Naruto Returns Home

After Kurenai, Kiba, Shino left, Issui couldn't help but embrace Hinata's frail body, saying, "Are you... are you alright? I... I missed you so much..."

"No, it's not good at all. Who told you to leave for so long? You said it would be one or two years, but it's been two and a half years. Do you know how lonely I am? You have no idea. You haven't come back to see me even once in all this time. I hate you so much..." Hinata said, her voice choked with Issui, as she pounded her chest with her small hands.

"I'm sorry, it's my fault, it's all my fault. You can hit me or scold me if you want..." Issui hearing Hinata's murmur, Yishui felt as if a thorn had pierced his heart. The excruciating pain tormented his soul, and he felt deep remorse for the girl in his arms.

"Do you know how many times I told myself that you would definitely come back? But each time my expectations turned into disappointment. In the beginning, I couldn't sleep every day because I missed you. Later, I slowly got used to this feeling. I kept trying to train myself, trying not to think about this, and suppressing the pain in my heart. I just couldn't bear this feeling of longing anymore, sob sob..." Hinata choked on her words, tears streaming down her face.

"Don't cry, you can hit me or scold me all you want, just don't keep this pain inside. It's my fault..." Issui couldn't help but kiss away Hinata's tears one by one. Tasting the bitterness of her tears, his hands felt like they were being stabbed. Only now did he understand that the girl in his arms was his first love, the one he wanted to cherish. All thoughts of the world and ninjas vanished before his eyes. The only person he cared about was her, the girl he loved so deeply, the girl he was willing to spend his whole life with.

"Promise me you'll never leave me again. Take me with you wherever you go. I don't want to experience this kind of sorrow anymore..." Hinata closed her eyes and nestled in Issui's arms, quietly enjoying the warmth of his body.

"Yes, no, never again, I swear." Issui bit his lip, choking back tears. He was utterly heartbroken. A man doesn't easily shed tears, but only when deeply grieved. This was his moment of truth. His heart wept and grieved along with Hinata's. He understood what this feeling was called...!

On the open plain, the two nestled together, quietly savoring the joy of their reunion.

The outskirts of Sunagakure.

"Ah, we're almost there! Haha, I can finish this battle in a second. Art is an Explosion!" Deidara said casually, looking at the entrance to Sunagakure.

"Don't underestimate him. He's the Jinchūriki of the One-Tail Beast..." Sasori said calmly.

"Okay, I got it..."

"Don't keep me waiting too long..."

"Clear..."

At noon, Issui and Hinata were preparing to eat lunch at a barbecue restaurant when they ran into Issui Naruto Hinata Jiraiya, who had just returned to the village.

"Hey, you're back in the village today too. How's your training going?" Issui asked Naruto.

"Haha, it will definitely surprise you!" Naruto gave a thumbs up and said proudly.

"I heard you're also investigating Akatsuki. I wonder how it went?" Jiraiya suddenly asked Issui.

"You should have gathered quite a bit of information. You can ask Lady Tsunade for the specifics, but..." Issui paused abruptly as she spoke.

"But what...?" Jiraiya asked, frowning. What was it that he found difficult to say?

"Let's find somewhere else to talk. It's too noisy and chaotic here; it's not the place for a conversation. You haven't eaten either, have you? Let's all eat together; it's on me," Issui said.

"Really? Shall we go to Ichiraku Ramen?" Naruto suddenly became excited at the thought of food. For him, being able to eat a few bowls of ramen at Ichiraku Ramen Shop after just returning to the village was really great.

"No, we're going to eat barbecue..." Issui said bluntly. Is your brain made of ramen noodles? All you can think about is ramen noodles! Can't you think of something else?

"Free barbecue, that doesn't sound too bad..." Naruto said, stroking his chin.

Issui rolled her eyes at Naruto. So you're after something that's free? It's all my fault for being so rude; why did I tell you it was free?

"Alright, everyone, let's go. It's not far ahead..." Hinata gently nudged Issui, telling him not to worry about these things for now. After all, Lord Jiraiya, one of the Sannin, was there. Let's Lord Jiraiya. We can ignore Naruto for now, as if he doesn't exist.

"You guys? Huh? Naruto... you're back, and so is Issui-kun?" Sakura suddenly appeared.

"Sakura..." Naruto suddenly called out excitedly. Seeing Sakura as soon as he returned to the village was the happiest thing ever.

"Hmm, you've really changed a lot..." Sakura said with a smile when she saw Naruto, who was even taller than her. This guy has grown quite a bit.

"Jiraiya-senpai, it seems you don't have time. You guys go ahead with your work, and you can contact me again tonight. After all, you just returned to the village, and Haruka must have some things to take care of. We won't bother you any longer. I'll treat you to barbecue next time," said Issui. Judging from this, Jiraiya didn't have time for the time being, since he still had to report to Tsunade.

