Violet raised her eyes to look at Naruto Uzumaki and asked, "When did you realize that I harbored killing intent toward you?"
With his arms crossed, Naruto replied, "Probably back in the woods of the Land of Fire when I was engrossed in reading. At the time, there were wolves lurking nearby, so I wasn't sure if your killing intent was directed at me or at them. I decided to wait and observe."
"Later, throughout our journey, you behaved very well, so..."
Violet interrupted with a knowing tone, "So, you pretended to be drunk to confuse me and lure me into revealing my intentions!"
Naruto nodded. "Hmm, something like that. Honestly, I was really hoping it was just my imagination."
Violet scoffed, "You're such a calculating man. But the fact that I failed to see through your schemes and exposed myself shows my own inadequacy. Hmph."
Naruto asked, "Now, can you tell me why you did it?"
Violet's eyes glimmered with sorrow. "Both my parents were ninjas from Amegakure (Hidden Rain Village). They were killed by Konoha shinobi during the Third Great Ninja War. My younger sister and I survived only because of a benefactor who saved us, and we've relied on each other ever since."
She continued, "Later on, my sister, who had become a chunin, was sent on an S-rank mission. She was killed by Konoha's Root ninjas."
Konan interjected, "So, it was because of Ziyanghua? Back then, when I decided to requisition her body, you agreed, didn't you? That way, her appearance could be preserved. Don't tell me... you resented us for sending her on that mission?"
Violet laughed coldly. "Don't think so narrowly of me. As a ninja, one must embrace the resolve to sacrifice. My sister was a ninja; dying on a mission was her destiny. I don't blame anyone for that."
Konan frowned. "Then why?"
Violet turned her gaze to Konan, a knowing smile playing at her lips. "It's about time you dropped the act, isn't it, Angel? Or should I say, Konan, student of Jiraiya?"
Konan's face betrayed a flicker of confusion.
Violet pressed on, "You're one of the orphans of war from the Second Great Ninja War, taken in by Jiraiya. It was thanks to Konoha's kindness that you survived to this day. And the Pain you serve… he's your fellow disciple, isn't he?"
Konan's heart skipped a beat, but she maintained her composure. "Fellow disciple? What are you talking about?"
Violet sneered. "Don't bother pretending. He's Jiraiya's other student! The evidence lies in his use of Konoha's forbidden technique, Flying Thunder God. That jutsu isn't something just anyone can master. The only one who could use it was the man who earned renown during the Third Great Ninja War!"
She continued, her voice filled with conviction, "Sixteen years ago, during the Nine-Tails' Attack on Konoha, he faked his death. The former Hokage transformed into Pain. It all adds up! The downfall of Hanzo the Salamander's faction also coincided with that time!"
"That's right. The true identity of Pain is none other than the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze. His ultimate goal is to control Amegakure and turn it into a branch of Konoha. And you, Konan, as Jiraiya's student, have become a pawn in his plan, haven't you?"
Naruto and Konan exchanged glances, both seeing the shock mirrored in each other's eyes.
Boom!
A flash of lightning illuminated the room.
Violet smirked. "Hmph. When I became a captain of the ANBU, I heard a rumor during one of my intelligence-gathering missions. It was said that Pain was killed by Naruto Uzumaki from Konoha!"
"That was your doing, wasn't it? To sever the connection between Pain and Konoha!"
"And now, at this critical juncture, you formed the ANBU to feed us this information and make us believe it wholeheartedly."
She added, her voice heavy with accusation, "Looking back, my sister Ziyanghua was killed by Konoha's Root. That was likely part of a conspiracy. In other words, the mastermind behind it all was Danzo Shimura, the very embodiment of darkness!"
"Later, Danzo became Hokage, the true ruler of Konoha. Meanwhile, the supposedly deceased Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, became the secret puppet master of Amegakure!"
She concluded, her tone resolute, "Though Danzo recently died—I don't know who killed him—I believe it was my sister Ziyanghua's spirit delivering justice, punishing the darkness that sought to manipulate Amegakure!"
"And as for the other darkness, Minato Namikaze, I resolved to eliminate him myself. As a ninja of Amegakure, I love this land deeply. Even if it costs me my life, I must restore its purity! Now that my plan has failed, I have no more to say. Kill me!"
Crash!
The rain outside intensified, and the room fell into a dead silence.
Naruto and Konan were still reeling from the shock of her words.
Violet demanded, "What are you waiting for? My conspiracy has been exposed! Do it!"
Taking a deep breath to calm himself, Naruto replied, "Tell me, why are you so convinced that I'm Minato Namikaze? Just because I can use Flying Thunder God doesn't mean only he could master it."
Violet, unwavering, argued, "Your hair color is the proof! I investigated—Minato Namikaze had blonde hair, just like you! And why else would you wear a mask if not to hide your identity?"
Sighing, Naruto remarked, "Wow, I've really learned something today." With that, he removed his mask, revealing his youthful face.
Violet was stunned. "So young? If Minato Namikaze were alive, he'd be in his thirties by now!"
Naruto said firmly, "Listen carefully. I'm not Pain, nor am I Minato Namikaze. My name is Naruto Uzumaki!"
Violet, taken aback, exclaimed, "You're the one who defeated Pain! Impossible! Why would you defeat Pain and then replace him?!"
Naruto explained, "Your understanding is flawed from the very beginning. Minato Namikaze was my father. He truly died during the Nine-Tails' Attack on Konoha to save the village."
He continued, "The true identity of Pain was indeed Nagato, another of Jiraiya's students. But he's no longer alive. I did defeat Pain, but I later became a rogue ninja of Konoha. Joining Amegakure and concealing my identity was a matter of timing."
Violet, in disbelief, shouted, "No! That's impossible! You're a hero of Konoha for defeating Pain! Why would you betray Konoha? It doesn't make sense! This must be a conspiracy—a plot by Root and Danzo!"
At this moment, Konan spoke again. "You're wrong. The one who killed Danzo wasn't your sister's spirit. It was the man standing right in front of you—Naruto Uzumaki."
Violet was dumbfounded. "What? How could that be?!"
Konan, dropping another bombshell, revealed, "And let me tell you something else. The benefactor who saved you and your sister during the Third Great Ninja War was none other than his father, Minato Namikaze."
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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