Endure and press on

The Raikage's eyes went wide. "Is that really true?!"

Naruto turned his head. "Every word of it. Would I make things up in front of all these Kage?"

"Grrrr..." The Raikage clenched his fists. In the end, his concern for his younger brother's safety outweighed everything else.

Crackle!

His lightning armor dissipated. Before leaving, the Raikage delivered a final threat. "Naruto Uzumaki, I'll let you off this time! But Sasuke Uchiha has Kumogakure's blood on his hands! If he falls into my hands, I won't spare his life! As for you, you'd better watch yourself!"

Naruto replied meaningfully, "All right. I look forward to learning from you..."

Those were no mere pleasantries. Naruto would have many dealings with the Raikage in the days ahead. In fact, before long, the two would stage a shocking Nintaijutsu battle in Hell Valley, Kumogakure's hidden domain!

Ōnoki put on his Tsuchikage hat and remarked, "Quite a show. It was worth this old man's long journey. Who knows when the next Five Kage Summit will be..."

Mei Terumi turned her beautiful eyes toward him. "Lord Tsuchikage, are you heading back? Since you've come all this way to the Land of Iron, why not try the local hot springs? They might even help your back!"

"Wow!" Kurotsuchi's eyes lit up. She was clearly tempted.

Hot springs could be found everywhere and were hardly unique to the Land of Iron, but the bitter climate here made them all the more appealing.

Ōnoki gave a knowing reply. "Heh. There are too many scoundrels in the shinobi world these days. I can't shake the feeling that others are lurking out of sight, itching to make their move. I'd best return to the village and keep watch..."

After all, Danzo had mentioned during the summit that the leader behind the Akatsuki was Madara Uchiha. That hardly sounded like a baseless rumor.

The name Madara alone was enough to stir up a storm.

Mei Terumi's expression grew grave as well.

Ōnoki said seriously, "After the scandal of Danzo fleeing the summit today, his Hokage position is probably in jeopardy. Still, we can't rule out him resorting to other tricks. I propose that we Kage jointly write to the Land of Fire's daimyo and call for Danzo's impeachment. What do you say?"

Mei Terumi replied, "I'd be happy to cooperate. Root's ideology would undermine the Land of Water's interests..."

"..." Gaara gazed at Naruto, his eyes filled with conflicting emotions.

Temari rested a hand on his shoulder and whispered, "Whatever else he may be, he's a rogue ninja from Konoha now. You're the Kazekage. Remember where you stand..."

"Yes, I understand..."

Gaara reluctantly turned away, silently hoping, Naruto, I hope that one day you'll choose to tell me what really happened.

While no one was paying attention, Suigetsu had already dragged Jugo away.

Aside from Naruto, Konan, and Orochimaru, only the samurai led by Mifune and the group who had traveled from Konoha remained.

Naruto looked at Mifune. "Lord Mifune, circumstances left me no choice this time. Please forgive the offense. I still have something to discuss with the Konoha ninja. Could you give us a little more time?"

Mifune replied, "You must leave the Land of Iron by midnight tonight at the latest!"

Naruto nodded. "Thank you..."

"..." Mifune left with his subordinates. The samurai he represented had long maintained a neutral stance in the shinobi world.

Although the spirit of bushido played a part, that neutrality stemmed more from the harsh necessities of survival.

Thus, as long as the samurai's interests were not threatened, he preferred not to become too deeply involved in disputes between ninja.

But Mifune was also a man of principle. In Naruto's previous life, when Obito had declared war at the summit, Mifune had stepped forward with his samurai to protect the world, joining the forces opposing the Akatsuki.

For that reason, Naruto still maintained a basic respect for Mifune.

Orochimaru was adept at reading the atmosphere. Before Naruto could speak, he volunteered, "Naruto-kun, I'll give you some privacy..."

Naruto said, "Go ahead. Wait for me at the usual place. I'll be there soon."

Konan and Orochimaru withdrew.