"Ah... Oh, I see, I understand..." Jiraiya said lewdly to Issui, winking at him repeatedly.

Issui knew exactly what Jiraiya was thinking. He thought he was in a relationship with Hinata, and it was best if no outsiders were around...

"..."

Hinata, seeing Jiraiya's strange expression, blushed and, grabbing Issui's hand, stumbled forward...

Issui could only wave goodbye to Jiraiya and then followed Hinata.

Barbecue restaurant.

"Issui-kun, I just heard you mention something about Akatsuki. What exactly have you been investigating these past two years?" Hinata asked, putting the raw meat on the grill and then setting down her chopsticks.

"Well, it's a long story. In short, it's an organization composed of a group of powerful missing-nin. Their goal is to collect the Tailed Beast and control the world..." Issui said simply.

"Collect the Tailed Beast? How is that possible? They..." Hinata was slightly agitated, after all, such a thing was too far removed from her world.

"Don't be surprised, these things are inevitable. When strength and hatred reach a certain level, the beliefs of the strong are nothing more than the two extreme directions of creation and destruction. And where there is justice, there is evil, so these chaotic things are bound to happen; it's just a matter of time. My purpose this time is to investigate this organization's intelligence," Issui said. In fact, he was lying. He knew all the information about Akatsuki—who told him to create it and travel here? But he couldn't tell Hinata that he was from another world; no one would believe him. For the past two years, he had been staying in that world with Haku and even had a daughter—things he couldn't reveal.

"What about Sister Haku? Didn't she leave with you? Why didn't she come back with you?" Hinata suddenly asked, puzzled.

"Ah, don't worry, she's fine. She's on a mission somewhere and will be back in a while." Issui was taken aback by Hinata's question and immediately lied. Sigh, what a troublesome matter. How should I explain Xiao Zhixuan's situation? It's such a headache.

"Really?" Hinata was somewhat skeptical, but she didn't press the matter too much.

"Well, actually, it's like this. Bai and I found an abandoned baby girl while we were on a mission, and we've been raising her ever since. Bai is taking care of her right now." Issui had no choice but to lie and say that Xiao Zhixuan was found, since it was hard to say such a thing.

"Hmm? Ah..." Hinata was puzzled, but she didn't doubt it.

"Come on, eat some meat. Look, it's all cooked. It'll burn if you don't eat it soon..." Issui stopped talking to Hinata and put a few pieces of cooked meat into her bowl. After all, if they delved any deeper into that matter, they would give themselves away.

That night, the moonlight shone like water into every corner of the courtyard, and a dark figure stood on the roof, as if waiting for someone.

"Sorry I'm a little late..." Jiraiya suddenly appeared beside the shadowy figure.

"It's alright, I was just idling around and enjoying the moonlight..." Issui emerged from the darkness, revealing her delicate face.

"You seemed to have something to say during the day, what made you so hesitant to speak..." Jiraiya asked.

"Well, I have some very bad news for you... Actually, the leader of Akatsuki that we've been investigating is your former disciple, Nagato Uzumaki. Konan is also in that organization..." Issui said, enunciating each word clearly.

"How could this be? Where's Yahiko?" Jiraiya suddenly exclaimed. He knew his three disciples; they wouldn't do such a thing. What happened? Had he forgotten about Yahiko? Where was Yahiko?

"After you left them, when they came of age, Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato founded an organization called Akatsuki. Gradually, their organization gained a certain reputation in the Shinobi World, which aroused the suspicion of Hanzo, the leader of Hanzo of the Salamander in the Amegakure). Hanzō to recruit Akatsuki, but secretly allied with Danzo Shimura, the leader of Konoha's Anbu Anti-Japanese Shimura Danzō), to annihilate this newly emerging force from the Land of Rain. Later, Hanzō kidnapped Konan and forced Nagato to kill Yahiko. Yahiko had no choice but to commit suicide to save Konan. Nagato, seeing himself deceived and his dearest friend die before his eyes, was consumed by rage and unleashed the legendary Rinnegan." The Secret Technique of the Rinnegan saved Konan, making him the new leader of Akatsuki. Hanzō and Danzo discovered that he actually possessed the legendary Rinnegan! They retreated in panic... Afterwards, Nagato and Konan continuously accumulated their strength, and one powerful missing-nin after another joined their ranks. Although their goals were not the same, under the suppression of Nagato's powerful strength, the group remained friendly for the time being. Later, Nagato led many powerful ninjas to kill Hanzō, occupied Amegakure, and became the true ruler of Amegakure. Hanzō ultimately could not escape Nagato's pursuit... "Issui said intermittently.

"I see. But Nagato isn't the kind of person who would destroy the world. He's a pure-hearted person who has always considered world peace his greatest wish. How could he..." Jiraiya after hearing these words, Jiraiya still couldn't believe that his beloved disciple would do such a thing. Wasn't world peace always his goal?