Chapter 33: A Chapter Concludes
The surrounding Mist ninja were confused and prepared to rush forward to attack the two, but a weak Yagura waved his hand, signaling them to stop.
"You're awake..."
Looking at the once-familiar Yagura before him, Juzo spoke in a daze.
"Yes… I've awakened. But it's time for me to fade away…"
Yagura propped himself up, trying to sit upright. Juzo noticed and helped him sit on the ground.
Yagura spoke softly.
"The Hidden Mist Village needs you. Will you stay…?"
Yagura's words were quiet and steady. He made no mention of the Three-Tails, only gently addressing Juzo.
It was as if, in his heart, Juzo mattered more than the Three-Tails itself.
---
"Juzo, stay here. This is your home..."
Juzo's eyes reflected a moment of inner conflict as Itachi softly encouraged him.
"But…"
Hearing Itachi's words, Juzo found himself truly torn.
He recalled what Kakashi had once said to Yamamoto: for those who have endured darkness, isn't it all the more important to help dispel the darkness for others?
Now that Yagura had regained his senses, Juzo's once disheartened spirit began to stir and awaken.
Seeing the faint emotion returning to Juzo's eyes, Yagura gestured to summon a few trusted subordinates.
"Juzo, promise me—look after my brothers. Serve as the interim Mizukage. If, in the future, the Hidden Mist produces someone capable of leading the village to prosperity, support them to become the next Mizukage. Just like we once did…"
Yagura spoke softly, entrusting his people to Juzo.
Compared to anyone else, Yagura trusted Juzo alone.
Yet Yagura also recognized that Juzo lacked the disposition of a kage, which was why he spoke in this way…
---
Juzo, who had been lost in hesitation, was deeply moved by Yagura's words.
He knelt down solemnly, just as he always had.
"I will carry on your will and ensure it is fulfilled…"
Juzo spoke quietly.
Seeing this, Yagura took an object from within his robes.
"This is my token of trust… Take care of them… I'm sorry for everything…"
Tears streamed from Yagura's eyes. Memories of the past years—his actions and regrets—echoed endlessly in his mind.
As Juzo accepted the token, Yagura extended his small, frail hand, forming a fist in a gesture of solidarity with Juzo.
It was a man's promise.
But before their fists could meet, Yagura's hand fell limply to the ground.
His clenched fist never loosened.
---
"Mizukage-sama!"
With Yagura's passing, Juzo let out a sorrowful cry, and Yagura's summoned confidants knelt in silence.
Behind them, dozens of Mist ninja knelt as well, their grief palpable.
Itachi watched the scene with mixed emotions. Even though Yagura had been a tyrant under the influence of a genjutsu, he was still the soul of the village—a leader with loyal, hard-working subordinates.
They had steadfastly followed the Yagura they remembered, holding onto the hope that, no matter how dire things became, he would return to them.
And now, with Yagura's death, this chapter of the story had reached a bittersweet end.
---
"Kid, thank you for everything this time…"
Juzo and Itachi stood amidst the misty forest.
In the distance, a large unit of Mist ninja stood, faithfully carrying out Yagura's final wishes to follow interim Mizukage Juzo and fulfill their shared dream.
"This was the least I could do, Juzo…"
Itachi looked seriously at Juzo's face.
Though Juzo was still alive, Itachi knew it would be difficult for them to ever meet again.
"Promise me, don't be so reckless when making decisions in the future…"
Juzo gently ruffled Itachi's hair and replied.
Hearing his words, Itachi smiled faintly.
"People can't always make the right decisions. Sometimes, they have to choose what makes them happy."
"Create a future that belongs to you…"
Itachi offered a quiet reminder.
---
Juzo removed the ring from his finger and handed it to Itachi.
"I will."
Juzo spoke firmly.
"Keep my role as interim Mizukage a secret for now. You know how much Akatsuki knows about the village's inner workings. Don't let the Hidden Mist face annihilation."
Taking the ring Juzo handed over, Itachi thought of Pain's abilities and spoke softly.
"Juzo is already dead. From now on, I will live with a mask on, working to make the village's future better, until the day a true Mizukage worthy of the trust of me and my brothers appears..."
Hearing Juzo's words, Itachi smiled.
It was a genuine smile—a smile for Juzo's release, a smile for the future Juzo had rediscovered.
The smile was so radiant, so warm...
"Kid, smile more often. You look great when you smile!"
Seeing Itachi's heartfelt smile for the first time, Juzo was moved. After a moment, he couldn't help but greedily make a request.
...
Itachi didn't respond to Juzo's words.
He turned away, waving the hand that held his ring.
"I won't pay back the money I owe you. We're even now..."
Itachi left, his figure stretching long under the setting sun.
"Kid..."
Watching Itachi's carefree departure, Juzo froze.
Then, he hurriedly chased after Itachi and wrapped his arms around the boy's small frame.
"Kid, don't take such risks anymore. Live a good life for me! And you'd better pay back the money—you owe me, and we're not even!"
Juzo tightly hugged Itachi's tense body, speaking urgently.
"I don't like men... Let me go, or I'm gonna get goosebumps," Itachi muttered softly, his tense body gradually relaxing.
Juzo gently loosened his grip, and two silent streams of tears rolled down his face.
...
Itachi was gone. In Juzo's eyes, he left freely and without a care.
But Juzo's heart felt heavy.
He could sense Itachi's current state was terrible, but there was nothing he could say...
When he had rushed toward Itachi earlier, the boy's tense body betrayed him.
Right now, Itachi was in such a state that he couldn't even sense someone approaching him from behind.
Forcing changes to destiny comes with a price...
Nothing in this world comes without a cost.
The more intangible something is, the more precious and difficult it is to obtain.
...
Night fell quickly. Itachi's eyes were half-open, bloodshot, and filled with exhaustion.
"Cough, cough..."
Itachi stared at the blood in his palm, lost in thought.
The power he gained by exhausting his life force would eventually demand repayment.
But when he thought of the light in Juzo's eyes, Itachi felt it was all worth it.
Not to mention the Three-Tails stored inside him.
Itachi felt this mission had yielded great results.
The night passed in silence. After summoning a few shadow clones, Itachi rested on a slightly damp tree branch.
He was too tired. He needed to rest.
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