Kisame is dealt with quickly and swiftly, helped along by Kiri's ambassador. In the end, Toru finds himself back outside with his team and a few of the Konoha-nins. However, when Kakashi and Itachi spot a group of Konoha-nins nearby, they are quick to take their leave.
"Where to next?" Sora asks softly, stepping up to stand beside Toru. He knows that his team's at his back for this.
Toru doesn't answer straight away. Instead, he surveys what he can see. They've taken up position on a rooftop, simply to see much of Uzushio and identify what's happening. It's… not what Toru had expected.
(This is what they will have soon: peace. This is what they have now: the end of a battle.)
When Toru returned to Uzushio, there had been rubble and corpses and it had been awful. Thankfully, Uzushio's in much better condition now—better than anyone had expected. It's likely because they'd been prepared ahead of time and worked to keep most of the fighting out of civilian areas, having organized traps and areas for fighting before the Akatsuki had landed.
It's still awful and horrifying and a battlefield—but it's better than what Toru had seen once, (it's not a village of rubble and skeletons and broken buildings and no hope). It's his village, standing and still alive and determined to remain that way, (it's people reaching hands out and taking hands and helping one another up).
Where to next, Sora had asked, and that's the question everyone's asking, isn't it? Not just what Toru is going to do next, but what actions Uzushio will take. They have revealed themselves in Konoha's Chūnin Exams and then they were attacked, repelled the attack with few fatalities from the look of it.
Small steps first, though. That much Toru knows.
(Small steps. Call your people home, remove the skeletons, remove the rubble, see the buildings rise.)
(Small steps. Win this fight, win the next fight, don't stop until the battle's won.)
"To the hospital," Toru decides. He still has some chakra, though his control might not be the best with the exhaustion starting to hit. But he can provide first aid outside of jutsus too, just like the rest of his team. Besides, the hospital likely needs all the help they can get.
There's nothing Toru can do virtue of being Uzukage and ANBU Commander. He, like the rest of Uzushio, can only do something based on the skills he has.
"Lead the way, Taichō," Souma says and Toru heads off, darting across roof tops, keeping a wary eye on his surroundings, (more to make sure that his people are alright rather than worrying about enemies nearby).
As he runs, Toru thinks how strange it is to not feel strange about who follows him now. Once, it had been Kanko and Mari and Saya, and they'd been a team for almost a decade. Except, Toru had never fought in a war with his old team, not really. They'd fought in the invasion, briefly, before he sent them away.
(It's been sixteen years since Toru saw his team, sixteen years since they followed him. Instead, he's had Sora and Souma and Dai for a few years—and Dai he's had even less. And yet, he's lead them into a war and out of it. Together, the four of them have fought off an invasion. Then, of course, there is the invasion where Sora, Souma, and him fought to protect Konoha.)
(It's been sixteen years and Toru's team of four, for only a year, and three, for a few years, is the team he expects to see when he looks back. He'd had his first team for a decade and now he thinks of them in past tense, remembers them fondly, but doesn't expect to see them anymore.)
(That realisation hurts, but softly; an ache of grief that ebbs and flows. Toru's made his peace with it.)
In the aftermath of the fighting, they find each other. It's easier than Ino had expected, but the Uzushio-nins are willing to shout to one another to ask for them. They might have just gotten out of the battle, but the people here are kind, and it's easy to see.
(Ino knows better than to trust people in a foreign village, but she figured some leeway can be given following an invasion. Still, when she asks if the Uzushio-nins have seen people from her village, they don't just answer her, but they ask if anyone else has seen the Konoha-nins.)
Ino and her team are one of the last to join the others. Moments later, Sakura joins, supporting Hinata, who's looking exhausted but awake. Neither Kakashi nor Itachi are here, but Ino knows they'll be fine, (if this was anywhere but Uzushio, if it wasn't Toru who left them, then maybe Ino would be slightly more worried). For now, Ino is happy to just be with her friends rather than around adults who she's never sure how to act around.