With everyone else gone, the snowy plain felt empty. Only the crackling of the black flames remained... Perhaps it was the psychological effect of those burning flames, or perhaps it was the tension of facing his former lover and companions again, but Naruto wiped away his sweat.

The people from Konoha felt just as lost.

In his exchange with Mifune, Naruto had specifically called them "the Konoha ninja." The words were painfully jarring. They meant that Naruto had formally drawn a line between himself and them!

The atmosphere was oppressive. No one spoke first.

Hinata, in particular, stood with her shoulders slumped and her face buried deep in shadow...

Whoosh!

Overhead, the great bird dissolved into ink. Sai landed, supporting Shikamaru, whose right leg was in a cast.

Sai was widely acknowledged as the worst at reading the room. Oblivious to the mood, he asked Naruto, "Where is Lord Danzo?"

Naruto answered bluntly, "He's still alive. I originally intended to kill Danzo, but then Sasuke appeared. I wanted him to kill Danzo and finish his revenge, but Sasuke refused to achieve his goal with my help, so he let Danzo go..."

"!" The sheer amount of shocking information left everyone struggling to process it.

Shikamaru was the clearest-headed among them. After sorting through what he had heard, he immediately asked pointedly, "Whatever else he may be, Danzo is the Hokage right now. Attacking the Hokage means you've completely set yourself against Konoha. You realize that, don't you, Naruto?"

Naruto's eyes dimmed, but he quickly hardened his heart. "Yes. That's exactly right!"

"You bastard!!!" Sakura Haruno could no longer contain her fury. She stepped forward and hurled a powerful punch at him!

Naruto could have dodged, but he didn't. The blow sent him flying.

Whoosh!!!

Sakura lunged after him, grabbed his collar, and yanked hard. "Do you know what you're saying?!"

Naruto replied calmly and coldly, "Haven't I made myself clear enough?"

Sakura grew even more agitated. "Liar! What happened to the Naruto who charged straight ahead and always kept his word?! What happened to the Naruto who never stopped talking about becoming Hokage?!!!!"

Naruto glanced at the devastated Hinata behind her and swallowed his bitterness. "Things are different now..."

Shing! Sakura drew a kunai and pressed it against Naruto's throat. "There's a limit to how far you can take a joke! Do you believe I'll kill you right now?!"

Everyone knew Sakura would never truly hurt Naruto...

Lowering the kunai, Sakura finally let her buried vulnerability spill out. Her eyes reddened as she said, "Naruto, tell me the truth. Was the promise we made back then too much pressure for you? Is that why you did this?"

It was the only reason she could think of for Naruto to betray Konoha.

"No." Naruto denied it immediately.

How could it possibly have been for such a childish reason?

"There are so many things that can't be explained in just a few words. Sakura, please don't ask any more questions. One day, you'll understand..."

"I don't want to wait until that day!!" Tears streamed down Sakura's face. "Then what if I beg you in tears? What if I tell you that promise doesn't count anymore and ask you to come back to Konoha?"

Naruto replied, "I refuse..."

Sakura said bitterly, "Then what if I tell you the person I love isn't Sasuke, but you?"

"..." Naruto fell silent.

Sakura had said the same thing back then. At the time, even knowing it was a lie, he had still been deeply affected. But times had changed, and he was no longer that boy.

Sakura's words stirred nothing in his heart now. Still, he knew she meant well. She truly had been driven to desperation and could think of nothing else...

"Enough, Sakura. Don't say such childish things. There are too many things in this world that neither you nor I can force to go our way. Don't forget that we're ninja-people who endure and press on..."

Naruto spoke in a low voice, placing his hand on Sakura's shoulder. Slowly applying pressure, he pushed her away.

"..." Sakura looked dazed. The sudden distance and unfamiliarity she felt from Naruto left her at a complete loss.

Yet, although Naruto's words seemed directed at Sakura, he actually had someone else in mind.

If Hinata begged him in tears like this too, Naruto truly feared he would lose his resolve!

"Phew..." After standing up, Naruto took a deep breath and brushed the snow from his clothes. Then he started walking toward Hinata...