Peace had settled over Konoha like a familiar blanket, the kind of ordinary tranquility that made yesterday's chaos feel like a distant dream.
Danzo's violent demise had barely rippled through the village's daily rhythm. Most ordinary ninja and civilians had never even heard his name, let alone mourned his passing.
Yet whenever villagers crossed paths with Naruto, the air would thicken with an almost tangible awkwardness.
Some carried guilt like stones in their chests, too proud to voice apologies, choosing instead to avert their eyes and hurry past. Naruto found their cowardice more amusing than offensive.
Others still wrestled with doubt but no longer radiated the raw disgust that had once poisoned their glances.
The ones who truly tested Naruto's patience were the compensators. These well-meaning souls approached with embarrassing enthusiasm, desperate to somehow balance the scales of their past cruelty. Their forced kindness made his skin crawl.
He could sense their genuine desire for redemption through his Observation Haki, but their methods felt suffocating.
The vast, lawless ocean had spoiled him for this constrained existence. Out there, problems were solved with fists and steel, not awkward social dances.
Konoha's hospital stood quieter than anyone had expected. Thanks to a certain blonde's preemptive strike, the so-called Collapse Plan had crumbled before claiming its intended victims. The medical wing felt almost empty, save for a few routine cases.
A lanky, middle-aged man with a distinctive afro navigated the corridors with practiced ease, his white coat and fruit basket lending him an air of medical authority. He slipped into a room containing several beds, though only one held an occupant.
The door clicked shut behind him. After ensuring their privacy, the visitor settled into a nearby chair with comfortable familiarity.
Poof.
White smoke swirled as the transformation jutsu dissolved, revealing Naruto's true form beneath the medical disguise.
Sasuke didn't even blink. This had become routine.
"Those people are really getting to you, aren't they?"
The Uchiha's voice carried a hollow quality that had persisted since his awakening. His entire demeanor suggested someone whose soul had been scraped raw.
The comment wasn't aimed at Naruto specifically. Ever since regaining consciousness, Sasuke had existed in this zombified state, despite visits from Sakura, Kakashi, and other concerned friends. Nothing seemed capable of piercing his emotional armor.
"Yeah, it's pretty irritating," Naruto agreed, selecting a crisp apple from his gift basket. He polished it against his shirt before taking a satisfying bite. Sweet juice exploded across his tongue.
After enjoying several more bites, he seemed to remember his audience and grabbed a second apple, holding it up questioningly.
"Want one?"
"No."
The fruit sailed through the air anyway, bouncing off Sasuke's chest before he could fully register the projectile.
Naruto's offer had apparently been rhetorical.
The unexpected attack sparked a flicker of annoyance across Sasuke's features, the first genuine emotion he'd displayed in days.
Finally spotting that hint of life, Naruto's face broke into a genuine smile.
"There we go. Young people should show some fire. That dead-eyed stare was really bumming me out."
"Says the guy who's barely older than me," Sasuke muttered under his breath.
He remained quiet for several heartbeats before reluctantly retrieving the fallen apple and taking a tentative bite.
"You lost one fight," Naruto continued conversationally. "So what? Get stronger and try again."
The fruit turned to ash in Sasuke's mouth. His fingers clenched involuntarily around the apple.
"You don't understand anything!"
The words erupted from him like lava, and he hurled the fruit aside with vicious force.
"The gap between us... it's impossible!"
"One look! He didn't even need to move!"
Before Sasuke could spiral deeper into self-pity, iron fingers seized his collar and hauled him upright. Naruto's playful demeanor had evaporated, replaced by granite seriousness.
"So you're giving up?"
"Abandoning your family's revenge?"
"Never!" Fire blazed in Sasuke's eyes as he met Naruto's challenging stare. "I'll kill him with my own hands!"
They faced each other like two opposing forces, neither willing to yield ground.
Then, as suddenly as it had appeared, Naruto's intensity melted away, his familiar grin sliding back into place.
"Good. You'll have plenty of chances to make that happen."
