A New Path

Naruto sprinted up Shukaku’s massive arm, his movements a blur of white and blue against the creature’s sandy hide. The One-Tail roared, its voice a guttural tremor that sent waves of pressure through the air, rattling Naruto’s bones. Sand spikes erupted from its skin, jagged spears forming and launching toward him with deadly precision.

"Whoa—!" Naruto twisted mid-air, narrowly avoiding a spike as it shot past his face, slicing through his jacket. He landed, skidding on the rough surface of Shukaku’s shoulder, before dashing forward again.

He had to get to Gaara.

Somehow, some way, he had to break Gaara free and force him to regain control. But how? His mind raced, searching for a strategy, any strategy. He could wake Gaara from unconsciousness, sure—but could he even get that far? Shukaku's power was overwhelming, and Naruto didn’t have anything in his arsenal that could go toe-to-toe with a full-sized Tailed Beast.

Then, an idea struck him.

A stupid, reckless, desperate idea.

Kurama.

Naruto had never tried to communicate with the Nine-Tails before. He didn’t know how. He didn’t even know if he could. But dire situations called for dire decisions.

His consciousness reached inward, searching, grasping. As he ran, dodging another of Shukaku’s wild swings, something shifted within him.

A sensation like falling.

No—sinking.

The world around him changed in an instant.

Gone was the battlefield, the roaring of Shukaku, the scent of sand and blood in the air. Instead, Naruto found himself standing in knee-deep water, the dim glow of flickering torches casting long shadows across a vast, empty corridor.

And in front of him—

A monstrous cage.

Behind the massive iron bars, two gleaming eyes flickered open, a deep, malicious red burning like twin embers in the darkness. The air vibrated with a low, rumbling growl that sent a shiver down Naruto’s spine.

Kurama.

The fox’s presence was immense, suffocating. Even sealed away, his chakra pressed down on Naruto like an unbearable weight.

"So," Kurama rumbled, his voice dripping with amusement and disdain. "You finally come crawling, brat."

Naruto swallowed. His throat was dry, but he forced himself to stand tall, fists clenched.

"Shut up. I don’t have time for your crap," Naruto shot back, his voice steady despite the nervous pounding of his heart. "I need your help."

Kurama’s laughter was deep, unsettling, full of something ancient and cruel.

"You? Asking me for help?" The fox leaned forward, its fangs glinting in the dim light. "I thought you wanted nothing to do with me, boy. Wasn’t that your big, heroic stance?"

Naruto gritted his teeth. "Yeah, well, things change!"

Kurama tilted his head, watching him. The fox’s nine tails curled and uncurled behind the bars, the air rippling with restrained malice.

"Hmph. You reek of desperation."

Naruto scowled. "I don’t care. You can insult me all you want, but I need to stop that sand bastard out there, and I can’t do it alone!" He pointed a finger at the fox. "You’re supposed to be the strongest, right? Prove it!"

A deep growl filled the space, and for a moment, Naruto thought Kurama would lunge at him. But then, something shifted in the fox’s expression—curiosity, perhaps, or something more calculating.

"You want power, boy? Fine." Kurama’s lips curled into a sinister grin. "But power comes at a price."

Naruto hesitated. He knew better than to take the easy way out. A power that came without cost was a trap—he wasn’t stupid.

"I don’t care about any of that," Naruto said. "I’m not asking you to take over—I just need enough to stop Gaara before he destroys the whole damn village!"

Kurama chuckled darkly. "Then take what you can handle, runt. But don’t come crying when you drown in it."

The fox lunged forward, slamming into the bars of the cage.

The entire mindscape shook.

And then—power.

A flood of burning, searing, untamed chakra exploded from Kurama, slamming into Naruto’s body like a tidal wave. His vision blurred, his muscles locked, and for a terrifying moment, he thought he was going to be completely consumed.

Naruto’s eyes snapped open.

His body surged with raw, boiling chakra, his veins humming with power. His nails sharpened, his whisker marks darkened, and an ominous red aura flickered to life around him, pulsing like a heartbeat.

Shukaku’s claw came crashing down.

Naruto moved.

With inhuman speed, he leaped, smashing into the beast’s arm with enough force to send a tremor through its entire massive body. The One-Tail staggered, howling in frustration as Naruto tore across its form, faster, stronger, wilder.

