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Naruto was im deep thought. Konan leaned against the boluder, arms crossed, watching him with quiet curiosity. She could tell he was trying to come up with a plan, though he occasionally muttered things that sounded more like complaints than strategies.
"How do I get you into the village without them freaking out?" Naruto muttered to himself. "I mean, you're part of the Akatsuki—well, were part of the Akatsuki—and that'll definitely make the old geezers nervous. But… most villagers don't know that, so maybe…"
"Naruto," Konan interrupted, her voice calm but firm. "If you have a plan, just say it. You're going in circles."
Naruto stopped, grinning sheepishly. "Right, sorry. I think I've got it, though!"
Konan raised an eyebrow. "Let's hear it."
Naruto took a deep breath, sitting down across from her. "Okay, so the thing is, most people in the village don't even know who you are. Only the higher-ups know you were in the Akatsuki. So, we don't need to tell them the full story—just something believable."
"Go on," Konan said, intrigued but cautious.
"We'll say you were a spy working for Jiraiya-sensei," Naruto explained, leaning forward. "You can tell them you were pretending to work with Pain but didn't actually believe in his ideals. Instead, you were secretly passing information to Jiraiya-sensei, trying to undermine the Akatsuki from the inside."
Konan blinked, processing his words. "But that's not true. I didn't work with Jiraiya after he left us. I believed in Nagato's vision, even if I didn't always agree with his methods. Lying about that feels…"
Naruto interrupted, his expression serious. "I know it's not true, but we need something they'll believe. You were Jiraiya's student, right? That connection alone will make them trust you. And I'll vouch for you. If anyone asks, we'll stick to the story. The important thing is getting you into the village without trouble."
Konan hesitated, her gaze dropping to the floor. "You're asking me to lie about my connection to Jiraiya. He meant a lot to me, and so did Nagato. I don't want to disrespect either of them."
Naruto's expression softened. "I get it, Konan. I really do. But you said you wanted to help me, right? If we're going to create peace, we have to start somewhere. You've seen how hard it is to change people's minds. If this lie helps us build trust and avoid conflict, isn't it worth it?"
Konan looked at him, her expression conflicted. After a moment, she let out a sigh. "Alright, Naruto. I'll go along with your plan. But I hope you understand the weight of what you're asking me to do."
Naruto nodded. "I do. And I promise, once people see who you really are, they won't need a story. They'll trust you because of what you'll do, not because of what I said."
Konan offered a small, rare smile. "You've grown a lot, Naruto. Jiraiya would be proud."
Naruto scratched the back of his head, his cheeks turning red. "Heh, well, I'm trying my best."
As the two made their way to the village gates, Naruto felt a mixture of nerves and determination. He knew the plan was risky, especially when it came to convincing the higher-ups. But he also believed in Konan and her willingness to help.
This was his first major test as the village's new leader, and he was determined to prove that the Will of Fire could extend even to those who once stood on the other side.
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End of chapter.