It's a new episode.
This time, the camera returns to the scene of the conflict between the Third Hokage's faction and the Uchiha, specifically the moment after the explosion was discovered.
Fūyō, with his Three Tomoe, was the first to clearly see a pure white Susanoo, roaring skyward amidst the dusty ruins—exactly as he had seen it in Shimura Rō's memories.
The camera zoomed in rapidly, simulating Fūyō's perspective, once again showcasing the terrifying power of this colossal entity. Its gleaming white bones shimmered under the moonlight, both eerie and magnificent.
Fugaku was shocked by the appearance of a second Mangekyo, but then he heard Fūyō repeatedly calling Naraku's name. In a panic, he threw Danzo aside and rushed towards the scene.
Tsunade and Kakashi left with him. Jiraiya, realizing he was the only high-level combatant left to hold off the Third Hokage's pressure for the Uchiha, closed his eyes and lamented his bitter fate.
[I'm so excited! Naraku is about to be rescued!]
[Yes, yes, yes! Go save Baby Naraku!]
[This is the first time I've thought that plain white could be so beautiful.]
[Naraku's Susanoo has a completely different art style from everyone else's; it looks more like a compassionate deity.]
[Fugaku/Tsunade: Interrogation paused, I'm going to save him!!!]
[Jiraiya looks so bitter, hahahaha.]
Fugaku sprinted all the way, coincidentally encountering the children en route.
Seeing Obito's crimson Sharingan, he didn't even have the luxury to show surprise. He just focused on dispatching two Shadow Clones to escort them back, while his main body continued to rush without a second's delay.
After understanding the situation from Obito and promising to bring Naraku back safely, one of the Shadow Clones automatically dispersed, transmitting its memories back to the main body.
The main body, having received the memories, hadn't yet fully processed the wonderful news that "Naraku is alive" when he saw the Susanoo gradually dissipating in the sea of fire.
"No good!"
The tomoe in Fugaku's eyes spun wildly. In an instant, a colossal crimson skeletal Susanoo shot into the sky, carrying him upwards.
[Obito looks so much more reliable than usual; he knows what's most important.]
[Oh no, Naraku's Susanoo is gone!]
[Fugaku, hurry, hurry, hurry!!!]
The camera returned to the base ruins. Naraku, severely overexerted, could no longer maintain his Susanoo form, leaving him completely exposed to numerous enemies.
He gritted his teeth and retreated two steps, his hands slightly raised, still intending to use Ninjutsu to continue fighting.
The screen switched to Naraku's perspective, the image slightly blurry and shaky, showing only his trembling hands forming the "Boar" hand sign.
Just then, the camera moved to the side, and a gigantic red skeletal hand reached into the battlefield from behind a curtain of fire, sweeping away all approaching attacks with a single motion.
"Die—!!!"
Amidst a deafening roar, Fugaku and his Susanoo burst through the flames and positioned themselves in front of Naraku, protecting him firmly like a giant beast guarding its young.
[Naraku is almost at his limit.]
[To have held on until now, Baby, you've really tried your best, boo hoo hoo hoo (crying).]
[Fugaku! He's just too cool!]
[He's saved! Awesome!]
[It was a close call, another half-second and it would have been too late.]
[This shot is really cool, a vast sea of fire, sweeping away thousands of enemies.]
[Fugaku has reached new heights of coolness in these episodes, it'll be recorded in Hokage history.]
[Uchiha Fugaku definitely deserves a place in high-octane fan edits! He could even appear in the most epic parts!]
Tsunade also arrived just then, supporting Naraku's collapsing body from behind and gently laying him on the ground.
"Cough... Tsunade, Teacher..." Naraku's first reaction upon seeing Tsunade was to raise his hand, wanting to wipe the blood from his face and body so as not to scare her. "I..."
Tsunade, enraged, shouted, "Shut up!"
--What the hell is going on, and you're still thinking about these trivial things!
She placed both hands flat on Naraku's chest, the green light of her Mystical Palm Technique more intense than ever, rapidly repairing his collapsing organs.
The scene then showed a flashback: after Tsunade captured Shimura Rō in Kusagakure, she inadvertently glimpsed specks of blood on his body.
It was then that Tsunade realized she was no longer afraid of blood.
Perhaps it was at the cost of Naraku's life that she realized the futility of evasion and, in a moment of indignant defiance against the world, her hemophobia gradually began to heal.
Back in the present, Tsunade was busy adjusting her Medical Ninjutsu, her mouth still spewing curses.
"Why didn't you come to me or Fugaku! What are you trying to prove by yourself!"
"Fighting with a body like this, did you ever consider you might die here?!"
"What are we supposed to do? Collect your corpse again?!"
"I... I'm sorry..." Naraku gasped with difficulty, apologizing to his teacher, who was on the verge of a rampage. "There wasn't... enough time... please... forgive me..."
"Alright, shut up!"
Tsunade couldn't stand Naraku's foolishness of caring too much about others, so she waved her hand, forbidding him to speak.
