Two more days had passed.
Although Leo had vacated the Hokage Building, allowing Lady Tsunade to return to her office and continue her duties as Hokage, he hadn't truly left. Instead, he had remained on the rooftop of the Hokage Building, quietly meditating.
For two days and two nights, Leo sat cross-legged under the sky, alone atop the highest point in Konoha.
He was not idle—he was stabilizing the vast and chaotic energy inside his body, the product of fusing the powers of [Ōtsutsuki Ashura] and [Senju Hashirama].
During this time, the power of his Rinnegan continued to surge, its energy swelling stronger by the hour. Even his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan had been further enhanced, becoming more profound and dangerous.
Leo remained still like a statue, completely focused on refining and harmonizing this overwhelming power.
---
Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office below...
After finishing her daily work, Tsunade looked up toward the rooftop. Her amber eyes were filled with a mix of frustration and helplessness.
She couldn't help but mutter, "Is he doing this on purpose?"
For the past two days, Leo had been directly above her, sitting silently above the office like an ever-present cloud looming overhead. Tsunade felt like he was deliberately keeping a watchful eye over her, occupying the literal and symbolic 'high ground.'
It was suffocating.
She had even considered relocating the Hokage's office elsewhere!
Unfortunately, no one in Konoha could force him to leave.
So all she could do was tolerate it—tolerate it and grow more irritated by the hour.
Thankfully, there had been some good news during this time.
Naruto had finally woken up yesterday!
And Jiraiya's injuries had mostly stabilized, although his right arm was beyond saving.
---
Inside Konoha Hospital
"Pervy Sage... is the village okay now?" Naruto asked, his voice weak as he lay on the hospital bed, looking worriedly at Jiraiya sitting beside him.
Jiraiya gave a tired chuckle. "Don't worry. That guy didn't wipe us out in the end. We took heavy losses, but Konoha still stands."
Naruto's eyes fell on Jiraiya's empty sleeve, his face turning grim. "Your hand…"
Jiraiya looked down at the stump of his arm and sighed softly. "Facing someone like Madara… surviving at all is a miracle. We can't expect to come out of it unscathed, right?"
He gave a wry laugh, trying to lighten the mood.
Naruto clenched his fist. "And he's still in the village? That bastard refuses to leave?"
"Don't take it personally," Jiraiya said, shaking his head. "If there wasn't still some compassion left in him, the entire village would be a smoking crater by now. He mentioned something about Konoha owing the Uchiha clan. Maybe something really did happen back during the Warring States Era."
"Hmph! He's just talking nonsense," Naruto grumbled. "I don't believe anything that guy said."
Just then, the hospital room door opened.
"Yo," Kakashi greeted casually, carrying a basket of fresh fruit. Haruno Sakura followed close behind.
"Kakashi-sensei! Sakura-chan!" Naruto grinned at the sight of his teammates.
"You seem to be recovering well," Kakashi smiled, placing the fruit down.
Naruto's expression changed when he noticed something. "Kakashi-sensei... your Sharingan?"
Kakashi nodded calmly. "Madara took it. The Hokage replaced it with a new eye—nothing special, but it works."
Naruto's chest tightened. Everyone had paid a price in that battle.
Was this really the cost of the so-called "Will of Fire"?
"By the way... where's Sasuke?" he asked, straightening up with effort.
Kakashi hesitated slightly before helping Naruto sit up. "He's been staying at the old Uchiha compound. Hasn't shown himself in days."
"Why?" Naruto frowned.
Sakura spoke up with a heavy tone. "The other day… Shimura Danzō revealed a whole arm covered in Sharingan. Even his right eye was Shisui Uchiha's Mangekyō Sharingan."
Kakashi sighed deeply. "And with Madara's words ringing in his ears... I think Sasuke's faith in Konoha was shaken. He's probably questioning everything now."
Naruto's heart sank.
Just then—
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Soft footsteps echoed in the corridor.
Uchiha Sasuke, wearing the traditional Uchiha crest on his back, entered the hospital room.
"Sasuke?!" Sakura gasped in joy.
"Sasuke, you idiot! I've been stuck in the hospital for days and you show up now?" Naruto grinned weakly, despite himself.
Kakashi and Jiraiya smiled subtly, glad to see Team 7 back together.
But—
"I'm here to sever ties," Sasuke said flatly.
"What...?" Naruto's smile froze.
"Sasuke?" Sakura's eyes widened in disbelief.
Even Jiraiya and Kakashi sensed the shift. Things had taken a dangerous turn.
"I, Uchiha Sasuke, am no longer part of Team 7," Sasuke continued coldly. "In fact, I'm no longer a shinobi of Konoha."
"I am Uchiha. That is all."
Naruto's face drained of color.
Sasuke's tone was final—his decision made.
To gain power, he would abandon everything.
Konoha, Team 7, even his own bonds.
The truth of Danzō's collection of Sharingan, the corruption festering within Konoha's core—Sasuke could no longer look away.
And Shimura Danzō was an elder. Was the Third Hokage truly unaware of these atrocities?
Sasuke didn't believe it.
It was all lies.
The so-called "Will of Fire" was a convenient mask—beneath it were greed, power, and betrayal.
"That's it," Sasuke said, turning to leave. "If we meet again, we may not be enemies... but we'll never be comrades again."
"Wait! Sasuke, are you serious?!" Naruto shouted, trying to get out of bed—but his body was still weak.
"Sasuke! Are you going to him? To Madara?" Kakashi asked urgently.
Sasuke paused.
Then, turning back, he said coldly, "Shouldn't I?"
"I am Uchiha Sasuke. He is Uchiha Madara. We are both Uchiha."
As he spoke, Sasuke's black eyes began to swirl.
His [Two Tomoe Sharingan] spun rapidly—then stabilized into a [Three Tomoe Sharingan].
"Sasuke... your eyes..." Kakashi murmured in shock.
"They've evolved?" Jiraiya looked grim.
Naruto and Sakura stared at him in disbelief.
"I've cut all ties," Sasuke said, glancing at his former comrades one last time.
Then he turned and vanished.
"Sasuke…!" Sakura ran after him, but he was already gone.
---
On the rooftop of the Hokage Building
After completing her work, Tsunade prepared to leave the office and grab a meal. She glanced up one more time—Leo still sat motionless, meditating as his long hair swayed gently in the wind.
She glared up at him.
The man really didn't care about appearances or protocol, did he?
Leo, eyes closed, remained focused.
He had maintained this meditative state for two days straight.
But just as Tsunade walked off—
Whoosh!
A figure landed lightly on the rooftop nearby.
"Sempai, I've done it."
It was Sasuke.
He approached Leo with anxious anticipation in his voice.
"Sempai, I've awakened the Three Tomoe Sharingan!"
He activated the [Three Tomoe Sharingan] in his eyes, showing it proudly.
Leo, without opening his eyes, made a one-handed seal.
Rumble...
A humanoid figure composed of wood began to emerge from Leo's body, slowly taking form.
When it touched the ground, a [Wood Style Clone]—identical to Leo—stood before Sasuke.
"This is... the legendary First Hokage's technique…!"
Sasuke's jaw dropped.
The power of [Wood Style]—a kekkei genkai bloodline ability once exclusive to Senju Hashirama, the God of Shinobi!
And yet, Leo had awakened it?!
"Leo-senpai... you really are…"
Sasuke's eyes gleamed.
What lay ahead for the Uchiha now?
---
To be continued...
---