A Misunderstanding Resolved
Upon learning the truth, Violet fell into a deep silence, her emotions conflicted.
Naruto Uzumaki knelt beside her, pulling out the black rods that pinned her hands to the floor and tossing them aside. He then retrieved bandages and antiseptic, carefully tending to her wounds.
Violet looked at him in disbelief. "You're... not going to kill me?"
Naruto's voice was calm and warm. "I don't kill the innocent. Since this was all just a misunderstanding, then even your motive for trying to harm me stems from a misunderstanding. Besides, didn't you say you love this land and love Amegakure?"
He continued, "That proves your intentions were for the sake of the village you serve. And the fact that you dare to defy power and act according to your own beliefs is even more commendable."
After finishing the bandaging and tying the knot securely, Naruto stood up and said, "Whether you choose to stay or leave in the future is entirely up to you. I'll respect your decision. Take your time to think it over, and when you've made up your mind, let me know."
With that, Naruto turned and walked out of the room with Konan, leaving Violet behind.
The door closed, and the rain outside continued to pour relentlessly.
Violet leaned against the corner of the wall, hugging her knees and burying her head in them.
Memories long blurred by time resurfaced, growing clearer and clearer in her mind.
On the ruins of her home, she had cradled her infant sister in her arms. Before her stood a young man who had saved their lives—a man she would regard as her benefactor for years to come.
At the time, she had been too terrified to even look directly at him.
But that man had gently patted her tangled hair with his slender hand and said softly, "Don't be afraid. When you grow up, you'll have the strength to protect your village. Until then, live well."
His reassuring tone had calmed her heart. Unable to resist, Violet had glanced up at him.
A warm smile, golden hair shining brightly in the sunlight.
Flash!
The face in her memory overlapped with Naruto's.
Violet's eyes widened in shock. "It's him... He's that man's son!"
Her thoughts raced. "So, he really has..."
The realization of Minato Namikaze's death struck her hard. Her hands clenched the fabric of her pants tightly.
For years, she had harbored an unrealistic dream—to find that man and tell him that she had grown into a capable shinobi.
If he hadn't married, she had even dreamed of marrying him and bearing his children.
But now, knowing her benefactor was gone, tears streamed down Violet's face.
After crying her heart out, she looked at the knot on the bandage on her hand and made a firm decision.
"This debt of gratitude cannot be repaid. I will dedicate myself entirely to repaying his son—Naruto Uzumaki!"
Reflections in the Rain
In the corridor, Naruto stared out at the rain, deep in thought. "The love and hatred intertwined in this shinobi world... it's truly unfathomable."
Konan stood beside him, her voice tinged with emotion. "Indeed. Who would have thought that the person she wanted to kill was the one who saved her all those years ago?"
Her thoughts drifted to her own past, and guilt washed over her. Luckily, Jiraiya had been resurrected, giving her a chance to make amends—not just for herself but also for Nagato.
After a moment, Konan spoke seriously. "Violet—do you really plan to keep her by your side? No matter how you look at it, it doesn't seem appropriate."
Naruto replied thoughtfully, "Everyone has the right to make mistakes, and everyone deserves a chance to be forgiven. I believe that after this experience, she'll grow—both as a shinobi and as a person."
Konan lowered her gaze, murmuring, "As a shinobi, huh..."
Naruto turned the conversation. "Those Kumogakure captives—they're still out in the rain, aren't they?"
Konan nodded. "Yes."
"Well, I'm not sleepy anymore. Let's go take a look."
Naruto put his mask back on and descended the tower with Konan.
The Prisoners of Kumogakure
Behind the tower, in the open courtyard, the prisoners from Kumogakure were chained and left to stand in the pouring rain.
Boom! Thunder rumbled across the sky.
Omoi, biting the stick of a long-melted lollipop, muttered nervously, "It's thundering. If lightning strikes this tower and breaks off the top, the falling debris might hit us..."
"If it kills us outright, that's one thing. But if it doesn't and we're left paralyzed, stuck in bed for the rest of our lives, needing someone to take care of us... we wouldn't be able to get married. No marriage means no kids, and our family line would end—"
"Hey!" Karui interrupted, clearly annoyed. "Can you stop saying such unsettling things?!"
"Quiet," Samui said, her calm voice cutting through the tension. She glanced toward the corner of the tower. "Someone's coming."
Naruto emerged from the shadows, his eyes immediately catching Samui's striking blonde hair and fair skin.
With a playful tone, he said, "Well, well, this isn't our first meeting, is it?"
Samui gritted her teeth. "It's you—the one who impersonated me, deceived everyone, and attacked our village!"