His lips curled back into a snarl.

This time—he wasn’t running.

This time—he was going to end this.

Before Sasuke and Harry could even make their move against Temari and Kankuro, a sudden burst of chakra tore through the battlefield like a shockwave.

A sinister, dark purple energy crackled in the air, suffocating and oppressive, as the ground splintered beneath the source.

Sakura.

Her body trembled as she stepped forward, her form altered—twisted—by the fully activated Cursed Seal of Heaven. Her once soft pink hair had darkened at the roots, strands shifting into a sickly violet hue. Her skin, pale before, now took on an ashen tone, black markings creeping like veins across her exposed arms and neck, writhing like living tendrils.

But what was truly unsettling—she wasn’t conscious.

Her usually bright green eyes were darkened, unfocused, hollow—completely overtaken by the seal’s influence.

Sasuke stiffened, recognizing the transformation all too well. His own seal itched at his skin in response, like it was calling to her. She had lost control.

Kankuro barely had time to react. He moved to activate Karasu—but he never got the chance.

Sakura blurred out of sight.

A resounding crash echoed through the forest.

Kankuro’s puppet—just recently rebuilt—was nothing more than shattered scraps of wood and broken metal. He barely had time to process what had happened before—

A hand wrapped around his throat.

His eyes widened in horror as Sakura lifted him off the ground with one arm, her grip like a steel vice. There was no hesitation, no mercy in her actions.

With terrifying ease—she slammed him into the ground.

Hard.

The impact shook the earth, sending a burst of debris flying as a crater formed beneath Kankuro’s body. He gasped, his vision going blurry from the force, his lungs struggling for air.

Temari’s heart pounded.

“Sakura—?!” Sasuke’s voice was sharp with alarm, but Sakura didn’t hear him. She had already turned her attention toward Temari.

A chill ran down Temari’s spine.

Sakura stepped forward, her movements slow, deliberate—like a predator approaching its wounded prey.

Temari gritted her teeth, reaching for her fan. She couldn’t afford to hesitate.

With a sharp swing, she unleashed a powerful Wind Scythe Jutsu, a slicing gale force wind sharp enough to cut boulders in half.

But Sakura didn’t flinch.

Didn’t react.

She walked straight through it.

The wind tore through the ground around her, slicing into the earth—but Sakura was unbothered. The markings on her skin flared, dark energy twisting and reinforcing her body against the attack.

Temari’s stomach dropped.

She couldn’t stop her.

Sakura reached for her, her fingers curling into a fist—but before she could strike, a blur of movement cut through the space between them.

A hard blow cracked against Sakura’s temple.

The force sent her sprawling to the ground.

Harry stood above her, his expression tense, his breathing heavy. His fist was still clenched from the impact.

Sakura didn’t get up. The markings on her skin slowly receded, her breath coming out in weak, shallow gasps. Without the cursed seal fueling her, she was left drained, and unconscious.

A beat of silence until Harry breaks it.

"Are you alright?" Harry’s voice was softer now, as he turned to Temari, offering a hand.

She hesitated, staring at him, eyes still wide in shock.

Why—?

Why was he helping her?

Harry gave a small, tired smile. "I know we’re enemies right now, but that doesn’t mean I want you dead."

Temari’s throat tightened, but she slowly took his hand, letting him pull her to her feet.

Harry didn’t stop there—he turned and approached Kankuro, who was still groaning in the crater Sakura had left him in.

“Here,” Harry knelt down, gripping Kankuro’s wrist and pulling him up. "You're not dying on my watch."

Kankuro stared at him, utterly baffled. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

Harry only grinned. "Plenty, but that’s not important right now."

Sasuke, however, had no patience for pleasantries.

“How do we stop Gaara?” Sasuke’s voice was sharp, demanding. “Naruto is fighting him alone, and if this keeps up, he’s going to lose.”

Temari bit her lip. Her hands tightened into fists.

There was a way.

But—

Her gaze drifted toward the towering form of Shukaku in the distance, its massive figure illuminated by the chaotic glow of chakra and destruction.

Could they really risk it?

Kankuro wiped the blood from his mouth, his expression grim. “You want to stop Gaara?” He glanced at Naruto, who was still dodging Shukaku’s attacks with reckless speed. “Then you have to wake him up.”

