On the screen.
Ebisu, wearing sunglasses, crouches in front of Pain's Deva Path.
On the surface, he looked relaxed.
But what Ebisu was actually thinking was:
Konohamaru, take this chance to escape quickly! He can't hold him off for long!
Sure enough.
With a single move, Ebisu was kicked into a pile of broken rocks, stirring up yellow dust from the ground.
As the yellow dust cleared, Ebisu did not fall.
Seeing The Deva Path shift his gaze.
"Where are you looking?"
"Something of this level won't be enough to take me down."
Hearing this, Konohamaru, hiding in the corner, grew furious.
If it weren't to save him.
Teacher Ebisu wouldn't be in this situation!
Konohamaru felt indignant about his own powerlessness at this moment.
Last time.
It was the same last time.
Those two Ninja were cruelly persecuted by the monsters of Akatsuki!
If Teacher Ebisu also ends up like this this time.
He would never forgive himself.
He peeked out to observe the situation.
Ebisu's Taijutsu was exceptionally solid, but unfortunately, his own strength was not on the same level as Pain's Deva Path.
His body continuously accumulated new wounds, while The Deva Path stood still, not even moving a step.
Despite this, Ebisu still chose not to flee.
'No matter what, I must buy Konohamaru time to escape.'
This was Ebisu's only goal at this moment.
Solid and precise kunai, shuriken, and Taijutsu.
For a moment, it seemed as if Ebisu was holding The Deva Path in check.
He clamped The Deva Path's elbows with both hands.
Taking this opportunity, Ebisu looked towards the corner.
He didn't see anyone.
Thinking that he had successfully stalled the Akatsuki enemy, buying Konohamaru time to escape.
Ebisu's heart settled.
'Good, it seems he escaped.'
"Ah wah!"
The Deva Path delivered a powerful flying knee strike to Ebisu's right cheek, making him cry out in Pain.
Leg strength is often three or four times greater than arm strength.
Especially with a powerful attacking method like a flying knee.
At this moment, Ebisu fell into the crater created by the fight, completely losing his fighting capability.
'I was careless.'
'But my mission has been accomplished.'
The Deva Path grabbed Ebisu by the neck and lifted him into the air, just as he had done with the previous two Konoha Ninja.
"Is Uzumaki Naruto in this Village or not?"
...Konoha.
Sarutobi clan compound.
Konohamaru now stared hatefully at the Akatsuki member on the screen.
"Damn it, Teacher Ebisu, hurry up and go in and defeat him!"
Ebisu, standing nearby, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
Thinking that Konohamaru was worried about him at this moment, instead of thinking he was useless.
He felt much better.
"Konohamaru, I can't enter the screen either, and I can't defeat him..."
A teacher's dignity, it's not important.
It's better to state the fact now.
"It can't be that this time it's going to be like the last battle, you won't die in battle, will you!"
As Konohamaru spoke, his eyes welled up, as if pearls were about to fall at any moment.
Ebisu quickly comforted him: "This is your home turf, someone will definitely be able to take down this villain, maybe that person is even you!"
Actually, Ebisu himself wasn't confident in what he was saying.
But he didn't want to deal with a crying child anymore.
Worst case, he'd just cover Konohamaru's eyes later!
"Really!"
"Really!"
"If you know, then answer my question clearly."
Ebisu's neck was clutched, and he could only mumble out, "Naruto."
"You seem to know Uzumaki Naruto, then tell me where he is."
Although Ebisu was under a fatal threat, he still squeezed out every word from his lungs.
"Don't, don't look at me like this, I'm an elite teacher too."
"Naruto is my student."
"Once, I thought he was an obstacle, a nuisance preventing Konohamaru from becoming Hokage."
Ebisu, like other villagers, once.
Did many things that 'hurt' Naruto.
In front of Naruto, he advised Konohamaru to stay away from him.
In front of Naruto, he told Konohamaru what kind of person Naruto was, and that he wasn't suitable as a companion.
Whenever Naruto appeared, he would take Konohamaru far away.
His face and actions were full of disapproval towards Naruto.
"I once thought that."
"However, Naruto did not succumb to his cursed fate."
Water walking practice, in just half a day.
Ebisu had a complete change of heart regarding Naruto.
Stepping into the water again and again, never giving up.
Effort far beyond his peers, yet yielding meager results, he still persisted.
"With his natural cheerfulness and unyielding courage, he overcame countless difficulties."
"He taught my student important things that I, as his teacher, failed to teach him."
Ever since Konohamaru and Naruto met.
He never again spoke of challenging the Third Hokage.
He insisted on diligent training every day.
From thinking of instant success to now 'there are no shortcuts'.
In this regard.
Ebisu was willing to acknowledge Naruto as his "teacher."
Pain's Deva Path tightened his grip.
"You bastard, you're full of nonsense, this is your last chance."
"Do you know where Naruto is?"
"Answer me clearly, or I'll kill you."
Ebisu ignored The Deva Path.
'Naruto, you overcame the Pain of your master's tragic death, inherited his will, and continued forward.'
'Your strong will taught Konohamaru many things.'
'No, it taught the people of the Village.'
Ebisu, wearing sunglasses, smiled and replied: "Naruto is my Konoha comrade, I have nothing to tell you Akatsuki!"
The Deva Path: "Is that so, in that case..."
Behind The Deva Path, the grotesque face of the King of Hell appeared.
...Konoha.
Sarutobi clan.
Ebisu looked at the person who was constantly praising Naruto.
For a moment, he felt deeply moved.
Naruto is a Konoha comrade, his own comrade.
For Konohamaru, he could choose to stay behind.
For Naruto, he could also choose to keep the secret.
As long as Naruto doesn't teach Konohamaru that kind of Ninjutsu.
He would be happy for Konohamaru to associate with him.
Unfortunately, now it was time for it to end.
After all, even Kakashi, an excellent Ninja who was his contemporary, had sacrificed himself.
After thinking, Ebisu prepared to cover Konohamaru's eyes.
At this very moment.
Konohamaru, standing behind the wall, also came to a realization.
He was once just an ignorant child; it was Naruto who made him grow.
'When everyone looked at me and called out to me, they only saw me as the Hokage's grandson. I've had enough, so I want to get the Hokage title now.'
'But it's not that simple, you idiot. Talking about Hokage, Hokage, if you want that title so badly, then defeat me first.'
'From now on, we are rivals.'
'One day, I will stake the name of Hokage and definitely have a showdown with you. Until then, you just look forward to it, Konohamaru.'
Yes, Hokage isn't just something you say.
If he wanted to become Hokage, he had to earn it with strength and achievements.
Konohamaru did not impulsively rush in to sacrifice himself.
His mind was constantly thinking of countermeasures, thinking of the enemy's Ninjutsu.
Thinking of the Ninjutsu he had learned.
That A-rank Ninjutsu he had learned not long ago but hadn't yet used!