Konan asked in surprise, "Sage energy simir to yours? Could it be from Mount Myōboku?"
Naruto replied cautiously, "I'm not sure yet. Konaay close to me and don't stray too far!"
Just as Naruto sehe presence of another with Sage energy, the other party also notiaruto's presence.
Sizzle! In the dense fog, a pair of golden horizontal pupils appeared faintly, apanied by a gulping sound.
Naruto's pupils tracted sharply. "Killing i!"
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 excimed.
Having faced Hanzō's forumerous times in the past, Konan was highly sensitive to toxins.
"This poison is even deadlier than the Samander's! Naruto, we o leave now, or we'll both die!"
Gurgle!
A sed 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 rger 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 ter of Naruto's Rinnegaed a bck ripple.
"Realm of Reination: Release!"
Swoosh!
Back outside the tower in Amegakure, Naruto and Konan simultaneously opeheir 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, "pared to the memories you've showhis was nothing."
Naruto chuckled, stretg 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 armed. He rushed forward to catch her, his voice filled with . "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 pced the back of his hand on Konan's forehead, and his expression ged 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 es earlier... and got soaked in the rain for too long. Sorry, Naruto... you help me bay room?"
Naruto carried Konan to her room.
Her fever showed no signs of subsiding, and her clothes were still soaki. If this tinued, her dition would worsen!
Naruto made a quick decision. "I'll go to the vilge and find some women to help!"
"Don't!"
Konan weakly grabbed Naruto's hand.
"Naruto, I 't let you do that. I'm the leader of Amegakure. To the people here, I represent someoouchable, beyond the mundane. If that image is broken, it will cause erouble iure."
Naruto protested anxiously, "But we '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 flicted as he g Konan's rain-soaked Akatsuki cloak, the mesh top beh 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 basieeds.
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 plications ter.
Naruto took a deep breath. "Konan-nee, wait here for a moment. I'll be right back."
By this point, Konan had already lost sciousness.
---
In the early hours of Konoha, the vilge was abuzz with activity.
After days of being atose 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 excimed 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! Narutht eye transformed into a Three Tomoe Sharingan.
"Sharingan! Not good!!" Realizing the danger, Shizune quickly shut her eyes.
Naruto smirked, dashed forward, and hoisted Shizuo 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 gred at Naruto. "Naruto, you owe me a proper expnation for this!"
Naruto, holding Tonton, spoke sincerely. "Shizune-nee, I'm sorry fing you here so abruptly. My panion is sid needs care. Given the circumstances, it's not appropriate for me to ha myself. You were the first person I thought of."
Shizune scrutinized Naruto.
Naruto tinued, "Please trust me, Shizune-nee. If I wao, I could have used Sharingasu on you."
Finally, Shizune's expression softened. She had ied with Naruto before and, despite everything, still wao believe in him deep down.
Moreover, as a mediinja trained by Tsunade, she adhered to the principle of putting patients first.
Shizuood up and said seriously, "Where's the patient?"
Naruto poio 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 aering 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 lohe Hokage. I 't call on others for help. I 't eveurn to the vilge 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 yht? The road we have to walk is still so very long."
"Oink oink~" Tonto 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 inal form, Obito said in a deep voice, "Now, have you calmed down a little, Sasuke?"