Harry and Sasuke exchanged a look.

“Wake him up?” Harry echoed.

Kankuro gave a harsh nod. “Gaara only fully transforms when he lets Shukaku take control. If you can force him awake, force his consciousness back into his body, Shukaku’s form will collapse.”

Sasuke frowned. “And how the hell do we do that?”

Temari hesitated before answering, her voice almost reluctant.

“You have to hit him. Hard.”

Harry blinked. “That’s it? That’s the big secret?”

Kankuro let out a dry chuckle, rubbing his sore neck. “Easier said than done. He’s on top of a giant, rampaging demon raccoon.”

Sasuke’s fists clenched. His Sharingan spun violently.

Then he turned to Harry, his expression unreadable.

“We’re not letting Naruto handle this alone.”

Harry nodded.

“Let’s go wake Gaara up.”

FWOOOSH!

The sharp gust of wind roared as Temari swung her fan, channeling her chakra to create an updraft strong enough to lift Harry and Sasuke into the air.

Sasuke had expected some level of control—but instead, he found himself soaring through the sky in a chaotic, messy spiral.

Harry wasn’t faring much better. “This was a terrible idea!” he shouted, wind whipping through his hair.

“Tch! Just land properly!” Sasuke snapped back.

They crashed into Shukaku’s massive form with all the grace of two overgrown pigeons.

Harry rolled as he landed, barely keeping himself from falling into the shifting sands beneath them. Sasuke skidded to a halt, his hands digging into the grainy surface—only to scowl immediately at what it was doing to his new outfit.

“Damn it.” He clicked his tongue, standing up and brushing off the stubborn grains of sand that clung to his sleeves. “I just got this.”

Harry pushed himself up, blinking rapidly as he tried to wipe his fogged-up glasses against his sleeve. “Brilliant. I can’t see anything.”

Sasuke exhaled sharply. “Focus, Potter.”

Harry adjusted his glasses, still half-blind, but at least he could make out the monstrous form of Shukaku stretching out before them.

Then, their gazes snapped forward.

There—on Shukaku’s forehead—was Gaara.

He sat hunched over, his expression vacant, his body halfway merged with the sand demon. The right side of his face had already morphed, Shukaku’s menacing features replacing his own.

Their target.

But before they could move—

A massive explosion of sand erupted from below.

Harry and Sasuke leaped back as one of Shukaku’s arms burst apart, disintegrating into a cloud of dust and scattered grains.

And at the center of the destruction—

Was Naruto.

Both boys turned toward him, eyes widening at what they saw.

Naruto stood perched on a shifting mass of sand, his body covered in red, bubbling chakra. The aura flickered violently, tails of energy whipping through the air—but despite the terrifying presence of the Nine-Tails’ chakra, Naruto himself looked in control.

He gritted his teeth, his eyes sharp, fangs bared, as he glared up at Shukaku.

Sasuke let out a breath. “He’s holding it together.”

Harry, still slightly blinded by the sand, squinted. “Yeah, and he just blew up an entire limb.”

From their position, they could see how Naruto was tearing through Shukaku’s defenses, his chakra-enhanced blows smashing through the demon’s body, but it wasn’t enough.

Naruto could fight all he wanted—but he wasn’t getting any closer to Gaara.

Sasuke’s eyes sharpened.

“Then we’ll get to him first.”

Harry nodded, wiping more sand off his glasses.

They took off, sprinting across Shukaku’s massive form, dodging the violent spikes of sand that erupted around them.

Sasuke’s Sharingan spun wildly, allowing him to predict the unpredictable movements of Shukaku’s ever-shifting body. Harry, relying purely on instinct and his own heightened reflexes, moved just as fluidly.

Still, it was a nightmare.

The sand wasn’t just solid—it was shifting, and moving, reacting to their every step.

And Sasuke hated it.

He clenched his jaw as more sand lodged itself into every crevice of his clothes.

“This is disgusting,” he muttered.

“Your vanity is inspiring,” Harry called back, dodging another sand spike that nearly took his face off.

A surge of killing intent entered the air. 

Sasuke and Harry both jerked their heads toward Naruto.

Naruto had seen them.

And so had Shukaku.

Naruto’s eyes narrowed as he realized how close his teammates were to Gaara.

