After making peace, Returned Naruto and Innocent Naruto sat beneath the Waterfall of Truth and had a heart-to-heart.
Sharing a single body was not a lasting solution, after all.
So Innocent Naruto chose to leave.
Returned Naruto asked, "Is there someone you want to protect?"
Innocent Naruto said, "Someone I want to protect? There are too many to count. Honestly, I still want to protect everyone..."
"Protect everyone" had once been an obsession. Now it was a wish. Innocent Naruto was no longer innocent!
Returned Naruto patted Innocent Naruto's shoulder. "That's impossible. Choose one person. As for those you can't look after, I'll be there to protect them, along with our friends!"
"I've decided..."
After thinking it over carefully, Innocent Naruto made his choice.
Whoosh!
His body began to scatter into motes of light.
Returned Naruto stood to see him off.
Innocent Naruto said, "Promise me one last thing!"
Returned Naruto said, "Name it. As many things as you want!"
Innocent Naruto said, "No matter... no matter what Sasuke becomes in the end, when it all comes down to it, you have to-you absolutely have to-bring him back onto the right path, believe it!"
Returned Naruto said, "That goes without saying. He's our most important friend, believe it!"
Innocent Naruto said, "Protect our home. Don't let that future happen again!"
Returned Naruto said, "I will!"
"And..." Before disappearing, Innocent Naruto silently mouthed something.
Returned Naruto read his lips, and a smile touched his mouth. "I understand..."
"Then I'll leave it in your hands..."
Whoosh! Innocent Naruto-the original Naruto-scattered into motes of light.
A tear streamed from the corner of Returned Naruto's eye.
It was a tear of final farewell to his once-innocent self!
At four in the morning, Konoha was quiet.
Yet in the hills behind the village, Hinata