As soon as the heavy doors of the Hokage's office slammed shut behind him, Sasuke felt nothing but regret. A part of him protested each step that he took, urging him to turn around and face the girl he seemed to hurt over and over again. But no matter what, that damned Uchiha pride pushed his feet to keep moving, putting an ever-growing distance between them just like he always did. Just like he was always so good at doing.

The emotions he felt manifested as a storm. It left him almost breathless from the ever-growing pressure in his chest. But despite the chaos that the feelings brought, his mind was clear as he mulled over the same thought that he spoke aloud years ago at those gates. Sakura had nothing to do with his crimes. The price he needed to pay for atonement was his and his alone.

And that was why a sudden fury overtook him the moment he learned of Sakura's involvement in the restoration of the Uchiha crest at the compound. She had no reason to care for or even acknowledge the existence of such a clan. She especially had no reason to associate herself with him, not when they were from two different worlds that had no right to meld.

She was the spring and he was an everlasting winter. She brought light, warmth, and the promise of a fruitful harvest while blossoms only withered in his wake as the frost of his hatred stripped the land of its luscious green. Her hands gave life while his were stained red with blood. The answer was simple: they just didn't belong.

Sasuke's anger grew with every step as he made his way through the crowded streets of the village and unsuccessfully avoided the fearful glances shot in his direction. The more his fury grew, the more terrified the civilians all seemed to be, trembling like cornered prey as he passed. And for those who seemed unafraid, there was a hatred that burned in their eyes. He could feel it like flames crawling from his back to his shoulders, and finally to his chest that was already heavy with regret.

When he reached the training grounds he aimed for, he did the only thing he could think of that could possibly calm the storm in his head. Shuriken and kunai whirred around him, lodging loudly against wooden targets. The boards splintered from the force of his throws, one breaking cleanly in half and clattering to the ground.

For the next hour, the forest's silence was broken only by weapons slicing through thick tree trunks as he pinned falling leaves beneath the blade. Sasuke thought of nothing but the feeling of cold, sharp metal between his fingers and the sounds of his own ragged breaths. Even without his chakra, his moves were accurate and precise, like second nature. Concentrate, breathe, throw, the voice in his head instructed.

Though try as he might, the thoughts he so desperately wanted to escape slowly creeped back to the forefront of his mind. He pushed them away, telling himself to overcome it simply by concentrating on his target. But when his third throw missed its mark by several feet, he knew it was hopeless. He needed to weather the storm.

As he collected the stray weapons, he finally allowed himself to drift back to the events that unfolded over the past several days. Images and sensations flashed across his mind, replaying each scene like a real life movie. Root members, the seal, Sakura finding him, Sakura healing him, and—Sasuke's heart dropped—Sakura's expression of despair as she stared at Sachie's lifeless corpse.

He gulped. There was an unbearable heaviness that formed in his gut at the picture. That pain he saw in her eyes was one he never expected to see and he never wanted to see it again. No, he simply couldn't bear to see it again. The discomfort he felt anytime she was near needed to be extinguished at all costs. And he knew exactly how to ensure that.

Right then and there, Sasuke made up his mind. The lump in his throat that always seemed to form in Sakura's presence could be avoided simply if she wasn't around. So, the solution was simple. He needed to keep his distance. It was a mistake, he realized, to promise her a next time at those gates three years ago.

Plucking a shuriken from the bark of a tree, Sasuke inhaled deeply as he settled on his next steps. It was foolish of him, selfish even, to think that she would wait anyways. Sakura was no longer the girl from his memories, stronger and more mature than he could ever hope to be.

So with every ounce of conviction he could muster, Sasuke hoped that she would understand. From today onwards, he would make their boundaries clear. There was no future for them. Hell, it never existed in the first place. Things were simply returning to the way they should be: her as a revered pillar of the village and him as an irredeemable man working from the shadows.

A rumble in his stomach interrupted his train of thought, causing his next steps to falter as he crossed the training grounds to retrieve the remainder of his weapons. Sasuke couldn't recall the last time he had a proper meal and just the thought of it made his mouth water, much to his embarrassment.

With a sigh, Sasuke stalked away from the forest clearing and towards the sound of bustling voices. He dreaded each step he took as he drew closer and closer to the clusters of civilians, but unfortunately, he had no choice if he wanted a hot meal.

