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After Kakashi and Shikaku left, Naruto sat alone, absorbing the weight of their words. The irony was almost laughable. Just as he'd decided to let go of his dream of becoming Hokage, the position had been handed to him. Yet, now that it was real, he began to see it differently. Perhaps, as Hokage, he'd have the power and influence to truly work toward his ultimate goal of peace.
But first, he had to act. To build a new path forward, he needed allies who shared his vision, and Konan was his only connection to the former Akatsuki. She understood the cost of war, and with her by his side, he could learn where to start.
A small problem, though—he hadn't asked where she'd gone. His "brilliant" plan of reuniting with her suddenly seemed like a headache. With no other option, he decided to rely on Sage Mode to sense her chakra and hoped she hadn't wandered too far.
Closing his eyes, Naruto entered Sage Mode, letting his senses expand outward. He finally picked up her chakra, but there was something else—a second chakra presence, and from the energy, it felt hostile. Naruto's heart pounded as he realized the two signatures were clashing. Konan was in battle.
Without a second thought, Naruto sprinted out of the village, moving as fast as he could. Halfway there, he felt a flicker of relief; Konan's opponent's chakra faded, almost as if the fight was over. But just as quickly, it reappeared, and he felt Konan's chakra weakening, her energy dropping with every passing second.
Frustration boiled up in him. He was too slow.
Unconsciously, he channeled the Nine-Tails' chakra, mixing it with Sage Mode. His eyes shifted, his pupils sharp and red, and a powerful surge of energy pulsed through him, doubling his speed.
He arrived just in time to see the masked man looming over Konan, ready to strike. Without hesitation, Naruto formed a Rasengan and thrust it toward the man, only for it to phase right through his body.
The masked man turned his head, recognizing Naruto immediately. With a cold glint in his eye, he moved to attack, but Naruto reacted on instinct, raising his hand and channeling the Rinnegan's power. "Almighty Push!" he shouted, sending the masked man flying backward in shock.
Stumbling to his feet, the masked man glared at Naruto, his voice filled with fury. "You… You have my Rinnegan! I will kill you for that the next time we meet!"
Blood dripped from a wound caused by Naruto's unexpected attack. Gritting his teeth, the masked man vanished into a spinning vortex, his voice echoing ominously in the silence.
As the air cleared, Naruto rushed to Konan's side. She was bruised and exhausted, but alive. Relief flooded him as he knelt beside her, helping her sit up.
"Looks like I got here just in time," he said with a small grin, his intense red Sage eyes flickering back to blue.
Konan managed a faint smile, nodding in gratitude. Though the journey toward peace had only begun, Naruto knew one thing for sure: he wasn't alone. And with the power of the Rinnegan, Sage Mode, and his allies, he was ready to face whatever came next.