Naruto reached the towering tree in moments.
Several Konoha jōnin lay scattered around its base, caught in layers of paper and pinned helplessly, their movements restrained by Konan's technique. Some struggled weakly, others had already gone still, conserving strength.
Naruto didn't slow down. He walked straight through the drifting sheets of paper as if they weren't even there, the fragments peeling away from him the moment they touched his chakra.
A sharp rush of air cut toward him.
Konan descended from above, paper wings snapping open as she dove, her arm drawn back to strike.
"Stop, Konan!"
Nagato's voice rang out, strained and hoarse.
She froze mid-air, eyes widening as she turned toward him. "But—"
"I said stop," Nagato repeated, his voice breaking into a violent cough.
His body jerked forward as blood spilled from his lips, staining his chin and soaking into his cloak.
Konan clenched her fists but halted, hovering in place as Naruto continued forward.
He glanced at her briefly, eyes calm, almost curious, before stopping directly in front of Nagato's mechanical pod.
"So," Naruto said lightly, hands in his pockets, "you're the caster."
Nagato looked up at him. His skin was pale, almost translucent, and his once-red hair had faded to a dull white, hanging limply around his gaunt face. His body looked fragile now—far removed from the godlike presence that had commanded the Six Paths.
' Damn,' Naruto thought. 'I really pushed him to the edge. Also can't he heal himself. He does have that King Of Hell thing. Bloody lame writing '
"Yes," Nagato replied, managing a faint smile. "My name is Nagato Uzumaki. You and I share the same last name… though you lack the signature red hair." He paused, coughing again, dark blood splattering against the metal frame of his pod. "You must take more after your father."
It was obvious. Every breath he took looked like it hurt.
"A fellow Uzumaki, huh?" Naruto said, raising an eyebrow. "That's surprising." He nodded slightly. "Yeah, I guess I do take a lot from him. Funny thing is—the three of us actually have something in common."
Nagato's eyes flickered with interest.
"We're all students of Jiraiya."
Nagato's smile widened, just a little. "Yes… you're right."
Suddenly, a sharp metallic click echoed.
A black chakra rod fired from Nagato's pod, streaking straight toward Naruto's chest.
Naruto didn't even flinch.
The rod slammed into an invisible barrier inches from his body and clattered uselessly to the ground.
"And here I thought we were getting along," Naruto said dryly.
Nagato watched him for a long moment, studying him in silence. Then he spoke again.
"Do you hate me, Naruto Uzumaki?"
Naruto tilted his head, genuinely considering the question. "Nah," he said after a moment. "I couldn't really care less about you, mate." He shrugged. "I mean, I could ask why you're doing all this… but I already know the answer. You've got one of those tragic stories. Broken hero, world screwed you over, now you're trying to fix it by breaking everything else."
He turned his head toward Konan and smiled.
"Hey."
He gave her a small wink.
Konan hesitated, then lifted her hand in a slow, uncertain wave, clearly unsure how to react.
Naruto turned back to Nagato, his expression settling into something calmer—firmer.
"So what now?" he asked. "You jumped my master. You planned to wipe out the Leaf. You were gonna kill me." He glanced over Nagato's frail body, then back to his eyes. "But let's be real… it looks like your time's already up."
The forest around them was silent.
And for the first time since this all began, Nagato had no immediate answer.
"Well… yes," Nagato said quietly. "I failed to defeat you."
The words were followed by a harsh, rattling cough that wracked his frail body. Blood spilled freely now, soaking into his cloak as his strength finally gave out. Konan rushed to his side, supporting him, her hands trembling—but even she could tell it was already too late.
Naruto watched in silence.
"I'll break the curse," he said at last, his voice steady, carrying no arrogance—only resolve. "If there's such a thing as peace, I'll find it. I won't give up."
Nagato froze.
His eyes widened, the Rinnegan trembling slightly as his heart began to slow.
' Those words' he thought. A faint smile tugged at his lips.
"…I'll leave it to you," Nagato whispered.
His body went still.
The light in his eyes faded.
Naruto exhaled slowly, a long breath leaving his chest as the weight of it all finally settled. He glanced to the side.
Konan had collapsed beside Nagato, tears streaming freely down her face, her shoulders shaking as she clutched his body. She looked small now—no longer an Akatsuki member, no longer a weapon—just a woman who had lost the last thing she had left.
Naruto stepped closer.
"I'm sorry," he said softly.
With a single, precise motion, he struck the side of her neck. Konan slumped forward instantly, unconscious before she even hit the ground.
Naruto straightened, rubbing the back of his neck.
' Well… that's the end of the Pain arc,' he thought with a tired smile. ' That was tiring'
He carefully lifted Nagato's body, surprisingly light in his arms, and turned toward the forest's edge. As he walked out from beneath the towering tree, the remaining Konoha jōnin gathered around him, staring in silence—some in disbelief, others in exhausted relief.
Naruto gently laid Nagato's body down and buried it beneath the roots of the great tree, sealing the ground with care.
He dusted his hands off and turned back and got Konan.
"Alright," he said with an easy grin, "I'll see you guys. Thanks for the good work!"
Before anyone could respond—
He vanished in a blink.
The forest fell silent once more.
In the next instant, Naruto reappeared inside the Hokage's office, the familiar scent of ink and parchment replacing the damp smell of earth and smoke. Sunlight streamed through the windows, casting long shadows across the room.
Sitting off to the side was Jiraiya, settled into a wheelchair, legs wrapped in bandages, an ero-manga held lazily in one hand. He paused mid-page.
Tsunade stood near her desk.
Both of them looked up at the same time.
"Naruto!" Jiraiya exclaimed, lowering the book with a wide, satisfied grin. "Done already? Heh. Guess I really did raise a prodigy, didn't I?"
Naruto smirked but didn't respond right away.
That was when their eyes shifted—and they noticed the unconscious woman slung over Naruto's shoulder, pale blue hair falling loosely as sheets of paper fluttered faintly around her.
"That's…" Jiraiya's grin faded slightly. "That's Konan."
"Yeah," Naruto replied casually. "Figured she wouldn't want to go back to the Akatsuki now that her closest friend is dead."
Jiraiya raised an eyebrow, then chuckled darkly. "So what're you planning to do with her, you dirty dog?"
Before Naruto could answer, Tsunade stepped forward, her expression hardening.
"She'll be taken into custody," Tsunade said firmly. "She's a prisoner."
Naruto tilted his head. "How? She's literally made of paper. She'll escape the moment you blink."
Tsunade frowned. "Huh? Does she have a kekkei genkai?"
"Yeah," Naruto said, nodding. "And a pretty strong one at that."
He shifted Konan slightly on his shoulder, paper rustling softly.
"But don't worry," he added, a confident smile returning. "I already know how to deal with her."
TO BE CONTINUED