As he trudged through the marketplace and to his destination, Sasuke strategically kept his gaze facing forward in order to avoid the glares that were sent his way. It wasn't until he parted the curtain and ducked into a familiar establishment that he could finally feel his tense muscles relax.

The aroma of steaming broth filled his nostrils and the bubbling pots created an inviting hum. Sasuke would much rather die than admit it, but something about Ichiraku Ramen always brought a wave of nostalgia. Perhaps it was because the taste of a meal cooked with such dedication reminded him of his mother. Or maybe it was something else entirely, something written in the seats of the restaurants like a reminder of past memories.

"Welcome to Ichiraku! What can I—" The chef's jaw dropped as his gaze fell on the arriving customer.

Ignoring the shocked expression on the man's face, Sasuke settled himself in the stool and rested his elbow on the counter. But before he could speak to place his order, an enthusiastic voice rang out.

"Sasuke! Long time no see!" The shop owner's daughter exclaimed as she wiped her hands on the apron at her waist.

Her voice seemingly snapped the ramen chef from his stupor and he finally spoke again, "Ah, that's right. It has been a long time. I assume you'd want your usual order?"

Sasuke nodded wordlessly, suddenly feeling overwhelmed. While he didn't expect contempt from the restaurant owner and his daughter, Sasuke was surprised to receive such a warm greeting. Sure, he had frequented the shop with Team 7 in his youth and during his recovery period in the village after the War, but even so it seemed wrong for them to be so happy at his return.

Teuchi, Sasuke recalled the chef's name to be, placed a warm bowl of ramen in front of Sasuke before piping in, "We changed the recipe a little since you were last here but I hope it's still to your taste."

He only nodded in response again as he began to eat, using all his strength to stop himself from swallowing the noodles whole. The taste was just as he remembered, melting in his mouth in the best of ways. Maybe he was just starved of a proper meal, but he knew it was more than that. This restaurant was a reminder of better days. Each time the team ate here, Sasuke forgot about his revenge just for a second. In those moments, he was a child again, laughing with his friends.

"It seems like yesterday you kids were just trainees following Hattake around." Tuechi started. "It's hard to believe that you're all grown up now."

The dark-haired shinobi ate quietly, annoyance rising with each syllable that the man spoke. From his travels, Sasuke had long become accustomed to silence. It made him uncomfortable for someone to speak as he ate and it especially disturbed him that this person could speak so freely about his past.

However, as the chef and his daughter chattered on, a sort of serenity enveloped Sasuke. He hated to admit it, but there was something comforting about the ability to just listen to someone speak, with no expectation to reply. Just like the taste of ramen or the warm atmosphere of the tiny food stand, he found solace in it.

Sasuke listened wordlessly as the father-daughter duo discussed the weather, the new ramen recipe they wanted to try, and even how the village was growing so quickly that they needed to consider renovating the restaurant to accommodate more patrons. The conversation was meaningless to him yet it weighed heavily at the same time. This was what Itachi fought so selflessly to protect: a future where Konoha and its citizens could grow and prosper.

Just as the thought crossed his mind, he froze. His brother gave so much for the village and so much for him. He wondered if he could be disrespecting Itachi's wishes if he were to go through with his plan. Would Itachi be disappointed if Sasuke chained himself to a future of endless atonement? Would it be wrong for Sasuke to distance himself from the people who fought for his freedom?

The questions were neverending as they swirled in his mind, leaving him dazed. Perhaps he was too impulsive with his decision. Maybe he should give the village a chance and see if he could be redeemed by doing his duty to the village within its borders. Could it be possible that atonement could be achieved without him having to punish himself?

If he stayed, he could redeem more than just himself. He could rewrite the history of the Uchiha clan, restore it to its former glory, and resurrect the memory of Itachi from the dead. And maybe someday, he could speak the truth about his brother, until everyone could see him not as a murderer but as a young boy who was left with a choice that weighed more than the world.

It took him no time at all to finish the ramen. Sighing, Sasuke stood from the stool and prepared to leave, still mulling over the array of thoughts that clouded his mind. As he reached into his pocket for cash, Teuchi raised his palms to stop him.

"Don't worry about it. This is on the house!" The man exclaimed.

Sasuke was speechless for a moment before finally responding, "Thank you."

"No problem," the chef grinned.

As Sasuke turned to leave, the owner's daughter called after him. "It's the least we can do after you sacrificed your arm for the village! We should be the ones thanking you!"

