"But the choice he made was his own," Sasuke said. "No matter how thoroughly he was manipulated, he still had to decide for himself which path to take in the end."
"I know." Konan gave a bitter smile. "It's just so sad to think that he never learned the truth before he died."
Naruto scratched his head.
He wasn't very good at comforting people.
"Konan," he said after a moment, "Nagato did a lot of things wrong, but he also protected a lot of people. At least in his heart, the people of Amegakure mattered to him. That doesn't change just because he was used."
Konan froze for a moment.
Then she smiled.
"Thank you, Naruto," she said. "You've really grown up."
"Of course!" Naruto puffed out his chest. "I'm going to be—"
"The future Hokage. We know," Sasuke interrupted. "You've said it eight hundred times already."
"Have I?"
"You have."
"Fine." Naruto scratched his head. "But it's true."
The three of them hurried back to Konoha.
By the time they reached the Village Entrance, night had fallen.
The two Chunin guarding the entrance saw them and immediately saluted.
"Lord Sasuke, Lord Naruto, welcome back."
"Thanks for your hard work." Sasuke nodded.
The three of them headed straight to the Hokage's Office.
Tsunade was still working late.
When she saw them walk in, she looked up, her eyes instantly sharpening.
"Did you find Jiraiya?"
"We did," Sasuke said with a nod. "And we got some important information."
"Tell me."
Over the next hour, Sasuke went over all the information Jiraiya had given them in detail.
Kaguya, Black Zetsu, White Zetsu, and the truth behind the Moon Eye Plan.
Each piece of information exploded in Tsunade's mind like a bomb.
When Sasuke finished, a deathly silence fell over the office.
Tsunade