Amegakure.
To recover from the exhaustion of battle, Naruto went to a hot spring in Amegakure, following Konan's suggestion.
Because it rained year-round in the village, the hot springs weren't open-air.
Most people were busy, so the large bath was nearly empty.
Leaning against the edge of the pool with a towel over his face, Naruto finally let himself relax.
"It's been a long time since I've felt this calm…"
A gentle voice came from the other side of the stone divider.
"Don't push yourself too hard. There's still plenty of time."
It was Konan. Her soft voice drifted through the mist, and her lavender eye shadow faintly shimmered in the steam as she quietly soaked and cleansed her body.
Even in the bath, she wore her signature paper flower on her head, made of special paper that wouldn't lose its shape or color in water.
Naruto, from his side of the divider, asked curiously,
"By the way, Konan-san… I've always wanted to ask you something."
Splash!
Konan lifted her long, pale legs from the water, splashing gently as she carefully wiped them.
Her eyes flickered with interest.
"What is it? Go ahead and ask."
Naruto said, "Why do you like origami so much?"
Konan fell silent for a moment… then softly smiled.
"I was born in a time when Ame was torn apart by war. We didn't have much… but with just a piece of paper, I could imagine anything. Origami gave me that freedom."
She added with a light laugh,
"That's the deep version. Honestly… it's just a girl's hobby."
Naruto chuckled.
"Yeah… kind of like how I like ramen. No deep reason, it's just tasty. But still, I really admire how you turned something you love into powerful ninjutsu."
He grinned and joked,
"Unlike me. If I tried to turn ramen into a jutsu, all I'd get is something like 'Noodle Style: Ramen Barrage!'"
Konan smiled and said, "It's not that impressive. I only applied origami to ninjutsu out of necessity. Back then, it was hard to get kunai or shuriken, and our ninja pouches couldn't carry much. So I started making paper shuriken to save resources."
"Jiraiya-sensei had a sharp eye. He supported my idea and encouraged me to develop my own style. That's how the 'Shikigami Dance' technique was born."
Her eyes flickered with a trace of guilt.
"Looking back now, I think Sensei asked me to use paper not just as a tool, but as a reminder to stay true to myself. In the end… I let him down."
Naruto sighed.
"It's easy to say 'don't forget your original dream,' but very few people can actually do it. That's why Pervy Sage was amazing…"
Konan looked at him softly.
"You're his successor, and that's rare. After all you've been through, you haven't been swallowed by hatred. That alone is a relief."
Naruto nodded.
"I learned early on that revenge only creates more hate. That was the biggest lesson from my senior brother. So, when I got a second chance, I chose not to seek revenge but to protect the future."
Konan quietly echoed,
"...Yes. This time, I'll choose to protect, too."
To protect Jiraiya's greatest student, Uzumaki Naruto, she said to herself.
Then Naruto smiled,
"Sister Konan, I'll teach you the 'Tandem Paper Bomb' later. It was created by a powerful senior from Konoha. He wasn't exactly a good person… but the jutsu itself is incredible. It might help take your strength to the next level."
Evening had arrived, and the hot spring time came to an end.
Naruto and Konan walked back toward the tower together.
Along the way, Konan asked, "Naruto… what do you think Sasuke will do next?"
Naruto thought for a moment.
"With Sasuke's personality, there's no way he'll just let go of his revenge. After this failure, he only has two paths."
"First, he might try to attack Konoha again."
"Second, he could go after Danzo instead. He should realize the first option isn't realistic for now, so I think he'll choose the second one."
At this point, Naruto's eyes were filled with worry.
"But it's been so long… who knows what Yakushi Kabuto might've done to Danzo by now? Sasuke failing again is unlikely, but not impossible."
Konan asked, "What if Sasuke can't take Danzo down?"
Naruto's gaze turned firm.
"If Sasuke fails, then I'll do it myself. I won't let Danzo return to Konoha and cause more trouble."
…
Akatsuki's Hideout
Sasuke hadn't slept all night. His mind kept replaying the conversation he had with Black Zetsu earlier.
Black Zetsu had said,
"If you want to defeat Naruto, you'll need the Rinnegan. To awaken it, you should find Yakushi Kabuto. He's hiding in the old Otogakure base in the Land of Fields."
But Sasuke had snapped,
"I'm Uchiha Sasuke. I'll become stronger my own way. I won't let anyone decide my path. So don't waste your breath."
Black Zetsu insisted,
"I'm just trying to help—"
"Get lost, or I'll kill you right now!" Sasuke interrupted coldly.
Black Zetsu chuckled as he retreated.
"Hehe… fine. But one day, you'll take the path I mentioned… in your pursuit of power."
Back in the present, Sasuke stared up at the ceiling, eyes unblinking.
"Itachi's eyes still carry the sorrow of his life," he murmured.
"I'll use them to see the truth, every bit of it, even the darkness. I don't care about the so-called Rinnegan."
"As for Yakushi Kabuto… there's only one reason I'll go see him, to kill Danzo."
Whoosh!
Sasuke sat up sharply, put on his cloak, strapped the Kusanagi sword to his waist, and slipped out of the Akatsuki hideout, disappearing into the night.
...
"Sasuke has headed north…"
As soon as Sasuke left, White Zetsu reported the news to Obito.
Obito stood in front of a mirror, adjusting his outfit.
"North leads to the Land of Rice Fields"
"After failing to take revenge on Konoha, is he turning his sights on Danzo…? Fine. Let him go. He needs someone to vent his hatred on and Danzo is the perfect target."
"But send some White Zetsu clones to follow him. If anything goes wrong, I need to know immediately. Most importantly, I can't let him come into contact with Yakushi Kabuto."
White Zetsu replied, "Got it. I've already sent a clone after him. But something's odd, Black Zetsu spoke to him earlier today…"
Obito paused, then said coldly,
"Black Zetsu? Whether he's a problem or not, it's better to eliminate him just in case. Get rid of him."
White Zetsu looked surprised.
"Is… is that okay? He's Madara's will, after all."
Obito turned to face him, now wearing a brand new white mask, its black lines twisted like waves, with eye holes and a small opening at the top.
"Madara's will or not… it doesn't matter anymore. Because—"
In the eye holes, two Mangekyō Sharingan burned with intensity.
"My eyes… are ready for war!"
.
.
TO BE CONTINUED
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