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The Fourth Shinobi War is finally over. The enemy is defeated. Peace reigns among nations…well, generally speaking. Threats to that peace will always surface. But for now, Konoha, just like most hidden villages, is enjoying a much needed lull.
Each of the five great countries has pledged to support the economies of their respective shinobi village that formed the Allied Forces as it takes time to recuperate and get much deserved rest. The shinobi warriors, after all, saved the entire world from total annihilation or worse, total enslavement.
For Naruto and Sakura, these days are especially precious. Their friend Sasuke is back. No one ever expected it to happen, except maybe Naruto. How he managed to do it, how Sasuke came to his senses, how the Alliance won the war, that's another tale to be told by someone else at another time.
This story is about a silent hero of that war. Someone who observed from the background, at the same time, fought on the foreground. But generally, he remained unnoticed and unheralded even now.
Not that he desires any recognition. He's perfectly content that what he fought to protect remains intact. And more importantly, Naruto successfully proved to him just how deep the bond of friendship can be. Naruto's faith and determination gave him the strength to fight hard during the war. And now, he's one of its surviving veterans.
When Sasuke reunited with Naruto and Sakura, it filled him with happiness. But at the same time, he felt immense loneliness, loneliness that he could not explain. Or perhaps he could. He's just unsure of his own feelings and there's no one to confirm them. Books have proven to be unreliable. And it seems inappropriate at this time to ask anyone to clarify some things that should probably be obvious to a normal person.
Unfortunately, he can hardly be considered normal, not even by shinobi standards. He never was. He never will be.
Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, I don't know what the future holds, but I have a feeling those three have formed a bond so strong that no one will be able to break it. And someday…so will I.
Sai (Naruto Shippuden Ep. 238)
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Next: Part I - Loneliness and Grief
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