One week later.
Konohagakure.
The sun shines through the new leaves, casting mottled light and shadow on the neat streets.
The newly carved face on Hokage Rock shines brightly in the sunlight.
Naruto took Guang and Karin to open the door and returned to the familiar yard.
The yard is well taken care of and there are many flowers. Judging from the layout, it must be the work of Ino.
Amegakure line, the result is not exactly as expected.
When they arrived at Iron City, which was shrouded in rain all year round, what greeted them was an empty, lifeless nest that seemed to have been completely hollowed out.
The core members of the "Akatsuki" organization have disappeared without a trace.
Nagato, Obito, Jue... together with the possible remnants of the party, seemed to have evaporated, leaving no valuable clues or traces of resistance.
Naruto did not stay too much at Amegakure.
After a thorough search to confirm that no valuable information or traps were missed, he smoothly reorganized the Rain Ninja forces belonging to "Akatsuki" in the village.
It also supported relatively neutral and cooperative factions to temporarily maintain order, and formally brought Amegakure into the jurisdiction of the "New Order led by Konoha".
As for Konan...
She was handed over by Naruto to Jiraiya.
After all, she is Jiraiya's apprentice, so it is just right to hand her over to Jiraiya.
After you have time to look back, Naruto still needs to ask the other party what is going on with Paper Release.
After seeing the three people back again, Kushina was very happy.
"Naruto!"
Kushina Uzumaki, wearing an apron and holding a spatula, rushed out like a fiery red whirlwind.
Her face was originally filled with a joyful smile, but the moment she saw Naruto's face clearly, that smile was immediately covered with heartache and worry.
"Eh?"
She stepped forward quickly, almost touching Naruto's face for a closer look, her voice rising involuntarily,
"Naruto! Why... have you lost so much weight? You look so bad too!"
Kushina's brows were knitted tightly together, and his fingers unconsciously tightened the handle of the spatula.
"Did you not take good care of yourself outside at all? Did you just keep fighting and didn't eat on time? Didn't you sleep well either?"
Listening to Kushina's chatter, Naruto agreed with a smile and winked at Karin.
Karin immediately understood and threw himself into Kushina's arms.
"I miss you so much, Aunt Kushina!"
"Okay Mom, I'm really fine, I'm just a little tired."
He rubbed Temples and looked sleepy.
"I'm going to go back and take a nap first. After I wake up, I can just get something to eat."
As he spoke, he waved casually in the direction of Kushina and Karin, then turned around and walked straight towards his room.
After he had rested, he had to find a way to find out what was wrong with Land of Wind's clone.
He would be a little worried if the clone was released directly Hashirama.
Hashirama's character is destined to be too easy to deceive.
Naruto feels that if Land of Wind people ask him to turn the desert into Oasis, he would dare to comply.
Kushina looked at his son's back walking towards the room and opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something else. However, seeing Naruto's tired look, he lowered his head and looked at Karin in his arms who was looking at him expectantly. He finally swallowed his words and turned into a distressed sigh.
"This kid... really forces himself too hard."
She shook her head and smiled at Karin.
"Karin, come, tell auntie, what did you encounter when you went out this time? Whatever you want to eat, auntie will cook it for you!"
Naruto, who successfully escaped, walked into his room and gently closed the door behind him.
The room was filled with the familiar smell of sun-baked bedding, and a faint scent of flowers.
He took off his robe and hung it on the hanger, walked to the bed, and threw himself heavily into the soft quilt with an almost indulgent feeling of relaxation.
My body fell into a familiar feeling of support, fatigue surged in like a tide, and my eyelids began to feel heavy.
However, just before his consciousness was about to fall into sleep, there was a slight, almost imperceptible sinking feeling at the edge of the mattress.
Then, a familiar scent quietly approached.
Naruto did not open his eyes, but his Sensing had clearly told him who the visitor was.
He remained lying on his back, but turned his head slightly, opened his eyelids a slit, and looked towards the bed.
Uchiha Hikari entered the room silently at some point and was sitting quietly by his bed.
She was holding the Hair Tie that Naruto had given her before, and combing her hair with one hand.
The side face looked calm and beautiful in the afternoon light coming in from the window.
Hearing Naruto's subtle movements and half-open eyes, Guang stopped wiping his hair, turned his head, and met his questioning eyes calmly.
"Light? Are you...?"
Naruto's voice was a little vague, with the laziness and confusion of just lying down.
Shouldn't she be outside with her mother and Karin?
Or go back to her own room to rest?
Guang looked at him, his black eyes were clear, without any unnecessary emotions, he just stated calmly:
"It's okay."
She paused, her eyes swept across the real traces of exhaustion on his face, and her voice became softer:
"Go to sleep."
After saying that, she turned her head again and continued to arrange her Long Hair with gentle and regular movements.
She had no intention of leaving, and no further explanation. She just sat there quietly, like a silent and beautiful sculpture guarding her.
The room fell into silence again, with only the faint sound of towels rubbing hair, and the peaceful noise of Konoha afternoon coming from far outside the window.
The sun shines through the window lattice, casting warm spots on the floor, and there are fine dust floating in the air.
Naruto looked at Guang's calm silhouette, feeling her silent but tangible companionship, and the last trace of doubt and tension in his heart quietly dissipated.
He understood what she meant.
She just wanted to be here, with him when he was resting.
Maybe it was a Uchiha-style awkward concern, maybe she needed a quiet place to sort out her thoughts, or maybe... she just simply wanted to be by his side.
He didn't ask again, nor did he chase her away. He just closed his eyes again and allowed himself to be dragged into the darkness by exhaustion and sleepiness.
The second before he fell into sleep completely, he vaguely heard Guang's low voice, as if talking to himself, or in response to him:
"I'll go and help auntie cook in a moment."
Then, consciousness completely sank.
In the room, there was only the sound of Young Naruto's even and long breathing, and the gentle silhouette of a girl sitting quietly by the bed, combing her hair.
The afternoon sun moved slowly, shrouding the two figures in a warm and quiet halo, as if time had become slow and peaceful at this moment.
After Naruto fell asleep, Guang stopped arranging his hair and stretched out his hand to pinch Naruto's face, but it did not fall.
"Forget it, tell this guy when he wakes up that he will definitely be pinched by me, so let him sleep first."