Amegakure, the highest tower.
Konan lay dying in front of the floor-to-ceiling window at the edge of the tower. The sky was densely covered with fish-scale-like dark clouds, and there were thunder and lightning crashing as if the sky was collapsing.
She was already exhausted. Since leaving Konoha, she had anticipated that she might die. Obito would never give up on finding the Rinnegan, and she could only escape once.
Naruto had refused to accept the Rinnegan, which also cut off her last path to survival.
Thankfully, Konan had used every last bit of her strength to narrowly escape with her life. By the time she returned to Amegakure, she was more dead than alive, her breath faint, barely clinging on.
Her gaze swept over the village she had lived in for decades, her eyes filled with weariness. Endless wars had left the village riddled with wounds, and her loved ones dead.
Ironically, whether it was Yahiko's death that caused the Akatsuki's plan to fail, or Nagato inheriting the Akatsuki's will and forming a new Akatsuki…
Neither could compare to the peace and stability Amegakure finally experienced after Jiraiya and Naruto defeated Pain.
She wondered if, in Nagato's final moments, he had thoughts similar to hers.
All those years of hatred, in the end, were just blinding illusions… completely at odds with Yahiko's ideals back then.
"Cough cough!" Her chest heaved violently and she spat out a mouthful of thick blood. Her eyes dimmed a lot.
It was too late to say anything now. The Rinnegan had already been stolen is a fact, and she was about to die. There's still had so many things left undone, leaving regrets in her heart.
'Nagato's last wish had not been fulfilled, nor had Yahiko's, but it was all too late now.' Opening and closing her eyes several times, Konan could feel her own breath growing weaker and weaker.
'There didn't seem to be any more chances.'
Meanwhile, Naruto was still drinking tea in the living room. Yugao put down the teacup and looked at him with a frown. She couldn't understand why he was grinning like that.
"Did you find money or something?"
"What?" Naruto looked up.
"I don't know why, but whenever you smile like that, it always feels like something bad is about to happen." Yugao said quietly.
"Really?" Naruto touched his face, looking puzzled, and asked her, "Shouldn't I look cheerful and sunny when I smile?"
Yugao: "…"
Faced with such an outrageous statement from Naruto, she didn't even know how to respond for a moment, 'Did this guy have zero self-awareness? What has he ever done that could be considered cheerful and sunny?'
"If you're not saying anything, I'll take that as agreement." He stood up and said, showing a sly grin.
After leaving the house, he didn't head straight for Amegakure. Before that, he had to make some preparations. The wind had already come. He had to secure the rear before everything went up in flames.
The impact of the Rinnegan falling into Obito's hands was huge, and it could even bring about the end of the world. Naruto had known that from the beginning, but he still didn't step in.
He wasn't Spider-Man, preaching that great power comes with great responsibility. Obito, Black Zetsu, the Otsutsuki Clan… could he really kill them all? One man's power was too small. He could only protect those before him.
Yamanaka Flower Shop.
Ino sat idly in the shop, her eyes unconsciously drifting toward the big tree outside. After part of the communications project was completed, the Intelligence Division's workload wasn't heavy.
"Where the hell does he go every day?"
She had completely forgotten that Naruto had just gone on a date with her not long ago. And Naruto had also revealed the details of yesterday's gathering with Shikamaru and Choji to Ino, intentionally or unintentionally.
The irregular reporting of schedules was very useful to Ino.
The communicator on the table rang. Ino took a look and reached out quickly but then paused. She didn't want to answer too fast, as it would make it seem like she didn't care about what happened last time at all.
In fact, she cared a lot, but she didn't really want to stop seeing him. They didn't get to meet often, and lately, they'd been spending a lot of time together.
Just before her birthday, they'd been going out nonstop. If Ino didn't have work, they might've kept going like that, but unfortunately, happy times are always short-lived.
After September comes October, and then the end-of-year holidays when they wouldn't be able to see each other, so she decided not to stay mad anymore.
After a while, Ino picked up the call, her voice sounding a bit aggrieved.
"Where are you?"
"I'm checking up on you." Naruto's annoying voice came through the communicator, "I'm in the Amegakure right now maintaining world peace. I just wanted to remind you it's hot outside, so don't get heatstroke."
"Tch! I'm in the shop, how could I get heatstroke?"
"And you lied to me again." Ino pouted and swung her feet under the table, "Why did you go out again? Is the mission location really that far?"
"I lied. I'm downstairs at your place right now. Come out and take a look." Naruto's voice came through, "Can you see me? I'm behind the big tree. Hurry down."
"You!!!" Ino was both angry and amused.
She went downstairs and looked around. For some reason, she felt a little guilty. But she immediately shook her head and thought that the guy should be the one feeling guilty.
Ino was wearing a thin white cropped T-shirt, a denim skirt, and a pair of sandals. Her figure was light and lively, like an elf.
"Here!" He waved.
"Hmph." Ino was obviously still a little angry and walked over reluctantly.
"Don't be mad. I brought you lemon tea." Naruto walked over with a cheeky grin and handed over a bottle of lemon tea, "I bought it especially for you."
There was moisture on the surface of the lemon tea. It can be seen that it's cooled.
He really had bought it specifically. Ino didn't like sugary drinks much, and usually drank warm milk. He couldn't exactly bring her a bottle of iced milk, as that'd be weird.
"Huh?" Ino looked at the ice lemon tea and narrowed her eyes. Then, she looked up at Naruto, frowned and said angrily, "You're doing this on purpose to annoy me, huh! You know I can't drink cold things!"
"I'm just messing with you. That one's mine." Naruto smoothly twisted the cap and took a refreshing sip, then handed her a bottle of warm milk, "This one's actually for you."
"Hmph, don't give me that!" Ino glanced at him smugly, "Don't think I don't know what you're up to. Bleh! I hope it drives you crazy!"
"Hiss! You even noticed that?" Naruto looked surprised.
"Of course!" Ino lifted her chin proudly, smiling brightly, having already forgotten how to be reserved.
"Amazing, amazing." He praised, playing along.
"Stay away from me, you pervert!" She gave Naruto a push, her tone full of disdain, but she didn't use much force, just enough to nudge him slightly.
"Hehe, that won't work." Naruto shamelessly leaned closer.
Ino pouted, but didn't continue that line of conversation. Her smile remained just as cheerful. She turned around, locked the Yamanaka Flower Shop, and then walked back.
"Let's go, I saw an outfit a few days ago I liked. You're coming with me to try it on."
"Sure, I bet it'll look amazing on you."
"Tch, liar!"
"Not at all. I know your figure very well, it's totally…"
"Go to hell!" Ino snapped in embarrassment. She stretched out her hand and twisted his waist skillfully, "Don't say weird stuff in public! Or I'll beat you to a pulp!"
"Uh, I can't help it, I can't help it." Naruto said with an awkward chuckle.
Ino is not the kind of person who likes to have others guess what she was thinking. She never understood why some girls would beat around the bush and make their boyfriend guess, then get mad if he got it wrong.
If she wanted something, or wanted to go somewhere, she'd just say it directly.