[In the fifteenth year, over the course of two years, you helped Konoha defeat Otsutsuki Urashiki, Otsutsuki Isshiki, and his Kara organization, along with numerous other enemies.]
[Through countless battles fought side by side, your relationship with Sasuke gradually softened. Although you never said it out loud, deep down, you had already acknowledged him as your father.]
[In the final battle against Otsutsuki Isshiki, you learned that the diamond-shaped mark on your palm was actually a Kāma seal belonging to Otsutsuki Momoshiki, containing his consciousness.]
[Momoshiki's will would gradually consume your own, eventually reviving himself through your body.]
[But you didn't care. Over the past two years, Momoshiki's Kāma had remained dormant, never once attempting to influence you.]
[After Isshiki's death, the world entered a brief period of peace, and everyone returned to their normal lives.]
[You returned to the village, still accompanying Qin to the mountains to collect medicinal herbs every day.]
[During this time, you received a letter from Sasuke. He said that Sarada seemed to be in a relationship—with Naruto's son, Uzumaki Boruto.]
[As a devoted older brother, the moment you received the letter, you rushed to Konoha and directly cornered Boruto at his own home.]
["So, you little brat think you can date my sister?!"]
[Right in front of Naruto's shadow clone and Hinata, you pinned Boruto to the ground, giving him a proper beating. Afterward, you warned him not to tell Sarada that you had been there…]
[In the sixteenth year, something major happened—not just to Konoha, but to the entire ninja world.]
[Uzumaki Naruto, the Seventh Hokage, was dead. Killed by his own adopted son, Kawaki!]
[Kawaki had once been chosen as the vessel for Otsutsuki Isshiki's Kāma. After defecting from Kara and escaping to Konoha, Naruto took him in and raised him as his own.]
[No one knew why Kawaki had killed Naruto, nor how he had silently gained enough power to stand against the entire ninja world.]
[Naruto and Sasuke had joined forces to fight him, yet they were still defeated. One fell in battle, while the other barely managed to escape with the survivors of Konoha.]
[On the day Naruto died, Kawaki stood alone amidst the ruins of Konoha, arrogantly declaring war on the entire ninja world.]
["From today onward, the era of ninjas is over!"]
[Because everything happened so quickly—the destruction of Konoha, Naruto's death—you received no news until Sasuke arrived, leading the survivors to find you. Only then did you learn of what had transpired.]
[Among the survivors, you didn't see Sarada. A deep sense of unease rose in your heart as you questioned Sasuke.]
["Sarada was on a mission outside the village at the time. She wasn't in Konoha."]
[She's safe! The weight in your heart immediately lifted.]
[But almost as quickly, dread returned to your mind. A catastrophe like this—Konoha destroyed, Naruto dead—Sarada's squad would surely rush back to confirm the situation.]
[If they ran into Kawaki on the way, the consequences would be unimaginable.]
[Without hesitation, you stood up and prepared to leave for Konoha. Sasuke insisted on coming with you.]
[Using "Void Leap," you brought Sasuke with you, appearing instantly in the heart of Konoha's ruins.]
[The moment you arrived, you and Sasuke stumbled upon an ongoing battle—Kawaki was toying with Sarada, Boruto, and Mitsuki.]
[Rather than a fight, it was more like a game to him.]
[You and Sasuke immediately joined the fray. Even with five against one, Kawaki remained unfazed, seizing an opportunity to knock down both Boruto and Mitsuki.]
[With a sudden burst of power, Kawaki shattered the mask on your face. In retaliation, you struck him with a "Fractured Realm" technique.]
[As the mask's fragments fell away, your true face was finally revealed—locking eyes with Sarada for a fleeting moment.]
[Panicked, you quickly averted your gaze.]
[Despite the years apart, Sarada recognized you instantly.]
["Onii-chan!"]
[The moment that single word left Sarada's lips, Kawaki—who had been writhing under the effects of your technique—suddenly disappeared in a puff of white smoke.]
[A substitution jutsu!]
[Kawaki's real body appeared behind Sarada, blade in hand, ready to strike.]
[You tried to intervene, but in that critical moment, the strain from overusing your Mangekyō Sharingan finally took its toll.]
[You lost all strength, your vision blurring, but in the corner of your eye, you saw Sasuke already rushing forward.]
[With his speed, he could save Sarada before the blade fell.]
[Relieved, your tensed nerves finally relaxed—until the next moment…]
[Slash!]
[Kawaki's blade pierced straight through Sarada's heart. At the same time, Sasuke's sword ran through Kawaki's chest.]
[He had bypassed his own daughter completely, choosing instead to use her as bait for an attack on Kawaki.]
[In exchange for a chance to wound Kawaki, Sasuke had sacrificed Sarada's life.]
[At the moment the blade pierced her heart, Sarada's eyes awakened, her Mangekyō Sharingan identical to yours. Then, she collapsed into a pool of blood.]
[You stared at your fallen sister, completely frozen in shock.]
[Kawaki, wounded by Sasuke, summoned his strength and delivered a devastating punch—blasting a hole through Sasuke's chest before escaping.]
[Sasuke collapsed to his knees, mortally wounded. He knew he wouldn't survive.]
[Despite the searing pain in your eyes, you crawled toward Sarada, gathering her lifeless body in your arms.]
[Even though your vision was nearly gone, you still forced yourself to look at Sasuke.]
["Why… Why didn't you save her?!"]
["For the village… For the peace of the ninja world… This is the price I had to pay…"]
["Once I die, take my eyes—and Sarada's. Let them become a part of your strength."]
["From now on, I entrust Konoha and the ninja world to you…"]
[His voice grew weaker and weaker. Then, he died.]
[After hearing Sasuke's last words, all you could feel was overwhelming absurdity.]
[For Konoha? For the ninja world? To atone for past sins? Was that reason enough to sacrifice his own daughter?!]
[Ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous!!!]
[You took Sasuke and Sarada's eyes, giving them a hurried burial before returning to the village in a daze.]
[The first person you went to find was Qin. She welcomed you back with the same gentle smile.]
[But this time, after her usual greeting, she gave you news that shattered your last thread of sanity.]
[Qin was getting married—to another man.]
["Why? No… That's impossible. Qin, you're joking, right?
Didn't I always say I would marry you when I grew up? How could you—"]
[She cut you off.]
["Don't be silly, Bai Yao. You're my little brother."]
[That same warmth in her voice, but now laced with unshakable finality.]
[Your Kāma mark began to glow. Momoshiki's voice echoed in your mind.]
["This woman rejected you. Are you not furious?"]
["The woman you love is about to become another man's wife. Will you accept this?"]
["Kill her. Keep her. Make sure she stays by your side forever…"]
["Enough!"]
[You silenced Momoshiki's voice with a furious roar.]
[Then, Qin turned around, holding out a set of robes.]
[Not her wedding dress. A groom's attire—embroidered by her own hands. Yours.]
[Too late.]
[You had already killed her.]
[And at that moment, you broke.]
[You blackened.]