Naruto : Cruel Rebirth

But Naruto emphasized once again, "I will inherit Nagato's Rinnegan!"

She didn't hear that wrong...

Konan lowered her gaze, reconsidering Naruto... He didn't seem like the kind of person who would say something like that!

However, she remained calm for now: "Naruto, Nagato entrusted his will to you, but a will does not mean the eyes."

Naruto explained logically, "Brother has already passed, but the power of the Rinnegan shouldn't be buried. Besides, there are others who covet these eyes. If they fall into the wrong hands, it would bring disaster to the ninja world. Therefore, it's safest if I take care of them."

He was talking about Madara... Naruto knew of Madara's existence. He wasn't the simple boy that Nagato, once knew!

Konan's expression immediately turned cold. "The Rinnegan was Nagato's eye, a treasure of this country and this village. Naruto, even if this is your request, I cannot agree. Please, don't ask such unreasonable things again. Nagato has already resurrected the ninjas of Konohagakure, and I will now leave the Akatsuki. I will not act against Konohagakure. I'm taking Nagato and Pain's Heavenly Path body back to Amegakure."

"I see..." Naruto slowly closed his eyes. From the moment their conversation began, he had been drawing natural energy. By now, he had absorbed enough!

Zi! 

An orange hue appeared around his eyes, and the horizontal slit pupils of a toad manifested.

Sage Mode, activated!

Naruto opened his eyes and spoke in a deep voice, "Sister Konan, you misunderstood. This is not a request, but an order!"

Swish!

Using Sage Mode, Naruto instantly closed the distance with Konan, appearing right in front of her. With perfect control, he landed a precise punch to her abdomen.

Thud!

"Ugh..." Konan's orange pupils widened in shock as her body collapsed, drained of strength.

Naruto retracted his fist and looked down at the fallen Konan, muttering, "Sorry. To avoid unnecessary conflict, this is the quickest way. I'll explain everything to you properly later."

He then turned his gaze toward the direction of Konohagakure's ninjas, his eyes filled with a sense of urgency. Everything he had lost before could be right back at his side with just a turn.

But the things he needed to do from now on would go completely against the Will of Fire that Konohagakure holds dear.

Even if he explained everything to them, would they believe him?

That would be ridiculous… Naruto thought that even if he were in their place, he wouldn't believe it!

He pulled his gaze away, forcing the urgency in his eyes to fade.

"Sorry, everyone. I love the village, I love all of you, so let me carry this burden alone until the time is right..."

That day, the people of Konohagakure, who were waiting at the village entrance, did not welcome their hero.

The Konohagakure ninjas who went to search found a copy of "The Strong-Willed Ninja's Legacy," with fingerprints on the cover, and a Konohagakure headband marked with the symbol of a rogue ninja.

At that moment, Tsunade, the Fifth Hokage, had fallen into a deep coma after expending too much of her Byakugo chakra.

An emergency meeting was called by the elite jonin, led by Nara Shikaku.

Shikaku said, "Earlier, we encountered Naruto on the mountain. He said he would settle things with the enemy and asked us to leave the task of negotiation to him."

He glanced at the resurrected Kakashi, who was staring the sky absentmindedly.

Shikaku then continued, "Afterward, all the people who had died in the village were revived. So, Naruto's negotiation must have been successful. However, he suddenly attacked and killed the Tsuchigumo Lord's clone, leaving behind the book and headband. What happened during that time, we don't know."

Shikaku paused for a moment and then said, "But based on my analysis, there are two possibilities."

"First, Naruto may have been manipulated by some jutsu from the enemy and had no choice but to act that way."

"Second, Naruto might have had something else to discuss with the enemy, something he doesn't want us to know about..."

He paused again, "As for the two items Naruto left behind, if I set aside my personal feelings, the most straightforward interpretation is that Naruto has abandoned the ninja way he learned from Jiraiya and has decided to become a rogue ninja from Konohagakure!"

Hiss!

As soon as these words were spoken, the jonin present gasped in shock. That Naruto—the one who was unyielding, who always followed his ninja way—had betrayed the village!?

At this moment, Hatake Kakashi said, "Naruto is my student. Based on my years of knowing him, he would never betray the village. So, I believe that Naruto has his reasons for doing this..."

He showed the cover of the book to everyone: "This fingerprint can explain everything. He must have been gripping this book tightly at that moment. His heart was in turmoil..."

Shikaku sighed deeply and said seriously, "Until we know the full truth, we cannot jump to conclusions. Anyway, it's a fact that Naruto defeated Pain (Nagato) and saved the village! I suggest we temporarily keep Naruto's departure a secret. We will announce to the outside world that Naruto is recovering from exhaustion after his battle!"

"The Hyuga clan agrees!"

"The Yamanaka clan agrees!"

"The Aburame clan has no objections!"

The clan leaders all expressed their agreement.

Nara Shikaku nodded, "But hiding the truth won't be a long-term solution. Let's have Anbu expand their search. We must find Naruto as soon as possible!"

"Also, the village has just experienced such a great disaster, and the most important thing now is to stabilize the people's hearts. With the Fifth Hokage in a coma and Naruto gone, the village cannot be without a Hokage. I recommend Hatake Kakashi as the Sixth Hokage!"

Hatake Kakashi placed the book on the table and said seriously, Ah, I have realized something...".

---

…

In the woods behind the ruins of Konohagakure, Black and White Zetsu emerged from the tree trunks.

White Zetsu said, "I never imagined Pain would be defeated! And that kid, Uzumaki Naruto, even took Nagato's body! This is just crazy!"

Black Zetsu replied, "Quickly report this to Tobi!"

---

In a dark cave within the Land of Fire, Naruto sat on a stone chair, his left eye bandaged. Resting his chin on his hand, his right eye gazed at the flickering candle flame, his mind heavy with thoughts.

"You're awake..."

He glanced at Konan, who was bound by ropes in the corner. 

"..." Konan struggled but couldn't break free from the ropes.

Naruto said, "I tied you up for easier communication, and to prevent you from turning into paper and escaping, I sealed your chakra..."

Naruto's voice was deep and serious, far beyond what a 16-year-old should sound like.

The contrast was so stark that Konan could only think of one possibility: "Uzumaki Naruto, your acting is truly impressive. Both Nagato and I were fooled by you..."

Naruto smiled faintly, not offering a direct response.

Konan asked, "Where did you take Nagato's body? You already took his Rinnegan, your goal has been achieved. If you don't plan to kill me, return his body to me so I can take it back to Amegakure!"

---