The images on the Heavenly Screen continued to play. Naruto took a deep breath and made a decision—he would go alone to where Pain's real body was and face the man controlling everything, Nagato. He knew that to end this senseless hatred, he had to face it all himself.
Shikaku Nara stood in a tree, gazing pensively after Naruto. He could not help recalling something his son Shikamaru had once said to him. After a mission, Shikamaru had taken the unusual step of bringing up Naruto himself.
"Father, you know what? Naruto has something the rest of us don't," Shikamaru had said casually as he took off his shoes.
Shikaku had looked at his son in surprise and asked, "Something the rest of you don't?"
Shikamaru had stopped what he was doing. "Yeah. Someday, he'll definitely become a very important ninja in the village. With Naruto... I want to keep walking alongside that guy. I can't help thinking that."
Shikaku had not paid it much attention at the time, merely thinking how unusual it was for his son to hold someone in such high regard. But now, watching Naruto leave, he finally understood the deeper meaning behind Shikamaru's words. "Let's leave this to Naruto," he said.
The real Shinobi World
Meanwhile, the images on the Heavenly Screen continued to play. Naruto set out for the place where Pain's real body was, his steps firm and strong, as though nothing could stop him from moving forward. In the light of the setting sun, his figure seemed especially tall, as though a true hero was rising.
The people of Konoha watched the scene, their hearts filled with shock and emotion. They finally understood that Naruto was not the "dead last" they had imagined, but a true hero, a ninja who had silently endured everything to protect the village.
"Naruto... he actually went to face Pain's real body all alone..." a ninja murmured, his voice full of admiration.
"We... we've really failed him..." another ninja said, choking back tears.
In the Heavenly Screen's video
As a precaution, Naruto entered Sage Mode again. He found the disguised tree, tore it open and went inside, where he met Konan and Nagato. Both sides remained calm when they met, and no fight broke out.
Naruto stood before Nagato, a heavy sense of oppression filling the air. Nagato sat in a contraption supported by Black Rods of chakra. His emaciated body looked exceptionally weak, but his gaze remained sharp, as though he could see into Naruto's heart.
"So you're Pain's real body?" Naruto asked gravely, staring at Nagato as he tried to read something from his expression.
Nagato raised his head slightly, a mocking smile curling his lips. "You finally came. Standing before me without shame, bringing your childish ideals of peace."
Naruto clenched his fists as anger welled up inside him, but he worked to suppress his emotions. He knew Nagato was deliberately provoking him, trying to make him lose his composure.
Seeing that Naruto had not immediately lashed out, Nagato continued, "Do you hate me? You want revenge, don't you?"
What Nagato and Konan said left Naruto deep in thought. Nagato suddenly attacked him, driving a black rod straight into his body. Naruto said calmly, "I came here to talk to you."
Naruto also said that he could not let go of his hatred at all, and charged at Nagato.
But Jiraiya's smile flashed through Naruto's mind, followed by the devastation when Konoha was destroyed. His heart filled with pain and anger, and he clenched his fists even tighter. Yet just as he was about to lose control, he remembered what Jiraiya had once told him: "Hatred only brings more hatred. True peace requires understanding and tolerance."
The two sides began to talk...
After learning about what Nagato and the others had been through, Naruto decided to let go of his hatred. He took out Jiraiya's book and spoke of what he had come to understand, recalling Jiraiya's words: "The day when people can truly understand one another will eventually come."...
Naruto stood before Nagato, his gaze firm and sincere. His words were like a warm light, piercing the darkness deep in Nagato's heart. Nagato hung his head, his emaciated body trembling slightly, as though he were wrestling with a tremendous inner struggle. Memories flooded his mind, one scene after another.
He remembered his childhood days in Amegakure with Yahiko and Konan. Back then, they had dreamed of changing the world, innocent and full of hope. Yahiko had always stood at the front, leading them in pursuit of their ideal of peace. Nagato still remembered Yahiko's smile, fearless and resolute, as though no hardship in the world could stand in their way.
Yet the cruelty of reality had shattered it all. Yahiko's death became a lasting pain in Nagato's heart. He could not accept Yahiko's passing, nor could he accept the world's merciless oppression of the weak. Hatred and pain gradually consumed him, leading him down the path of revenge. He created Pain, trying to make the world understand the meaning of peace through suffering. Yet all of it only plunged him into deeper darkness.
