At Lone Eagle Ridge on Mount Xiangyang.
Yugao Uzuki stepped forward. "Seventh, the list of the dead and missing has been compiled. Please review it."
Naruto took the list. His Sharingan swept across the densely packed names.
Each name felt like sand blown into his eyes—cutting, stinging.
Among the missing, he found two names.
Uzumaki Himawari. Hyuga Hanabi.
He closed his eyes.
Missing meant only two possibilities.
Gone without a trace.
Or escaped.
On this isolated mountain, in a one-sided massacre…
The latter was almost impossible.
Which meant—
Naruto clenched the paper in his hand.
He had seen countless battles, countless deaths. At his age, death had long become something dull… distant.
But this time—
The pain returned.
Sharp. Like a blade carving into his heart.
Because this tragedy… was the result of his own misjudgment.
And among the dead—
Were his friends.
His family.
His daughter.
Naruto pressed his inner eye corners, trying to force the tears back.
He couldn't cry.
Not now.
As Hokage, there was still too much to do.
Yugao continued, "Seventh… we've run out of body bags."
Naruto stood silently for a long time.
"How many are we short?"
"Seven thousand six hundred."
Silence fell again.
Naruto clenched his fists.
They had sixteen hours before the deadline he promised Hagoromo.
But just collecting the bodies had already consumed a third of that time.
Identifying the dead had required multiple rotations of personnel.
Seven thousand six hundred body bags…
Where would they even get that many? How long would it take?
Yugao spoke carefully. "As a former medical ninja… I have a suggestion."
"Speak."
"With this many bodies, decomposition will lead to disease. In past wars… mass graves were burned on site."
"My recommendation is… instead of burdening the living… let them rest here."
Naruto's crimson eyes turned toward her.
"You mean… burn them all here?"
Yugao replied calmly, "The Will of Fire… rising with the flames. It can be a form of return."
"When Konoha is rebuilt, their names will be engraved on the memorial. Their will will live on."
Naruto lowered his head.
"…Let me think."
In the end—
He made the decision.
The bodies would be cremated on site.
Those with surviving family would be reclaimed.
The rest—
Would remain here.
Together.
About two thousand bodies were claimed.
The remaining ten thousand—
Were laid into a mass grave.
Flames roared.
Cries filled the mountain.
Wails echoed across the peak.
From that moment on—
The mountain had a new name.
Mount Mourning.
Naruto stood at the front of the crowd.
And felt it.
Those gazes.
Sharp.
Cold.
From all directions.
The shinobi still called him Hokage.
But something was gone.
Something unspoken.
Like food without salt.
Wine without fragrance.
A familiar loneliness began to spread.
Even as Hokage—
He felt like that child again.
Unacknowledged.
"…So this is it. They don't say it, but they blame me."
"And they're right."
"I should have realized sooner… that Jigen would come for Kawaki."
"If I had evacuated everyone earlier… maybe…"
Naruto exhaled.
"But something doesn't add up…"
"Kakashi said Jigen could appear through Kawaki's Karma… but he didn't."
"Uchiha Akira's 'future'… wasn't entirely accurate."
"…Kawaki… please. Survive."
After the flames died down, Naruto led the eight thousand survivors away.
"Lord Hokage, Ryumen Kurosaki requests an audience!"
"…Denki's father…"
Ryumen Kurosaki—the head of the Ryumen Company, a powerful industrial magnate.
His son, Denki, had died in the battle.
When Kurosaki met Naruto—
He did not accuse him.
"Lord Hokage… I don't blame you."
"From the day Denki chose to be a shinobi… he accepted this fate."
"But… as his father… I can't accept it."
"I've come not just to reclaim his body… but to ask something."
"I want to see him again… through Edo Tensei."
"Just to talk. Just once."
"I know Orochimaru still possesses the technique. Please… help me contact him."
Naruto's gaze darkened.
Kurosaki gestured.
A frail man was wheeled forward.
"I am Kobayashi Yamashita…"
He spoke through a device.
"I have ALS… my body is already gone."
"I owe my life to Mr. Kurosaki."
"If my death can help him see his son again… then I'm willing."
"I know Edo Tensei is cruel… but I choose this."
"Please… allow it."
Naruto's chest felt heavy.
He understood.
Because he, too—
Had lost a child.
But—
"No."
His voice was firm.
"I'm sorry. I can't allow it."
Kurosaki clenched his fists. "No matter the cost…?"
"I'll fund Konoha's reconstruction. Compensation. Everything."
Naruto shook his head.
"This isn't about money."
"No Hokage would legalize Edo Tensei."
"To do so would disgrace the Will of Fire."
"My daughter… Himawari… is among the dead too."
That single sentence—
Silenced him.
"…I understand."
The meeting ended.
Cold.
Incomplete.
As Kurosaki left—
Crows gathered before him.
Forming a figure.
Sasuke.
"Protect Mr. Kurosaki!"
"Wait…" Kurosaki stared. "You're…"
Sasuke spoke plainly.
"Don't blame Naruto."
"If he agrees once… everyone will ask the same."
"What would he do then?"
Kurosaki lowered his head. "…I see."
Sasuke paused.
Then—
"If you still want to do it… don't tell anyone."
"…What?"
Sasuke handed him a note and a scroll.
"Orochimaru's location."
"Take this. He'll grant your wish."
Kurosaki looked at him deeply.
"…What do you want in return?"
Sasuke turned away.
"I just don't want Konoha… to collapse further."
Kurosaki bowed deeply.
"…Thank you."
That night—
Orochimaru fulfilled the request.
Father and son spoke.
And Denki's soul…
Freed itself.
Returning to the Pure Land.
After Kurosaki left—
Orochimaru reopened Sasuke's scroll.
Blood sealed the summoning.
A white snake appeared—
Delivering another scroll.
The real message.
Orochimaru smiled.
Radiant.
"Happy to assist… Sasuke-kun."
He turned.
"Suigetsu. Karin. Jugo…"
"The wind… is rising."
"Huh? At this hour?"
"Sasuke needs us."
Karin's eyes widened. "Sasuke!?"
Suigetsu frowned. "Now? What for?"
Jugo spoke calmly. "Get to the point."
Orochimaru smiled.
"It's complicated."
"Let's keep it simple."
He brushed his hair back.
"We're going to Konoha… to stir things up."
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