Chapter 159: Red Ties, Crimson Sand

With the meeting over, Naruto's clones respectfully escorted everyone back to the safe houses where he'd first brought them.

Half an hour passed. The house slowly settled into silence.

Only Naruto, Kushina, Tsunade, Shizune, Kana, Karin, and Haku remained inside.

Sasuke had left earlier with his parents—under a well-prepared disguise—just to stay with them for a night or two before the Chunin Exams began. A quiet reunion before the storm.

Eventually, everyone turned in for the night.

In Naruto's room...

"Nii-san," Karin's voice was soft, like a whisper in the dark. She lay beside Naruto on the bed, eyes fluttering but not quite ready to sleep.

"Yeah?" he responded, turning his head lazily toward her.

"Can I ask you something?"

"You can ask me anything, Karin," Naruto said warmly.

She shifted closer, voice thoughtful. "Why did you say to only capture the enemies? Not to kill them? Even on missions… I've seen you. You never try to kill. Not even once."

Naruto looked up at the ceiling, his voice calm. "That's because, Karin… do you know what life really means?"

She blinked, thinking. "Umm… Life means… just living, right?"

He chuckled softly and reached over to pinch her cheek. "Yeah. Exactly. Life is just living. But that's the thing—living is harder than dying."

Her eyes widened a little, curious.

"We can kill someone in a second, with a jutsu, a blade, a kunai. But to live? That takes effort. Struggle. Growth. Regret. Forgiveness. Living is what shapes people. Death just ends it."

Karin frowned slightly. "So… you don't like killing?"

Naruto shook his head. "No, I don't hate it. But I won't do it unless it's truly deserved. Like the higher-ups in Konoha. The ones who twisted the system and turned their backs on the village's soul—they deserve death."

He paused.

"But even then… I won't kill them."

Karin stared, confused. "Why not?"

"Because death would be a mercy," Naruto said, voice suddenly colder. "It's over too fast. No, they need to live through what they did. They need to face their downfall, their irrelevance, their shame. I want them to beg for death. But I won't grant it."

"That's… harsh," Karin said softly, pity flickering in her expression. She pitied them—but only as long as Naruto did.

And if he asked her to kill them?

She'd do it without blinking.

Naruto turned on his side and gave her a sleepy smile. "Pity? Nah. They threw that away the moment they chose power over people."

He yawned. "Now sleep. I've done enough talking for today. Between the fights and speeches, I'm wiped."

"Mhm..." Karin nodded.

A few moments passed.

Then sleep claimed them both—Karin nestled against Naruto, her arms loosely around him. His face unintentionally found its way into her chest, buried in warmth.

If heaven existed for shinobi, Naruto thought briefly before drifting off, this might just be it.

Meanwhile, with Sasuke...

He walked quietly alongside Fugaku and Mikoto under the cover of night, their disguises still intact.

Once they reached the modest inn room Naruto had arranged, they finally dropped the genjutsu. Their true faces returned—older, wiser, and tired in ways only survivors could understand.

Fugaku had rented a large room with a single, massive bed—easily big enough for three. Not that Sasuke minded. It was... nostalgic.

They agreed to explain everything to the rest of the Uchiha in the morning. Tonight was for peace.

Fugaku and Mikoto were just settling under the covers when Sasuke spoke up.

"Mom... Dad... I need to show you something."

Both sat up instantly, alert but calm.

"What is it, Sasuke?" Mikoto asked gently, brushing a hand through her hair.

Sasuke turned to face them, his expression solemn. He pointed to his eyes.

Slowly, the onyx black shifted—first to the single tomoe, then two, then the full 3-tomoe Sharingan. A moment later, the tomoe swirled and twisted...

And then—his Mangekyō Sharingan bloomed.

Beautiful and sharp, it pulsed with a dark crimson glow.

"Sasuke…" Fugaku whispered.

"My son," Mikoto breathed, her hand flying to her mouth.

Then, without hesitation, they both pulled him into a warm embrace.

Mikoto rested her hand on his back while Fugaku gently held his shoulder.

"When did you awaken it?" Fugaku asked, his voice low but proud.

Sasuke scratched the side of his head, awkwardly avoiding eye contact. "I thought about lying, but... not to you two. I awakened it the moment I learned the truth. About everything. About Itachi... especially."

Mikoto smiled softly. Her teasing tone returned like it never left. "So... you still love your big brother, huh?"

Sasuke's face immediately turned red.

"N-No!" he snapped, then dove face-first into the pillow, muffling the rest of his words.

Mikoto chuckled. "Dear… did our son just turn into a tsundere?"

Fugaku blinked. "Maybe," he replied with the straightest face imaginable.

Within minutes, the room fell silent again.

Sasuke lay curled into the sheets, Mangekyō faded, heart oddly light.

And for the first time in five long years, the Uchiha family—a real family again—felt peace.

