The Deva Path tightened his grip.
Ebisu felt the suffocating sensation on his neck intensify.
'It seems this is the end.'
'I wonder if Konohamaru managed to escape properly.'
Three kunai shot out, striking The Deva Path's raised wrist.
He was forced to release Ebisu's neck and flash away to dodge.
Ebisu and The Deva Path both turned to look.
At this moment, Ebisu's feelings were quite complex.
First, he felt that his previous efforts seemed wasted, as Konohamaru had not managed to leave successfully.
Second, he felt that Konohamaru's spirit, willing to save him and not abandon him, perfectly demonstrated his growth.
Two emotions intertwined.
Konohamaru propped himself against the wall with one hand, clenching his fist to overcome his fear, and declared loudly:
"I'm your opponent!"
"Someone once taught me that there are no shortcuts on the Ninja Way!!!"
Ebisu, drenched in sweat, yelled, "Konohamaru, why didn't you run away!! You have the potential to become Hokage one day, you can't just throw your life away in a place like this!!!"
Konohamaru smiled faintly: "I once made a promise with Naruto, that I would bet the title of Hokage with Naruto-nii (Naruto, older brother) and one day have a showdown. We promised that he is my opponent!"
Speaking of Naruto-nii (Naruto, older brother), Konohamaru seemed to instantly gain courage, no longer leaning on the wall for support, and stood bravely in front of the enemy and Ebisu.
"So, I won't choose to run away!"
"Because at the end of that path, Naruto-nii (Naruto, older brother) isn't there!!!"
...Konoha.
Sarutobi clan compound.
Ebisu completely forgot that he was supposed to cover Konohamaru's eyes.
He stared blankly at the screen.
The young Konohamaru's declarative words.
He seemed to see the shadow of a person.
That was the shadow of Light Screen Naruto!
"Yes, I won't choose to run away! I'll knock the enemy flying, I'll beat the enemy down!!"
Little Konohamaru happily mimicked Light screen Konohamaru, gesturing wildly.
The sense of immersion was very strong, after all, this was his future self!
Ebisu looked at little Konohamaru helplessly.
Even with courage, how could a Genin defeat Akatsuki?
It seemed this was another dead end.
Hokage Building.
The Third Hokage's old and stern face broke into a smile.
He had been somewhat ambivalent about Konohamaru's previous performance.
He felt that he performed adequately, neither good nor bad.
Now, seeing Light screen Konohamaru's timely rescue.
The Third Hokage was instantly filled with immense relief.
Indeed, just as he expected, Konohamaru had grown a lot!
He had completely shed his previous childish image.
Now he had truly become a responsible Konoha Ninja.
He called him Naruto-nii (Naruto, older brother)?
It was he who brought about Konohamaru's change!
Although this act of knowingly fighting an superior opponent went against the descriptions in the Ninja handbook.
But this will was precisely the essence of Konoha's Will of Fire.
As the screen continuously displayed Naruto's images.
Exposing Danzo's schemes, showcasing the demeanor of a Konoha Ninja.
In the Third Hokage's heart.
This screen was already Konoha's "ally."
Even heaven was looking favorably upon Konoha Village.
The Third Hokage even had an extraordinary thought.
If it kept playing like this.
The Ninja World would lose all its secrets, and everyone would peacefully focus on the screen.
From this perspective.
This was peace... Ninja Academy.
Naruto: "Konohamaru, you, my little brother, have my approval!"
Sakura: "Naruto, you idiot, why aren't you going to help? Konohamaru definitely can't beat that bad guy!"
Naruto sighed: "If I went in, the first thing I'd do is punch 'myself' for being so stupid, still playing with a bunch of toads on Mount Myōboku for so long!"
Sakura: "..."
Was he insulting himself?
But it was true, Light Screen Naruto never returned to Konoha, and as a result, Konoha was truly destroyed.
This was like a hero novel.
Was Naruto the protagonist in it?!
Sasuke silently looked at Naruto.
This idiot Naruto, teaching others, Konohamaru, the Sexy Jutsu.
His appearance was also very ordinary, and he had many flaws in his personality.
He really didn't know why he could inspire so many people!
Sasuke looked at the screen.
Konohamaru's current appearance.
He really did resemble Light Screen Naruto.
