"What?! Kakashi-sensei! You're not lying to me, are you?!"
"I'm not lying to you," Kakashi replied, lowering his head in regret.
Naruto's legs were trembling. He had just learned that it was Kanon who had destroyed that entire area. Kanon's revenge had finally begun, and at this moment, Naruto's heart felt as though it were caught in a violent storm.
Seeing the growing sorrow on Naruto's face, Jiraiya shouted loudly, "Naruto! Don't lose yourself!"
Snapped back by Jiraiya's shout, Naruto finally regained his senses. His heart was a battlefield of contradiction and struggle. Once, Kanon had been like the warm spring sun, thawing his freezing world and giving him encouragement and hope. Her laughter and every little gesture had been the most beautiful chapters of his life.
Yet now, she had done the unthinkable by attacking Konoha. The shock and pain were nearly unbearable. Naruto couldn't understand—why would Kanon do this? Were the gentleness and promises of the past nothing more than a dream? He tried to find an answer, but every time he recalled her smile, his heart felt as if it were being shredded by a thousand blades.
He didn't want to believe it was true. He didn't want to admit that the girl who was once kindest to him had now become his greatest source of agony. In that instant, Naruto felt as if he had lost his way, perhaps even his conviction, and he collapsed to the ground. He once thought she was the lighthouse of his life, but now she was the wellspring of his suffering.
Observing his expression, Sakura and the others understood just how much Kanon and Sasuke meant to him. Naruto knew he needed time to heal and courage to face this cruel reality. But for now, he only wanted to find a corner to weep and let the pain out.
Naruto's feelings for Kanon hadn't always been so deep, but only now, having lost her, did he feel this overwhelming regret. All he could do was let the tears flow down his cheeks. Seeing him like this, Sakura knew that Naruto must be hurting the most. She stepped forward and pulled him into a comforting embrace.
To her and Kakashi, Kanon was one of their most precious comrades, though Sakura realized she hadn't paid enough attention to her in the past. Kakashi, watching his students' grief, was also in torment. To them, Kanon had been like a younger sister, someone they were meant to protect.
He felt like a failure, unable to save her. His Sharingan had seen the friendship and bonds of Team 7, yet it had been blind to the encroaching darkness. He blamed himself entirely. Kakashi clenched his fists; even though he had walked through much darkness, it didn't mean he was immune to self-reproach. The bonds of Team 7 held him fast, and he understood Sakura and Naruto's pain better than anyone.
Beside them, Jiraiya's expression was also somber. Kanon was his student too, and she had once been a truly kind person. But experiences can change a soul. Jiraiya realized that since Sakura and Kakashi were unharmed, it meant Kanon still couldn't bring herself to completely sever those bonds.
"A child of misfortune... she's known nothing but hardship her whole life," Jiraiya sighed, offering his quiet assessment of Kanon.
…
Once their emotions had settled, Naruto, Sakura, Shikamaru, and Temari walked together through the streets of the Hidden Leaf Village.
"Are you two on a date?!" Naruto asked, sidling up to them with a mischievous grin after noticing Shikamaru and Temari together.
"Hey, back when Kanon was stuck to you every day, I never said anything like that," Shikamaru replied flatly. He knew Naruto's resilience, so he figured a small jab involving Kanon wouldn't hurt.
Sure enough, Naruto stumbled at the mention of her name.
"Ah! Kanon doesn't like me like that! She's just my... friend!" As he spoke, images flashed through his mind: that world-tilting smile, those bright and lovely eyes, the silhouette of her sitting by the cliff sharing stories or cooking meals for him. He had only ever viewed her as a friend, not a romantic interest, because he felt their friendship was more precious than love. He feared that if romance bloomed and she rejected him, he might lose the friendship too. So, he told himself he didn't love her. He liked Sakura! Yes! That was it!
"Naruto, why are your eyes watering? Did I go too far?" Shikamaru asked apologetically.
"No... I've come to terms with it all," Naruto said, looking up. "So, what's the deal with you two?"
Before Shikamaru could speak, Temari gave a haughty huff. "Don't be ridiculous. Why would I ever with a guy like him...?"
"The Chunin Exams are coming up soon," Shikamaru explained, hands in his pockets with his usual indifferent air. "Because of the logistics, we've been traveling between the Sand and the Leaf. That's all. It's a drag, but I'm a member of the exam staff now."
Naruto felt a fresh wave of dejection. It was after the last Chunin Exams that Kanon had defected from Konoha and Sasuke had changed. "The Chunin Exams... how nostalgic."
"Oh, right. Naruto, what do you plan to do?" Shikamaru remembered something.
"What?"
"What do you mean 'what'? The Chunin Exams. You're the only one from our year who isn't a Chunin yet."
Naruto's expression turned awkward as the realization hit him. "Then... then... is Sakura a Chunin too?"
"Yep!" Sakura said, flashing a peace sign.
"By the way," Shikamaru added, "Neji, who ranked first, Kankuro from the Sand, and this one here..." he pointed to Temari, "...are all Jonin already."
Naruto's face turned pale green with shock while Sakura giggled beside him.
"Don't stress too much. You aren't technically the only Genin left from our group," Shikamaru added.
"Who else?!" Naruto asked, grasping for a lifeline.
"Sasuke and Kanon are too!" Sakura laughed.
"I guess you're right, hahaha! Looks like Kanon and Sasuke can keep me company," Naruto chuckled nervously. Then, he suddenly thought of Gaara. "Gaara! What about Gaara?!"
…
Meanwhile, in the Hidden Sand Village, Gaara stood wearing his Kazekage robes. A subordinate bowed respectfully beside him. "Kazekage-sama, the meeting is about to begin."
"Understood..."
…
Back in Konoha, Naruto gritted his teeth slightly. "I see... Gaara has already become the Kazekage."
"That's incredible... I can't lose to him." Naruto pointed toward the Hokage Rock. "I'm definitely going to become Hokage! Just you wait, Gaara!"
Seeing Naruto's confidence return, a small smile played on Sakura's lips. He really had grown. "Good luck, Naruto! Didn't you promise Kanon you'd show her how cool you look when you become Hokage and save the shinobi world?!"
"Right! Sakura! I'm not giving up!!"