Nagato raised his head and looked at Naruto, as though he saw a shadow of Yahiko. The boy who had once led them in pursuit of their dreams now appeared again in Naruto. It was as if a shackle had been undone in Nagato's heart, and he felt a long-forgotten sense of relief.
"Naruto... you really are an incredible person," Nagato said softly.
Nagato fell silent for a moment, then finally nodded slowly. A trace of resolve flashed in his eyes, as though he had made a decision. He said quietly, "Naruto, I'll put my faith in you. Perhaps you really can change this world."
With that, Nagato slowly raised his hands and formed a complex seal. His body was gradually swallowed by light. He murmured, "Outer Path: Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique!"
In an instant, a powerful life force poured from Nagato's body, turning into countless points of light that flew to every corner of Konoha. The bodies of the ninja and villagers who had died during Pain's invasion gradually came back to life. They slowly rose from the ground, their eyes full of confusion and surprise.
Across Konoha, the survivors watched the miraculous scene unfold, disbelief spreading across their faces.
"Wh-what's going on?" a ninja exclaimed in surprise, watching a comrade who had just been lying on the ground suddenly stand up.
"They... they've come back to life!" another villager cried excitedly, tears filling their eyes.
Kakashi stood among the ruins, watching life gradually return to the scene around him, his heart filled with shock.
In Konoha, the resurrected people gradually regained consciousness. They looked around them, their eyes full of confusion and gratitude. The survivors rushed forward to embrace their resurrected loved ones and friends, tears mingling with laughter.
"Th-this is a miracle!" a villager said excitedly, their voice full of gratitude.
At the end of the video, Kakashi carried Naruto back to the village on his back. Everyone surrounded them, shouting that Naruto was a hero...
After the first video on the Heavenly Screen finished playing, it displayed 71 hours, 59 minutes and 59 seconds.
The real Shinobi World
As the images on the Heavenly Screen gradually faded, members of the Akatsuki in various places watched Nagato be persuaded by Naruto and ultimately choose to use Rinne Rebirth to revive Konoha's dead. Disbelief appeared on their faces. They had never imagined that their cold, merciless leader, who believed in pain and hatred, would be persuaded by a boy and even sacrifice himself to make amends.
"The leader... actually admitted defeat?" Hidan's eyes widened, his voice full of disbelief.
Deidara, flying through the sky, curled his lip in displeasure. "Art is an Explosion! The leader actually gave up on our plan. What a disappointment, yeah!"
Sasori said nothing, but a complicated emotion flashed in his eyes. He murmured, "Maybe... that kid Naruto really is a little special."
Kisame carried Samehada over his shoulder and grinned. "Looks like our plan's going down the drain. Still, that Nine-Tails kid is pretty interesting."
Meanwhile, ninja from the various nations had also seen the scene on the Heavenly Screen, and discussions broke out among them.
"That kid Naruto actually managed to persuade the man behind it all?" a ninja from Iwagakure said in surprise.
"I heard he's the Fourth Hokage's son. He really is something," another ninja from Sunagakure said quietly.
"Hmph, Konoha really does keep producing talented people," a ninja from Kumogakure sneered, a hint of jealousy in his voice.
"Still, I didn't expect Nagato to choose to sacrifice himself to revive the people of Konoha," a ninja from Kirigakure said with emotion.
While the ninja of the various nations discussed what they had seen, the atmosphere in Konoha was entirely different. The villagers and ninja looked at Naruto on the Heavenly Screen, their hearts full of shock and gratitude. They finally understood that Naruto was not the "dead last" or "monster" they had once believed him to be, but a true hero, a ninja who would stop at nothing to protect the village.
"Naruto... he saved everyone..." a villager murmured.
"Naruto is the real hero!" a young ninja shouted, his voice full of admiration.
Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi stood atop Hokage Rock, unable to calm himself for a long time, his eyes full of complicated emotions. He held his pipe as smoke rose slowly, as though carrying him back to memories of the past. He recalled that night more than ten years ago, when Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki had sacrificed themselves to seal the Nine-Tails inside the newborn Naruto and protect the village. As Third Hokage at the time, he had taken on the responsibility of caring for Naruto.
Yet when Hiruzen Sarutobi looked back on the years since, his heart filled with guilt. He knew he had not truly protected Naruto. Naruto had suffered cold stares and rejection in the village since childhood, while he, as Hokage, had kept Naruto's identity as the Fourth Hokage's son secret because of various concerns, and had failed to give him the care and support he deserved.
"Minato, Kushina... I've failed the trust you placed in me," Hiruzen murmured, his voice full of self-reproach and regret.