Behind Naruto, Konan's gaze flicked to Samui's chest before glancing down at her own. Her brows furrowed slightly.
Naruto walked up to Samui. "The reason I impersonated you was to avoid unnecessary conflict."
Karui shouted angrily, "Stay away from Captain Samui, you spiky-haired jerk!"
Naruto turned to look at her.
Karui, with her dark skin and wiry frame, reminded Naruto of their past life. After the Pain Assault, Karui had come to Konoha and even beaten Naruto up over Sasuke's actions.
In the aftermath of the Fourth Great Ninja War, Karui had married Choji Akimichi and given birth to Chocho Akimichi, who became classmates with Boruto Uzumaki and Sarada Uchiha.
Naruto wasn't one to hold grudges. With a chuckle, he said, "Girls shouldn't be so hot-tempered. Otherwise, you might end up marrying a chubby guy."
Karui scoffed, "Hah?! I, Karui, would rather die than marry a man who weighs over 80 kilograms!"
Konan interjected, "What do you plan to do with these people?"
Naruto replied, "Take them to the cells. They'll serve as bargaining chips for negotiations with the Raikage in the future."
Konan nodded. "That makes sense. Even if the Raikage and Kumogakure can't deal with you, that doesn't mean they can't target other Amegakure shinobi."
The prisoners were escorted to the cells by ANBU.
As Omoi was led away, he sighed in relief. "Finally, we're away from that tower. Now there's no chance of debris falling on us and paralyzing us—"
BOOM!
Lightning struck the tower, breaking off a corner of the roof. Debris fell exactly where Omoi had been sitting moments ago.
Naruto stared in disbelief. "You've got to be kidding me..."
A Message from Jiraiya
After the incident, Naruto looked up at a window on the sixth floor of the tower and murmured, "I wonder if Pervy Sage is asleep by now."
Konan's expression shifted as she remembered something. "He went to bed earlier, but before that, he wrote this."
She handed Naruto a piece of paper with what appeared to be a cipher written on it.
Naruto stepped under the eaves to avoid the rain and unfolded the paper. After a quick glance, he confirmed, "It's definitely a cipher. Back then, Pervy Sage used the same method to deliver information about Pain. The key to decoding it is Make-Out Paradise. By matching the page numbers and words, the message can be pieced together."
Konan's eyes softened. "Make-Out Paradise... If I remember correctly, that's one of Sensei's novels, right? Like The Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi."
Naruto hesitated. "Uh... yeah, sort of. Pervy Sage must be trying to tell us something. But why go through the trouble of using a cipher? Anyway, we'll need a copy of Make-Out Paradise to decode it. Is there one in any of Amegakure's bookstores?"
Konan shook her head. "No. Amegakure is very insular and values its local customs and culture. Foreign books rarely make their way here."
Naruto sighed. "I see. Then we'll have to find another way to get our hands on a copy and decode the message."
Konan offered, "How about this—once we get the book, let me handle decoding the cipher."
Naruto blinked in surprise. "You?"
Konan nodded. "It's a small way for me to atone. As Sensei's student, I've never even read his works. It's shameful."
Naruto scratched his head. "Alright, fine. I have some important matters to attend to, so I'll need to return to Konoha soon anyway."
Konan didn't press for details. "Come back soon. And be careful."
A Meeting in Konoha
Under the dim light of a streetlamp in a secluded alley in Konoha, Shikaku Nara leaned against a utility pole, lighting a cigarette with a kerosene lighter.
Shikaku wasn't usually one to smoke, but the recent turmoil in Konoha had taken its toll on him.
Exhale. He blew out a puff of smoke and turned his gaze toward the dark corner of the alley. His voice was steady and calm. "With your Sage Mode and exceptional sensory abilities, you deliberately left a Flying Thunder God mark where I'd pass by. You must have wanted me to notice. Since then, I've been waiting here every night. Come out, Naruto."
From the shadows, Naruto stepped forward. "Shikaku-san, I'm sorry to keep you waiting. Unlike you, I don't have a brilliant mind, so I needed time to reflect and decide my next steps."
Shikaku smiled knowingly. "It's fine. You're here now. Why don't we talk at my place?"
Naruto grinned. "Is that really okay?"
Shikaku chuckled. "Shikamaru and his mother are out visiting friends. It's just me at home. No one else knows—not even Kakashi."
Naruto smirked. "Got any alcohol?"
"You're not of age yet, are you? But... tonight, we'll make an exception."
Shikaku extinguished his cigarette in a portable ashtray and tucked it into his pocket before leading the way.
"Then, I'll be in your care, Shikaku-uncle," Naruto said, following him.
That night was a night for sages.
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