She surveys the group, searching for injuries. Out of all of them, Team Kurenai look the most injured, scraped up and blooded but bandaged. Naturally, they're all exhausted and bear their own bruises and grazes, but Team Kurenai look to be the worst.
"Injuries?" Naruto asks, immediately stepping up to Sakura's side.
Sakura grimaces and Ino's eyes narrow on her wrist. "I lost my hand," she says with a shrug. For most people, such an injury would spell the end of their ninja career. Sakura, of course, is not like most people and Ino has no doubt that she'll rise above her injury.
But that will be later. Right now, Sakura is dealing with it as best she can in a foreign village in the aftermath of a battle. So Ino doesn't say anything, just decides to keep an eye on Sakura as best she can in the upcoming months. She knows that their friends will be doing the same, (none of them stand alone, they stand together and supported; always).
"Any other major injuries?" Naruto says, this time scanning the others with a worried gaze. When he locks eyes with Ino, she simply shakes her head. She's battered, exhausted, but all of them are. There's no point mentioning it.
Naruto breathes out slowly. "Right," he says, a tremble audible in his voice. Beside him, Sakura presses her weight against his shoulder and Sasuke does the same on the other side, (Ino can't help but think they not only have to deal with the aftermath of the battle, Sakura's injury, but also Toru's reappearance; in the end, though, they are ninjas and they know how to compartmentalise). "Right. Do we know why the attack went ahead?"
Tenten pulls a face. "One of the creatures we fought against mentioned Kaguya. Specifically, it said that it would help Kaguya-hime rise again, presumably it needed the chakra of the bijūs for that. Assuming it's not completely false, of course."
"Nagato didn't make any mention of that," Sasuke offers in the ensuing silence. "Just spoke about keeping the peace through fear with the bijūs."
"There's a chance that Nagato didn't know what the creature was planning," Shikamaru says slowly. "The creature—Zetsu, I think it called itself—had clones of itself for an army. Maybe it was using Nagato."
"There was another ninja. Someone with a Sharingan eye," Sakura says, "except they had a strange seal apparently. That's what I think Itachi and Kakashi-sensei have gotten caught up in."
"That would make sense," Neji says. "The use of the Sharingan is limited to the Uchiha Clan with the exception of Hatake-san."
"I've heard that name before," Hinata says, frowning slightly. "Kaguya-hime." Closing her eyes, she hums in thought. The others fall silent, patient. "It's from some old stories," she says after a moment or two. Glancing at Sasuke, she adds, "You might actually know some of these.
"From Kaguya-hime, came the twins Hagoromo and Hamura Ōtsutsuki," Hinata begins, tone falling into a story-telling cadence. "It is said that Kaguya-hime was a goddess from the moon, who had come to us because she loved our world and those within it. From her love, Hagoromo and Hamura were born. For many years, the three were happy and kept the world at peace by defeating evil. However, misfortune struck when Kaguya-hime was attacked by a demon and fell prey to its poison. She was transformed into a demon.
"Hagoromo and Hamura fought against Kaguya-hime together and succeeded in defeating Kaguya-hime. Except, the poison in Kaguya-hime was too strong to completely destroy and so the pair sealed Kaguya-hime away. Hagoromo continued to wander the world, eventually gaining the title Sage of Six Paths, whilst Hamura founded the Hyūga Clan to protect the world from evil."
Hinata shrugs. "It is, naturally, only a story but there are aspects that might have come from truth. Hagoromo is said to have founded the Uchiha Clan, which partially explains the rivalry that the Hyūga and Uchiha had during the Warring Clans Era, though it wasn't anything like the Senju and Uchiha rivalry at the time."
"I don't know if I remember any stories like that," Sasuke said. "The stories say that the Uchiha Clan's forefather was blessed by Susanoo, Tsukuyomi, and Amaterasu. I don't know if Kaguya-hime was mentioned at all."