Her words caused him to freeze midstep so suddenly that he almost tripped over his own feet. To him, it felt like a lifetime before he could move again, but to the world, it was barely a second before he recovered and continued on his path away from the marketplace. As the distance between him and the civilians grew, so did the anxiety that formed at what he heard.

Sacrifice, she had said. But he didn't sacrifice anything. He didn't lose an arm because he wanted to protect the village or save the world; Sasuke lost his arm because of his own selfish need to prove himself. It was a need that almost cost him his life and one that taught him a lesson that he should have learned long before the battle.

As he made his way back to the training grounds, Sasuke berated himself. He was weak, foolish, for allowing himself to think for a moment that he could live as a redeemed man. Even the deeds he accomplished that were seemingly good were misplaced, shrouded in embellished stories that Kakashi, Naruto, and Sakura told to win his freedom. His only redeemable qualities were lies.

Whatever hope he had of forgiving himself was extinguished at that very moment. He didn't deserve a future when he robbed so many of theirs, when his mistakes almost cost the lives of everyone he ever cared for. So as he trudged on in, in search of nothing in particular, he settled on one thing: never again would he be disillusioned with thoughts of a redeemed man.

It hurts to breathe, that was all Sakura could think as she stood at the bottom of the hospital stairs. She shakily climbed each step and dread dawned on her with each passing second. Her heart pounded in her ears, its rhythm so harsh that she swore she could hear her ribs crack from the impact.

Just beyond the doors of the establishment, she could sense Ino's chakra signature: content, albeit a little stressed, and completely unaware of the world-crushing news she was about to receive. Ino's signature spiked just slightly as Sakura stood at the double doors of the medical building, signaling that her presence was known and fully expected.

Sakura exhaled sharply through pursed lips. It was now or never. But before Sakura could take another step, the blonde appeared in front of her, wearing a grin bright enough to blind a man.

"Forehead!" She shouted, all too loudly. "Glad you're back, I'm tired of picking up all your slack."

"Ha! As if you could replace me, Pig." Sakura returned her remark with a forced laugh, hoping that the tension would go unnoticed.

But in that uncanny way of hers, Ino cocked her head to the side and scrutinized the pinkette. Her previous smile morphed into an expression of deep thought as her hands settled on her hips.

"What's wrong?" Ino's tone was solemn, something that made Sakura's heart skip a beat. It was rare for the kunoichi to be so grim, so much so that the drastic change in her demeanor could be felt in the air. It scared Sakura.

"Ino, can we talk? In private?"

It was evident from her best friend's expression that Sakura's serious tone terrified her just as much. Her eyes widened slightly as she frowned before wordlessly leading Sakura into the hospital and through the familiar hallways. Finally, the pair reached the doors of Sakura's office which had doubled as Ino's in her long absence.

As Ino shut the door behind them and they settled on the couch beside each other, the heavy silence in the atmosphere was palpable. The blonde's eyes narrowed as she studied her pink-haired comrade. But Sakura avoided her gaze at all costs, averting her eyes to focus solely on the way her hangs wrung nervously in her lap.

"I hope you don't plan on making me wait forever," Ino probed impatiently.

Though her words were harsh and evident of the anxiety that Sakura's continued silence brought, her tone was anything but. There was a gentleness there, one that Sakura felt guilty to receive. The one who needed comfort wasn't her, and yet here she was basking in the warmth that her friend offered anyways.

"Ino, there's no easy way to say this so I'm going to cut to the chase." Sakura started, her voice wavering as she spoke.

Ino leaned in closer, their eyes finally meeting. Against her best wishes, Sakura began to feel the prick of unshed tears behind her eyelids. Furrowing her brows with conviction, she reached out to take Ino's hands in hers, willing the strength her friend always emanated to also find her.

"We found out who the traitor was, traitors actually," Ino's mouth parted in surprise at Sakura's words. Swallowing, the pink-eyed kunoichi continued, "Captain Yamato is one of them and—"

"No way!" Ino interrupted, causing Sakura to jump in her seat at the sudden volume of her voice. "I don't believe it! How could he possibly—"

"Wait, Ino, there's more." Sakura's grip on her friend's hands tightened, "The other traitor is Sai."

