A week later.
Konohagakure.
Sunlight filtered through the new leaves, casting dappled shadows across the tidy streets.
The newly carved face on Hokage Rock gleamed in the sunlight.
Naruto pushed open the door with Hikari and Karin and returned to his familiar courtyard.
The courtyard had been neatly tended, with many new flowers added. Judging by the arrangement, it was probably Ino's handiwork.
Their trip to Amegakure had not gone entirely as expected.
When they descended upon that city of steel, shrouded in rain all year round, what greeted them was an empty, deathly silent lair, as though it had been hollowed out completely.
The core members of the Akatsuki had vanished without a trace.
Nagato, Obito, Zetsu... along with whatever remnants might have remained, had seemingly evaporated, leaving neither valuable clues nor signs of resistance.
Naruto did not linger in Amegakure.
After a thorough search confirmed that no valuable information or traps had been overlooked, he took the opportunity to reorganize the Rain Ninja forces belonging to the Akatsuki within the village.
He also helped relatively neutral factions willing to cooperate maintain order for the time being, formally bringing Amegakure under the jurisdiction of the "new order led by Konoha."
As for Konan...
Naruto entrusted her to Jiraiya.
After all, she was Jiraiya's student, so leaving her with him was only fitting.
When he had time later, Naruto still needed to ask her how exactly her Paper Release worked.
Kushina was delighted to see the three of them return.
"Naruto!"
With an apron tied around her waist and a spatula raised in her hand, Kushina Uzumaki rushed out like a fiery red whirlwind.
A joyful smile had lit up her face, but the instant she got a clear look at Naruto, it gave way to distress and worry.
"Huh?"