Mei Terumi disappeared into the woods with Ao, Chōjūrō, and the other Kirigakure Ninja, returning to Kirigakure to regroup and rest.
On a distant hillside, two figures, one large and one small, stood at its highest point. They gazed down at Kirigakure for a long, long time.
"Haku, once we leave this time, we may never come back. You still have time to choose. You don't have to come with me."
"No, Mr. Zabuza. Wherever you go... I'll go..."
As Haku looked at the village, there was not a trace of attachment or reluctance in his eyes.
"All right, then let's go."
Zabuza said nothing more. He simply turned and walked away, with Haku following close behind. Their figures vanished together into the mist.
Inside a pitch-black cave.
A boy lay on the ground, his face deathly pale, without a trace of color. His skin was even a few shades whiter than his hair.
"Ugh..."
A sudden, stabbing pain throughout his body pulled him out of unconsciousness and back to reality. The boy slowly opened his eyes, his red eyelids faintly visible.
"Wh-where is this...?"
"Could I... already be dead?"
Remembering everything that had just happened and looking at the darkness all around him, the boy could not help feeling that he was already in the Pure Land.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk... You're awake, boy." A hoarse yet gentle voice sounded beside him.
"You... who are you?"
"My name is Orochimaru. Kimimaro, you're not dead yet. I saved you."
"..."
Kimimaro gave Orochimaru an indifferent look and said coldly:
"What's the point of saving me? No one cares about me. I have nothing, and I can't change anything..."
As he spoke, Ju Ma Lü stood up and brushed the dust off himself.
Just then, he suddenly noticed a white