Days passed in the Ninja World, and the anime from the other world also released a few new episodes.
However, Naraku appeared less frequently; only the events of the day he attended the clan meeting were shown.
Initially, viewers watched his morning interaction with Kakashi with doting smiles, but they soon realized something was off when Kakashi asked why he was always distracted, and Naraku vaguely brushed him off.
[What exactly is Naraku thinking?]
[Naraku has been a bit off since returning to the village, not as cheerful as before.]
[Thinking about his scum father? I don't think so.]
[Something's wrong! The way Naraku looks at Kakashi isn't right! (Horrified)]
[It's over, Naraku definitely didn't tell the truth; he lied to Kakashi for the first time.]
[He looks so sad, what happened?!]
When Naraku and Fugaku's post-meeting conversation appeared on the screen, viewers automatically pieced together the 'truth,' and their anger towards Danzo Shimura reached its peak.
[I knew why Naraku had been looking so gloomy; it turns out he'd been thinking about this all along.]
[Is he afraid that his Uchiha identity will affect Kakashi?]
[Overthinking is very damaging to the body, not good for a child.]
[The Uchiha Clan is such a proud clan, now struggling to survive; my heart aches.]
[Fugaku hasn't had an easy time these past two years as Patriarch.]
[Tonight, I'm making a straw doll and cursing Danzo to die early.]
[Sakumo, you must strive for it, become Hokage (cries)]
[Don't be afraid, friends, things will get better after Sakumo becomes Hokage; he'll at least look after the Uchiha out of consideration for his student.]
[That's a must; Sakumo is so upright and magnanimous, he wouldn't engage in such disgusting tactics.]
[Hiruzen Sarutobi, hurry up and step down! I feel like as long as he's in office, Danzo will be incredibly arrogant.]
[Exactly! Danzo is so reckless precisely because Hiruzen still values their camaraderie as comrades!]
[Hiruzen Sarutobi, why don't you dare to fight Danzo Shimura?! You're the Hokage, what are you afraid of?]
The viewers, who had been cursing in the comments, were instantly appeased when they saw Kakashi standing under a street light, waiting to take Naraku home.
[So thoughtful, Kakashi!]
[He probably waited for a while, but Kakashi only complained about Fugaku being slow, never a word about Naraku.]
[He loves him so much, I know.]
[Kakashi is so good, Naraku, don't shoulder everything alone, boohoohoo.]
[Every time I see them both, I feel healed.]
...
After the Uchiha Clan's arc concluded, the production team spent several consecutive episodes depicting the experiences of Minato Namikaze and Kushina.
After the last mission, Minato realized his weakness lay in a lack of high offensive power, so he chose to dedicate himself to developing a new ninjutsu he had already started to conceptualize.
During this period, Kushina also faced an incredibly difficult choice.
The aging Uzumaki Mito felt her body failing, and suppressing the Nine-Tails was becoming increasingly difficult, so she told Kushina that she was the best candidate to become the next Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.
Although she was told she could take a few days to consider, how could such a matter truly be left to her own whims?
In the end, the Nine-Tails was sealed into Kushina's body.
From then on, unless the battlefield required the power of a Tailed Beast, Uzumaki Kushina, as the ultimate weapon, could no longer leave Konoha.
During this time, Minato stayed by Kushina's side, patiently guiding and comforting her, becoming her spiritual pillar as she took this step.
Their relationship also deepened significantly in these episodes.
The audience also expressed that this pure love, tinged with tragedy, was quite addictive.
[To become a living cage, to imprison a fierce beast like the Nine-Tails, this decision is indeed not easy.]
[Kushina is truly very responsible; after sealing the Nine-Tails, she is no longer herself, but a weapon belonging to the village.]
[Konoha brought Kushina back for this very day; how could she have any room to make her own choice?]
[Exactly, if Kushina said she was unwilling, would Konoha just give up? She never had a choice.]
[Kushina couldn't escape precisely because she knew she was the only candidate.]
[Thankfully, there's Minato; otherwise, Kushina would be truly miserable.]
[Long live pure love (TДT)]
[Minato and Kushina are a match made in heaven! Boohoohoo T^T]
[Kushina, hurry and marry Minato! Look at your best friend Mikoto, she's already married!]
[Then Kushina and Mikoto's children can have an arranged marriage; it would be beautiful, truly beautiful.]
If not for this part of the anime, Naraku would have been completely unaware of this matter; Konoha had always been calm, and news was extremely well-controlled.
A few more days passed. Danzo made no moves, and the anime did not update.
Naraku emerged from the Hokage Building with a scroll; this mission was to travel to the Land of Rain to retrieve intelligence.
Rumors had it that an organization called "Akatsuki" had emerged in the Land of Rain, spreading their ideals of peace and attracting considerable attention.
Konoha needed to assess the threat and true purpose of this organization to determine what stance to take, so an undercover agent had been sent some time ago.
Naraku's mission was to rendezvous with the agent, collect the intelligence, and bring it back to Konoha.
Logically, such a mission should be handled by the Anbu, but for some reason, it was assigned to him.
Naraku felt something was amiss, but he had no right—nor any reason—to refuse.
If this truly was a conspiracy, he could only prepare himself and step into it.
As for the "Akatsuki" at this time, it should be in its early stages, led by Yahiko, with Nagato and Konan following.
The entire organization held naive ideals of love and peace, believing that as long as people understood each other, a beautiful future without war could be created.
However, this dream would soon be shattered.
Yahiko died in a conspiracy orchestrated by Hanzō and Danzo Shimura. Nagato fell into despair with this world and finally chose to cooperate with Obito to collect all the Tailed Beasts, relying on military force to compel the great nations to stop their wars.
To be honest, his idea had some merit, but even if successful, the peace it maintained would be too short; as soon as Nagato died, the Ninja World would revert to its original state.
Naraku returned home to prepare the ninja tools and supplies needed for his journey, changed out of his clothes bearing the Uchiha Clan crest, and left through Konoha's main gate, heading directly west...