Fugaku, having dealt with the enemies, rushed back. Reading the worry in Naraku's eyes as he looked at him, he offered reassurance.
"It's alright, my Shadow Clones will protect those children, don't worry."
Towards the end, he even managed a faint smile.
Only then did Naraku exhale slowly and gently, closing his eyes and lying quietly.
Tsunade's expression grew more solemn, and she asked Fugaku to help lift him, adjusting him into a position more conducive to treatment.
[He's in such a state himself, yet he's still thinking about Tsunade's hemophobia. Naraku, truly, I'm crying my eyes out.]
[He doesn't even know that it was because he died that Tsunade pulled herself together and literally cured her hemophobia.]
[Baby, you are so important to so many people... please, live well...]
[Tsunade, please scold him more, scold this guy who only blames himself awake! Boo hoo hoo hoo!]
[And Fugaku, why don't you scold him!]
[How could Fugaku bear to? This is his and Mikoto's treasure, who miraculously came back to life and returned to the couple's side.]
[Naraku! Naraku, hold on, don't fall asleep, damn it!]
—
Naraku patted his chest in relief, thinking how lucky he was to have been so miserable at the time. If he had still been standing then, Tsunade probably would have punched him down before treating him.
Speaking of which, Tsunade's hemophobia was even stimulated into healing. I truly am a divine doctor~
Naraku, the Uchiha's Mangekyo catalyst and divine doctor, seriously gave himself a five-star rating and decided to expand his related services in the future.
—
The camera moved to Kakashi.
He was running towards the Inu Base, stumbling, gasping for breath, and even tripping over raised tree roots on the ground.
Compared to his former image as a spirited genius, Kakashi was in poor condition now, having experienced many extreme emotions in a short time. He appeared disheveled and flustered, even a little pathetic.
--Naraku... Naraku... This time, please wait for me... Whenever Kakashi's inner monologue played, the screen would cut to Naraku's tightly closed eyes, pale cheeks, or the dark red bloodstains on his clothes, chilling the audience to the bone.
"Naraku!"
Kakashi's final cry was carried by the moonlight to the distance, returning to silence by the time it reached Naraku's ears, yet it made his fingertips suddenly twitch.
[Naraku isn't... going to die, is he... (sobbing)]
[It's heartbreaking, Kakashi and Naraku, both are so miserable.]
[Kakanaru is truly the most tragic CP since Hokage started airing.]
[Ah ah ah—! Naraku heard Kakashi calling him, right?!]
[I declare this to be psychic connection between CPs! From now on, this is the standard!]
[Kakanaru is simply moving heaven and earth, boo hoo hoo hoo...]
[It would be an outrage if they weren't together.]
The moment Kakashi finally arrived at the location after enduring countless hardships, a faint unease welled up in his heart.
He was afraid it wasn't Naraku, afraid of hearing bad news, afraid that all of this would ultimately be for nothing... A long, sorrowful melody flowed gently like a breeze around everyone's ears.
It was also like snowflakes falling in winter, light and cold, landing on his face and turning into tears that could no longer be hidden.
Kakashi almost exhausted his last shred of courage, relying on his obsession to step into the silent battlefield.
It wasn't until he saw Naraku that he broke free from his terror, joyfully muttering that Naraku was still alive.
But this joy didn't last long. When he fully saw Naraku's current state, a fear heavier than before seized his throat.
--Naraku... Was I too late again?
--Why am I always like this...?
He was too dizzy to stand, practically crawling to Naraku's side, yet dared not touch him. Wrapped in endless pain, he plunged into an abyss, feeling his very soul shatter in two.
A close-up shot focused on his hands, stained with much black ash. After two seconds, another blood-stained hand tremblingly entered the frame, its fingertips gently touching the back of his hand.
Subtle calls pulled Kakashi out of hell, bringing him back to reality from an endless nightmare. He breathed in the cold winter air, yet felt the blood rushing through his veins burning hot.
Kakashi's eyes cleared. He grabbed Naraku's hand and pressed it to his forehead, truly feeling that Naraku was alive and had returned to his side.
[No, no, no! Naraku isn't really gone, is he?! How will Kakashi live?!]
[Was he a step too late? Another near miss, another lost opportunity...?]
[The Old Thief! To torment my CP like this, I will never forgive you!]
[Ah ah ah ah ah, this is great! Naraku was saved! Kakanaru / Naka didn't end badly!]
[Naraku truly values Kakashi the most in his heart; he held on to comfort him with his last breath.]
[Kakashi's two choked sobs broke my heart. He used to be such a proud child.]
[Kakashi has been on a rollercoaster tonight; even the strongest person would break down.]
[Kakanaru finally met, boo hoo hoo hoo... they've both suffered so much.]
[Promise me you two will live well, and stay together forever and ever! o(╥﹏╥)o]
The ending theme began playing as usual. This time, not many people transformed into Gaia; the comments were all deeply moved by Kakanaru's "reconciliation," completely forgetting to curse the animator for the short length.