"Actually, I think I remember reading something about Kaguya-hime," Naruto interjects. "It was a handwritten book in the back of the Uchiha books. I don't remember it entirely, but there was mention about how Kaguya-hime was ravaged by poison and turned into a demon. This demon was claimed to be the… Jūbi, but was vanquished by the Junshuina Kyōdai. Except, the powerful chakra of the Jūbi meant that it could not be destroyed, and so the Junshuina Kyōdai halved the Jūbi's chakra. Half was sent to the moon, where one would watch over it until the moon was no more. The other half of the chakra was taken by the remaining Junshuina Kyōdai who broke it into nine, thus creating the bijū. I don't know how true it is, but it was some of the little literature on the bijū."
"What do you think Shika?" Ino asks, turning to their smartest member. Shikamaru's frowning, in thought, clearly considering the legends that Hinata and Naruto have brought forward.
In the end, Chōji's the one who speaks. "I don't think it matters whether it's real or not," he says. "It's almost impossible to tell for sure and there's no real way of knowing. In the end, Zetsu was destroyed and Kaguya, whether she ever existed or not, isn't here."
Shikamaru nods in agreement. "Nagato's desire for peace is, perhaps, the most logical reason for fighting, even if it wasn't a good method. I don't know why the creature—Zetsu—fought, but it doesn't really matter anymore anyway. Zetsu is dead."
(Zetsu is dead and the jinchūriki are safe and so is Uzushio. There are many things to be said here, but even more to be left unsaid. After all, they don't need to say why they fought. They know.)
"Well then," Naruto says, gaining everyone's attention easily, "Shall we go see if we can find Itachi and Kakashi?"
The hospital has become less the hospital building and more the building and all its surrounding areas. Even though the hospital isn't running at full capacity, many of those injured and remaining outside, leaving operating theatres open for those who really need it.
Shōta slides from the building into the side areas, helping out with practiced hands, stitches smooth and straight, before shifting into operating rooms with hands glowing green. His chakra pool isn't the worst, there's enough that he could probably help in a few more surgeries should he decide to do so. However, exhaustion is beginning to thread its way through his mind and he knows he needs to sleep soon, even if it's only briefly.
That is, naturally, when the Uzukage enters the area, slipping through the shadows to avoid detection. Immediately, Shōta glances at him, stepping away from the ninja whose ankle he just strapped. At the Uzukage's back is his team, as is normal. They all look remarkably uninjured and Shōta's certain that the Uzukage would have been checked over, if only because Toru would ensure that his team had been checked for any injuries.
Still, there's that single worry sliding through his mind that Toru might be injured. Shōta knows himself well enough to realise it's illogical, something born of seeing too many people succumb to injuries once the battle is over. That doesn't help however.
Nothing will, Shōta knows, except for actually checking—which is one of the reasons why he walks up to Toru straight away, (the other reason is that they're friends). "Shōta," Toru says, eyes creasing as he smiles in welcome. "You're alright?"
Shōta has almost two decades on Toru and maybe ten centimetres, broader too. It's easy take that extra step, pausing just in front of Toru. Not hesitating, but asking. Toru closes the gap, arms wrapping around Shōta. The younger shinobi presses his forehead against Shōta's shoulder, and Shōta closes his eyes and just breathes.
Enclosed in his arms, Toru does the same. He offers comfort easily and always has as long as Shōta's known him, (sometimes Shōta wonders about Toru, who is so young but tries so hard, and so he does his best to ease the burden and make sure that Toru is actually being looked after—thankfully, Toru's team are always willing to lend a hand). With one last squeeze, Shōta then steps back and lets go.
"I'm alright," he says. "You?" He glances over at Toru's team, including them in the question.
"We're good," Toru agrees, a smile pulling at his lips. "All of us."
(Maybe once Shōta would've adhered to the line between subordinate and Kage a bit more, but Toru isn't like just any Kage. Uzushio isn't like any other village either. The lines are blurred and Shōta's figured out how to walk them anyway.)
The worry in Shōta's head has abated slightly, but he knows it won't be completely gone until this battle is well and truly in the past. It might've been won, but there's certainly still much to be done. The aftermath, after all, doesn't wait for anyone.
