The Uchiha Flame Formation dispersed, and the black flames covering the ground went out.
Karin gazed at the land of her former homeland, a wistful look on her face.
As one of the few survivors of the Uzumaki Clan, all this land held for her were painful memories.
Though she had been very young then, her earliest memories still included the terrible sight of her clansmen scattering in flight on the day their nation fell. Shi vaguely remembered it.
Sensing what weighed on Karin's mind, Sasuke came to her side and said, "Karin, let's go back."
"Mm." Karin nodded meekly.
The Two Great Sage Toads on Jiraiya's shoulders had already returned to Mount Myōboku. Though he already had an answer in his heart, he still decided to go with Orochimaru—not only to uncover the truth, but also to confirm where Great Serpent Orochimaru... truly stood now.
Kabuto Yakushi whispered to Sasuke, "Naruto is in a Valley five kilometers away."
Sasuke asked, "Alone?"
Kabuto Yakushi said, "Yamato is with him."
Sasuke said, "Understood."
Kabuto Yakushi asked, "Aren't you going to see him?"
With his back turned, Sasuke said somberly, "It's not time for us to meet yet."
"..." Kabuto Yakushi adjusted his glasses, looking thoughtful, and asked no more.
Whoosh!
With the vortex of Blade Reversal, everyone returned to Blue Moon Island.
Jiraiya gazed at the azure moonlight overhead.
"So you've been hiding in a secluded place like this, using Space-Time Ninjutsu to come and go. No wonder I couldn't find any trace of you, even after asking around everywhere for the past six months."
Kabuto Yakushi said, "Lord Orochimaru, I'd like to return to the Land of Whirlpools and bring back the documents stored there."
Orochimaru said, "I already know the Uzumaki Clan's documents by heart. There's no need."
Kabuto