Hearing Naruto's reassuring words, Jiraiya's expression relaxed considerably.
As long as Naruto was willing to give Nagato and Konan a chance, then as their former teacher, he could step forward to persuade them before they made irreversible mistakes.
Seeing the relief on Jiraiya's face, Naruto knew exactly what his teacher was thinking without needing to guess. But what he wanted to say—what he kept to himself—was that Jiraiya-sensei's thinking was far too naive.
Nagato carried his own obsessions. Persuasion alone would prove useless. You still had to use fists to make Nagato understand reason.
However, Naruto would handle that himself. He was best at reasoning with people through direct methods.
It was indeed as Jiraiya believed—the current Akatsuki organization hadn't yet started implementing the Moon's Eye Project. The operation to capture tailed beasts hadn't begun. The Akatsuki remained a hidden organization, not yet become a public enemy of the ninja world. They hadn't committed much genuine evil in the world yet.
Based on this consideration, Naruto decided to give Nagato an opportunity. If Nagato had already killed Jiraiya at this point, there would be only one fate awaiting him: death without mercy.
"Alright, Jiraiya-sensei. Go back and prepare yourself. Get a good night's sleep tonight and eat a proper breakfast tomorrow. Then it'll be time to face Nagato." Naruto's expression turned slightly mischievous. "I hope if Nagato proves stubborn, you won't hesitate to strike when needed."
Hearing this suggestion, Jiraiya's eyes widened with indignation. He practically bristled with offense. "I'm not that kind of person, Naruto! Don't talk nonsense. I'm going to get angry!"
After Jiraiya departed in a huff, only Kakashi and Black Zetsu remained. Naruto looked at his visibly exhausted teacher. "Kakashi-sensei, pay attention to your health. Don't use up all your chakra tomorrow before the fight even starts."
Kakashi's face flushed red immediately. He spoke with defensive hesitation. "Hmph! Naruto, I'll show you that no matter what kind of opponent I face, they can't defeat me."
After speaking with wounded pride, Kakashi left without looking back.
Naruto gazed at the sky. Night had fallen completely. The waning moon hung high above the treetops like a pale guardian.
When he'd bid farewell to Sister Terumi Mei and the Kirigakure ninja, the sun hadn't yet set. Then Asura Path Pain had attacked. He'd gone to fight Pain in the wilderness.
Defeating Pain had taken some time. Now it was completely dark after another lengthy meeting.
I should go. Kurama is probably waiting for me to have dinner. It's all Nagato's fault—he doesn't even let people eat in peace. Thinking this with mild exasperation, Naruto greeted Black Zetsu. Together they walked toward the back mountain.
When Naruto and Black Zetsu's figures appeared outside the farmyard, Naruto spotted a small orange fox squatting on the large boulder near the entrance. It was Kurama.
"Kurama! I'm back!" Naruto called out softly to his companion.
"Naruto! You're finally done with everything!" Kurama, perched on the boulder, heard Naruto's voice and immediately leaped into his arms with obvious relief.
Naruto immediately stroked Kurama's head with gentle affection. Kurama's ears twitched with satisfaction. His expression turned blissful.
"Kurama, aren't you going to scold me for coming back so late today?" Naruto joked while continuing to pet Kurama's head. From the fox's earlier words, he couldn't detect any complaints about the delayed return.
"There was so much commotion outside. Of course I knew something major happened. And you're the Hokage of Konoha—you had to deal with it." Kurama twisted his small body in Naruto's arms, speaking as if this were the most obvious thing in the world.
"Oh! I didn't expect Kurama to become so understanding!" Naruto's laugh carried genuine warmth and surprise.
"Naruto, I'm hungry!" At that moment, Black Zetsu's voice sounded from the darkness beside them.
"Gah!" The sudden voice startled Kurama badly. He looked in the direction of Naruto's side, but the pitch-black night revealed nothing. Speaking toward the invisible presence, Kurama said with genuine alarm, "Naruto! There's a ghost beside you!"
"You're the ghost!" Black Zetsu responded with furious indignation at Kurama's words.
"It's someone named Black Zetsu, Kurama. Can't you sense him with chakra?" Naruto couldn't help his wry smile at Kurama's reaction.
"Use chakra? Oh, right! I almost forgot about that ability entirely."
Kurama usually spent his time cooking, washing, and doing laundry. He didn't use his tremendous chakra reserves at all for domestic tasks.
Therefore, he'd grown accustomed to not using it. He simply hadn't noticed the presence hidden in the dark night.
When Naruto reminded him, Kurama immediately sensed Black Zetsu's existence with chakra. He spoke with surprise and mild embarrassment. "So there really is someone there! But you're far too dark. Who can possibly see you at night?"
Damn it. I'm being teased about my skin color again. At this moment, the aggrieved Black Zetsu couldn't help feeling slight resentment toward his mother, Kaguya Ōtsutsuki.
My dearest mother, why did you give birth to my eldest brother and second brother—both tall and handsome—but when it came to my turn, I ended up dark, short, and ugly?
I'm clearly your third son who wants to save you! Why do you hate me?
Black Zetsu genuinely couldn't understand it. He decided at this moment that after rescuing his mother, he'd immediately ask her to make him white and handsome.
He absolutely hated how dark he was now!
Sensing Black Zetsu's rising anger, Naruto quickly intervened. "Kurama, you can't discriminate against someone's natural skin color. Come on, Black Zetsu. I'll treat you to dinner."
After speaking, he brought Black Zetsu into the house. Once inside under the light, Black Zetsu could finally be seen properly by others.