Silence filled the room and yet it was so loud at the same time. Ino was frozen in place, unmoving even as Sakura's grip on her hands only continued to tighten. Sakura's gaze flickered across her friend's blue irises, searching for something, anything that indicated the woman understood the gravity of the information spoken aloud.

What Sakura was hoping to find in her expression, she couldn't be sure. She only knew that she thought she had come prepared to have this conversation. However, as hurt, anger, and finally disbelief flashed across Ino's gaze, Sakura realized that she wasn't prepared at all. In fact, she would do anything, even throw herself out the window, to escape everything that happened next.

Ino twisted her hands out of Sakura's grasp and shot up before laughing wildly. "Haha, very funny, Forehead," she announced sarcastically. "I always knew you had a terrible sense of humor but I never expected it to be this bad."

Sakura only stared sadly. From her friend's expression, she could tell that Ino didn't believe for a second that the conversation was a joke. But there was a glint of hope in Ino's eyes that caused her chest to lurch, a hope that possibly this was all a nightmare and nothing more.

"Ino, listen…" Still seated, Sakura reached for the blonde's hand again only to be met with animosity as Ino twisted her wrists away from Sakura's fingers.

"No, you listen, Sakura. Sai would never do something like that. Never."

"I want to believe that, too."

"I do believe it," Ino's voice rose with impatience and her arms crossed in protest.

In stark contrast to Ino's tone, Sakura's voice came out small, "I saw it with my own eyes."

"Then it was genjutsu," Ino said with finality.

The jade-eyes woman watched her friend in despair. She, too, held onto the hope that Captain Yamato and Sai were operating under genjutsu, forced to fight their comrades and betray the village against their will. But Sakura had always been skilled in detecting genjutsu, a talent she now wished she never had. At least then, she could believe in her own lies.

"Stop looking at me like that," snapped Ino as her brows knitted in annoyance.

When Sakura didn't avert her gaze, Ino turned away, her hand on the doorknob and ready to leave. Wanting to stop her, Sakura rose to her feet and closed the distance between them.

"You know I wouldn't joke about something like this and I sure as hell wouldn't report it if there was even a tiny sliver of hope that it wasn't true. But I know what I saw, Ino. The only thing we can do now is—"

"NO!" In a flash, Ino faced Sakura and seized her shoulders in a vice-like grip. "Do you have any idea what's going to happen to him now that you reported it?! You sentenced him to death! He'll be executed!"

"Kakashi-sensei would never allow that."

"He wouldn't have a choice!" Ino's fingers dug into her shoulders painfully.

"He's the Hokage! Plus with all of us on Sai's side, we could get to the bottom of this and get him a pardon. Just like Sasuke."

"You don't get it, do you, Sakura?" A finger jabbed into the pinkette's sternum as Ino advanced on her with every word. "Sai isn't from some powerful clan, he didn't have the privilege of growing up as the Hokage's student, and he doesn't have god-like powers capable of protecting an entire village. Do you really think the Elders would spare Sai's life when he's essentially a nobody in their eyes?"

Sakura opened her mouth to speak but no sounds came. She realized then that she had been naive, expecting things to play out in their favor just like it had before. But Ino was right. Sasuke's pardon was given only under the condition that he pledged his loyalty and ocular powers to the village. If the Elders hadn't seen the potential of a weapon in him, he would have been executed long ago.

"I—"

"You didn't think of that, did you?" Ino accused as she forcefully shoved Sakura backwards.

Too shocked to react, Sakura stumbled before regaining her footing. Her whole body trembled as her mind swirled with questions. What had she done? Did she really just send Sai to his death? Was it too late?

When Sakura finally dared to look back at Ino, her heart dropped at what she found in her expression: hurt so apparent and fury so hot that it burned. It was a feeling that Sakura could barely put into words. All she knew was that being buried six feet under and abandoned to suffocate beneath layers of dirt seemed merciful compared to the weight of Ino's gaze.

The friends stared at each other for what felt like an eternity. Sakura had no idea what else to say. Had she really been so selfish this entire time that she thought only of Sasuke's safety rather than the fate of Sai and Captain Yamato? Was she truly that blind to how cruel this village could be, sacrificing life after life simply for the promise of peace?

Wordlessly, Ino turned and gripped the door knob so tightly that her knuckles visibly whitened.

"I'm glad Sasuke is free, I really am," Ino spoke through gritted teeth, venom lacing each syllable. "But I think it's time for us to admit that his freedom was hardly earned."

