[In the center of the valley, Sasuke stood on a raised rock, his back to the camp.]
[A Giant Eagle stood beside him, preening its feathers with its beak. The setting sun stretched his shadow long, casting it across the devastated earth.]
["Mr. Sasuke."]
[Sasuke did not turn around. Sai walked up beneath the rock, looking up to report:]
["The cultists have been largely cleared out. We confirmed one hundred and twenty-seven kills, and seized forty-three pieces of Scientific Ninja Tools, along with several classified historical documents."]
[He paused, his voice steady yet carrying a hint of a barely perceptible fluctuation. "However, we also found some of their dependents in the base."]
["In the east and west caves, as well as the southern barracks, there are a total of seventy-two women and children, including sixteen infants."]
[Sasuke finally turned around. The setting sun was behind him, plunging his face into shadow. Only that purple Rinnegan cast a chilling light in the dimness.]
["Do I need to repeat myself?" His voice had no inflection at all. "Leave none alive."]
["But..." Sai rarely failed to obey immediately. He raised his head, looking straight into Sasuke's eyes. "Lord Hokage has always emphasized that war should not target civilians, especially children..."]
[He said the words "Lord Hokage" with heavy emphasis.]
[Sasuke's gaze shifted slightly. He stared at Sai, remaining silent for a few seconds.]
["The reason the Jashinist Cult is so hard to wipe out," Sasuke slowly began, every word piercing the air like an ice pick, "is because of people like you."]
["Every time you carry out a sweep, you leave behind a bunch of 'innocents'. Then a few years later, those 'innocents' grow up, come back with hatred, become new cultists, and create new tragedies."]
[He stepped forward, leaped down from the