"So this is the power your Star Ninja Village has been chasing all this time… how pitiful. And your fate shouldn't have been mine to decide."
Uchiha Ran tightened his grip around Akahoshi's throat as he spoke.
Just when Akahoshi thought he had escaped death, Ran's voice rang out again—cold and merciless.
"But the Uchiha have never been good people. And unfortunately for you… you know far too much."
In Akahoshi's terror-filled gaze, his body—still trapped within the illusion—was swallowed whole by the raging flames of Uchiha Fire Release.
From Natsuhoshi's perspective—
This long, exhausting battle finally came to an end the moment Uchiha Ran intervened.
Akahoshi, eyes wide with fear, was ultimately consumed by Ran's Great Fireball Technique.
It had to be said—Fire Release really did live up to its reputation.
Most C-rank techniques focused on control, but a C-rank Great Fireball was already more than lethal enough.
As for the Star Stone—now stripped of its Ten-Tails chakra—Ran decided to take it for himself.
The Star Ninja Village had gained its unique identity because of the Star Stone, but it had also lost countless lives because of it.
Without Ten-Tails chakra, the stone would eventually degrade into an ordinary meteorite.
But in the hands of Ran and Orochimaru, it might yet reveal far greater value.
And under the influence of Fleeting Life, Dreamlike Illusion, Natsuhoshi never even noticed Ran sealing the Star Stone away and taking it with him.
All she saw was Akahoshi's charred remains—and the bodies of the Iwa ninja—none of them carrying the Star Stone.
She felt both loss and relief.
As long as the Star Stone was gone, the Star Ninja Village could one day return to the right path—relying on its own strength.
After hastily cleaning up the battlefield, Natsuhoshi and Ran rushed back toward the village.
But in the end… they were too late.
Akahoshi and the Iwa ninja had launched a surprise attack from the very beginning, gravely injuring the Third Star Shadow and Hotaru.
When they withdrew, they left the battlefield to Nighthawk and Death Tomb.
To be honest, those two jōnin weren't particularly strong.
But the Third Star Shadow was already advanced in age, and both he and Hotaru had been seriously wounded by the ambush.
Against Nighthawk and Death Tomb, they were powerless.
In the end, with Hotaru's desperate sacrifice, the Third Star Shadow managed to kill both traitors—then dragged his battered body onward, holding on until he finally saw Ran and Natsuhoshi arrive.
"We… we won… didn't we…"
"That's good… Natsuhoshi… take the… Star Stone… and protect… our village…"
As if his final wish had been fulfilled, the Third Star Shadow smiled faintly—and collapsed.
That day, the Star Ninja Village suffered its greatest loss.
The Third Star Shadow died.
Jōnin Akahoshi, Hotaru, Death Tomb, and Nighthawk—all dead.
The Star Stone—gone.
Only Natsuhoshi remained, standing alone in the Star Shadow's office, staring at the empty, ruined space.
Her heart ached beyond words.
She had lost her teacher—the Third Star Shadow—who had guided and cared for her for so many years.
She had lost her closest friend, Hotaru, who had fought alongside her time and time again.
For the sake of the village, she had even killed Akahoshi with her own hands—once her teammate.
Though the circumstances left her no choice, the pain of it would never fade.
Two more comrades had betrayed the village for the Star Stone—for themselves.
To her, it all felt like a curse brought by the Star Stone.
And that only strengthened her belief: abandoning the Star Stone had been the right choice.
At least… the village she loved had not suffered even greater losses.
She was strong—despite being only sixteen.
Now, the Star Ninja Village was weaker than ever, its ability to resist external threats at an all-time low.
Natsuhoshi made her decision.
She would devote everything to rebuilding the village.
She would ensure the sacrifices of the fallen were not in vain.
Out of simple humanity, Ran stayed in the Star Ninja Village for a few extra days.
During that time, he saw Natsuhoshi's unwavering resolve.
He saw her step out of grief and face reality head-on.
She believed that through her own efforts, the village could one day reclaim its former glory.
She would protect the land she cherished—and lead the Star Ninja Village toward a new future.
"A truly strong girl," Ran murmured.
After helping her stabilize village affairs and witnessing her temporarily assume the role of Star Shadow, Ran finally prepared to leave.
Strictly speaking, only the five great villages could truly bear the title of "Kage."
But Ran would never mock her for that.
He might not be a good person—but he would never ridicule someone with a dream.
"Well then, Sister Natsuhoshi," Ran said at the village gates,
"There's still a lot to handle here, and Iwa ninja are still roaming near the Fire Country border. I should go. My village needs me too."
His mission was complete.
What he wanted was already in hand.
And the Star Ninja Village had been set back on the right path.
It was time to part ways.
"Thank you, Ran," Natsuhoshi said softly.
"Without you, things might have turned out far worse. I won't forget this. With your character and strength, you'll reach Konoha's upper ranks someday. When I visit Konoha then… don't shut the door on me, alright?"
To her, Ran was a younger brother—yet already far stronger than most.
An Uchiha like him… was bound to stand out.
Natsuhoshi watched his departing figure for a long time—until the sun sank below the horizon.
"Massive profit. Absolute victory!"
This trip to the Star Ninja Village in the Land of Bears had been a disaster for them.
So many dead.
Their ancestral Star Stone lost.
But from another angle—
The village had finally returned to the right path.
Tumors with ulterior motives were gone.
The stubborn Third Star Shadow who clung blindly to the Star Stone was gone.
The Star Stone—harmful to the human body—was gone.
Under Natsuhoshi's leadership, the Star Ninja Village would undoubtedly be reborn.
Sure, he had taken the Star Stone.
But Uchiha Ran had never claimed to be a good person.
And for Ran?
This trip was a complete win.
He had obtained pure Ten-Tails chakra.
In his vision, that chakra could eventually be infused with his own will.
As it flowed through his meridians, it slowly refined his body—and his Sharingan was quietly, steadily changing.
Ran could feel it.
His Sharingan… was evolving.
What an unexpected gain.
Originally, he had assumed the Mangekyō Sharingan was out of reach, placing his hopes entirely on Orochimaru's research.
But now—
With this unexpected Ten-Tails chakra, the Mangekyō was suddenly within sight.
For the first time, Ran felt genuine curiosity.
What kind of Mangekyō abilities will I awaken?
His only wish—
That it could continue evolving… and awaken the strongest possible Mangekyō power.
…Wait.
Damn it.
"It won't be Amaterasu… right?"
Ran silently chanted to himself.
"Not Amaterasu.
Not Amaterasu.
Please—anything but Amaterasu."
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