ꜱʜᴀᴅᴏᴡꜱ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍɪꜱᴛ | ᴛᴇɴᴛᴇɴ ꜰꜰ|

Chapter 104

Ugetsu stood in the still, endless void of limbo. The world around him was a soft gray, like a fog that swallowed every trace of light. He felt no pain, no warmth—just an overwhelming emptiness. It was as if the world he had known, the world of Konoha, had never existed. His thoughts were sluggish, his heart heavy with confusion. How could this be? He remembered the fight with Pain, the surge of his own power... and then the darkness.

But now... this place was so cold. So alone.

His chest tightened, a strange emptiness weighing on him as he tried to make sense of it all. He thought he would have seen his mother—her soothing voice, her comforting presence—but she wasn't here. The idea of her faded like a distant memory, leaving only silence in her place.

"Mom?" His voice broke the silence, but no answer came. Just an unbroken quiet.

Then, from the fog, a figure slowly emerged, stepping out of the grayness like he had always belonged here. The figure was elderly, with a calm and gentle presence that Ugetsu immediately recognized. His heart skipped a beat.

"Dad?" Ugetsu asked, barely believing his eyes.

The man—Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, Ugetsu's adoptive father—smiled warmly at him, his old eyes filled with kindness and affection.

"You're here..." Ugetsu murmured, his voice cracking with a mix of surprise and relief. "I never thought I'd see you again."

Hiruzen chuckled softly, the sound warm despite the dismal surroundings. "Well, I always figured you would find your way back to me somehow. It's good to see you, Ugetsu."

Ugetsu let out a shaky breath, looking down at the ground, trying to steady himself. "I... I thought I'd see Mom here too."

The Third Hokage sighed softly, his face softening. "She's still watching over you, somewhere. But I suppose it's not quite her time to be here, either. She would have wanted you to keep fighting, not to give in to this place."

Ugetsu nodded slowly, the grief still tight in his chest. "I never thought this would be how it ends. I thought I'd get a chance to do more... with all the people in Konoha. Mochi... she's gotten so fat, Dad! She's eating everything in sight, and it's like she doesn't know when to stop. I swear, I think she's been sneaking into the kitchen when I'm not looking..."

Hiruzen laughed softly at that, his smile warm. "I imagine she has. She always did have a good appetite, didn't she?" His eyes twinkled with fondness. "You've done well with her, Ugetsu. I'm proud of you."

Ugetsu's face softened at the words, the weight in his chest easing just a little. It felt good to hear that. "I'm... doing okay back in Konoha. I've got friends who help me, but... I can't help feeling like there's more I should be doing. I just wish I could've done more... for everyone."

Hiruzen placed a hand on Ugetsu's shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "You've done more than you realize, son. Don't underestimate the difference you've made in the lives of those around you. Even when you didn't think it was enough, you gave people hope. You've grown into a fine young man. You're strong... in more ways than you know."

Ugetsu blinked, a bit stunned. "You think so?"

Hiruzen nodded, his eyes gleaming with pride. "I know so. You've truly grown into someone I can be proud of. You're a man now, Ugetsu. A handsome one, too."

Ugetsu chuckled softly, his cheeks reddening slightly at the compliment. "I guess I'm not the scrawny kid I used to be, huh?"

Hiruzen gave him a mock serious look. "Not at all. You're as strong as they come, and with your heart, you've made all the difference. That's something no one can take away from you."