Then, Danzo did something Naruto was certain would only happen at the end of days.
He smiled—he actually smiled—genuinely. Though it didn't last long, it lasted long enough to confirm that this wasn't a cold smirk, but a true, heartfelt expression.
Naruto quietly formed a seal and dispelled the genjutsu, just to make sure he hadn't been captured by Akatsuki and placed under an illusion to keep him obedient.
"I haven't reached death's door yet, Naruto. I can assure you—if the Tsuchikage were still alive today, I still have many years ahead of me."
As Danzo spoke, the smile on his face gradually faded.
"But my words were sincere. You seriously accepted my training and retained your ability to adapt, even outside of combat," he said, looking at this fifteen-year-old jonin before him. "Originally, I had planned for you to attend the Ninja Academy after completing your mission in Otogakure, but fate had other plans. Even so, you've become every bit the ninja I expected—even if those four years were lost."
Naruto didn't know what to say.
This man was the reason he had become who he was now—the very model for his initial path as a ninja.
Dropping to one knee, Naruto did something he'd never done except for official duties.
"Thank you… Danzo-sama…"
He'd never knelt before anyone—not even during his early days when he strongly disliked doing so. But without Danzo, he truly didn't know what kind of ninja he might have become.
Only when Danzo stood directly in front of him—leaning on his cane with one hand and gently resting the other on his blond hair—did Naruto raise his head again.
"The times are shifting—and growing ever more unstable, Naruto. You must understand this and prepare yourself fully. Sai and Maki will watch over you until you're ready to return. I will always support you."
---
## Amegakure – Pain's Tower ##
Pain and all of his remaining bodies gazed down over the ruins of Amegakure, the aftermath of a recent battle with Jiraiya—and even greater devastation left by Naruto.
"You cannot run forever, Nine-Tails jinchuriki. Enjoy whatever freedom you still can—for now. Our fight is far from over."
Standing beside Yahiko's corpse, Konan also looked toward the village. The massive crater carved across most of the village by Naruto's tailed beast form remained burned deeply into her memory.
Using [Paper Clone Technique] and [Body Flicker Jutsu], she had barely managed to dodge Naruto's attack and flee at top speed. But even that speed had nearly failed to get her out of range—the shockwave sent her fragile paper body hurtling kilometers away.
"Did you truly not foresee this… using me—and others—as living weapons?"
Nagato had never seen any Jinchuriki unleash large-scale destructive techniques in the heart of a city. The One-Tails Jinchuriki had never entered full combat against Akatsuki.
Although the Two-Tails inflicted significant damage, it was nowhere near the scale of destruction Naruto could unleash.
The Seven-Tails barely resisted at all, as if she had no will to fight.
Apart from steam-based Ninjutsu, the Five-Tails Jinchuriki rarely used his tailed beast's power, and that battle took place in the mountainous regions of the Land of Earth.
The Four-Tails Jinchuriki was an extremely experienced ninja who maintained strict control over his chakra and utilized Lava Release. Yet again, this person wasn't located in any densely populated area when captured, nor did he enter full Tailed Beast Transformation during the fight.
The Six-Tails was ambushed and subdued before he could react.
The Three-Tails was captured out on the open water, far from land.
The problem was, despite years of Jinchuriki being treated as living weapons of war, despite Akatsuki's goal of capturing the tailed beasts, despite having information about the existing Jinchurikis—Naruto Uzumaki, Gaara of the Sand, Yugito Nii, and Killer B from Kumogakure—she had never encountered a Jinchuriki willing to unleash such devastation in the middle of a densely populated city. She had never witnessed such massive destruction caused by any Jinchuriki during battle.
"Your little master isn't exactly proving himself in battle, is he?"
"So this is the outcome," Konan thought to herself. "No, the reality must have been even worse… Just imagining it makes my blood run cold."
Originally, Konan, along with Yahiko and Nagato, dedicated themselves to bringing peace to Amegakure. They eventually succeeded, though it took many years and cost Yahiko's life—it was ultimately achieved.
But when exactly did they begin expanding their objective to achieving peace for the entire world? When did their dream for peace become something so destructive?
That day was the same day Yahiko died, the day Nagato changed his name, the day Pain was born.
"Konan," Pain's voice pulled her from her thoughts. "We'll remain here until I secure a new body for the Animal Path. Afterward, we will begin hunting the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki in earnest. Until then, inform the remaining members to remain alert; once he's discovered, strike immediately upon discovery."
"As you wish, Nagato," Konan replied, stepping into the tower while Pain's body continued gazing at Amegakure. "Can true peace truly be achieved through this? If so, how many lives must be lost along the way? How many times will nations resort to war? In the end, how many people would be left to live in peace at all?"
---
## Konoha Hospital ##
"Has that little brat gone mad?" Tsunade's furious roar rang out from inside the hospital, echoing through the village streets, loud enough to reach every corner of the village.
"Does he expect me to let him wander outside alone while Akatsuki is still operating freely?"
When Tsunade learned that Jiraiya was still alive, she sighed in relief but immediately had him taken to the hospital for treatment. At the same time, she carefully listened to Fukasaku's account of Naruto's situation.
Unsurprisingly, she was far from pleased.
"He didn't stay where we could protect him. Instead, he went off on his own to take risks!"
Fukasaku remained unfazed by Tsunade's anger. He simply relayed Naruto's message in a calm manner.
"He believes it was the right choice given the circumstances. He doesn't want Pain tracking him down here—at least not until he's ready. I think that's something you two should sort out between yourselves, but that boy mentioned that if you're ever unsure of his intentions, then consider it him continuing the mission you assigned him before—one that's still unfinished."
Tsunade stared at the frog, puzzled, until understanding dawned on her.
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