Chapter 31: The End of the War — Returning Home

"Phew..."

Seeing Killer B completely unconscious and securely restrained by the Konoha shinobi...

Jiraiya finally let out a long sigh of relief.

They had captured the Raikage’s younger brother—

The Eight-Tails Jinchūriki.

That alone meant the war was effectively over.

Suppressing the joy in his heart, Jiraiya turned to Shisui.

"Shisui."

"Control the Nine-Tails and have it withdraw its chakra."

"I’ll restore the seal."

"Yes, sir."

Shisui acknowledged the order.

Turning toward Kurama...

His Mangekyō Sharingan activated once more.

Immediately...

The Nine-Tails’ chakra surrounding Naruto began to recede.

Its massive form rapidly shrank.

Moments later...

Naruto returned to his human appearance.

His body instantly went limp.

Jiraiya hurried forward and caught him before he could hit the ground.

After checking him over and confirming that he was merely exhausted and unconscious...

Jiraiya bent the fingers of his right hand and pressed them against the Eight Trigrams Seal on Naruto’s abdomen.

Then...

He twisted.

Once he confirmed that the seal had been fully restored...

Only then did he finally relax.

Elsewhere...Hokage’s Office

An ANBU operative suddenly appeared before Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Dropping to one knee...

He respectfully presented a scroll that had arrived via the Summoning Transmission Technique.

"Lord Hokage."

"A victory report from the front lines."

A sharp gleam flashed across Hiruzen’s aged eyes.

He had heard correctly.

A victory report.

He immediately stepped forward, accepted the scroll, broke the seal, and opened it.

After reading only a few lines...

The gloom that had hung over his face for days vanished completely.

"Hahaha!"

"They actually captured the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki!"

"Excellent!"

But...

His smile quickly faded.

His brows furrowed once more.

Shisui really can control the Nine-Tails so completely?

The Nine-Tails’ chakra didn’t even harm Naruto.

He merely collapsed from exhaustion...

At least...

I haven’t failed Minato.

No...

I still need to confirm whether Naruto remains under control.

And the Uchiha Clan...

They require even closer monitoring.

The Mangekyō Sharingan...

Suppressing those thoughts...

Hiruzen looked toward the ANBU.

"Tomorrow."

"Search Naruto’s house."

"If you discover anything suspicious..."

"Report it immediately."

"And summon the village elders."

"Yes, Lord Hokage."

The ANBU vanished instantly.

January 26th

After learning that Killer B had been captured...

The Fourth Raikage dispatched envoys to Konoha once again.

Their purpose was to negotiate peace...

And arrange an exchange for Killer B and the captured Hidden Cloud prisoners.

February 1st

After several days of negotiations...

Having suffered a crushing defeat...

And fearing that the other Great Nations would exploit their weakened state...

Kumogakure reluctantly accepted numerous unequal terms imposed by Konoha in exchange for the return of their Eight-Tails Jinchūriki.

February 5th

Konoha and Kumogakure exchanged prisoners along the border of the Land of Fire.

The two nations officially withdrew the bulk of their armies from the front lines.

From the outbreak of the war...

To the signing of the peace agreement...

The entire conflict had lasted only a single month.

The nations that had been watching from the shadows...

Immediately quieted down once again.

February 8th

Today...

Konoha’s main army was finally returning home.

The entire village eagerly awaited their arrival.

"Have you heard?"

"This war was won because that Fox Demon destroyed Kumogakure’s camp."

"I heard!"

"They say it slaughtered over a thousand Hidden Cloud shinobi."

"The Fox Demon is terrifying."

"Yeah..."

"It’s far too bloodthirsty."

"We should never provoke that Fox Demon again."

"Exactly."

"If it ever goes berserk inside Konoha..."

...

Around noon...

The returning army finally entered the village.

The civilians erupted into cheers.

Many rushed forward to embrace family members who had survived.

Some cried tears of joy.

Even villagers without relatives among the shinobi offered fruit and sweets to the returning soldiers.

The atmosphere was warm.

Celebratory.

Naruto quietly walked among the returning forces.

He looked toward the villagers lining the streets.

Whenever their eyes met his...

They immediately looked away.

Even those handing out food hurriedly stepped back after recognizing him.

Acceptance?

That didn’t exist.

The hatred had faded...

Only to be replaced...

By fear.

In the past...

People had dared to bully Naruto because he had never displayed any real power.

But now...

A child who looked no older than three possessed enough strength to wipe out an entire military encampment.

How could they not fear him?

"Uncle Shikaku..."

Naruto looked up innocently.

"Why isn’t anyone cheering for me?"

"Why won’t they look at me?"

"Why didn’t anyone give me any food?"

Jiraiya hadn’t returned with the main force after the prisoner exchange.

Instead...

He had resumed his journey in search of inspiration.

Hinata had already been escorted back to Konoha by the Hyūga Clan shortly after the victory.

The one accompanying Naruto now...

Was Nara Shikaku.

Hearing Naruto’s questions...

Shikaku could only sigh inwardly.

Even someone renowned throughout the village as a brilliant strategist...

Hadn’t expected things to end up like this.

The human heart...

Was truly unpredictable.

He gently ruffled Naruto’s hair.

"Naruto..."

"They’re probably feeling guilty."

"So they don’t know how to face you."

"Give them some time."

"It’ll get better."

There was nothing else Shikaku could say.

He could only comfort the child.

"Guilty?"

"Are they really guilty, Uncle Shikaku?"

"Why..."

"Why can I only feel fear from them?"

Naruto’s clear blue eyes were filled with confusion.

"They just haven’t accepted everything yet."

"Don’t worry."

"One day..."

"They’ll acknowledge you."

Shikaku continued trying to reassure him.

"Uncle Shikaku..."

"You said..."

"If I survived this war..."

"They would acknowledge me."

"Was it because I didn’t do enough?"

Naruto lowered his head sadly.

He had no intention of letting Shikaku off the hook.

"Naruto!"

A young girl’s voice suddenly called out from behind him.

The moment Shikaku recognized who it was...

He secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Afraid Naruto would continue asking impossible questions...

He disappeared without another word.

Hmph.

I’ll let you off this time.

Naruto thought to himself as he watched Shikaku leave.

Before he could even turn around...

Both of his feet suddenly left the ground.

Someone had lifted him into the air.

A gentle fragrance unique to a young girl filled his senses.

Soft, delicate cheeks rubbed affectionately against his own again and again.

"Miss Izumi..."

"You’re hugging me too tightly."

It was Uchiha Izumi.

Although he complained...

A genuine smile spread across Naruto’s face.

As for the villagers...

Who cared about them?

As far as he was concerned...

They could all disappear.

Keeping up this innocent act...

Was seriously exhausting.