And that meant—

Shukaku couldn’t be allowed to notice them.

Naruto exhaled sharply.

Then—he made his decision.

“HEY, YOU OVERSIZED FURBALL!”

With all his strength, Naruto slammed his chakra-coated fist into the ground, causing a shockwave that tore through the battlefield.

Shukaku roared in outrage, its remaining arm lashing out toward Naruto, attempting to crush him.

But Naruto grinned.

That’s right. Look at me.

Not them.

Me.

And as Shukaku’s full attention turned toward the blond, Harry and Sasuke ran faster.

Gaara was within reach.

And this fight was about to end.

A massive wall of sand surged up, rising like an unbreakable barricade, blocking Harry and Sasuke’s path to Gaara.

Then—it transformed.

The smooth grains hardened, forming dozens of jagged spikes, each one sharp enough to impale them.

Sasuke clicked his tongue. “Tch—this is bad.”

There was no way through—not both of them.

His Sharingan spun wildly, analyzing every possible move.

Then—he made a split-second decision.

Without warning, Sasuke grabbed Harry’s wrist.

“What—?!” Harry barely had time to react before—

Sasuke twisted his body, spun, and flung Harry into the air.

“Just go!” Sasuke ordered.

And just like that, Harry was airborne.

Sasuke didn’t even pause—he turned back toward the incoming spikes, his hands already flashing through seals.

“Fire Release: Grand Fireball Technique!”

A massive inferno erupted, slamming into the wall of spikes, turning several of them into molten glass—

But not all of them.

Harry didn’t look back.

The moment his feet left the ground, something inside him reacted.

Instinct.

Magic.

Deep within him, his core flared up, magic pulsing through his veins.

His katana—still clutched in his hands—began to tremble.

The metal vibrated violently, humming with unseen energy.

And Harry—without thinking—moved.

As he soared toward Gaara, his katana glowed, infused with raw, untamed magic.

Then—

SLASH!

With a single, powerful swing, the blade sliced clean through the sand binding Gaara to Shukaku.

A bright flash erupted—magic and chakra colliding—and then—

The connection broke.

Gaara’s eyes snapped open in shock.

Shukaku’s massive form shuddered violently, the beast letting out a distorted, echoing howl as its body began to collapse.

Gaara’s vision was blurry, dazed—he barely registered what had happened.

Then—the sand beneath him vanished.

And he began to fall.

For a terrifying second, Gaara thought he was going to die.

But—

A strong hand caught his wrist.

Gaara’s breath hitched. He looked up—

And saw Harry.

Hanging onto him, keeping him from falling.

For the first time—Gaara saw something he never expected.

Harry’s expression wasn’t fearful.

It wasn’t disgusted.

It was just... understanding.

Those emerald-green eyes, bright against the moonlight, weren’t looking at him like a monster.

Gaara didn’t know how to react.

But there was no time to think.

They were still falling.

Fast.

Harry’s heart pounded. They were headed straight for the ground.

He had to act—now.

His eyes flicked to the side—a tree.

That’ll do.

With a grunt, Harry twisted midair, raised his katana, and—

STAB!

The blade plunged into the bark, stopping their descent just inches above the forest floor.

Harry let out a sharp breath. They were safe.

The remains of Shukaku’s form crumbled, turning into harmless sand that rained across the battlefield.

Slowly, Harry dropped down, landing in the sand with a soft thud, still holding onto Gaara, making sure he was steady.

Gaara—still staring at him in stunned silence—was pulled back to reality by the sound of—

“Oi!”

Harry and Gaara turned to see Naruto and Sasuke approaching.

Naruto looked worn out, his red chakra cloak gone, but otherwise unharmed.

Sasuke, despite his usual calm demeanor, looked extremely annoyed, still dusting sand off his clothes.

“You alright?” Naruto asked, his sharp blue eyes locking onto Harry, then flickering to Gaara.

Harry nodded, breathing heavily. “Yeah. All good.”

Naruto huffed out a breath of relief. “Good. ‘Cause I really didn’t wanna have to carry you.”

Sasuke crossed his arms. “You nearly got yourself killed.”

Harry shrugged. “And yet, here I stand.”

Gaara, meanwhile, had barely moved.

Then—

A presence approached.

