The aftershocks of the devastating explosion finally subsided, leaving nothing but ruin. The valley was gone, replaced by a vast, charred crater trailing wisps of black smoke, like an ugly scar upon the earth that would never heal. The air reeked of smoke, scorched debris, and a faint trace of blood. Deathly silence was all that remained.
A moment later, a faint rustling came from a heap of shattered stone.
Sasuke Uchiha struggled to push aside the rocks pinning him down and staggered to his feet. His black clothes were even more tattered now, stained with blood. His Sharingan throbbed from overuse and the earlier assault on his will, but he forced himself to endure it, sweeping the ruins with a cold gaze.
Naruto, Killer B, and Gaara lay unconscious in the distance, their breathing faint. They had clearly suffered grievous injuries in the final impact. Zetsu had slipped underground at some point and vanished without a trace.
His gaze finally settled on the figure lying motionless at the edge of the crater-Ling.
A complicated flicker passed through Sasuke's eyes. In Annihilation Valley, Ling's faint thread of Senjutsu intent had pulled him back from the brink of total surrender, restoring a sliver of clarity. And just now, Tobirama Senju, the man he had once despised, had blocked a killing blow at the cost of his own complete annihilation. To Sasuke, this feeling of being "protected" was unfamiliar and... painfully glaring.
He walked slowly toward Ling, the Kusanagi Sword slipping silently into his hand. Ling was barely breathing, utterly defenseless. Should I eliminate this potential threat once and for all, or...
As murderous intent tangled with an emotion he could not name, an indifferent voice sounded behind him.
"It seems you're still hesitating, Sasuke."
Sasuke spun around, holding the Kusanagi Sword