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Mito approached Hirato, her eyes filled with a mix of sadness and determination. "Poor child," she murmured, her hands glowing with a soothing purple light as they hovered over his body. Hirato felt the warmth of her chakra seeping into him, rejuvenating his battered form. Summoning every ounce of strength, he managed to lift his hand and weakly push Mito away.
"I don't deserve it," Hirato rasped, his voice barely above a whisper.
Mito smiled gently, her expression filled with compassion. "It's okay," she said softly. "I came here to die today. The method doesn't matter."
Hirato shook his head, his eyes filled with resolve. "Let me die worthy. Please."
Seeing the determination in his eyes, Mito nodded, understanding that his spirit had already given up on life. No jutsu could mend a soul that had chosen its path. Naruto and Himawari watched, their faces etched with pain.
Hirato's breaths came in shallow gasps, each one a struggle. "I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice breaking with regret. "For everything I've done... the pain I caused... I thought I was doing the right thing, but I was wrong."
Naruto clenched his fists, his eyes filled with a mix of sorrow and frustration. "Hirato, you tried to save us all in your own way," he said, his voice trembling. "We can't change the past, but we can learn from it."
Himawari knelt beside her brother, tears streaming down her face. "We love you, Hirato. Nothing will change that. Please, don't leave us with regret."
Hirato smiled faintly, the gesture filled with sorrow and a hint of peace. "Thank you," he whispered. "For believing in me, despite everything. I can die knowing you're safe."
Mito continued to channel her chakra, easing his pain as much as she could. Hirato's gaze softened as he looked at his siblings one last time. "Naruto... Himawari... live well. For me."
With those final words, Hirato's body went limp, the light fading from his eyes. He died with a faint smile on his lips, at peace at last.
Naruto and Himawari clung to each other, their grief overwhelming. Tears streamed down their faces as they held Hirato's lifeless body between them. Mito stood silently nearby, her heart heavy with sorrow and regret. The once fierce determination in her eyes had dimmed, replaced by a deep, aching sadness.
Above them, unseen by anyone, Hirato's soul drifted toward the Pure Land. He felt an inexplicable sense of peace, a welcome contrast to the turmoil that had defined his life. As he ascended, he saw another soul approaching—Shisui. Their eyes met, and for a moment, the pain and regret melted away. They exchanged a knowing smile, a silent understanding passing between them. They both had tried to do what they believed was right, and now, they were free from the burdens that had weighed so heavily on their shoulders. Together, they moved on to the Pure Land, leaving behind the chaos of the world they had known.
On the ground, Naruto's grief transformed into a roaring fury. He tightened his grip on Hirato's body, his eyes blazing with anger. "TOBIRAMA!" he bellowed, his voice echoing through the valley. The sheer force of his cry seemed to shake the very ground beneath them.
The air grew thick with tension, the weight of the situation pressing down on everyone. Tobirama, however, remained stoic, his expression unreadable.
"This isn't over," Naruto said, his voice low and dangerous. "You will pay for what you've done."
Himawari, tears streaming down her face, looked at Tobirama with a mixture of sorrow and anger. "How could you? He was just a child. He didn't deserve this."
Tsunade stepped forward, her face pale with fury. "Tobirama, you have crossed a line. This is not how we operate. We don't sacrifice our own."
Tobirama met their gazes with a cold, unyielding stare. "It was necessary for the greater good. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few."
Naruto's fists clenched, his knuckles turning white. "The greater good? How can you justify the death of a child for your plans?"
Hashirama stepped between Naruto and Tobirama, raising a hand to halt the confrontation. "Enough," he commanded, his voice firm. "I'm sorry for what Tobirama did, and I promise to keep him under control. But right now, we have a bigger problem to deal with." He pointed toward the ominous portal still swirling with malevolent energy. "That portal needs to be closed before hell itself comes down upon us."
Naruto gnashed his teeth, his anger barely contained. "How can we close it when it took so much effort to open?" His voice was raw with emotion, the loss of Hirato still fresh in his mind.
Hashirama's face showed uncertainty. "I don't know, but we have to find a way."
Mito, her face pale and eyes filled with determination, stepped forward. "Tsunade, summon all the Kage. The world as we know it may not exist if we don't close this portal. This is beyond Konoha now. We will need every shinobi, even civilians, if we are to fight this."
Tsunade nodded, her resolve strengthening. She began to prepare the necessary seals to send urgent messages to the other villages. The air was thick with tension and urgency, everyone understanding the gravity of the situation.
As Tsunade worked, Hashirama turned to the assembled shinobi. "We need to prepare for an onslaught. Specters will come through that portal, and we must be ready to defend our world."
Itachi stepped forward, his expression stoic but his eyes sharp. "I will mobilize the ANBU and ensure the village's defenses are heightened. We need to protect the civilians."
Naruto, still seething with anger, nodded. "I'll gather the remaining forces and prepare them for battle."
Around them, the other shinobi began to move, organizing themselves and readying their weapons. The tension in the air was palpable, each of them understanding the dire stakes.
As Tsunade finished her summoning, she turned to the group. "The messages have been sent. The Kage will convene here as soon as possible."
Mito looked at the portal, her expression grim. "We don't have much time. The specters will sense the opening and come through in force. We need to hold them back until we can find a way to close it."
Naruto's eyes blazed with determination. "We won't let them take our world."
It didn't take long for the world to act. The urgent message from Konoha alerted all the villages, both large and small. They gathered in the valley, where Konoha had raised literal mountains and placed seals covering the vast area around the portal. At the top of the hill, looking down, stood the Kages from each village, along with the newly rescued Daimyo and leaders from other lands. Their faces were grim as they surveyed the situation.
Tsuchikage, visibly older than ever, frowned as he observed the dark energy seeping from within the portal. "What is this?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.
Below, in front of the portal, stood an entourage of the strongest Jonin from each village. Kakashi and Itachi stood side by side, with Obito, Nagato, Yahiko, Konan, Rin, Naruto, and Himawari close by. From the Cloud, Darui led a force of their own, while Kurotsuchi and the Stone Jonin were positioned next to Zabuza, Haku, Kimimaro, Mangetsu, Suigetsu, and Chojuro. The combined forces of the shinobi world stood ready, their determination palpable.
Hashirama looked at the gathered leaders, his expression serious. "As you may know, this world has been in endless battles for thousands of years, even long before chakra came into our lives," he began, his voice carrying across the assembled crowd. "I learned some things from Horyu about Kaguya, the Sage of Six Paths, his brother, and the era before Kaguya's arrival."
Raikage interrupted, his eyes narrowing. "What does this have to do with the portal?" he demanded, his impatience clear.
Hashirama continued, unperturbed. "The specters have been manipulating us from the shadows for centuries. They thrive on our conflicts, feeding on the negative emotions that arise from our wars. Kaguya's arrival and her actions only exacerbated this. The Sage of Six Paths and his brother tried to combat this influence, but their efforts were ultimately incomplete."
Mizukage Mei, with Kisame standing protectively beside her, asked, "So you're saying these specters are the root cause of all our conflicts?"
Hashirama nodded. "Exactly. And this portal," he pointed towards the swirling vortex, "is their way into our world. If we don't close it, they will overrun us."
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