With those final words, Ino exited the room and slammed the door behind her, leaving Sakura alone to be shrouded in darkness. Heavy, was the only word she could think of to describe the sinking feeling in her chest as it constricted her lungs. She could no longer breathe, struggling not to collapse with each passing second.

As she sank to her knees, she could only picture Sai's lifeless corpse. Peering down, Sakura was horrified to find a kunai in her hands, dripping with fresh blood that seeped from Sai's open wound. Ino's agonized screams from her imagination pierced her ears, sending daggers into her stomach. She could see it now, almost clear as day, the looks of betrayal they all shot her. She wanted to shout that she had no choice, scream that she did everything she could, but their jeers drowned out her every word.

Clutching her head in her hands, Sakura suppressed a sob as her tears threatened to fall. There was no use in convincing her otherwise now. She truly had sentenced her former teammates to death—teammates who had saved her life countless times, teammates who had been there for her even through the worst of times.

In the ninja world, those who break the rules are scum, but those who abandon their friends are worse than scum, Kakashi's words echoed in her mind and taunted her as she sat alone. That's right, she thought to herself, she was truly worse than scum.

It was dusk when Sasuke found himself back in Kakashi's office. Huddled around the Hokage's desk were Kakashi, Tsunade, and Shizune discussing the seal in hushed tones as Sasuke leaned against the far wall, his eyes shut. But despite his best efforts to ignore it, he couldn't help but be aware of Tsunade's criticizing gaze as it seemed to drill holes in the side of his face.

When the former Hokage motioned him to come closer with a click of her tongue, he obeyed without a word, much to his annoyance. But he knew that if he wanted to get this over with as quickly as possible, he needed to comply with her every demand. Plus, the future of his combat ability depended on it.

"Show me," Tsunade commanded, distaste clear in her tone.

As Sasuke slid his shirt over his head and settled in the chair they set out for him, he wondered briefly why the woman looked at him with such contempt. It wasn't something new to him, that's for sure. He had long become accustomed to the wary stares, but something about the fact Sakura's master disliked him irked him to his very core.

Much like Sakura and Kakashi had done before, the blonde medic summoned chakra to her palms and scanned his body. Sasuke felt the orb of her chakra run from the base of his neck to the middle of his back as she prodded his organs. Suddenly, a discomfort overcame him, as if he finally realized how vulnerable he truly was without his own chakra to use.

"It's just like you said, Kakashi," Tsunade observed. "His network has been nearly rewired to only release chakra into the seal."

"Is it possible to wire it back?" Kakashi asked, voicing the question that formed at the front of Sasuke's mind.

Tsunade's lips pursed in thought. "Perhaps. From the looks of it, I may be able to apply the same technique that I used to fuse Naruto's chakra network to his prosthetic arm to undo the rewiring. The only problem is, Naruto's chakra was compatible with the cells on that arm. In this case, it's almost as if his cells are attacking the networks that have been fused with the seal."

"Almost like a virus," suggested Shizune.

"Exactly," the former Hokage nodded. "The seal essentially works by converting existing chakra networks to ones compatible with the seal itself so that it can absorb the chakra. Once it attacks a section of his chakra network, the cells there are forced to direct chakra into the seal rather than to channels that would allow for jutsu release."

"Sakura let me know that he was able to use the Rinnegan when she supplied him with chakra. Why do you think that is?" Kakashi asked.

Tsunade was silent as she mulled over the information. "I'm not sure. My immediate hypothesis is that the Byakugou seal created its own chakra channels, which can bypass Sasuke's entire network."

"I see."

Nodding, the Fifth Hokage continued, "With Shizune's help, I may be able to pump enough of my own chakra into the seal at a rate faster than it can absorb while manually rewiring the chakra network." She directed her next words at Sasuke, "It won't be pleasant, Uchiha."

"Just get it over with," Sasuke answered. From the way Tsunade huffed in response, he knew his choice of words was a mistake.

"Still lacking basic manners I see," Tsunade scoffed.

To his side, Sasuke could see Kakashi rub the back of his neck. Eyes crinkling with a nervous smile, the gray-haired man replied, "Please forgive him, Lady Fifth. He's been on his own for so long, his social skills are severely…lacking."