As soon as they entered the dining area, Naruto found Sasuke and Orochimaru already seated at the table. Both looked visibly irritated from waiting. They stared at the delicious spread before them—food they couldn't touch yet.
Naruto hadn't returned, and Kurama absolutely refused to let them eat first.
"Naruto! You're finally back! Hurry up—we're all starving to death!" Sasuke practically shouted when he saw Naruto appear. He touched his empty stomach with obvious distress.
Orochimaru was equally hungry. When he looked at Naruto, he also noticed Black Zetsu. But he didn't greet the dark figure. Instead, he sat quietly at the table with practiced patience.
"Alright, I'm back now. Let's eat." Naruto smiled and settled into his seat.
As soon as Naruto finished speaking, Sasuke and Orochimaru immediately began attacking their dinner with renewed vigor. Naruto sat down and provided Black Zetsu with a bowl and chopsticks.
"Naruto, try this new dish I recently developed! Tell me how it tastes!" As soon as Naruto settled, Kurama picked up a piece of food with chopsticks and placed it carefully in Naruto's bowl.
Naruto picked up the morsel and placed it in his mouth. He closed his eyes, chewed thoughtfully, and savored the flavors with careful attention. After swallowing, he addressed Kurama with genuine appreciation. "Excellent! Very successful."
Hearing Naruto's praise, Kurama's entire demeanor brightened with happiness.
While eating, Naruto addressed Orochimaru directly. "Orochimaru, after breakfast tomorrow morning, come to the village entrance to gather. We have something important to handle together."
"Understood, Naruto-kun." Orochimaru agreed smoothly.
"Sasuke, you're included too." Naruto turned to his roommate.
"Got it." Sasuke nodded while continuing to eat.
After dinner, they took a walk to aid digestion. Following that, both Naruto and Sasuke entered their evening training routines.
Because of Asura Path Pain's attack, Konoha's night was destined to be restless. Regarding the assault that had just occurred, people throughout the entire village were discussing it with varying degrees of fear and excitement.
At the Hyuga house, the family sat around the table for dinner. Hiashi had made the rare decision to invite his nephew Neji to dine with the main family.
This dinner made Neji deeply uncomfortable. He constantly felt his uncle must have something significant to say to him.
Compared to Neji's tension, Hinata ate with complete contentment. Servants delivered food to her continuously in an unending stream. Hinata consumed everything with impressive efficiency.
Now Hinata required two dedicated servants during mealtimes. One was responsible for delivering fresh dishes to Hinata's place at the table. The other removed the empty plates after she finished each course.
"I'm full!" Watching his cousin eat with such tremendous appetite, Neji experienced the strange illusion that his own stomach might explode sympathetically. After just a few bites, he felt completely satisfied.
Seeing his nephew set down his utensils, Hiashi also placed down his bowl and chopsticks. "I'm full as well. Dear, please eat slowly." Then Hiashi turned his gaze to Neji with measured deliberation. "Neji, come with me."
"Yes, uncle." Neji immediately followed Hiashi with his head lowered submissively.
Soon, the two reached the training room.
Upon arriving, they both stood still in the center of the space.
Neji looked at his uncle's back. He pursed his lips tightly. In the end, he still didn't speak first.
After a moment of heavy silence, Hiashi turned around. He looked at his nephew with an expression of profound weariness. "Neji, I know you harbor hatred toward the main family and toward me as your uncle."
Hearing Hiashi's direct words, Neji's heart tightened with sudden tension.
"Neji, I know exactly why you carry this hatred. What you resent is the injustice of the Hyuga family system. Why does the main family enjoy all the clan's resources while the branch family faces death protecting them? You hate that your father also died because of the main family's demands."
"Am I correct, Neji?"
Neji listened with complicated, churning emotions. He raised his face bravely and looked directly at his uncle—the patriarch of the Hyuga clan. He spoke word by word with controlled intensity. "Yes. I hate the Hyuga clan. I hate that the Hyuga clan killed my father."
Looking at his nephew whose eyes were gradually turning red with suppressed emotion, Hiashi sighed deeply. "Neji, it's time you knew the real truth."
"The truth?" Neji's expression froze completely. Isn't the truth exactly as I understand it?
Hiashi continued with deliberate care. "At that time, Cloud Village wanted to seize our Hyuga family's bloodline. I discovered this and killed the Cloud Village spy who'd infiltrated Konoha."
Hiashi began recounting the events of that terrible year in full detail.
Neji listened in absolute silence. Tears streamed down his face before he even realized he was crying.
Finally, after the complete narration, Hiashi's own emotions ran complicated and raw. He added with bitter conviction, "If that old fool Sarutobi Hiruzen hadn't been in charge of Konoha at that time—if it had been Naruto instead—your father might not have died."
Neji, having heard the complete truth at last, stood utterly frozen. He didn't recover his composure for a long while. But he found himself agreeing with Hiashi's assessment. "Naruto... he would never abandon anyone."
"This has been a restless night. You should get proper rest and think everything through carefully." Hiashi's voice carried exhaustion and something like hope.
Before leaving, Hiashi paused and spoke again. "Neji, do you want to know why your cousin Hinata suddenly surpassed you in strength? How she became so much more powerful?"
"Why?" Neji asked the question almost reflexively, his curiosity momentarily overriding his emotional turmoil.
"Because Hinata's appetite increased dramatically. So you should eat much more during regular meals. Perhaps there will be surprises."
After delivering this cryptic advice, Hiashi left the training room. He left Neji alone to contemplate everything his uncle had said—both the terrible truth and the strange final suggestion.