Would his ending also be Light Screen Naruto's ending?
The Deva Path mercilessly charged towards Konohamaru.
And Konohamaru was completely defenseless, being beaten back step by step.
Konohamaru was sent flying, The Deva Path pursued, and Konohamaru got up and fled.
Thanks to his taijutsu training, he was still able to dodge The Deva Path's attacks.
But constantly defending would never defeat the enemy.
And Konohamaru deliberately exposed himself and said those words.
He had a target!
Konohamaru, who had been constantly fleeing and dodging, revealed a weakness.
Pain's Deva Path quickly clamped onto Konohamaru's neck.
It was still the same method.
It seemed this was The Deva Path's habitual movement, convenient for pulling out tongues in conjunction with 'Summoning: King of Hell.'
Seeing this, Ebisu rushed forward with all his might, only to be kicked back by The Deva Path.
"Is Uzumaki Naruto in this Village or not?"
Konohamaru's neck was being squeezed painfully.
"I wouldn't know about that!"
Konohamaru's tongue was judged by the King of Hell, stretching and enlarging.
At this moment of suffocating near-death.
Konohamaru recalled Naruto's words.
'Konohamaru, there's a Ninjutsu I want to teach you.'
'The learning difficulty of this Ninjutsu is A-rank.'
The Deva Path: "Is that so? I'm going to pass judgment on you."
Suddenly.
With a "bang!"
Konohamaru's Shadow Clone vanished in a puff of white smoke.
It turned out that the one who had been entangled with The Deva Path all along was Konohamaru's Shadow Clone!
As Naruto's junior, how could he not know a divine skill like the Shadow Clone Technique!
In fact, from the very beginning of Konohamaru's appearance.
What he showed Pain's Deva Path was a Shadow Clone.
His real body was hiding elsewhere, looking for an opportunity.
Even that previous weakness was intentionally exposed by Konohamaru.
To facilitate Konohamaru's Shadow Clone being defeated by Pain's Deva Path at that location.
On the surface, Konohamaru was captured.
In reality, The Deva Path had fallen into Konohamaru's attack range!
That spot was perfectly convenient for Konohamaru's real body to launch a surprise attack!!
Konohamaru never intended to confront him head-on!
He was already a mature Ninja!
From another direction.
Two Konohamaru had already formed a blue swirling sphere, the Rasengan, and were rushing over at high speed.
'The rotation, power, and maintenance of Chakra, a super high-level Ninjutsu that condenses all of this.'
"Rasengan!!!"
A battle between a Genin and an Akatsuki member.
The energy ball struck The Deva Path directly.
"Bang!!!"
A huge burst of energy erupted instantly.
Pain's Deva Path's entire body was embedded into the ruins behind him by the impact.
In the deep crater that had just been created.
"Bearing the Village's name, a Genin of the Sarutobi clan."
"My surname is Sarutobi, my given name is Konohamaru."
"You'd better remember that."
...You'd better remember that!
My surname is Sarutobi, my given name is Konohamaru!!!
These words echoed on the screen.
Just like...
My name is Uzumaki Naruto!
The one destined to become Hokage!!!
The two figures gradually overlapped.
In the past, many Ninja scoffed at Konoha's Will of Fire.
Even seeing Naruto's performance on the screen.
They would still think that he was just a Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
Relying on the Nine-Tailed's Talent, relying on his own bloodline Talent.
That's why he spoke such boastful, meaningless words.
There were many people in this world who didn't have Naruto's conditions.
They were born as ordinary people.
Until now.
Seeing Light screen Konohamaru's performance.
They truly felt the meaning of Light Screen Naruto.
Inheritance.
In Naruto and Konohamaru.
The Will of Fire was not about forcing others to obey the Hokage's orders.
It was not a means for the Hokage to control the hearts of the villagers.
It was not an ugly, empty, superficial thing of mental control.
It was a transmission, a spirit.
It applied to everyone in the Ninja World.
If one could truly understand it deeply.
It promoted personal growth and progress.
It could be said that.
Konohamaru received inheritance from Naruto.
At the critical moment, power erupted.
The power of the Rasengan, the Shadow Clone, the power of wisdom, the power of courage.
People with different experiences in the Ninja World received different degrees of enlightenment from the screen.
At this moment, Konoha was not being destroyed.
But reborn.