Chapter 85

As the smoke of war dissipated, the sacred tree withered and died.

The initiator of the Fourth Shinobi World War used the Samsara Reincarnation Technique to revive those who died in the war.

After the battle at the Valley of the End, Naruto and Sasuke finally joined forces to break free from the Infinite Tsukuyomi.

From then on, the ninja world returned to peace, and the Fourth Shinobi World War finally came to an end.

Naruto became a great hero who saved the ninja world and was revered by everyone. Kakashi also successfully took over the responsibility of becoming the Sixth Hokage.

As for Sasuke, who was imprisoned in the dungeon, he was granted a pardon and regained his freedom because he and Naruto broke the Infinite Tsukuyomi together, and with Naruto and Kakashi's pleas for mercy.

Xue woke up, and the first thing she saw was Sasuke's face. The flames of hatred in his eyes had been extinguished, replaced by a sense of relief after experiencing so much. He exuded a clean, refreshing scent of soap, which mingled with the pungent smell of disinfectant in the hospital, creating a unique and complex aroma. Xue noticed that Sasuke's hair had grown quite a bit, and his overly long bangs slightly obscured the Rinnegan on his other side.

Xue reached out and gently touched his eyebrows and eyes.

"It feels...like I had a really long dream." Xue sighed softly, and Sasuke grasped her hand with his only remaining one. "But I can't remember what kind of dream it was."

“It’s been a month since the war ended, Yuki.” Sasuke’s voice was low and calm, no longer showing the radicalism and sharpness of the past.

Xue noticed that his left sleeve was empty, and she turned her face away, refusing to look at him.

Sasuke reached out and wiped away her tears, though he wasn't the type to comfort people.

However, in each other's hearts, they are the only remaining, unique family.

This bond of kinship and love is like intertwined threads, tightly connected and inseparable.

She existed in his childhood, witnessed all his pain and hatred, and shared his suffering and pain.

He wanted to love her and not miss out on each other. He wanted to be with her in the future and never be apart again.

"Don't cry, Xue."

Sasuke spoke softly, his fingertips repeatedly caressing the corners of her eyes, as if trying to soothe every trace of her sorrow.

The slight calluses on my fingertips have a slightly rough texture.

Xue stopped crying, and her eyes were slightly red when she looked at him.

Sasuke slowly approached her, took her hand, and gently placed it on his face.

Xue's breathing was very soft, but in the end she couldn't help but ask about that person.

"Where's Obito...?"

Upon hearing this, Sasuke lowered his eyes, his silence serving as an answer.

Xue understood. She closed her eyes, her physical weakness unable to support her turbulent emotions.

The kisses landed on her forehead, the corners of her eyes, her cheeks, and finally her earlobe.

As she fell into a deep sleep, the last thing she heard was Sasuke's low, gentle voice.

"Stay by my side, Snow."

"I will wait for you, until you fall in love with me."

"No matter what kind of emotion it is, I can accept it all."

"...Whether it's related to my brother or Obito..."

"I love you, Xue."

She responded to him; she no longer wanted to run away from anyone's feelings.

"good."

-

After Kakashi officially assumed the position of Hokage, Shikara took over the position previously held by his elder brother, Nara Shikaku, who had died in the Fourth Shinobi World War, though he referred to himself as acting clan head. Shikamaru, on the other hand, volunteered to serve as the Hokage's assistant, intending to gain experience and prepare in advance to support Naruto's future as Hokage.

Under Shikaryo's leadership, the Konoha high-ranking officials who were involved in matters related to the Uchiha clan were all brought to justice.

Given their advanced age and the contributions they had made to Konoha over the years, after their good deeds were redeemed, they were ultimately sentenced to spend the rest of their lives in prison.

As for the Caged Bird Seal of the Hyuga clan, its legitimacy was completely negated as the descendants of the branch families of the Hyuga clan dwindled. However, ninjas already imprinted with the Caged Bird Seal could not remove it. At least not among the new generation. Neji joined the Anbu, and Hinata, during the Fourth Shinobi World War, was severely injured by the Thrust Technique while protecting Naruto, and could no longer perform missions like a normal ninja. The burden of the main branch fell on Hanabi's shoulders.

Everything in Konoha Village is moving in a positive direction.

Two weeks later, Xue was discharged from the hospital.

She encountered Neji at the hospital entrance, a boy dressed in an Anbu uniform.

A pair of bright, white eyes stared straight at her, and he held a bouquet of lilacs in his hands.

"Hello...you must be Neji?" she broke the silence.

Neji's gaze slowly fell on the woman before him. She was still slender, and even in ordinary clothes, the stunning beauty of her face was undeniable.

Xue pointed to the cherry blossom trees blooming like clouds and rosy dawn beside the hospital entrance and suggested, "Shall we go over there?"

Neji nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over her solitary figure, and couldn't help but ask, "Where's Sasuke?"

Xue smiled gently and explained, "He went to complete the discharge procedures."

A moment of silence fell. Then, a gentle breeze blew, and petals drifted down from the trees, softly landing on Yuki's hair. Neji instinctively reached out and gently brushed the cherry blossom away, then offered Yuki the bouquet of flowers. Yuki took it, a faint smile on her face.

“Back then… I thought about shielding Hinata, but certain images kept flashing through my mind.” Neji paused for a moment before continuing, “The scene where you argued with Father and rejected the main branch of the clan from carving the Caged Bird Seal on me. At that time, my body couldn’t move, and I didn’t know if what I did was right… Hinata is from the main branch; to protect Naruto, she couldn’t use chakra, and she couldn’t be a ninja.”