Gaara’s eyes flicked up—

Temari and Kankuro.

Both of them looked wary, cautious.

But instead of fear, their gazes were full of concern.

“Gaara, are you okay?” Temari asked, stepping closer.

Gaara didn’t answer immediately.

He felt strange. Different.

But he nodded.

Kankuro exhaled. “Shit. We need to get out of here.”

Naruto stepped forward, nodding toward the edge of the forest.

“There’s a way out—behind Konoha. If you leave now, you’ll be safe.”

Temari and Kankuro hesitated.

But Gaara—after one last look at Naruto, Harry, and Sasuke—nodded.

“Let’s go.”

And just like that—

The battle was over.

The tension finally broke.

As soon as the Sand Siblings disappeared into the distance, Naruto, Harry, and Sasuke let out a collective sigh of relief.

Naruto dropped onto the ground, arms sprawled out. “Holy crap, I’m dead.”

The exhaustion hit him like a brick. Using that much chakra in one go? Never again. He could barely lift a finger.

Harry, meanwhile, sat down with an exaggerated groan, immediately pulling off his sand-filled shoes.

“Ugh—disgusting!” He turned his shoe upside down, shaking it violently as piles of sand poured out. “How does this much even fit in there?! It’s like a bloody desert in my socks!”

Sasuke, still standing, clicked his tongue in irritation. He dusted off his shirt, then his pants, then his sleeves, then his hair—

Harry arched an eyebrow at him. “You good there, mate?”

Sasuke ignored him, still brushing off invisible grains of sand.

Naruto, lying flat on the ground, cracked open an eye. “Oh my god. Sasuke, the sand isn’t gonna kill you.”

Sasuke shot him a glare, grumbling under his breath. “This was a brand new outfit.”

Harry snorted. “Yeah, well, at least your outfit isn’t ruined. My katana is completely destroyed.”

He held up his battered weapon, frowning at the cracks along the blade. His magic surge earlier had done a number on it.

“You have any idea how expensive these things are?” Harry groaned. “I’m going to be broke.”

“Just steal one,” Sasuke said flatly.

Harry blinked. “What.”

Naruto, from the ground, choked on air. “Sasuke, what the hell?!”

Sasuke shrugged. “You’re a ninja. That’s what we do.”

Harry stared. “That’s theft.”

Sasuke rolled his eyes. “It’s resourcefulness.”

“It’s a crime!”

Before Sasuke could justify his war crimes, a soft groan came from nearby.

The three boys froze.

Slowly, they turned—

Sakura was stirring.

Her eyelids fluttered open, her expression groggy and unfocused.

She blinked up at the sky, confused. Then, her eyes drifted to the forest floor.

A forest floor covered in sand.

Sakura stared.

“…What?” she muttered blankly.

She sat up, rubbing her temples, still looking entirely lost.

Naruto, still flat on his back, raised a hand weakly. “Yo. You good?”

Sakura didn’t respond. She was too busy processing the apocalyptic mess around her.

“…We should’ve listened to Kakashi-sensei,” she said dully.

Harry sighed dramatically. “Yeah. We should’ve.”

Sasuke grunted.

Naruto grinned tiredly. “But we didn’t.”

Sakura exhaled sharply, still looking like she regretted every choice that led her here.

“…Did I do anything stupid?” she asked cautiously.

Naruto and Sasuke immediately turned to Harry.

Harry smiled.

“No more than usual.”

Sakura squinted at him with a scowl.

“What does that mean?!”

Naruto wheezed.

Sasuke hid a smirk.

For the first time since the fight—things felt normal.

Even with the wreckage of battle surrounding them, the warmth of laughter filled the air.

And for now—that was enough.

The battlefield was a graveyard of destruction.

Smoke billowed into the sky. The air was thick with the scent of blood, ash, and chakra. In the midst of it all, Hiruzen Sarutobi—the Third Hokage, the Professor, the man who had guided Konoha through war and peace— took a deep, final breath as he faced his greatest enemy.

Orochimaru.

The traitor stood before him, his golden eyes gleaming with arrogance—until, suddenly, he wasn’t alone.

Hiruzen slammed his hand onto the ground, summoning his oldest companion.

“Summoning Jutsu!”

A burst of smoke.

