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Resets Weekly! [Monday]
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Konan asked in surprise, "Sage energy similar to yours? Could it be from Mount Myōboku?"
Naruto replied cautiously, "I'm not sure yet. Konan-nee, stay close to me and don't stray too far!"
Just as Naruto sensed the presence of another with Sage energy, the other party also noticed Naruto's presence.
Sizzle! In the dense fog, a pair of golden horizontal pupils appeared faintly, accompanied by a gulping sound.
Naruto's pupils contracted sharply. "Killing intent!"
Swish!!
A shadow shot through the fog at incredible speed!
"So fast!!"
Naruto quickly grabbed Konan and dodged to the side!
The shadow struck the spot where Naruto had been standing moments before. It was an arrow formed of a purple-green liquid mixture!
Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle!!
The arrow dissolved rapidly, dispersing into a poisonous mist.
"It's poison!" Konan exclaimed.
Having faced Hanzō's forces numerous times in the past, Konan was highly sensitive to toxins.
"This poison is even deadlier than the Salamander's! Naruto, we need to leave now, or we'll both die!"
Gurgle!
A second poisonous arrow was already on its way!
Naruto's left eye snapped open.
"Shinra Tensei!"
Boom! A burst of repulsive force shattered the arrow, but the resulting explosion released an even larger and denser cloud of poison!
Naruto's Rinnegan locked onto the depths of the fog, his voice low. "I've memorized your chakra signature."
Whoosh!
The pupil at the center of Naruto's Rinnegan emitted a black ripple.
"Realm of Reincarnation: Release!"
Swoosh!
Back outside the tower in Amegakure, Naruto and Konan simultaneously opened their eyes. Rain poured down as their gazes met. Their rain-soaked faces reflected the cold tones of the moment, but the lingering tension was unmistakable.
Naruto sighed. "That was intense."
Konan replied, "Compared to the memories you've shown me, this was nothing."
Naruto chuckled, stretching as he stood up.
"152 in total, with over 30 aquatic beasts. That should be enough!"
"Yeah, it's time to rest."
Konan, pale-faced, stood up and quickly headed toward the tower. But suddenly, she stumbled and fell.
"!?" Naruto was alarmed. He rushed forward to catch her, his voice filled with concern. "Are you okay, Konan-nee?"
Konan, utterly exhausted, replied weakly, "I'm fine... just overused my chakra a little..."
But Naruto could tell it wasn't that simple.
He gently placed the back of his hand on Konan's forehead, and his expression changed instantly. "You're burning up! This fever is really high!"
Konan's eyes were unfocused as she murmured, "Maybe... I used too much chakra creating paper clones earlier... and got soaked in the rain for too long. Sorry, Naruto... can you help me back to my room?"
Naruto carried Konan to her room.
Her fever showed no signs of subsiding, and her clothes were still soaking wet. If this continued, her condition would worsen!
Naruto made a quick decision. "I'll go to the village and find some women to help!"
"Don't!"
Konan weakly grabbed Naruto's hand.
"Naruto, I can't let you do that. I'm the leader of Amegakure. To the people here, I represent someone untouchable, beyond the mundane. If that image is broken, it will cause endless trouble in the future."
Naruto protested anxiously, "But we can't just leave it like this!"
Breathing heavily, Konan released Naruto's hand and closed her eyes. "Don't worry... I'm a ninja. I won't die from something as trivial as this."
Naruto looked conflicted as he glanced at Konan's rain-soaked Akatsuki cloak, the mesh top beneath with its zipper slightly open, and her light purple tight-fitting pants.
Years ago, when Hinata fell seriously ill, Naruto had cared for her meticulously, even helping her with basic needs.
Between husband and wife, such things were natural.
But Konan was his senior, someone he deeply respected.
This wasn't something he could do. It would create too many complications later.
Naruto took a deep breath. "Konan-nee, wait here for a moment. I'll be right back."
By this point, Konan had already lost consciousness.
---
In the early hours of Konoha, the village was abuzz with activity.
After days of being comatose following the battle with Pain, Tsunade had finally awakened!
Shizune, holding her pet pig, Tonton, stepped out of the temporary medical tent. Suddenly, she stopped and called out sharply, "Who's there!?"
"Shizune-san, it's been a while."
A boy in an Akatsuki cloak stepped forward steadily and removed his mask.
"Naruto!?" Shizune exclaimed in shock. But then she remembered Naruto's current status as a rogue ninja and immediately became guarded.
"What are you doing in Konoha!?"
Naruto replied calmly, "I need your help with something, Shizune-nee."
Shizune, holding Tonton in her left arm, quietly reached for a kunai with her right hand. "You must be joking."
"Do I look like I'm joking?"
Sizzle! Naruto's right eye transformed into a Three Tomoe Sharingan.
"Sharingan! Not good!!" Realizing the danger, Shizune quickly shut her eyes.
Naruto smirked, dashed forward, and hoisted Shizune onto his shoulder.
"Bridge—Bridge—Wait, what are you doing!?" Shizune cried out in panic.
"Sorry, it's an emergency. I have no choice."
Swoosh!
Naruto disappeared with Shizune using the Flying Raijin Jutsu.
Tonton fell from midair.
Swoosh!
Naruto reappeared, caught Tonton, and vanished again.
---
On the seventh floor of the tower in Amegakure.
Sitting against the wall, Shizune glared at Naruto. "Naruto, you owe me a proper explanation for this!"
Naruto, holding Tonton, spoke sincerely. "Shizune-nee, I'm sorry for bringing you here so abruptly. My companion is sick and needs care. Given the circumstances, it's not appropriate for me to handle it myself. You were the first person I thought of."
Shizune scrutinized Naruto.
Naruto continued, "Please trust me, Shizune-nee. If I wanted to, I could have used Sharingan genjutsu on you."
Finally, Shizune's expression softened. She had interacted with Naruto before and, despite everything, still wanted to believe in him deep down.
Moreover, as a medical ninja trained by Tsunade, she adhered to the principle of putting patients first.
Shizune stood up and said seriously, "Where's the patient?"
Naruto pointed to the room behind her. "She's in there."
"After this, I have a lot of questions for you."
Shizune gave Naruto a long look before turning and entering the room.
Holding Tonton, Naruto gazed out at the cold rain beyond the tower. The moonlight touched his heart with a chill.
"Yeah... I'm no longer the Hokage. I can't call on others for help. I can't even return to the village openly. I have to sneak around like a thief."
Naruto sighed. "Being a rogue ninja... it's much heavier than I imagined. Sasuke, it must be the same for you, right? The road we have to walk is still so very long."
"Oink oink~" Tonton let out a soft squeal.
Naruto stroked its chubby head and smiled. "Hungry? Don't worry. I'll make sure you're fed before you go back."
---
In Akatsuki's new hideout.
Swoosh!
A vortex of Kamui swirled.
Staring coldly at the boy who had reverted to his original form, Obito said in a deep voice, "Now, have you calmed down a little, Sasuke?"