Narrowing his eyes, Shōta casts off such thoughts. "Then why are you here? Don't you have tasks to attend to?"
Behind Toru, one of his teammates sniggers, raising a hand to hide his laughter. Toru shifts and Shōta raises an eyebrow and uses that little bit of height to look down on Toru. The other better not be coming here to take on more work. Yes, they need all the help they can get but it's starting to become manageable.
Not to mention, Toru looks like he might collapse in an hour and Shōta's not about to speed that up.
"Nothing that I can deal with at the moment," Toru says. There's a downturn to his expression, eyes dropping downwards, and Shōta grimaces. "I got the list of current casualties on the way over."
The casualty list likely isn't as bad as it could be, but there will still be people on it and Toru will mourn them regardless of whether or not it was expected. Shōta will mourn them too, when the names come out. He will likely see more lives slip from his fingers as those in the hospital linger, trying to beat the odds but ultimately failing.
(He will see people try to beat the odds and succeed. He will see people in ICU walk again. He will see his people leave hospital and live. He will see all of this too. Lives will be lost, but he will never forget how many will be saved.)
Shōta can't do anything about the already dead nor can Toru, for that matter. They can only help those who are still alive. Even then, they can only help so much without causing further damage.
As much as Toru looks like he could go on, and likely would if given the opportunity, there's not much that he can do. Especially as a number of other Uzushio-nins have come to help out, freeing up the medic-nins for more difficult injuries. Plus, the influx of Kiri-nins and Oto-nins means that there's been more people around.
There is, of course, one task that Toru and Toru alone can do. It's a task that Shōta would never ask of Toru. Of course, Toru doesn't ask, just watches because he knows Shōta knows.
"This way," Shōta says at last, stepping back, and leading Toru through the crowds around the hospital.
Inside, the building is only somewhat less crowded—it feels that way, at least. But Shōta knows it's only because there are clear pathways here, letting the medics rush from one place to another. Here, people aren't comfortable and pinched expressions are almost everywhere you look. These are the people still waiting to be seen to.
Shōta bypasses them without stopping, only nodding at a fellow medic when they pass. Instead, Shōta leads Toru—and Toru alone, his teammates falling into the shadows as guards—into a room off from the entrance.
This room is busier than the others and where most of the medics are. Shōta doesn't frown as he watches, but his heart aches, already mourning. "Here, Uzukage-sama," Shōta says softly. It would feel wrong to use Toru's name here, in this place of the dying and dead.
"Thank you, Shōta," Toru says, barely whispering. Then, alone and so young and so old, he steps forward and ducks to crouch beside one of his people. Shōta doesn't watch. This is something far too personal to watch.
(There are many things that are not, strictly, an Uzukage's duties. They're not outlined in some book or law or anything. But it is what a leader does. When your people are dying and you can't save them, you crouch beside them and offer all the comfort you can, as little as that might be.)
(Here is something ninjas know too well: you will die, but you don't have to die alone.)
Eventually, all that can be done has been done. Toru has issued his orders, seen to his people, there is nothing more he can possibly do. Of course, there is Sasuke and Naruto and Konoha waiting for answers, Toru is sure.
But he hasn't slept since the battle, even though it's definitely been over a day. Toru is here and his village is mourning even as they celebrate their win and he's… tired.
(Tired but exuberate too because, at last, it is all over.)
His team find him, not that they ever really left, and don't say anything. Toru swallows, doesn't know whether he wants to close his eyes and see nothing or stare at them for hours. His legs, hanging over a rooftop, stop swinging, and he sighs, leaning backwards onto his palms.
"Hey," Sora says softly as she sits down next to him. She's close enough that he can feel her body warmth but not quite pressing against him. She doesn't say anything more, just sits beside him. It's… Well, Toru doesn't know if it's enough or if he wants something more.
His mind is loose, not quite relaxed but at ease—exhausted but not stuck in a state of constant vigilance. She doesn't ask how he is, doesn't really need to. In the aftermath of any other battle, she might, but this is Uzushio who was attacked. She knows that he's physically okay, but mentally it's likely a different story entirely—for the most part, though, he'll be tired.