And from within, a massive, white-furred primate emerged.

Enma, the Monkey King.

The great summon stood tall, his red eyes narrowing as he took in the battlefield. Despite the years, he had come.

“Hiruzen…” Enma murmured, his deep voice filled with emotion.

The Third Hokage offered him a small, tired smile.

“My old friend. I need to ask one last favor.”

Enma’s expression darkened, but he did not hesitate. He nodded once.

Then, he moved.

In an instant, Enma lunged.

His speed was blinding. Orochimaru’s eyes widened—he had been so focused on the battle that he hadn’t even sensed Hiruzen or Enma’s approach.

Before he could react—

CRACK!

Enma’s powerful arms wrapped around Orochimaru like an unbreakable cage.

“W-What?!” Orochimaru snarled, struggling against the iron grip.

But it was too late.

Enma’s sharp claws extended, piercing Orochimaru’s body in vital points—shoulders, ribs, lower back—paralyzing him in an instant.

“You…!” Orochimaru hissed fury in his voice.

Hiruzen did not waste time. His hands formed the final seals.

“This ends now.”

The Shinigami appeared and the temperature dropped.

A monstrous, ghastly figure loomed over them—its face hidden by a demonic mask, its clawed fingers reaching out from beyond the veil of death.

For the first time in his life, Orochimaru felt true fear.

His body froze, and his breath caught in his throat as his golden eyes locked onto the entity.

“W-What is that?” he demanded, his voice unsteady.

Hiruzen exhaled. “Something even you cannot escape, Orochimaru.”

The Shinigami’s mouth opened wide—a grotesque, bottomless void.

Orochimaru screamed.

“NO!”

A phantom arm of pure chakra reached into Orochimaru’s chest—and began pulling.

Orochimaru thrashed violently, his voice turning from rage to desperation.

“STOP! NO! DAMN YOU, SARUTOBI!”

The Shinigami did not listen.

The snake Sannin’s arms burned with searing agony as the spectral hands ripped them away from his body.

The pain was unbearable.

Orochimaru’s screams echoed across the battlefield.

It was over.

Hiruzen collapsed to his knees. His body was failing him—his time had run out. As his vision blurred, Hiruzen felt a strange peace settle over him.

His life flashed before his eyes.

The faces of his loved ones.

His students—Orochimaru, Jiraiya, Tsunade.

His mentors: Tobirama and Hashirama.

Minato, Kushina, and Naruto.

His grandson, Konohamaru.

And his beloved village—the home he had sworn to protect.

As the last of his strength faded, he whispered one final prayer.

“Please… let the next generation carry the Will of Fire.”

With a faint smile—

Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, breathed his last.

As Hiruzen fell, the battle between Hayato, Jiraiya, and the reanimated Hokages raged on.

Minato’s movements slowed.

His body—his soul—was resisting the reanimation.

With a flicker of speed, he appeared before Hayato. Not attacking, but questioning.

“…Naruto,” Minato said, his voice strained, desperate. “Tell me about Naruto.”

Hayato froze, his heart clenching.

Even now—even through the jutsu forcing him to fight—Minato’s first thought was of his son.

Hayato lowered his cane. He answered gently.

“Naruto…” he began, his voice quiet. “He looks and behaves just like Kushina.”

Minato’s breath hitched.

Hayato continued. “He’s made friends. He’s found family. He’s no longer alone.”

Minato’s blue eyes softened. “…Family?”

Hayato nodded. “He has a brother.”

Minato’s lips parted slightly. “…A brother?”

Hayato gave a small, almost wistful smile.

“His name is Harry Potter.”

Minato blinked.

Hayato continued, his voice carrying a rare warmth. “Harry has been the sun in Naruto’s life. He pulled him from the darkness. He’s helped him grow, made him stronger.”

Minato’s chest ached.

A brother…

Naruto wasn’t alone.

A sense of relief filled him, stronger than anything else.

“Is he happy?” Minato whispered.

Hayato met his eyes.

And, with absolute certainty, he answered—

“Yes.”

Minato let out a breath.

That was everything he needed to know.

A gentle smile crossed the Fourth Hokage’s face. His blue eyes filled with warmth.

And then—

He forced himself to turn to dust.

His reanimated body disintegrated, piece by piece.

Hayato and Jiraiya watched in silence.