No masks. No blood. No burden.

Just warmth, love, and a quiet night beneath the same stars.

Seven days passed—swift and silent—like a bird taking flight into the dawn.

Konoha had transformed.

The streets were bursting with life and energy, like a festival had collided with a battlefield. Children tugged at their parents' sleeves, vendors shouted with wild glee, and shinobi—young and old—moved through the crowds like silent guardians.

Banners fluttered above rooftops, marked with clan sigils and Konoha's iconic swirl. The aroma of grilled dango, sizzling yakitori, and sweet mochi wafted through the air, making stomachs growl even before the first match began.

More people = more sales.

More sales = more profit.

Simple math, yes, but every merchant shouted like it was divine truth.

"Fresh dumplings! Good luck charms for your favorite genin!"

"Come, come! Takoyaki hot and ready!"

"Try our victory senbei! Crunch away the nerves!"

The heart of the celebration, however, was the Chūnin Exam Finals Arena—a towering coliseum at the edge of the village, now packed tighter than a ramen bowl at lunchtime.

Seats had been claimed in layers of privilege:—The clan seats, taken by the nobility of the village—Hyuga, Nara, Aburame, and more—each seated in their own section with quiet dignity and sharp eyes.

—The VIP stands, filled with rich merchants, visiting dignitaries, and nobles from distant lands, all curious to see the next generation of Leaf's might.

—And finally, the commoner rows, loud, lively, and brimming with energy—where villagers gathered not just to watch, but to cheer, shout, and feel every moment of the battles.

The people were electric with anticipation.

Who would rise? Who would fall? Would there be drama? Romance? Glory?

And somewhere, in that coliseum, as eyes turned to the grand balcony—where the Hokage and allied leaders would soon sit—fate itself sat watching, silent and hungry.

The Finals were about to begin.

As time flowed like a quiet stream before the storm, a single figure walked into the arena—calm, composed, and cloaked in the weight of his duty.

It was none other than Hayate Gekko, the sickly but sharp-eyed Tokubetsu Jōnin, who had also served as the referee for the preliminaries.

No grand speech. No build-up.

Straight to business.

"The Finals commence."

The stadium exploded into cheers, claps, and wild whistles. You'd think the whole village had just downed a jug of sake together.

"First match of the Finals: Karin Uzumaki vs Gaara of the Sand!" Hayate announced, his voice clear despite the roar of the crowd.

The energy shifted.

From opposite ends of the arena, Karin and Gaara stepped out from their tunnels.

The crowd roared even louder.

A clash of names, legacies, and mystery.

One, a fierce redhead from the legendary Uzumaki clan, known for their vitality and chakra.

The other, a quiet storm from the Village Hidden in the Sand—mysterious, feared, and undefeated.

Whispers flew like kunai.

"Who's going to win?"

"I heard Gaara can crush people without touching them."

"Karin's an Uzumaki—she's no pushover!"

The fight hadn't even started, and already the tension was coiling tighter than a summoning seal.

Up in the stands, Naruto and his crew watched from their reserved section. All of them were calm—well, mostly calm.

Sitting beside them was Kana, Karin's mother.

Of course, she was here.

No way a mother would miss her daughter's first big step into the shinobi spotlight.

But her face was a canvas of concern—eyes flickering, jaw tight. Her worry wasn't about victory.

It was about whether her daughter would come back unscathed.

Naruto, noticing her unease, leaned in gently.

"Kana-san, don't worry. Karin knows how to handle this," he said with quiet confidence.

Kana tried to smile. "I know... but still, I'm her mother. A little fear is natural, right?"

Before Naruto could answer, Kushina chimed in—ever the strong, proud mom herself.

"Don't worry, Kana. She'll be fine. Besides... she's got a bit of me in her too." She winked.

Kana's shoulders relaxed just a little, her worry dulled—but not gone.

Nearby, the Hyūga clan had also arrived.

Hiashi, Hana, and little Hanabi had taken their seats. Hinata was among the finalists, too, after all.

But let's be real—Hanabi's eyes weren't glued to the arena. They were sneaking sideways glances at a certain blond boy.

"Naruto, when's your match?" Hanabi asked, feigning casual.

Naruto turned, a smirk blooming. "Mine's the last one."

"Eh?! Can't you go first? I wanted to see you fight!" Hanabi said with a light pout, puffing her cheeks.

Naruto chuckled. "Hey, I don't make the matchups—it was random. Besides, best should always be saved for last." He flashed her a smug grin.

Hanabi's face bloomed red like a tomato in summer. She quickly turned back to the arena just as the match was about to begin.

From the peanut gallery, Sakura muttered, "Narcissist."

"What?" Naruto turned.

Ino added, "Like, you're not even denying it anymore."

But they both waved him off and faced forward.

Hayate raised a single hand.

"Begin!"

The match was on.