Chapter 209
After the celebration, Konoha Village began its reconstruction. War is cruel. The dead remain dead—no matter how superb Tsunade's medical skills were, she couldn't bring them back.
Naruto felt conflicted as he stood among the crowd. He hadn't done anything significant—he wasn't the one who defeated Pain. But to the villagers, he was now the hero of Konoha.
It was a strange feeling—something he'd never experienced. Before this incident, he was considered a symbol of disaster, the cursed Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. People avoided him like the plague. Even when Jiraiya revealed his identity as the son of the Fourth Hokage, nothing really changed.
He had still been alone. Still ignored when he came home.
But now, for some reason, he was being hailed as a savior. Those who once treated him coldly now smiled as if they'd always been close. Their sudden warmth felt hollow.
"Hmph..." A sneer tugged at Naruto's lips. He didn't understand why he reacted this way, but something inside him felt like it was cracking.
"By the way, where's Sasuke? Why can't I see him?" Naruto glanced around, hoping to catch a glimpse of his friend. He had been looking forward to seeing Sasuke's response to all this.
"Uh..." Jiraiya hesitated. He had sent Yamato to investigate Sasuke's whereabouts earlier, but now, not only was Sasuke missing—Yamato hadn't returned either. Something was wrong.
Jiraiya waved off the subject, trying to shift focus.
"Even though we managed to repel Akatsuki, Konoha's reconstruction is urgent. Let's work together and rebuild the village!"
Naruto scratched his head, but a sense of unease grew in his mind.