A/N: I wrote another piece to suit this chapter! This time I put a lot more work in it. :D Just head to my profile page where you can find the link to my Soundcloud. It is the main theme for this story, titled "The Burden of Knowledge". I am working on a full length version as well, though. Go ahead and give it a listen while you read, if you'd like! :)

"Hm...this edo-tensei jutsu of mine seems to be quite troublesome..."

"Quite immoral!" Hashirama agreed superfluously. He pointed his finger out toward his brother and leaned back on his right foot. "Don't you remember that time, when I lectured you—"

"Shut up," he replied, jutting his lip out slightly.

"—that these things lead to—"

"Silence!" he repeated in annoyance.

"..."

The first Hokage doesn't appear to be that intimidating, actually, Suigetsu thought.

"So...we had a fourth hokage..." Hashirama said, looking the Fourth up and down. "Who's the Fifth?" he inquired.

"Your granddaughter...Tsunade," Orochimaru replied.

"Eh!?" He put his hands on the side of his head, and looked behind him with amazement. "The village...it's still standing..."

"You have so little faith in her.." Minato raised his eyebrows somewhat amusedly, sweat dripping from the back of his head.

Sasuke looked ahead without expression.

Noticing this, Orochimaru spoke up. "Did you have your talk...Sasuke-kun?"

"I wouldn't really call it much of a talk..." Tobirama looked to the side. He seemed to be getting agitated.

Noticing this as well, Orochimaru assured him, "Nidaime-hokage. I bear no ill intentions upon any of you."

"What about the village?" he asked cautiously. He isn't planning to exploit the village while the country is at war, is he?

He chuckled lightly. "Nor the village. So you can see," he said, casting his gaze upon the Uchiha, "There is no need to worry. However, I really think Sasuke is not yet done with you. "

The boy looked up at him with a hint of recognition in his eye, and turned back toward the four hokage. He had foolishly let his anger overwhelm him, but now, it was all...gone. He felt empty, almost. He was ready to have his real questions answered, now remembering what he'd expressed back at the cave where Kabuto supposedly still was.

Although somewhat wary, Tobirama let himself become more at ease. He leaned back in his step, and folded his arms.

"Hmm...So? Little Uchiha, what is it you'd like to know?" Nidaime asked.

–-

Gai lets out a youthful, encouraging shout. "Whhaaaaoooooo...! LEE!" He is quite proud of his precious pupil at the moment.

Madara had just been sliced in half by Lee's almighty powerful kick.

Neji...you should see him now...

"Take that!" Ino shouts. Making a fist, she looks at Chouji and smiles. He instinctively turns back to her, and kindly returns the smile.

Nearby, Tenten feels the gap inside her heart fill just a little bit. Neji was dead, and Lee had just dealt revenge to his killer. She closes her eyes with determination, and promises to do her best. Now all that's left is Obito...

Naruto's hard stare softens after he says those words... "And I hope no one would sever their bonds with me...," thinking of Sasuke. He tries to read Obito's eyes. What is this man...thinking? What is really going on inside that head of his? With every passing moment, every passing word that escapes his lips, Naruto feels less and less antagonistic towards him. But then he is reminded of the terrible losses the world has been dealt by his hands...of the precious people Akatsuki has taken away from them, and himself...

He glances over at his sensei, who is also looking at Obito with a determined face. But Naruto knows him well enough to tell that there is a hint of wistfulness in his gaze. Kakashi-sensei...

Were you really friends with this man?

He can't see how it was possible. Kakashi is a person who deeply cares for his village, heavily values teamwork, and always puts the safety of his comrades before his own. He is Obito's polar opposite. How could someone like Obito not have been affected by him in his youth? He feels his heart sink a little as he thinks of Sasuke. The same is with me...

Will Sasuke end up being like him, too?

The Ino-Shika-Chou combination had been a brilliant tactic to start off with. Kakashi knows this well. Wiping the sweat from his brow, he silently thanks his old friend. He turns and faces the beloved son of his late sensei, locking eyes with him. Onto the next step of Shikaku's plan, now...

–-

N-nante chakra da!

The redhead looks about as she holds Sasuke's picture, slowly peeling it off to reveal tiny, bobby-pin sized tools laying on a sheet between the two layers. She can feel Naruto's pure chakra radiating through the air like a warm sun. To her it feels strong, familial, and assuring—a sign that everything would be okay.

But that's not true. Everything will not be okay. I have to see what Sasuke is up to. I cannot let him aid that Tobi guy in destroying the world. As much as he'd meant to me, at one point...

That is no longer the case.

An admirable frown of pure resolve settles over her features.

I will stop him...and help this warm-hearted person, this Uzumaki...Naruto...!

Holding her lockpick set firmly in one hand, and sharp-ridged glasses in the other, she finishes cutting Sasuke's picture away from it. She peers up and around, confirming once more that she had finally been left alone. With a small sigh, she removes the small metal pieces from behind the picture and begins to work.

–-

A/N: So I made a mistake in the timeline last chapter, as shown by the Yondaime's reactions in 619. Minato must have died before Orochimaru left, so he wouldn't have known about the horrible, twisted experiments done on various ninja as well as lost, innocent kids. I was quite impressed with Sasuke, too...gives me a little hope on him possibly reconsidering his path (or else there wouldn't be any need for the questioning of course). Also, the tense switch is on purpose, in case anyone thought it strange.

That being said, I hope you've enjoyed this chapter! Please leave a review! Feedback is always welcome.

Translations:

Karin: What chakra!