Chapter 313: Bring Karin Back!
Naruto Uzumaki.
As the former leader of the Akatsuki, he had frequently clashed with the Five Great Shinobi Countries over the years, earning their hatred.
The bounties on his and Konan's heads combined were worth several billion.
Now that Akatsuki had collapsed, leaving only Naruto and Konan, things had changed.
Although Naruto was revived, he had lost both the Rinnegan and the Nine-Tails, becoming a blind man with greatly diminished power.
Once the various shinobi villages and organisations learned that Naruto was still alive, he and Konan would be relentlessly hunted as soon as they left Konoha.
Their chances of survival were slim.
"Tsunade-sama, thank you for your warning. We will be careful," Naruto said, his expression resolute.
He was prepared for the difficult journey ahead and ready to fight to the end.
"Naruto, let's go," Konan whispered.
Konoha was filled with spies and informants from various factions. The news of Naruto's revival would inevitably leak.
Konan planned to escape with Naruto before the information spread, avoiding ambushes from the major shinobi villages.
"Alright, Konan-sensei," Naruto nodded, then bowed to Dan, "Lord Hokage, we take our leave."
But just as they were about to turn and leave.
"Wait."
Dan suddenly spoke, stopping Naruto. He said slowly, "To revive you, I expended a considerable amount of chakra, and Sarutobi Hiruzen even gave his life. Since we've gone to such lengths, let me give you a parting gift to restore some of your self-defense capabilities. I wouldn't want you to be killed right away and drag that woman down with you."
With that, Dan extended his palm towards Naruto.
The next moment.
A powerful gravitational force erupted from Dan's palm, pulling Naruto off his feet and towards Dan.
**Banshō Ten'in.**
"Uchiha Dan, what are you doing?!" Konan exclaimed, fearing the worst for Naruto. She began to weave hand signs.
Dan merely glanced at her, and Konan froze in place, unable to move.
Then, Dan turned his gaze back to Naruto. The bandages over Naruto's eyes fell off, revealing empty sockets.
"Ah!"
Naruto groaned in pain, feeling an intense, itchy sensation as something began to grow in his eye sockets.
**Chapter 313: Bring Karin Back!**
**Chapter 313: Bring Karin Back!**
Uzumaki Naruto.
As the former leader of the Akatsuki, he had clashed with the Five Great Shinobi Countries for years, making many people gnash their teeth in hatred.
The bounty on his and Konan's heads had likely accumulated to billions.
Now, with the Akatsuki disbanded, only Naruto and Konan remained.
Although Naruto was revived, he had lost both the Rinnegan and Kurama, rendering him a blind man with limited mobility, and his strength had plummeted.
If the various ninja villages and organisations learned that Naruto was still alive, they wouldn't dare touch them in Konoha, but as soon as they left the village, they would be relentlessly hunted.
A fight to the death.
When that time came, Naruto and Konan would likely face dire consequences.
"Lady Tsunade, thank you for the warning. We will be careful," Naruto said with a firm expression, his face resolute.
He had already anticipated the difficult road ahead and was prepared to fight to the end.
"Naruto, let's go."
Konan whispered.
Konoha was filled with many eyes and ears from various factions, and news of Naruto's revival would eventually spread.
Therefore, Konan planned to leave Konoha with Naruto before the information got out to avoid being surrounded by the ninja villages.
"Alright, Konan-sensei."
Naruto nodded and then bowed to Danzo, "Hokage-sama, we bid you farewell."
However, just as they were about to turn and leave.
"Wait."
Danzo suddenly spoke, stopping Naruto. He said slowly, "Reviving you cost me a lot of chakra, and Sarutobi Hiruzen his life. Since we've gone this far, let me give you a parting gift to restore some of your strength, so you don't get killed immediately and drag that woman down with you."
With that, Danzo extended his palm towards Naruto, who looked shocked.
In the next second.
Buzzing.
A powerful gravitational force emanated from Danzo's hand, pulling Naruto off his feet and towards Danzo.
Banshō Ten'in.
"Danzo Uchiha, what are you doing?!"
Knowing what was happening, Konan was horrified, thinking Danzo intended to harm Naruto. She immediately tried to form hand signs.
Danzo merely glanced at her, and Konan was instantly immobilised, unable to move.
Then, Danzo turned his gaze back to Naruto. The bandages over Naruto's eyes fell off, revealing two dark holes.
"Ah!"
Naruto cried out in pain, feeling a sharp agony and intense itching in his eyes as if something was growing in his eye sockets.
Upon hearing Naruto's cry of pain, Konan was filled with both anger and worry. She shouted at Dan, "What are you doing to Naruto? Stop it!"