Then, Souma is there as well, appearing silently with a bag held loosely in one hand. Toru tips his head backwards, glancing at Souma upside-down. For the most part, his team have been sticking on his heels, hidden in the shadows or appearing at his shoulder. It's not because they're guarding him or any such thing—they could get any ANBU to do that. However, they've just fought together and they want to make sure they're all alive. Logically, they know the war has been won and they will live to see the next day, but that doesn't mean they know it subconsciously.
Regardless, they disappeared individually for a little bit of time. Toru assumes that they're finding themselves little things to keep them going and checking on friends and clan mates. Toru's done the same, but most of his friends have found him first, (there are some benefits perhaps to being Uzukage—that his people will find him first).
"Here," Souma says, placing the bag on one side on him as he sits on the other side of Toru. He hands something past Toru, giving Souma something wrapped in white. Souma tears part of it to reveal a wrap, much better than the ration bars they've been largely working off so far.
Toru leans forward, shifting his weight off of his hands, and takes the wrap from Souma. They don't speak, just eating silently, and Toru feels his shoulders drop, tension slowly dropping away from his spine. He hadn't even realised that it had remained there.
"Where's Dai?" He asks, only after they've finished the wraps of course, they're all hungry.
"She's found a spot for us to sleep," Sora says. She knocks against his shoulder and he rocks with the motion, giving her a soft smile. "Souma dropped food off with her first."
Toru knows that their home is undamaged, but he also knows that a number of people are sleeping outside today. Not necessarily because they have to, but because there's a comradery in doing it. Not to mention, this way they can wake from a nightmare and say we all survived, we are all here, we will keep fighting. Toru knows that a number of people will still be up and about, but seeing everyone near each other…
"Sounds good," he says at last, before dragging himself to his feet. His knees crack and he twists, making his spine pop. Souma shudders theatrically and Toru can't help but laugh, grinning wide.
It leads to Souma reaching out after he stands, arm extending, and Toru finds himself tucked in beside Souma, before the other decides that he needs to have his hair messed up. Ducking out of the hold, Toru slips to stand beside Sora who sticks her tongue out at Souma as she rests an arm around Toru's shoulders—thankfully not messing with his hair.
Toru could track Dai down, but instead he just waits, patient. Souma gives in with a sigh. "Down in the training grounds," he says. "We're placed on the edge closer to Uzushio rather than the cliffs."
Sora hums in agreement. "I think the hospital staff have chosen ground nearby as well."
"Shōta's been forced to sleep then?" Toru asks, amused. So far all he's seen of Shōta is the other always moving, which Toru understands, especially considering that Shōta is one of the leaders in the hospital. However, like Toru, Shōta is not constantly needed. There is time to rest, to pause, to sleep.
"He got kicked out of corner to find actual sleep," Sora says. "He definitely grumbled about it, but there are some people you can't argue with and Rikku Hamasaki is one of them."
The civilian hospital director certainly is not someone you want to cross. Not to mention, he's one of the leaders in creating a program geared at reminding people to look after themselves, of which Toru and his team have thrown their support behind. A number of people have—and Toru's seen the benefits of the program as well.
"I would rather die than try to tell Rikku-sensei no," Souma announces as he leads them over rooftops. Toru smiles but doesn't respond, keeping his eyes lowered to avoid weak spots in the roofs, which have been helpfully painted in bright green so no one steps on them and then goes through the roof.
The training grounds aren't far away and Toru pauses on the last rooftop, looking outward. The night's fallen, darkness enshrouding the training grounds since they were far enough away from the streetlights. It's not the stars scattered above, crystal clear in the sky, or the moon shining boldly above that provide light in the training grounds. Rather, there are bonfires, orange flames flickering and throwing up sparks. The smoke rises, twirling, into the night sky.