"As a member of the family that split up at the time, I have an obligation to protect her..."

"...Is that so?" Xue frowned slightly. Her memory of this event was somewhat hazy, and she wasn't even entirely sure who Hinata was. She gave a reassuring smile and said softly, "That was Hinata's own choice, and it has nothing to do with you, Neji."

Neji's eyes widened slightly, as if he didn't quite agree with the answer, but soon he seemed to accept it and softly replied, "Mm."

The gentle spring breeze seemed to blow away the sorrow that had been lingering in his heart.

He slowly reached out and gently touched Xue's cheek with his fingertips.

Xue didn't dodge; she just looked at him quietly with a puzzled expression.

"Will you stay in Konoha from now on?" he asked softly.

Even Neji himself found it unbelievable that he had asked such a question.

Even if she stays in Konoha, in what capacity should he stay by her side?

So many people like her...

"Snow will be with me."

Neji's words were interrupted by a firm voice as a strong hand gripped his wrist.

Neji frowned slightly and turned his head to look, only to see that Sasuke had been standing beside them at some point.

Sasuke released his grip and gave Neji a cold look.

Xue gave an apologetic smile and stepped forward to stand next to Sasuke.

Neji stood under the tree, quietly watching their departing figures, before turning away after a long while.

"He sent the flowers?" Sasuke asked, raising an eyebrow, his tone blatantly jealous.

Xue couldn't help but mimic his raised eyebrow and repeat, "The flowers he sent?"

Sasuke was at a loss for words when he saw her like this.

She could only turn her head slightly away, her dark hair revealing a faint blush on the tips of her ears.

The two walked side by side until they reached the monument to the fallen heroes of Konoha.

Obito's identity was never revealed, and in the eyes of the world, he remains a heroic ninja who died in the Third Shinobi World War.

Xue gently placed the bouquet of flowers in her hand in front of his tombstone. At that moment, a few petals drifted down from a tree not far away.

Xue subconsciously looked up at the tree, but found nothing.

-

Xue originally planned to return to the clan's territory to stay for a while, but the territory had been abandoned for many years.

Sasuke and she moved into an apartment that Konoha had allocated to him after the massacre of his clan.

The room was exactly the same as when he left.

Sasuke made a request to Kakashi: he wanted to embark on a journey with Yuki, as a way to atone for his past mistakes. After all, as former rogue ninja, his and Yuki's identities made it inappropriate for them to remain permanently in the village. Kakashi quietly closed the document in his hand, his lowered eyelids obscuring his emotions, making it difficult to discern what he was thinking.

After a moment, he slowly spoke, "What does Xue think?"

Sasuke was slightly taken aback, but quickly gave his answer: "Wherever I go, Yuki will always be by my side."

In his mind, this seemed to be the most natural thing in the world.

Below the apartment building, cherry blossoms bloomed like clouds and rosy dawn, their petals fluttering down in the gentle breeze. Sasuke, carrying a bag of fresh groceries, stood beneath the cherry trees. Yuki stood quietly beneath the trees, gazing up at the dreamlike cherry blossoms.

"Why did you come down?" he asked softly.

Xue gently tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, looked at him tenderly, and said, "You're back, Sasuke."

Just like before, except that someone seems to be missing.

The empty cuff of his left sleeve fluttered gently in the wind. Sasuke couldn't remember how long it had been since anyone had spoken such words to him.

He replied, "I'm back, Xue."

Sasuke stepped forward and took Yuki's hand, and Yuki reciprocated by interlocking their fingers.

Love nourished the lilac blossom, which was on the verge of withering, and it gradually began to come back to life.

After dinner, Sasuke casually brought up the topic of traveling.

"I'll go anywhere, because Sasuke is my home."

When she smiles, her sharp canine teeth are visible inside her mouth.

Her curved eyebrows and eyes were beautifully captivating.

Just like Sasuke once told her.

My only refuge is by your side.

Night fell, and the bright moonlight filtered through the thin curtains, casting a silvery glow into the room. The two embraced tightly, Yuki leaning lightly on Sasuke's shoulder, her hair falling like silk across the bed, carrying the fresh scent of Sasuke's soap. Their breaths gradually synchronized, each breath carrying the warmth of the other, as if trying to absorb each other's essence into the depths of their souls. Sasuke's dark pupils were filled with Yuki's image, nestled in his arms.

"If I woke up tomorrow and found out... we'd become a couple, would you find that interesting?" Sasuke asked softly.

Xue frowned helplessly and chuckled softly, "Aren't we like that now?"

Sasuke's ears turned slightly red, and he widened his eyes slightly, saying somewhat urgently, "That's because... Yuki, you've never said you like me or love me... that's why I misunderstood..."

"I love you, Sasuke."

Her bright eyes were fixed on him, and Sasuke didn't know how to describe it.

I felt a burning sensation in my eyes and a wave of heat in my heart.

"I, I love snow too."

"From a very, very long time ago..."

"I know."

Intertwined hands convey each other's warmth and love.

Sasuke gently kissed her forehead, his movements as tender as if he were handling a rare treasure.

"Perhaps... Xue's birth is the world's way of redeeming me in my current state."

A handsome young man gently kissed the corner of her lips; they were the only remaining members of the Uchiha clan in the world.

In this complex and chaotic world, if they do not love each other and do not deeply integrate their flesh and blood into each other's bodies, they will not survive.

What meaning does this world hold for them?

[End of text]