Naruto walked slowly out of the True Waterfall, water streaming down him.
Jiraiya, Yakumo, and Motoi of Kumogakure, who had been waiting on the shore, hurried to meet him.
Jiraiya clapped Naruto on the shoulder. "How did it go?"
Naruto smiled. "I feel great!"
Motoi looked a little surprised and hurriedly asked, "D-did you see the darkness in your heart?"
"Yeah!" Naruto nodded, then continued, "I've beaten him and recognized my true self!"
Motoi furrowed his brow slightly.
Noticing Motoi's strange expression, Jiraiya asked, "Is something wrong?"
Motoi shook his head. "Not really! It's just that Killer B spent a whole month meditating in front of the True Waterfall before he subdued the darkness in his heart. Yugito took several months to succeed, so I'm a little surprised Naruto did it on his first try!"
Jiraiya had complete faith in Naruto. He laughed heartily. "This kid always manages to surprise us. You'll get used to it!"
Motoi smiled. "Naruto really is talented!"
Just then, Yakumo stepped up to Naruto and carefully asked, "Naruto, nothing happened just now, did it?"
"No?" Naruto scratched his head. "Why?"
"N-nothing happened? Good!"
Yakumo let out a sigh of relief.
Before Naruto came out of the True Waterfall, Ido had hurriedly returned to her mindscape and immediately fallen asleep. No matter how Yakumo called to her, she couldn't wake her, which gave Yakumo a bad feeling.
Naruto looked at Yakumo. "Yakumo, I really appreciate you looking after me all these days!"
"You don't have to thank me."
Yakumo smiled, but deep down, she sensed something was wrong. She just couldn't put her finger on what it was.
After finishing their training for the day, the group returned to their lodgings.
Back in his room, Menma glanced at his reflection in the vanity mirror, the corner