"Konan-sensei, I'm... I'm fine. The Sixth Hokage is helping me," Naruto suddenly spoke, slowly turning his head.
"Naruto, your eyes..." Konan was shocked, for she saw that Naruto's eyes were no longer empty black voids but had two bright blue pupils, just like before.
"It's done."
Dan released his hold, sitting back on the sofa and looking at Naruto. "Now you can at least find your own way around and you're no longer a helpless cripple."
Tsunade, standing nearby, was also filled with disbelief.
Dan had restored a blind man's sight with a mere wave of his hand. This level of medical ninjutsu far surpassed what she, the so-called "medical master," could do.
This was the power of Yin-Yang Release.
Naruto, who had regained his sight, was the most delighted as the person involved. He looked around, blinked, and even used his trembling hands to touch his eyes, finally confirming—
He wasn't dreaming or under Dan's genjutsu.
His eyes were back, and he was once again a whole person.
After composing himself, Naruto took a deep breath and bowed deeply to Dan once more:
"Thank you so much, Hokage-sama."
From the time Dan had first treated Naruto to barbecue Q years ago to now, when he revived Naruto and restored his eyesight, no matter Dan's intentions, the gratitude was genuine.
Therefore, Naruto felt he couldn't just leave and completely withdraw from the ninja world. Otherwise, his conscience would never be at peace.
Before doing so, he had to do something within his power to repay the Sixth Hokage for his kindness.
Thinking of this.
"Is there anything I can do for Konoha, Hokage-sama?" Naruto asked earnestly, looking directly at Dan.
Dan smiled, casually crossing his legs, and responded slowly:
"So eager to repay your debt, huh? Don't want to owe me a favor? Well, it just so happens that I have a task, and you might be the perfect person for it."
Just as he finished speaking, Naruto's vision blurred, and Konan had already turned her back to him, positioning herself between him and Dan.
"What do you want Naruto to do?" she asked sharply, her brows furrowed.
From the beginning, Konan had been wary of Dan's "kindness" because she knew he must have ulterior motives.
And now, Dan finally revealed them.
To Konan, Naruto was still too naive and emotional, making him easily trusted and manipulated by others.
She needed to protect Naruto from becoming a pawn for someone like Uchiha Dan.
Seeing Konan so agitated, Dan merely smiled lightly and continued speaking to Naruto:
"Your task is simple: bring someone back to Konoha."
"Who?" Naruto asked, curious.
"Karin Uzumaki," Dan said, surprising everyone present.
Karin?
Tsunade was stunned. She had been observing quietly but hadn't expected to hear that name from Dan.
Konan was also taken aback.
Is that it?
She had thought Dan's task for Naruto would at least be an S-rank mission, fraught with danger, but it was far simpler than she had imagined.
Bringing Karin back to Konoha.
Any team led by a Jonin from Konoha could accomplish such a task.
The reason Dan chose Naruto seemed obvious.
Karin had once been an Akatsuki spy in Konoha, taken in as a disciple by Tsunade. After being exposed, thanks to Tsunade's leniency and the Sixth Hokage's mercy, Karin escaped Konoha.
Afterwards, Konan suspected her of being a double agent and was expelled again, becoming a stray.
Ironically.
Now that the war between Akatsuki and Konoha was over, Naruto and Dan had reached a truce.
Looking back, Karin, caught between Konoha and Akatsuki, became the biggest tragedy and sacrifice.
For Tsunade, Karin was a source of regret and heartache. For Konan and Naruto, she was a matter of guilt.
They owed her.
"May I ask, why does Konoha want Karin back?" Konan asked cautiously, adding "may I ask" for the first time.
Is Konoha planning to further punish her?
"For what else? To let her continue as Tsunade's disciple and carry on the medical ninja legacy. Unless you have objections?" Dan asked, staring at Konan.
Konan's face changed, her expression troubled. "I... didn't mean that."
"Hey, Uchiha Dan, what do you mean by this?" Tsunade finally reacted, rushing to Dan's side and glaring at him. "When did I agree to forgive Karin and let her continue as my disciple? Don't make decisions for me, you jerk!"
"Oh, that's fine."
When Tsunade asked, Dan calmly replied, "If you don't want Karin, then I'll take her. I was just planning to take on a disciple recently. Tsunade, thanks for your sacrifice in advance."
"Uh."
Tsunade was left speechless, her expression conflicted.
At this moment.
Naruto stepped forward, responding earnestly:
"I'll take on this task. Sixth Hokage, you can trust me. I'll find Karin and persuade her to return to Konoha and become a Konoha ninja again."