The Fourth Hokage—Minato Namikaze, the Yellow Flash, Naruto’s father— disappeared from the world one final time.

With Minato gone, Jiraiya and Hayato turned to face the First and Second Hokage.

Through sheer luck and skill, Jiraiya had managed to weaken them.

And, with a final push—

The reanimations collapsed.

Their bodies crumbled into dust.

And at last—

The battle was over.

Jiraiya exhaled, shaking his head.

“That was… something.” His voice was strained, his usual humor absent.

Hayato was silent for a long moment. Then—

“…It hurts.”

Jiraiya turned.

Hayato’s hands clenched tightly around his cane. His usually calm, unreadable expression was gone. As he stared up into the sky with watery blue eyes

“Losing Minato… again.”

Jiraiya looked away, his face grim.

“…Yeah.”

The two men stood there, staring at the battlefield where three Hokage had vanished.

Their leader was dead.

Minato was gone.

And somewhere, out there—Naruto was waiting for a father who would never return.

The Will of Fire burned on. But it burned with loss.

Konoha was silent.

Not the peaceful kind of silence that came with the sunrise, nor the comforting hush of a village at rest. This silence was heavy, thick with grief, smoke, and the remnants of battle.

Team 7 stepped through the village gates, their bodies aching, their minds reeling. The invasion had ended, but the loss lingered in the air like a ghost.

Buildings lay in ruins. Fires still smoldered in some areas, their embers glowing faintly beneath the gray morning sky. The streets, once filled with laughter and bustling life, were now littered with debris and the metallic stench of blood.

Survivors walked among the wreckage, shinobi and civilians alike, some searching for loved ones, others simply trying to comprehend the destruction.

For a moment, Team 7 stood there, frozen.

Then—

“My parents.”

Sakura’s breath hitched.

Her heartbeat pounded in her ears.

And then—she ran.

“Sakura—!” Naruto called, but she didn’t stop.

She bolted down the burned and broken streets, past fallen signs, shattered windows, and torn-up roads.

Her legs burned, but she pushed forward.

Her mind screamed at her and begged her to reason—maybe they evacuated, maybe they were safe—but panic drowned out all reason.

She just had to see them.

Her teammates followed, their feet slamming against the ruined ground, dodging collapsed walls and broken carts.

Sasuke ran right behind her, his eyes darting through the destruction, searching—hoping.

Harry and Naruto weren’t far behind, scanning the wreckage for any sign of life.

They turned the last corner—

And then—

Sakura froze.

Her house was gone.

Burned to the ground.

Soot and ash covered what remained of the walls, the roof had caved in completely, and the front door lay broken in the dirt.

And then, in the middle of the destruction—

A hand.

Blood-covered. Crushed beneath the ruins.

Sakura stared.

Her breath came in sharp, ragged gasps, but she couldn’t move.

The world blurred around her.

She stepped forward, trembling.

Sasuke was at her side in an instant. He didn’t need to ask.

He understood.

A slow, strangled sob tore from Sakura’s throat as she collapsed against him.

Sasuke caught her, his arms holding her steady as her body shook.

“No…” Her voice was broken. “No, no, no…”

Her fingers clenched onto Sasuke’s shirt, her nails digging into the fabric as she buried her face into his shoulder.

She felt his hand on her back—firm, steady.

Not saying anything.

Just being there.

Naruto and Harry stood by her side, their expressions solemn.

Naruto clenched his fists, his knuckles white. His heart ached for her.

“Sakura…” he murmured, but the words felt useless.

Harry swallowed, his jaw tight as his eyes swept over the wreckage. He wanted to say something, to tell her it would be okay—but it wouldn’t be.

Not this time.

Sakura’s choked sobs filled the silence, muffled against Sasuke’s shoulder.

Naruto exhaled sharply, forcing back the sting in his own eyes.

Sakura always talked about her parents—her loving mother, and her strict but kind father.

And now—

They were gone.

She was alone.

Just like he had been.

Naruto took a deep breath, stepping closer. “We’re here, Sakura.” His voice was soft, steady.

Harry nodded, his green eyes filled with sorrow. “We’re not going anywhere.”

The village was in ruins. The war was over.

But the scars would never fade.

And for Sakura Haruno—

Everything had changed.