He watched the Heavenly Screen showing Naruto becoming the village's hero, feeling both gratified and deeply regretful. He knew Naruto had come this far entirely through his own efforts and unwavering conviction. Yet he, as Third Hokage, had failed to offer Naruto more help.
"Naruto, you've grown into a true ninja," Hiruzen said softly, a glimmer of relief in his eyes. "If Minato and Kushina could see you today, they would surely be proud of you."
Meanwhile, Danzo stood in Root's base, his expression frighteningly grim. Through the Heavenly Screen, he had seen Naruto persuade Nagato and revive the people of Konoha who had died, and his heart was filled with anger and resentment. He gripped his cane tightly, his knuckles white with the strain.
"That Nine-Tails brat..." Danzo growled, his voice full of suppressed fury.
He had originally planned to use the Nine-Tails' power to strengthen himself, and had considered using the Kotoamatsukami in his right eye to control the Nine-Tails and fulfill his ambitions. But Naruto's growth and strength had completely exceeded his expectations. The Naruto shown on the Heavenly Screen was no longer a "Jinchūriki" he could manipulate at will, but a true hero, a ninja respected and loved by the entire village.
"Lord Danzo, what should we do now?" a Root ninja asked quietly, a trace of concern in his voice.
Danzo gave him a cold glance, his voice icy. "Hmph, that brat Naruto can no longer be controlled. But that doesn't mean we're giving up. Konoha's future must be under my control!"
Iruka sat in the Ninja Academy office, his eyes full of complicated emotions. His heart was filled with emotion and relief, as though he could see the dead-last boy who had once been so mischievous at the Ninja Academy, always getting into trouble.
"Naruto... you really did it," Iruka murmured, his voice catching slightly.
His thoughts drifted back to the day many years ago when he had just become Naruto's homeroom teacher. Back then, Naruto had been lonely and rebellious, always pulling pranks to draw attention. Iruka had once found Naruto a headache too, and had even felt somewhat helpless. But as time passed, he gradually came to understand the loneliness and pain in Naruto's heart.
Iruka recalled his own past misunderstandings and prejudice toward Naruto, and his heart filled with guilt. He knew that he had once been prejudiced against Naruto just like everyone else, and had even been wary of him because he was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. Yet Naruto had changed his opinion, step by step, through his actions and convictions.
"Iruka-sensei, thank you." Naruto had given him a sincere smile after a mission. "If it weren't for you, I might have given up long ago."
Warmth welled up in Iruka's heart. He knew that Naruto had come this far not only because of his talent and hard work, but even more because of his conviction deep inside never to give up.
Just then, words Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi had once said to him suddenly came to Iruka's mind. It had been not long after Naruto entered the Ninja Academy, when Iruka had found Naruto's pranks a headache and had even felt somewhat helpless. He had gone to the Third Hokage in hopes of getting some advice.
"Lord Third, that boy Naruto... I really don't know how to teach him," Iruka had said, somewhat dejected.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in a chair in the Hokage's office, holding his pipe and slowly exhaling a puff of smoke. He smiled at Iruka, a hint of deeper meaning in his voice. "Iruka, you know what? That boy Naruto is actually a lot like you."
Iruka had paused, then asked in confusion, "A lot like me? Lord Third, I don't quite understand..."
Hiruzen nodded, his gaze full of kindness and wisdom. "When you were young, you also felt lonely and suffered because you lost your parents. But you didn't let that defeat you. You chose to carry on with strength. Naruto is the same. The loneliness and pain deep in his heart run even deeper than you imagine. But what he needs isn't other people's sympathy or pity. It's understanding and trust."
Iruka fell silent for a moment, a complicated emotion welling up inside him. When he recalled his own childhood, he saw that it did have similarities to Naruto's. He said quietly, "Lord Third, I understand. I'll try to understand him and trust him."
Hiruzen smiled and nodded, a hint of gratification in his voice. "Iruka, I believe you can do it. Naruto will surely become an extraordinary ninja someday. And you will be one of the most important guides on his path as he grows."
Remembering those words from the Third Hokage, Iruka was filled with emotion. He knew that the Third Hokage had long seen Naruto's potential and believed he could become a great ninja. And now Naruto had indeed lived up to the Third Hokage's expectations.
"Lord Third, you were right... Naruto really can do it," Iruka murmured, a glimmer of tears in his eyes.
Because Naruto was not only his student, but also the most important family member in his heart.