Tsunade's reply came as an annoyed hum. Without another word, she placed her palms against the space between his shoulder blades and motioned for Shizune to do the same. Sasuke braced himself as he sat in the chair. Leaning forward, he rested the stump of his arm on his thigh and gripped his knee with his lone hand. But no amount of preparation could equip him for the pain that came next.

Sasuke's entire field of vision was blinded with a flash of white. An unbearable heat spread across his skin, making him feel as if the flesh was melting off his bones. His eyes clamped shut and his hand gripped the fabric of his slacks enough to tear the material. It felt like hours had passed. Then, as suddenly as it came, the pain was gone.

A dizzying haze overtook his body as he blinked rapidly in an attempt to regain his senses. His jaw throbbed with pain from the force with which he clenched his teeth and a bitter metallic taste filled his mouth where his tongue bled. Sasuke's lungs desperately searched for oxygen as he panted but no matter how deeply he breathed, it never felt like enough.

Distantly, he could hear the sound of voices but the words blended and merged into an indiscernible mess. He strained to hear, slowly making out the contents of the conversation as the roaring blood in his ears finally quieted to a soft buzz.

"We need Sakura, our medical ninjutsu isn't enough to heal his chakra networks. At this rate, we'll kill him before we make any progress." Tsunade explained.

As Sasuke's vision finally returned to him, he tilted his gaze up to find the three shinobi hovering above him. Meeting Tsunade's eyes, Shizune gave a quick nod before turning towards the exit.

"I'll go get her," the medic assistant announced.

"No!" With all the strength he could muster, Sasuke straightened himself up to face the trio in the room. "I don't want her help."

Tsunade scoffed incredulously. "Listen, Uchiha. You're in no place to make demands and if it were up to me, I wouldn't even bother to heal you. My advice? It would be wise of you to keep quiet and cooperate."

Sasuke gritted his teeth in frustration. He would gladly die a hundred times over if it meant Sakura would never have to see him in such a weak state. He couldn't bear to even imagine the pity and concern that would fill those green eyes, eyes that always somehow had enough tears to shed for him.

But before Sasuke could protest any further, a flash of pink burst into the room. On instinct, their eyes met and he silently gasped at what he saw. There was something different about her, something…wrong and tense. He couldn't quite put his finger on it. The only thing he could see was how it seemed almost as if she was looking right through him even though he was right in front of her.

The sensation he found in her eyes unsettled him but he shook it away. Just like he always did, he buried every thought of her beneath a pile of rubble until there was nothing left save for debris and devastation. They had nothing to do with each other. Their relationship started and ended with being teammates as children and that was all.

Lost in thought, Sasuke missed the entirety of the conversation as Tsunade caught Sakura up to the situation at hand. Before he knew it, two sets of palms settled between his shoulder blades again, sending a shiver down his spine. And when the chakra began to flow from their hands and into his body, an excruciating pain engulfed him again.

Sasuke shut his eyes again as he endured the torture. But this time, there was something different. His back still throbbed violently, a constant reminder that his very body was under attack. However, beneath the agony, was a layer of warmth. It grew and grew until he was enveloped in a soothing calm, one that was all too familiar.

It was Sakura, he was certain of it. The feeling of her chakra was something he could never forget. Gentle, skillful, softly healing him with each touch. Slowly, the fire on his back began to extinguish as the claws of the seal retreated into itself. The pain subsided with each pulse of her chakra until it faded into a dull ache on the surface of his skin.

When his eyelids finally parted, a fog danced across his vision and his head spun. He blinked to no avail, losing hope by the second that he would regain his strength. His limbs felt like lead, anchoring him to the floor of the Hokage's office. As he tried to inhale, his breath caught and flames overtook his lungs.

Someone shouted, but he couldn't tell who. He barely even noticed when his own body tilted forward, crashing harshly to the ground. Straining his muscles, he tried desperately to stand but succeeded in only hearing the sound of his own agonized groans.

Get up, get up, get up. He commanded his body to move, but his pleas went unheard. He was nothing short of a ragdoll lying in a heap on the floor. Sasuke blinked as a shadow overcame his vision, but his eyes were too blurry to make out the shapes before him. All he saw was pink and red. Then finally, there was only black.

A/N

Hi again! I feel like I always say this but apologies for the delay. However, the good news is the next chapter is already written so I should be able to update sometime next week after doing some heavy editing (no promises though).

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and please let me know what you think! And also happy Sasuke Retsuden English translation release week!