Konan was surprised. "Sage power similar to yours, from Mount Myoboku?"

Naruto cautiously replied, "I'm not sure yet. Konan-nee, stay close to me and don't stray too far!"

Just as Naruto sensed the presence, the other entity sensed him as well.

Sizzle! In the mist, a pair of golden horizontal pupils appeared, and a gurgling sound came from its throat.

Naruto's pupils contracted. "Killing intent!"

Whoosh!!

A shadowy figure shot through the mist!

"So fast!!"

Naruto quickly pulled Konan aside...!

The shadowy figure struck the spot where Naruto had just stood, revealing an arrow made of a mixture of purple and green liquid!

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle...!!

The arrow quickly dissolved, turning into a poisonous mist.

"This is... poison!"

Konan, having fought Hanzo's forces many times, was highly sensitive to poisons.

"This poison is even more potent than the salamander's! Naruto, we need to leave now, or we'll die!"

Gurgle!

A second poison arrow followed...!

Naruto's left eye snapped open.

—Shinra Tensei!

Boom! The repulsive force exploded, disintegrating the arrow and spreading even more toxic gas!

Naruto's Rinnegan locked onto the source of the mist. "I've memorized your chakra..."

Whoosh!

The pupil at the center of the Rinnegan emitted a black circle!

—Realm of Reincarnation: Release!

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Swish!

Back in the Hidden Rain Village, outside the tower.

Naruto and Konan opened their eyes simultaneously, meeting each other's gaze in the rain. Their rain-soaked faces reflected the cold, yet the thrill of the encounter lingered.

Naruto sighed, "That was intense..."

Konan replied, "Compared to the memories you showed me, it was nothing."

Naruto smiled and stretched.

"A total of 152, with over 30 capable of diving. That should be enough!"

"Yes... it's time to rest."

Konan, pale-faced, stood and walked quickly towards the tower but suddenly stumbled and fell.

"!" Naruto rushed to her side, supporting her. "Are you alright, Konan-nee?"

Konan, looking exhausted, said, "I'm fine, just a bit overexerted from using too much chakra..."

But Naruto could see it was more than that!

He gently placed the back of his hand on her forehead, his expression changing. "You're burning up! You have a high fever!!"

Konan's eyes were unfocused. "Maybe I used too much chakra dispersing the paper clones and got soaked in the rain. Sorry, Naruto, can you help me back?"

Naruto carried Konan back to her room.

Konan's fever wouldn't go down, and her clothes were soaked through. If this continued, her condition would worsen!

Naruto made a quick decision. "I'll go find some women from the village!"

"No... [Don't]!"

But Konan grabbed Naruto's hand.

"No, Naruto, I'm the leader of the Hidden Rain. The image I've built is one of being above the mundane! If that image is broken, it will be very troublesome to manage in the future...!"

Naruto, anxious, said, "But we can't just leave it like this!"

"Hu, hu, hu..." Konan weakly released Naruto's hand, closing her eyes. "It's okay. I'm a ninja. I won't die from a little illness."

"..." Naruto looked conflicted, glancing at Konan's rain-soaked Akatsuki cloak, the mesh top with a zipper, and the light purple tight pants.

Hinata had once been seriously ill, and Naruto had taken care of her, even helping her bathe.

Between spouses, this was natural.

But Konan was his senior, and he respected her deeply!

This wasn't something he could do, or it would cause problems later.

"Hu." Naruto took a deep breath. "Konan-nee, wait for me. I'll be right back..."

"..." Konan was already delirious.

...

In the early morning, the Leaf Village was bustling.

After the battle with Pain, Tsunade had finally woken up after being in a coma for many days!

Shizune, holding her pet pig Tonton, walked out of a temporary tent and suddenly stopped, looking into the shadows. "Who's there!!"

"Shizune-san, long time no see..."

A young man in an Akatsuki cloak walked steadily towards her, removing his mask.

"Naruto!?" Shizune was shocked but then remembered Naruto's current status as a rogue ninja and became wary.

"What are you doing in the Leaf Village!"

Naruto calmly said, "I need your help, Shizune-nee..."

Shizune, holding Tonton in her left hand, quietly gripped a kunai with her right. "You must be joking..."

"Do I look like I'm joking?"

Sizzle! Naruto's right eye turned into the Three Tomoe Sharingan.

"Sharingan, not good!!!" Shizune quickly closed her eyes.

Naruto smirked and dashed forward, lifting Shizune onto his shoulder!

Shizune's face turned pale. "W-What are you doing?"

Naruto said, "Sorry, it's urgent. I have no choice..."

Swish!

Naruto, carrying Shizune, used Flying Raijin to leave.

Tonton fell from mid-air.

Swish!

Naruto flashed back, catching Tonton, and disappeared again.

Hidden Rain Village, seventh floor of the tower.