The weight of responsibility hung heavily on Konohamaru's shoulders. This mission was supposed to be simple: a straightforward task from the Hokage and a chance for Sarada to reunite with her father. But now, everything had gone wrong, and the familiar stirrings of guilt and regret gnawed at his conscience. The image of Sarada's pain-stricken face was etched in his mind, and he couldn't shake the feeling that he should have done more to protect her.

I still need to complete the assignment that Lord Seventh had sent me out to originally do, Konohamaru thought, his heart beating with anxiousness.

he looked at Sarada's sleeping form and shook his head disappointed in himself. I should have never let her come, his anxiety slowly turned into a feeling of guilt.

Creating a shadow clone was a tactical decision. A high-level clone with a significant portion of his chakra would ensure that the mission would be completed and that Sasuke would receive the important message from the Hokage. But a part of Konohamaru questioned the morality of his decision. Could he truly face Sasuke, knowing the harm that had come to Sarada under his watch? The fear of facing the renowned Uchiha's wrath was undeniable. Konohamaru could only imagine the fury he'd feel if he learned the truth about his daughter's plight.

He turned his gaze towards Sarada, her face pale and serene as she rested. Even in her vulnerable state, he saw the spirit and resilience of an Uchiha. It reminded him of her father's determination and her mother's kind-heartedness. Taking a deep breath, he leaned back against the wall. As the shadows of the room lengthened, and the rhythmic sound of Sarada's breathing filled the silence, the weight of the day's events bore down on him.

Sitting in the dimly lit room, his thoughts oscillated between regret and determination. He silently vowed to himself that he would make things right for Sarada. She deserved that much. His eyelids grew heavy, and despite his best intentions to stay awake and watch over her, exhaustion claimed him, and he drifted into a fitful sleep.

Some time later…

The dimly lit room felt suffocating as Konohamaru jerked awake, momentarily disoriented. The hazy glow from the medical machinery cast a soft light on Sarada's serene face, providing a stark contrast to the chaos that had preceded this moment. The weight of guilt pressed down on him, a grim reminder of the pain and danger she had faced because of his oversight.

Rubbing his temples, Konohamaru's gaze darted around the room. His thoughts swirled, a tempest of self-doubt and anger. "I need to be stronger," he whispered to himself, fists clenched tightly, "For all of them. For Sarada, for Boruto, for Mitsuki, for the village."

He rose, his movements slow and deliberate. The need for fresh air felt like a burning urgency. However, as he navigated the winding passages of Orochimaru's hideout, the rhythmic clattering of a keyboard drew his attention. Peeking into an adjacent room, the multiple glowing monitors illuminated Orochimaru's pale face, his fingers dancing across the keys.

Sensing Konohamaru's presence, Orochimaru halted his work and turned, that all too familiar smirk gracing his lips. "Tired of merely waiting, are we?" he drawled, the taunting tone unmistakable.

Konohamaru's heart raced. Every ounce of him wanted to lash out, to confront the man who had torn his world apart all those years ago. The haunting memory of the Third Hokage's sacrifice surged to the forefront of his mind.

Gulping down the lump in his throat, he managed a terse, "I need some air." His voice strained with the effort to remain calm.

Orochimaru, never one to miss an opportunity for mind games, offered directions to exit the hideout, before turning back to his work, seemingly unfazed.

Konohamaru's gaze remained fixed on Orochimaru's back. The tension in the room was palpable. Finally, Orochimaru turned, eyes narrowing. "Is there something else you'd like to address, Konohamaru?"

Tears threatened to spill from Konohamaru's eyes. With a shaky breath, he rasped, "Why did you do it? Why did you kill him? My grandfather! Your Sensei! The Third Hokage!"

For a split second, the room hung in a still silence. Orochimaru's usually impassive face took on a rare, mournful expression. The pale Sannin sat down in a chair and faced Konohamaru. "I never intended for him to die," he began, voice quieter than usual. "Our fight became a deadly dance of power. He invoked the Death Reaper Seal, and to use that jutsu comes with a great price. He was willing to sacrifice his soul to protect the village... to protect you. He didn't perish by my hand; he gave his life for the hidden leaf because that was what he was willing to do to protect the people he cherished."

The raw honesty of Orochimaru's words hit Konohamaru hard. Tears streamed freely down his face. "He was everything to me," he whispered brokenly.

Orochimaru, gazing deep into Konohamaru's eyes, continued, "Your grandfather died a true shinobi, with honor and a burning Will of Fire he always spoke of. I may never fully understand the depths of my actions, but at the time, I was obsessed with knowledge, power. But if there's one thing I do regret, it's that day more than any."

As silence settled between them, Konohamaru turned away, trying to find solace in the cold, winding passages of the hideout. And as he left, a single tear glistened on Orochimaru's face, a testament to a complex history of choices and regrets. Soon after he turned in his chair and began typing, resuming what he was doing before his talk with Konohamaru.

Konohamaru exited the hideout in frustration, he tried to calm his mind but it only continued racing. Thoughts lingering toward the grandfather who had always taken care of him. The man regretted spending so much time trying to become the Hokage by beating his grandfather.

I wish I got to spend more time with him before, Konohamaru thought somberly.

He grit his teeth and formed a swirling ball of energy in the palm of his hand and look right in front of him which was a large boulder. Konohamaru thrusted his hand forward and immediately broke the boulder with the power of the Rasengan. The debris flew in all directions but no harm came to him.

Damn it all, Konohamaru punched the ground.