It doesn't remind Toru of that first invasion. Rather, it reminds him of coming home, of Uzushio rebuilding, of how they'd all slept near each other in tents and the bonfires had been sparked across the beach to celebrate. It feels peaceful.
(He's not certain if it's meant to feel that way, but he feels like he can breathe. The smoke feels like comfort and Toru feels safe.)
There are tents and make shift shelters built, canvas thrown over stone pillars likely created by some earth ninjutsu. Dispersed throughout are his people, asleep or laughing or in piles or simply living. They are here, alive, at peace, safe.
Toru breathes out and smiles. Arms wrap around him from behind, and he relaxes into the hold, shifting slightly so he can rest his head on Dai's shoulder—because it is Dai, he can sense her chakra and he felt her approach. But, more than anything else, he knows because she feels safe and like home and his other teammates are in his eyesight.
"Hey there," Dai says and they're too far away from the lighting for Toru to really make out her expression. But her eyes gleam in the dim lighting and the white of her teeth appear, briefly, and he smiles, helpless. "Doing alright?"
Rolling his head slightly, Toru presses a kiss against her cheek. "I'm doing well," he says. "Thank you."
(He doesn't specify what he's thanking her for—whether it's for being there, for asking, for hugging him. He doesn't need to specify because he's thanking her for everything, for being there, for existing. He is always thanking his team for being there and they've always been doing the same for him.)
Dai steps away, still smiling. "I figured we didn't need the tents out tonight," she says rather than responding. She drops down to the street level and, without hesitating, Toru and his teammates follow, (they will always follow Dai without hesitation).
"A good idea," Sora agrees. "It's definitely not needed tonight, especially considering the clear skies."
Except, Toru knows, it'll likely be cooler because there are no clouds trapping the heat—but there's no chance of rain this way, that much is true. However, it's one thing to be warm in a tent and quite another to be warm under the stars with blankets and teammates pressed against you. Not to mention, even if they don't quite fall asleep, this way they can see the stars, (this way they can look up and know that they are free and safe and in Uzushio).
"And I dropped by home and picked up the best blanket," Souma cheers and Toru rolls his eyes, even as he grins. The best blanket, as christened by Souma, is a thick woollen thing that is, perhaps, the worst colour of yellow that you've ever seen. Despite this, it's the softest and most comfortable thing in the entire world. If Toru knew where they'd gotten it from, he'd probably go back and buy another one in a different colour—except he has no idea where it came from. For the most part, he feels like it just appeared thrown over the back of the couch and made itself at home.
The worst part might be that he has a feeling one of his teammates knows where it comes from but they still refrain from getting a better colour. It has driven Toru insane and he's fairly certain that's why his teammates do it.
"One day I'm going to find out where that blanket came from," Toru threatens, but it's half-hearted at best. He, and his teammates, know that the blanket won't be disappearing from their household any time soon. Not unless it someone ends up destroyed, but so far it seems to have survived any fight it's ended up in.
"Sure you will," Sora says. "And that's the same day that Souma will give up on his dramas."
"In other words, it's never happening," Dai says helpfully like Toru didn't already know that. A few seconds later, Dai comes to a stop. "Here," she says, gesturing to the sleeping mats placed out and the basics of a ward seal sketched around the edges. Toru runs a careful eye over the latter, he trusts Dai but he needs to know what protections he's placing around himself anyway. It's a simple ward, one that works as an alarm system more than anything else. It's more than good enough.
So Toru flops himself onto the sleeping mat in the middle. The ground's hard beneath him, but the mat offers enough protection he can kind of ignore it. He places his hands behind his head, interlocking his fingers, and stares up at the stars.
(He looks up at them and remembers. Remembers tracing the stars with Ayumu, with Mika, with Isaki-sensei. Remembers slowly naming them, finding constellations by connecting each glimmering light. And, of course, he remembers staring at them from the roof tops of Uzushio with his teammates, making up stories that leave them laughing and smiling and never once stopping.)
