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On the high platform, Naruto was looking around when Jiraiya walked out of the tower.
"Pervy Sage, where have you been?" Naruto asked curiously.
Jiraiya smiled and replied, "I went to meet an old friend."
Naruto laughed when he heard this. "Haha, Uncle Snake said he didn't want to see you. How did you find him?"
Jiraiya turned back to glance at the tower, thinking silently of Nagato, then said, "Someone guided me there. Seems he was really too scared to face me."
He turned to Naruto and patted him on the shoulder. "When you get the chance, help me talk to Nagato. Just tell him... his master is still proud of him."
Jiraiya said it loud enough that, behind the high wall inside the tower, Nagato—who had been listening silently—shed tears.
"Jiraiya-sensei!" came a voice, soft and tinged with guilt.
Countless pieces of paper fluttered through the air, converging to form the figure of Konan.
When Jiraiya saw her, he smiled warmly. "Ah, Konan!"
Konan looked down, her expression heavy. "I'm sorry, Sensei, for how we treated you before."
Jiraiya waved his hand. "It's all right, it's all in the past. Seeing you and Nagato now makes me feel... proud."
Konan gave a soft smile. "We were also pursuing peace back then. Why didn't you support us? Was it because of Naruto?"
She turned her eyes to Naruto, who scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
Jiraiya looked slightly embarrassed. "Well... I didn't really understand Naruto back then. I've only come to realize it recently. But you both did go too far before. Trying to extract Tailed Beasts by force and using the Tailed Beast Bomb to flatten villages... You wanted the world to feel pain."
As he spoke of pain, Jiraiya suddenly remembered Naruto's Shinra Tensei shaking the Iron Country—so terrifying that even he felt uneasy.
Naruto blinked and asked guiltily, "Ehh? Why are you looking at me, Sensei?"
Jiraiya sighed. "Forget it. What's done is done. Even that lunatic Orochimaru believed you were the one destined to change the world. What else can I say? Come on, let's head back to the village."
Naruto nodded.
Konan tilted her head. "You're heading out again?"
Naruto nodded. "Yeah. Obito is causing trouble again. I've got to handle it. Oh, right! Pervy Sage, wait a sec!"
Naruto stepped forward, looked out at the horizon, and used a chakra-amplified loudspeaker technique.
"Uncle Bee! Come here!!!"
In the distance, Killer Bee was training four young Amegakure shinobi—including Yahiko—when he heard Naruto's voice. He reassured his apprentices before rushing over.
Moments later, Killer Bee landed on the high platform.
"Yo, Naruto, why're you shoutin' for me, fool you fool?"
Seeing Jiraiya and several other Konoha shinobi, Killer Bee looked surprised.
"Konoha shinobi? What's going on?"
Naruto frowned slightly. "Uncle Bee... something happened in Kumogakure?"
Killer Bee's expression changed. "What? Who would dare attack Kumogakure?!"
Jiraiya stepped forward and explained gravely. "The Akatsuki has been revived. Looks like they used Edo Tensei—Second Hokage's forbidden technique—to resurrect former Akatsuki members."
He continued with a dark tone, "They attacked Kumogakure. Based on intel sent from your village... most of the village has been destroyed. The Raikage was critically injured. Darui was captured. And Nozomi is unconscious with severe injuries."
As soon as Jiraiya finished speaking, Killer Bee grabbed Naruto by the shoulders.
"Naruto! Take me back to Kumogakure now! I have to protect Big Bro! Damn it—Big Bro!!"
Although Raikage A was always strict with Killer Bee, their bond was far deeper than blood. They weren't biological brothers, but their relationship was stronger than one. Bee's eyes were already misty with emotion.
Naruto understood his pain and nodded. "I'll take you. But first, we head to Konoha."
Killer Bee wiped his tears, trying to calm down. "All right."
Naruto turned to the others. "Everyone, gather around."
He turned back to Konan. "Bog Sis, if anything happens here, contact me right away."
Konan nodded. "Don't worry, Naruto. I'll handle things."
With that, Naruto disappeared with a Hiraishin no Jutsu (Flying Thunder God Technique).
They arrived in an instant—on the roof of the Hokage's office in Konoha.
Shiranui Genma, standing nearby, noticed the sudden arrival and was startled.
"W-Whoa, Naruto. You just... teleported to the Hokage's office roof?!"
He shuddered a little.
"Thank god you're on our side! If someone like you was an enemy, we'd be done for!"
The others shared nervous laughs. Naruto's ability was overwhelming.
Jiraiya led Naruto and Bee into Tsunade's office, where a war council quickly formed. They discussed the Akatsuki's resurrection, received further reports from Kumogakure, and coordinated with Sunagakure. Gaara's messages and the latest situation were also reviewed.
After everything was sorted, Naruto stood up.
"Grandma Tsunade, I'm counting on you to organize the Allied Shinobi Forces."
Tsunade nodded solemnly. "I'll begin immediately."
Naruto nodded back. He suddenly felt something stir inside him, his eyes drifting toward a certain direction. But he shook it off.
Not now. I'll visit her after this is done.
With a flash of chakra, Naruto used Flying Thunder God again, taking Killer Bee with him.
They appeared in Kumogakure's secret attic.
As they landed, Killer Bee took one look at the village and froze.
"T-This... This is Kumogakure?!"
The heart of the village had been completely leveled—reduced to a massive crater.
It was utter devastation.
"Big Bro!!!"
Killer Bee's voice echoed as he bolted toward the remains of the Raikage Building.
His scream stirred the village. Shinobi guards sprang into action—only to recognize the charging figure.
"Lord Killer Bee has returned!"
"It's Lord Bee! He's back!"
"Bee-sama, you're back!"
Cheers and cries rang out across the village.
The news of Killer Bee's return spread like wildfire.
To the people of Kumogakure, Raikage was their totem. His downfall had broken their spirit.
Their next hope, Darui, had been captured.
Nozomi, their loyal strategist, was in a coma.
Even Mabui, the Prime Minister of the village, had fainted from her injuries.
Only Dodai remained in leadership—but he lacked the high-level combat strength needed.
If Akatsuki attacked again, they wouldn't survive another wave.
Fear had seeped into every corner of Kumogakure.
But with Killer Bee's return, hope surged once more.
He was the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki—Raikage's brother and a true pillar of strength.
The people gathered around Bee, guiding him toward the remains of the Raikage Building.
But when they saw Naruto, their reactions shifted—alert and cautious.
Naruto raised a hand, smiling calmly. "Don't worry. I'm not here as an enemy. Your village invited me."
He pulled out the secret letter bearing Kumogakure's totem.
Seeing the seal, the guards hesitated but didn't attack.
Inside the building, Dodai sprang to his feet the moment he heard the names "Killer Bee" and "Naruto" echoing through the halls.
Hope, once dim, flickered anew.
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