before he spoke calmly. His voice was low, but his words struck Sasuke like a hammer.
"If we do that, Sasuke, how are we any different from Obito Uchiha, or from the people who started wars and caused countless tragedies in the name of 'creating a peaceful world'?"
"Wouldn't we be waging war and conquering others in the name of 'protection'?"
Sasuke stiffened. The rest of his words caught in his throat.
He opened his mouth to argue, only to find himself speechless.
Hadn't Obito Uchiha's Eye of the Moon Plan been built on the same logic? He would use overwhelming force to impose his own definition of "peace."
And Sasuke himself had once walked a similar path.
Seeing the conflict in his closest friend's eyes—and the reluctance to accept his argument—Naruto sighed softly and looked back toward the deepening dusk outside.
"Hinata told me something in private after she came back." Naruto lowered his voice. "At the restaurant in Bali, Samui wrote a character on Hinata's palm while they shook hands."
Sasuke's attention sharpened. "What character?"
"'Danger,'" Naruto said slowly. "Then Samui gave her a slight shake of the head, signaling her not to say anything."
Sasuke's pupils contracted. "Samui is the Raikage's wife. She was warning Hinata? About a meeting arranged by an advisor from her own village?"
"I think I understand now." Naruto gave a weary, rueful smile. "I'm afraid it wasn't Darui who wanted Hinata dead. It might not even have been Kumogakure as a whole."
"Kumogakure itself may have been infiltrated by something—or even taken over."
He drew a deep breath and spoke the name that sent a