Naruto's outrageous words made Konan even doubt that she had heard it wrongly: "Tell me again, what do you want to inherit?"
But Naruto emphasized again: "I want to inherit Nagato's Rinnegan!"
She didn't hear wrong…
Konan looked downcast as she once again assessed Naruto... the latter did not give her the impression of someone who would say such a thing!
But she remained calm for the time being: "Naruto, Nagato entrusted his will to you, But his will isn't the same as his eyes."
Naruto replied, "Nagato and the others are gone. But the Rinnegan shouldn't be buried with him. There are people who want those eyes—if they get them, the consequences for the ninja world would be disastrous. The safest way to protect them… is for me to inherit them."
The person he was talking about... was Madara. She knew about Madara's existence.
She realized this Naruto wasn't the same boy she once knew, he knew things she didn't.
"The Rinnegan was awakened by Nagato of the Hidden Rain. His eyes are a treasure of this village and our nation. Even if it's you, Naruto, I can't agree to this. Please… don't say such unreasonable things."
"Besides, Nagato already used his life to bring back the Konoha ninjas. I've decided to leave the Akatsuki and won't harm Konoha again. I'll take Nagato and the Deva Path back to the Rain Village."
"…I see," Naruto murmured, closing his eyes.
All this time, during their conversation, he had been silently gathering natural energy. Now, he was ready.
Sizzle!
Orange pigments formed around his eyes. His pupils became sharp and horizontal
Sage Mode, activate!
Naruto opened his eyes and said in a deep voice,
"Senior Sister Konan, you misunderstood. This is not a request, but a demand!"
Swish!
He used the lightning-fast Body Flicker Technique in Sage Mode, approached Konan, and punched her in the abdomen with precise force!
Boom!
"Ahh…" Konan's orange pupils widened in shock as her body crumpled to the ground, weak and unresisting.
Naruto slowly withdrew his fist, looked at her unconscious form, and murmured,
"Sorry, Konan-senpai… this was the fastest way to avoid a pointless fight. I'll explain everything to you later."
Then, he turned his gaze toward the direction of the Konoha shinobi. Urgency flickered in his eyes.
Everything he had lost… was waiting just behind him. If he turned around, it would all return.
But what he was about to do would go against the Will of Fire that Konoha had always believed in.
Even if he explained the truth, would anyone believe it?
It was just too far-fetched… If he were in their place, he wouldn't believe it either.
He looked away, forcing himself to bury the longing in his eyes.
"I'm sorry, everyone. I love this village and all of you too much. That's why until the time is right let me carry this burden alone…"
That day, the people of Konoha waited at the village gates… but their hero never returned.
Later, the shinobi search team discovered a copy of The Legend of the Strong and Perseverant Ninja marked with fingerprints, and a Konoha forehead protector scarred with the symbol of a missing-nin, left at the site where Nagato once hid.
At the same time, in Konoha Village, the Fifth Hokage Tsunade had fallen into a deep coma after exhausting too much of her Strength of a Hundred Seal chakra.
An emergency meeting was held, led by the elite jōnin Nara Shikaku.
"We met Naruto in the mountains," Shikaku reported.
"He said he'd negotiate with the enemy and asked us to leave the task to him."
As he spoke, his eyes briefly shifted to the newly revived Kakashi, who was staring at the weathered copy of The Legend of the Strong and Perseverant Ninja retrieved by the search team.
Looking away, Shikaku continued, "Soon after, all the fallen villagers were resurrected… so Naruto must have succeeded in negotiating with the enemy. That much is clear."
"But then… he suddenly destroyed Lady Katsuyu's clone, left behind that book and a traitor's forehead protector, and vanished."
"We still don't know what happened in this period."
Shikaku paused for a moment, deep in thought, before saying,
"Based on my analysis, there are only two possible explanations."
"First, Naruto might be under the influence of some enemy jutsu and had no choice."
"Second… Naruto has something he needs to do with the other party, something he doesn't want us to know about."
He looked around the room and continued,
"As for the two things Naruto left behind, if I put aside any personal emotions the most straightforward explanation is that Naruto has abandoned the ninja way he learned from Jiraiya… and has chosen to become a missing-nin."
Gasp!
The Jonin present inhaled sharply.
Naruto? That Naruto who never gave up and stuck to his ninja way was betraying the village?
At that moment, Hatake Kakashi spoke up.
"Naruto is my student. I've known him for years. He would never betray the village."
Holding up the book, he said,
"Look at the fingerprints. He must've been holding it tightly. He was conflicted… torn inside."
Shikaku let out a soft sigh and said seriously,
"We can't jump to conclusions until we know the full truth."
"But what is certain… is that Naruto defeated Pain and saved the village. That alone is a fact. So I suggest we keep Naruto's disappearance a secret for now. Tell the villagers that he's resting after the battle."
"The Hyuga Clan agrees."
"The Yamanaka Clan agrees."
"The Aburame Clan has no objection."
One by one, the clan leaders voiced their approval.
Shikaku gave a firm nod.
"Still, this is only a temporary solution. Anbu should widen the search area. Do whatever it takes to find Naruto as soon as possible."
He looked around the room and added,
"After such a major disaster, what the village needs most is stability. With the Fifth Hokage in a coma, and Naruto now missing, we can't afford to go without a leader."
"I propose that Hatake Kakashi become the Sixth Hokage."
Kakashi set the book gently on the table, a serious look in his eyes.
"…I've made up my mind."
...
Rustle, rustle…
In the forest behind the ruins of Konoha, Black Zetsu and White Zetsu emerged from the trees.
White Zetsu muttered, "I never imagined Pain would be defeated! And that brat Uzumaki Naruto… he actually took Nagato's body. This is crazy!"
Black Zetsu said calmly, "Go report this to Tobi."
...
Somewhere in the Land of Fire, inside a dark cave…
Naruto sat on a stone chair, a bandage wrapped over his left eye. His right hand propped up his chin as he stared at the flickering candlelight, deep in thought.
"You're awake…"
He glanced at Konan, tied up with ropes in the corner of the cave.
"…!"
Konan struggled, but the ropes wouldn't budge.
Naruto spoke calmly, "I tied you up to make sure we could talk. Also, I sealed your chakra so you wouldn't turn into paper and escape."
His voice was deep and steady, far too calm for a 16-year-old.
The shift in his demeanor was so jarring that Konan could only come to one conclusion:
"…Uzumaki Naruto, your acting was flawless. Nagato and I were completely fooled…"
Naruto gave a faint smile, neither confirming nor denying it.
Konan demanded, "Where is Nagato's body? You've already taken his Rinnegan. If you're not going to kill me, then return his body so I can bring him back to the Rain Village!"
Naruto turned slowly, his tone serious.
"About Nagato's Rinnegan… it seems I need to explain things in a different order."
He looked her in the eyes.
"First, the Rinnegan wasn't originally awakened by Nagato. The true owner of those eyes… was the ancestor of Konoha's Uchiha clan, Uchiha Madara."
.
.
TO BE CONTINUED