There's barely a second to breathe along before there's a body pressed up against him. Rolling his head, he sees that it's Souma and shifts just enough so that he can use Souma's shoulder as a pillow. From this angle, he can't see Souma smile but he knows that the other is doing it. A hand runs through some of his hair, careful and gentle, and Toru closes his eyes, relaxing into the feeling.
Someone shifts his legs, elbows him sharply in the ribs to squish over a tiny bit, which he does with a grumbling complaint, and then his other two teammates have joined him. Opening one eye, he pays enough attention to notice that his legs are now folded over Dai's and that she's resting her head on his chest. Somewhat awkwardly, Sora's managed to curl around Dai's side to press her shoulder against Toru. It looks like an uncomfortable angle, but she seems happy enough.
Smiling, Toru reaches out and skates light fingers through Dai's hair, tugging playfully, before pressing his fingers against his bead there. Dai tilts her head, smiles at him, Toru smiles back. Then, he shifts his arm so that he's reaching out to Sora, and he does the same for her. Sora smiles in response and moves just enough to press her shoulder against his shoulder a little bit more, adding the pressure that says I am here, I am here, I am here.
(They are always here. They are in his heart and in his mind and by his side. They are his teammates and family and he loves them. They are his and he is theirs.)
"Love you," Toru says softly, speaking to all of them at once. He immediately gets a chorus of responses in a variety of ways; Dai responds verbally, whilst Sora taps a response against his arm, (H-E-A-R-T L-O-V-E she says, and it is all too easy to understand), and Souma's shoulder moves beneath Toru's head as the other turns slightly, before kissing Toru's head.
Smiling and safe, (Uzushio safe; his teammates safe), Toru finds it all too easy to fall asleep. Above him, the moon slides across the sky, the stars dancing around it. Around him, his people sleep and talk and smile and cry but, throughout it all, they are alive.
(This is Uzushio in the aftermath of an invasion: undefeated, victorious, peaceful.)
In the aftermath of the invasion, everyone finds themselves pulled together. The Konoha-nins discuss what information they learnt whilst Toru gathers Uzushio and watches as they stand, together and undefeated. Then, as time passes, he too rests. There will be more to do, there always is, but for now he sleeps, with his teammates beside him.
! We are so close into moving into the final arc of this series. And by that, I mean it starts the next chapter and I'm torn between being excited to write it and really not wanting this series to end.
And yes, I am really doing all the comparisons between the invasion that led to Uzushio's fall and then this invasion where they won. I think it's such a neat comparison and you're all just going to have to deal with that.
Also the server is to blame for the old team feels. They had me thinking about the old ANBU team and writing on them a little bit and so then I got feels about how much had changed. Any and all feels you get from there can be blamed on the server.
Originally, the plan was to have Konoha and Uzushio groups coming together to discuss the Akatsuki's plans and figure out what was happening. However, it worked better to simply have the Konoha kids there. Anyway, it was a lot of fun figuring out what legends and stories they could know and how different it was from what actually went down and not what. To do this, I ended up diving into the wiki on Kaguya and her sons and all that and I had so many problems, as the server knows when I was going off and being confused there. Thankfully, it doesn't really matter and I can just have the characters question all of it for me. It's way better than trying to force it into something that actually works.
Shota! One of my favourite OCs who aren't main characters (I have many don't blame me, they're all so loveable and also force themselves centre stage and I really admire that in a side character). Shota and Toru's friendship is a lot of fun especially in comparison to the start of Part 2 where Shota was more thinking about the line between Uzukage and subordinate.
Listen being a medic must be so hard especially in the aftermath of a battle. And Shota is probably feeling that and Toru knows - because, in the end, not everyone can be saved. They can do their best, but sometimes things happen.
Another shout out to the server. I shared the line 'you will die, but you don't have to die alone' with them and they thought I meant like multiple people dying at once rather than people comforting you as you died. I forgot that was one of the ways to view it lol.
More cuddle piles! Soft feels! I love this ANBU team with all my love. Anyway, that was the last bit of the invasion arc. The next arc will be the one that begins to wrap everything up and end it.
I hope you enjoy this chapter everyone!