He released Sasuke, letting him drop back onto the bed, then dusted off his hands with theatrical finality.
"Heal up fast. Training resumes the moment you're discharged. I've left your next training regimen right here."
A small, worn notebook appeared from Naruto's pocket, landing on the bedside table with a soft thud.
Sasuke's hand curled into a frustrated fist. If only he possessed even a fraction of Naruto's overwhelming power...
"Oh, almost forgot something important."
"I'll be traveling for a while."
"Next time we meet, you better have mastered both Observation and Armament Haki."
"As a reward, I'll give you something special."
"If my theory actually works..."
Without finishing the thought, Naruto headed for the exit, not bothering to look back.
"What are you talking about?"
"Naruto! Where exactly are you going?"
His desperate questions met only silence as the door swung shut with quiet finality.
Sasuke sat frozen on his hospital bed for long minutes before finally reaching for the mysterious notebook. After scanning its contents, he swung his legs over the side and began changing out of his hospital gown.
Meanwhile, the Naruto who'd left the room dissolved into wisps of smoke.
At that same moment, the real Naruto strode boldly through Konoha's main gates, his travel pack slung over one shoulder. The guards seemed to have received very specific instructions, because they studiously ignored his departure.
Jiraiya's strategic disappearance had been perfectly timed. Not only had the old pervert escaped the Hokage nomination, but he'd also provided Naruto with legitimate cover for leaving the village.
Though calling it "cover" was generous. This was really more of a mutual face-saving arrangement between Naruto and Konoha's leadership.
As the Nine-Tails jinchuriki, every village elder and clan head wanted Naruto firmly planted within their walls.
But after his very public revelation of his parentage, using traditional authority or moral arguments to chain him down had become virtually impossible.
Physical restraint? The obliterated Hokage Rock and Danzo's atomic-level dissolution served as compelling counterarguments to that approach.
By accepting this mission to locate Tsunade, Naruto was essentially allowing the village to save face. Because honestly, if he'd chosen to simply walk away, who could have realistically stopped him? And what political survivor would want responsibility for attacking the Fourth Hokage's son in broad daylight?
In Konoha, perhaps in this entire ninja world, public opinion wielded frightening power. Reputation could bind hands more effectively than chains and could crush spirits more thoroughly than torture.
This suffocating social web was exactly why Naruto couldn't wait to escape. Life at sea had spoiled him with its beautiful simplicity. Problems got solved with direct action, not political maneuvering.
He'd barely cleared the village outskirts when a familiar figure caught his eye, attempting to hide beneath a roadside tree's inadequate shade.
Sighing heavily, Naruto changed course and scooped up his would-be stalker.
"You're making me double back..."
Konohamaru erupted into frantic struggling, his voice cracking with desperation.
"Boss Naruto! Take me with you! Look how much stronger I've gotten!"
The kid's thrashing did demonstrate noticeable improvement. His physical conditioning had clearly benefited from Naruto's training methods.
"Sure, sure, next time though, definitely next time."
Naruto's tone carried the universal dismissiveness adults used when placating persistent children. He began carrying Konohamaru back toward the village gates.
Suddenly, the boy stopped struggling and tilted his head up, meeting Naruto's eyes with uncomfortable directness.
"Boss... are you actually coming back?"
Children possessed an almost supernatural sensitivity to emotional undercurrents. Even without understanding the complex forces at play, Konohamaru had detected the farewell energy radiating from his mentor.
"Of course I will. This is just a mission."
Naruto had learned the art of gentle deception from a master. A certain red-haired pirate had taught him that some lies protected the people you cared about.
"You promise?"
"Absolutely. By the time you've mastered everything I taught you, I should be ready to return."
"You swear it?"
The silence stretched between them like a taut wire.
"I swear."
(TL NOTE: Unfortunately, my LOTR: Playing Minecraft in Middle-earth book was mistakenly flagged as spam on Webnovel and removed. I'll re-upload it under a different title by today at the latest. Thank you for your patience!)