When Kawakaze received Nonō's ssage, his heart sank.
He knew it was too late. Nagato was no match for an Impure World Reincarnated Madara.
At this distance, by the ti he arrived, all he would see would be Nagato's corpse.
"Wait for ."
With a dark expression, Kawakaze ended the visual link. Without saying a word to his family, he disappeared from sight.
"Sothing's wrong."
Tsunade didn't know exactly what Nonō had told Kawakaze, but from his expression alone, she could tell that sothing serious had happened.
In all these years, she had never seen him look like that.
Was it anger? Or grief?
Perhaps both.
Her instincts scread that sothing had happened to Nagato.
Sakumo and Nayuki were still trying to process the sudden shift in atmosphere.
Ritsuki and Seina had stopped playing, turning their eyes to Tsunade.
"What happened?"
"Where did Kawakaze go?"
Sakumo asked in quick succession, his face instantly turning serious.
"I'm not entirely sure."
"But... it's possible Nagato ran into Madara Uchiha on his way back."
Even as she said it, Tsunade seed hesitant—almost unwilling to believe her own words.
She couldn't think of anything else that could have made Kawakaze disappear without a single word, other than Nonō informing him that Nagato was in danger.
And given Nagato's strength, there weren't many who could pose a fatal threat to him.
If it wasn't Madara... who else could it be?
"What?!"
"Where is he?"
Sakumo's eyes widened, and he was about to rush out imdiately.
"Big Brother, we can't act recklessly."
"Kawakaze is already on his way—we shouldn't get in his way."
"If Madara Uchiha has really appeared, we need to start preparing."
No matter how she looked at it, Tsunade knew Madara wouldn't just stop at Nagato.
She had heard from Kawakaze how strong he would be after his resurrection.
His power would far surpass Hashirama's—the two weren't even on the sa level anymore.
"If he dares lay a hand on Nagato, I won't let him get away with it."
Sakumo clenched his fists tightly, not even considering whether or not he could actually stand against Madara.
"I'll find Minato. You go get Nawaki."
With that, Tsunade turned and rushed toward the Hokage Building, with Sakumo heading straight for the ANBU.
No matter what news Kawakaze brought back, one thing was certain—
The peace of the Ninja World was over.
...
Kawakaze moved at full speed toward the Land of Lightning, never stopping once.
Even so, by the ti he found Nonō, a long ti had already passed.
"Sensei."
Kawakaze placed a hand on Nonō's shoulder, bringing her back to her senses.
Her whole body trembled. She looked utterly lost, like a soul without a body.
Deep down, she already knew—
The most important person in her life was gone.
The mont she saw Kawakaze, she couldn't hold back anymore. She threw herself into his arms and broke down, sobbing uncontrollably.
She had felt the terrifying force of Tengai Shinsei.
Even though the sea had long since cald, she was too afraid to face the truth.
As long as she didn't see it with her own eyes, she could still cling to the tiniest shred of hope.
Because if that last sliver of hope was shattered...
She wasn't sure what she would do.
She was carrying Nagato's child.
"...I'm sorry. I was too late."
Kawakaze had already sensed the Flying Thunder God mark he had left on Nagato's body—
But there was no trace of life left.
He gently stroked Nonō's hair, but the words he wanted to say remained stuck in his throat.
"Sensei, take there."
Nonō's voice was hoarse, her eyes swollen from crying.
What had to be faced had to be faced. There was no escaping it.
"Alright."
Kawakaze nodded, and the two vanished from where they stood.
When they reappeared, they were next to Nagato.
His corpse, soaked in seawater, had already begun to change. Even in death, Nagato had suffered a cruel fate—his eyes gouged out, his face mangled, his body collapsed in multiple places.
The mont Nonō saw him, she couldn't believe it.
Could this truly be the man she loved most?
She couldn't even cry anymore. She collapsed onto the surface of the sea, as if her very soul had been ripped away.
Kawakaze took one look before turning away, unable to bear the sight.
Tears welled in his eyes, not only from hatred toward Madara but also from self-reproach.
If I had gone to bring Nagato back myself...
Would this tragedy have been avoided?
The sea breeze carried the faint, sickening scent of blood.
Even Kawakaze, who had seen countless grueso scenes, felt an urge to vomit.
For an unknown ti, the two remained in silence, the stillness of the sea mirroring their grief.
Then, Nonō broke the quiet.
"Sensei, don't bla yourself."
She gently lifted Nagato's body, resting him on her lap.
She could guess what Kawakaze was thinking, but she held no resentnt.
"We were the ones who wasted ti."
"I no longer have the power to avenge Nagato."
Her voice was calm, yet tears fell one after another onto Nagato's lifeless face.
"I will avenge him."
Kawakaze looked at Nonō—so fragile, yet so resolute. His voice trembled.
Why?
Nagato was about to get married.
He was about to beco a father.
Why did it have to end like this?
Had he truly been powerless to change Nagato's fate?
The questions ran through his mind over and over until, at last, the tears he had been holding back slipped down his cheeks.
"I won't say thank you."
"But I do have one last request."
"Please take and Nagato back ho."
Nonō closed her eyes. She had no more strength to keep going.
"I'm sorry."
She placed a hand on her stomach, then raised the other—driving it straight toward her chest.
"Nagato... I'm coming with you."
A faint smile appeared on her lips as mories of their ti together flashed through her mind.
"No!"
Kawakaze roared, grabbing her wrist and squeezing it so tightly that any more force might have shattered her bones.
Blood seeped into her robes—her fingertips had already pierced her skin.
"Sensei, let go."
"You can stop once, but can you watch for the rest of my life?"
Nonō opened her eyes, filled with unwavering determination.
There was no trace of longing for life.
"Nonō, calm down."
"There's still a way."
"I can bring Nagato back."
Kawakaze didn't dare release her. His voice carried an impossible promise.
"Are you serious?"
"Can Nagato really co back?"
In that instant, Nonō's eyes lit up.
Kawakaze could feel the strength leaving her grip.
"It's true."
"Madara Uchiha used the Rinnegan to bring himself back."
"Then Nagato can too."
Kawakaze spoke quickly, afraid of even the slightest delay.
There was no doubt—Nagato could be revived with the Outer Path — Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique.
"Sensei... let go."
"I believe you."
His words rekindled the will to live in Nonō.
"Live on. Nagato will want to see his child when he returns."
At last, Kawakaze released his hold.
Nonō treated her wound, then rose to her feet, holding Nagato in her arms.
"I'll live."
"I'll wait for him to co ho."
With firm steps, she turned toward Konoha.
"Nagato... we're going ho."
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