Not only to repay Dan but also for Karin's happiness and to atone for his own mistakes.
Naruto knew that Karin had come to love living in Konoha and had many friends there, with a bright and beautiful future.
If she hadn't been a spy for the Akatsuki.
Now, the Sixth Hokage has mercifully forgiven Karin and wants to take her as a disciple, a chance many would fight for. Returning to Konoha is the best outcome for Karin.
However, if Konoha ninja were to ask Karin to return, she might refuse out of shame for her past choices, feeling she couldn't face Tsunade again.
But if Naruto and Konan go, it's different.
They can tell Karin that the conflict between Akatsuki and Konoha is over, and she no longer needs to go against her own heart. Naruto, Konan, and Konoha would all support her decision to return.
This is why Dan is sending Naruto to bring Karin back.
Naruto is also very grateful for this opportunity that Dan has given him.
The chance to apologise to Karin.
So, after accepting the mission, Naruto couldn't wait to drag Konan along and set out to find Karin.
"Don't rush, take this with you."
Dan stood up, walked over to the desk under Naruto's puzzled gaze, opened a drawer, and took out two Konoha headbands.
Swoosh.
He tossed the headbands to Naruto, who clumsily caught them.
"Sixth Hokage, what is this..."
"Before you bring Karin back, you two should act as Konoha ninjas. It will make things easier and avoid unnecessary trouble. Return the headbands to me once you complete the mission."
After saying this, Dan walked over to the large floor-to-ceiling window, turning his back to Naruto and enjoying the view outside.
So that's how it is.
Being identified as Konoha ninjas would protect Naruto and Konan, especially since the Sixth Hokage personally gave these headbands. No one in the ninja world would dare mess with them lightly unless they were courting death.
This way, the two could focus on finding Karin without worrying about attacks from various enemies.
"I understand."
Naruto said, immediately putting on the Konoha headband and handing the other one to Konan.
Konan hesitated but still took it, though she definitely wouldn't wear it.
"Konan-sensei, let's go."
Naruto glanced at Konan, who nodded, and the two quickly left the Hokage's office.
Tsunade watched them leave.
Then she frowned and walked up to Dan, asking:
"Why do you want to bring that girl Karin back?"
She felt there must be some reason why Dan wanted Karin back, something more than what he said.
"Didn't I say already?"
Dan turned, looking at Tsunade in surprise. "The Akatsuki issue is resolved, so it's time to put Karin's matter to rest. Are you planning to never forgive that girl? She was your favorite disciple, after all."
Tsunade stared at Dan silently for a whole minute.
Suddenly.
"Uchiha Dan, are you doing this to please me?"
Tsunade's eyes were intense as she spoke and approached Dan, almost pressing her body against his chest.
Resolving Karin's issue and bringing her back to Konoha wasn't easy. Despite often thinking about her disciple, Tsunade would never actively seek out Karin. If things continued as they were, their master-disciple relationship would be over.
Dan saw the regret in Tsunade's heart and worked hard to create this situation, sending Naruto and Konan to bring Karin back to Konoha.
Realising this, Tsunade couldn't understand Dan's intentions and decided to confront him.
Faced with Tsunade's aggressive approach, Dan's response was direct:
"Of course, I'm trying to please you. What, you don't like it?"
He admitted it right away, and even puffed out his chest, bumping against her.
"You..."
Tsunade didn't expect Dan to be so shameless. She panicked, then inexplicably blushed and her breathing quickened.
Seeing Dan's amused expression, Tsunade forced herself to calm down and then snorted coldly:
"Hmph, who needs such a disciple? If Karin betrayed me once, she will betray me again. If you like playing the martyr, then go ahead, make her your disciple."
With that, she turned and left without waiting for Dan's response.
"Tsk tsk, still so stubborn."
Dan watched her leave, commenting.
A week later.
After the great war, life in Konoha and the rest of the ninja world gradually returned to normal.
During this time, the representatives from various villages who participated in the Chunin Exams also left Konoha, taking their Jinchuriki with them.
With the Akatsuki organisation destroyed.
The Sixth Hokage, Uchiha Dan, who defeated Naruto Uzumaki and Uchiha Madara, punched the moon into pieces, and destroyed the evil Otsutsuki clan on the moon, saving the ninja world—
His personal prestige reached unprecedented heights across the ninja world.
The God of Shinobi, the greatest Hokage in history, the strongest ninja... Various accolades and praises were heaped upon Dan.
Oh, and he had a new title.
The Savior of the Ninja World.
(End of the chapter)