Hinata watched the embracing couple from afar, a genuine smile spreading across her face as she stood among the crowd.

"It’s truly wonderful that Naruto is alright!"

Hatake Satoru and Sasori leaned against broken ruins, two snapped foxtails hanging from their mouths.

Looking at Naruto’s retreating figure, Hatake Satoru murmured,

"Back then, everyone in the village treated Naruto like the reincarnation of a demon fox... When he learned he had the power to control the Nine-Tails, Naruto had every opportunity to inflict the suffering he endured onto others. But he didn’t. Instead, he protected those who had bullied him, and in doing so, he proved himself."

"Little Sasori, what would you have chosen?"

Sasori tilted his head up, then responded after a moment of silence.

"Between good and evil, black and white, there isn’t a clear, sharp line."

"Isn’t that exactly why Pain ended up like that? Inflicting the pain he suffered back onto others..."

Hatake Satoru nodded.

"Mhm~ Mhm~ Nagato finally understood before he died. He truly is Jiraiya-sama’s student!"

Just as Hatake Satoru finished speaking, Sasori started rummaging inside his long Kabuto sleeve.

"Oh, right... This is the bill that just came in. It’s for your ninja point credit card spending..."

Hatake Satoru took the paper bill.

It clearly stated: Hatake Satoru, S-rank ninja points, credit limit 200*** yen. Just spent 3568 yen at the Shortcake Street 36D bar. The principle points have been successfully deducted...

Satoru stared at these lines, first rubbing his eyes, then opening his mouth in disbelief.

"What?! In just a few minutes, I spent over three thousand yen! My three thousand yen!"

Sasori said expressionlessly.

"That price is reasonable. It’s fair, considering it covers Jiraiya-sama’s expenses for looking after three people, including Gyuki!"

Hatake Satoru immediately clenched his fist and delivered a sharp rap to Sasori’s head.

"Kid, don’t pretend to know about fancy services! What the heck?!"

At that moment, a large group of Konoha residents finally noticed Hatake Satoru bickering nearby.

The girls immediately couldn’t contain their adoration and rushed over, crowding around Satoru and shouting.

"Mr. Satoru is really, really handsome!"

"You look so cute when you’re angry!"

"Even when you say those fancy service words, you sound so innocent and natural!"

Sasori’s lips twitched slightly.

Indeed, good looks are justice!

In the distance, Naruto had already been tossed high into the air by the Konoha villagers, treated as a hero.

Those who had watched him grow up were undoubtedly watching from afar, shedding tears of excitement with complicated emotions.

Hatake Satoru tapped Sasori’s head, giving him a look to retreat. The two instantly vanished from the crowd.

The next moment, they appeared a kilometer away from the Konoha ruins.

That was the forest where Hatake Satoru had accompanied Naruto out of. It was here that the near-death Naruto finally found a way to control the Nine-Tails within him.

On a large tree in the jungle.

Among the leaves, a strange disguise was hidden.

It looked like a clump of grass growing on a branch.

"I really didn’t expect Pain to fail!"

"I need to hurry and tell Tobi about this..."

As soon as he spoke, the grass-like object slowly retracted, its form disappearing into the branch.

However, at that moment, Hatake Satoru’s voice quietly sounded from the branches.

His voice was calm, with a hint of laziness.

"Nagato didn’t fail."

The clump of object suddenly froze, then made a rustling sound.

Green grass blades slowly parted, revealing a human face.

The face was half black, half white, and its eyes were filled with extreme terror.

"You... Hatake Satoru? How did you find me!"

Hatake Satoru pushed his eye patch.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you. Within a one-kilometer radius, I can sense your presence."

Upon hearing this, Zetsu’s face contorted in terror.

He tried to sense Hatake Satoru’s chakra.

But just as the rumors said, there was no chakra in Hatake Satoru’s body.

His mind raced, and Zetsu immediately made his decision: the best strategy was to escape!

"Run!"

With a whoosh, the pitcher plant disappeared from the tree trunk.

Sasori turned his head expressionlessly and asked Hatake Satoru,

"He was right in front of you, why didn’t you act?"

Hatake Satoru patted Sasori’s head again, smiling with a very gentle expression.

"He’s just a pawn on the chessboard. To ensure the situation unfolds smoothly, I can’t make my move yet."

Meanwhile, a squad from the Land of Thunder entered the jungle.

Samui, with her blond hair, walked emotionlessly at the front.

Karui and Omoi followed closely behind.

However, Karui noticed Omoi’s world-weary expression and couldn’t help but ask,

"Hey, are you already annoyed even before leaving the village?"

Omoi immediately retorted.

"No way! I’m just worried about Raikage-sama. Seeing how heartbroken he is, by the time we get back, his tears might have turned the Land of Thunder into a vast ocean of tears!"

Karui frowned, put her hands on her hips, and pouted disdainfully.

"How is that possible! For tears to form an ocean, how many tears would that take? Are you dumb?"

Unexpectedly, Omoi sharply retorted.

"Wow, Karui, you really are a dense girl. Look at Samui, because of her heavy chest, she even thinks more calmly!"

Upon hearing this, Karui’s face turned red, and she kicked Omoi to the ground. (Zhao Qian’s)

Just then, Kan, who had been silent, spoke up. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

"You two, it will take at least a day or two to reach Konoha. Are you going to maintain this state the entire time?"

At this moment, the three travelers were unaware that their every move was being monitored by a pool of clear water not far away.

"Water Release Jutsu..."

The pool of clear water gradually took shape, and Hozuki Mangetsu’s body appeared on a large rock in the forest.

"Ah ha... Truly no challenge, the teacher was right again..."

After speaking, he transformed back into a pool of clear water and followed the three.

The next day arrived in a blink of an eye.

After a brief period of bewilderment, the Konoha villagers busied themselves once more.

They worked together, moving huge stones, gradually clearing the ruins of Konoha village.

Konoha Hospital was still packed today, with Chief Nurse Haruno Sakura maintaining her immense popularity.