Disclaimer: Naruto and its characters belong to Masashi Kishimoto


The shock is almost too much to bear and he's reeling in disbelief. "What?" Sasuke blurts.

Naruto pauses in the middle of what he is trying to relay. "Hold up, Teme," he stresses. "Let me finish."

Patience is not his forte but Sasuke has no choice but to wait.

"Ino believes the foreign White Zetsu met Itachi, or at very least, observed him closely. It's been hard for her to distinguish. At any rate, Ino came across some memories that indicate your brother knew about the portal. And she's pretty sure he traversed it."

Sasuke's eyes go wide. "He..? What? But..."

"I know. I know. The timeline is sketchy at best and she's still putting together the facts, but Shikamaru agrees that if you believe that it's Itachi's chakra that surrounds the portal, he had to have been alive when he activated the lock and Ino's scenario is very well possible."

Sasuke's thoughts race a mile a minute but Naruto continues.

"Shikamaru's working with lab analysis to try to determine the exact timeline, but for now that's where he's at. He'd like you to take a look at the books you retrieved from the hidden room, so I asked Yamato-Sensei to bring them with him."

Yamato removes the scrolls from his satchel and summons them to appear.

"Here they are," he says as they pop into view. Yamato looks things over then nods after making sure all the books are there. "That should be everything," he says. "And now with your approval, Lord Seventh, I will begin my search at the monastery with the kids."

"Thank you," Naruto says. "They should be outside and ready for your orders shortly."

As soon as the wood user leaves, Sasuke rifles through the books, more than eager to peruse them. Sharingan ablaze, he glares down at the first stack, but he is interrupted when he hears his daughter's voice outside.

"Papa, Papa!" Sarada calls urgently.

Naruto looks to Sasuke and he nods.

The silencing jutsu is released and the kids are allowed to enter.

"Apologies," Yamato says. "but Sarada says she has something very important she needs to tell her father before we start."

Relieved to see her father still on the premises, Sarada rushes over to him. "Papa, with all the craziness I forgot to tell you!" she exclaims. Then she perks. "Well look at that," she says with a smile. "I'm glad you still have them." She sees the books from the portal lain out on the table and quickly finds the one she is looking for. "Come, Papa, take a look at this one. It has a message from Crow!"

Crow?

The crowd rushes over to her and gathers around to see what she's talking about.

Blood red eyes, spin with intensity never seen before to take in the script, all the while Naruto gazes over the note with intense interest:

Reflection of the teachings lead to inner peace that helps to keep things in perspective. Living life, and being mindful, brings new meaning, not only to life in the present but that beyond. Life on Earth is a fleeting gift, but provides a precious opportunity to know and experience powerful things. For you, Uchiha Sasuke: Live, love, and learn. Others are watching, so allow wisdom and compassion to guide you. Best wishes to keep things safe and good for all here. I trust in you.

Always,

Crow

"Wait," Naruto says, scratching his head. "I don't get it. I mean, sure, I get it, but what's so special about this?"

Yamato, Mitsuki, and him read the message once again but no one has a clue what the big deal is. Sasuke however looks to Sarada, Sharingan spinning and laced with emotion.

"Naruto," he asks seriously. "Can I have a minute with my daughter?"

Puzzled, the blond Hokage agrees. "Mitsuki and Yamato-Sensei, would you mind waiting outside?" he asks.

"No problem," Yamato responds. "Come, Mitsuki," he says, guiding him out. Naruto begins to exit with them, but Sasuke pulls him back. "Stay," he insists to his friend.

"Okay," Naruto says slowly, though still confused. He gestures for Yamato and Mitsuki to continue on without him, then at Sasuke's insistence, the silencing jutsu is cast over the room.

"Our eyes are able to decode an unseen message," Sasuke explains to the blond. Sharingan spinning, he looks down once more at the book.

Reflection of the teachings lead to inner peace that helps to keep things in perspective. Living life, and being mindful, brings new meaning, not only to life in the present but that beyond. Life on Earth is a fleeting gift, but provides a precious opportunity to know and experience powerful things. For you, Uchiha, Sasuke: Live, love, and learn. Others are watching so allow wisdom and compassion to guide you. Best wishes to keep things safe and good for all here. I trust in you.

Always,

Crow

Seek the middle path for Uchiha Sarada here.

"What does it mean Papa?" Sarada asks, bewildered.

Sasuke's body stiffens and he thinks hard on this before he speaks. There is so much that needs to be said but not enough time to explain it properly. Sarada deserves at least a little something though. She is an Uchiha kunoichi of Konoha. "I once knew Crow," he begins and Sarada's eyes grow big. "We share a complicated past," he admits, "but a common goal." Naruto nods and encourages him to continue. "No matter what you hear in the future to the contrary, Sarada, I want you to know Crow loved Konoha, its people, and the will of fire that burns brightly in all of us. He also cared deeply for my obaasan, me, you, and everyone Uchiha," he stresses. "It's never fair, but war and uprising can make people do terrible things," he tells her, "and it isn't right to judge a person unless you know their entire story."

Sarada nods.

It makes him sad, but he continues for Sarada's sake. "He was a pacifist forced to act so you and I could live a better future," he tells her. "This message is for us," he states looking directly at her.

"For you... and me?" Sarada says with surprise.

"Yes," he finally says. "Crow believed in forward-thinking, and he was a staunch supporter of the betterment of the Village as a whole."

Sarada pauses a moment as she contemplates on his words. "Papa, is Crow talking about the middle path that Bhanti referenced?" she asks, now fully interested.

Sasuke looks serious and stops a moment to think about her line of thought.

"Hn," he eventually tells her.

She smiles with pride. Cha! Leave it up to me to figure it out! she thinks.

"Papa, do you really think there's something here at the monastery for me?" she asks excitedly. Sasuke is quiet and reflects on Bhanti and the teachings he's exposed them to, how the middle path is one of peace, and one he knows Itachi would have been proud to have based his life upon and would have wanted Sarada to follow.

He shrugs his shoulders. "You'll have to be the one to tell me," Sasuke tells her, "but for now it looks like you have some investigating to do."

Sarada remembers her new Mission with Mitsuki and Yamato-Sensei and smiles.

"Okay, I'm on it!" she beams.


Author's note:

Thank you to all those who have reviewed for this story. I'm not able to address the anonymous ones personally, but please know I appreciate the time you took to let me know your thoughts. All of the lovely reviews I received definitely inspired me to get busy working on the story again.

This chapter is dedicated all the fabulous reviewers out there as well as all the amazing Veterans we remember today. Have a Happy Veteran's Day 2017 and a memorable weekend everyone!