The Shinobi World.
Many had returned to the places they once called home, but the era of the Five Great Shinobi Nations had ended. There was only Konoha. It stood unrivaled as the greatest village, and that was without even accounting for the current powerhouses, Naruto and Sasuke, or the fact that Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha had been restored to the living world.
Yet, Tsunade remained the Hokage; Konoha was currently at the zenith of its prosperity. Of all the past Hokage, only the Third did not return. Furthermore, in accordance with Kanon's wishes, the shinobi world was now unified, the Five Great Nations were no more. At the very least, this ensured that, on the surface, war was a thing of the past. Peace, in a sense, had been realized.
With Hashirama and Madara standing at the pinnacle of strength, the Akatsuki had also been formally integrated, transforming into an organization truly dedicated to maintaining this peace.
Konoha was bathed in the glow of the setting sun.
As the sun slid slowly toward the horizon, it cast its final gilded light across the land. The sky was a brilliant, burning orange-red, the clouds stained like blood, reflecting a scene both serene and magnificent. As the sun dipped below the line, Konoha began to sink into the deepening twilight. The silhouettes of rooftops, trees, and streets grew sharp and distinct, as if veiled by a mysterious gossamer shroud.
With the busy work following the Fourth Great Shinobi War concluded, each household began to light their lamps. Wisps of cooking smoke rose into the air, carrying the scent of evening meals. Shinobi returned to the village, walking alone or in small groups, chatting quietly. Though they carried the weariness of their missions, upon returning to this warm home, every burden seemed to vanish into the wind.
Children played in the village plaza, their laughter filling the air and imbuing the ninja village with a sense of vitality. In the distance, the Hokage Rock stood solemn and mysterious under the sunset; the stone visages of the past Hokage gazed down upon the village, as if keeping a silent, watchful eye over the safety of every villager.
A gentle breeze stirred, bringing a hint of coolness. The Konoha symbol swayed softly as the night descended. The night in Konoha was not as clamorous as the day, but it possessed a unique tranquility and beauty. Stars began to twinkle, and the moon quietly ascended, casting silver light over the quiet streets, veiling the village in a dreamlike radiance.
As the sun disappeared completely, Konoha welcomed a peaceful night. In this place filled with legends and tales, everyone waited, in their own way, for the dawn.
Naruto, the hero of the shinobi world, had finally made progress after a long day of discussions in the Hokage office with Sasuke, Hashirama, and Madara.
Now, walking along a dimly lit street, his mood was far from what one might expect of a hero. He passed by the streets where he and Kanon used to play as children, the same streets where, once, he had been an outcast, spat upon by adults and shunned by children alike.
He recalled his first meeting with Kanon; she had been like a cherry blossom blooming in spring, beautiful and pure. Her eyes had always held a gentle light, as if they could illuminate every shadow in Naruto's life. Whenever he was hated or cast aside, that graceful silhouette would always be at his side, using her gentle smile and encouraging words to help him stand back up.
"Aren't you going to become Hokage and earn everyone's recognition? How can you be so dejected here?"
Kanon's smiles felt as fresh as if they were from yesterday. That silhouette was etched into his heart, refusing to fade. Her voice, her smile, her very being, all of it was deeply imprinted in Naruto's memory, an indispensable part of his life.
Without realizing it, he arrived in front of the mask shop. He remembered this path; it was here he had first met Kanon, when he had accidentally knocked her over. Thinking of that scene, Naruto let out a soft, dry chuckle. He had been so ignorant back then. It was also here that Kanon had protected him for the first time.
Looking at the spot where he had once been pushed to the ground by the shopkeeper, and imagining Kanon stepping in front of him, arms outstretched to shield him, Naruto felt his heart swell with a bittersweet warmth.
As Naruto walked further, he reached the Ichiraku Ramen stand. Memories of eating ramen with Kanon were still vivid in his mind. For some reason, the recollection hit him like a bursting dam. His inner walls collapsed; his body trembled, and tears blurred his vision. Kanon's smile surfaced in his mind, each frame so incredibly clear, yet so agonizingly distant.
He was on the verge of fulfilling his old vow, yet Kanon was gone. He would never hear her voice again, nor feel her warmth.
The dead of night was always the most sentimental time, and now was no exception. How he wished this was all just a dream, and that when he woke, he would see Kanon sitting beside him, calling his name with that intoxicating, gentle smile.
In Naruto's eyes, Kanon's figure seemed to flicker into existence. He reached out, trying to touch that familiar form, but only the cold wind passed between his fingers.
"Kanon... where are you now?" Naruto whispered, his voice thick with suppressed sobs.
He stared at the ramen stand, having no appetite for food. Tears continued to slide down his cheeks, refusing to be wiped away. He was the hero of Konoha, the man destined to be the next Hokage, yet here he stood, weeping silently like a child.
"Naruto..." A voice came from behind.
Naruto turned. An elderly man with white hair wearing a red haori appeared. Jiraiya.
"Pervy Sage..." Naruto looked at the mentor who had once risked his life to protect the future of Konoha, and found himself at a loss for words.
"Missing Kanon?" Jiraiya went straight to the point.
"Yeah..." Naruto nodded.
"Come with me."
"Where to?" Naruto asked, confused.
Jiraiya just winked at him, as irreverent as ever. Naruto was used to it; he had become the capable, independent shinobi Jiraiya had hoped for.
They sat on a park bench. Jiraiya bought three popsicles that could be snapped in half. He broke one and handed a piece to Naruto. The other piece he placed next to a flower, letting it melt into the soil.
"Naruto, you and Kanon are both my pride. You are both my brilliant students."
"You are like my own grandchildren. I am truly blessed to have had you as my disciples."
"If Kanon were still here, she wouldn't want to see you so dejected."
Hearing Jiraiya's words, Naruto lowered his head. "But... I wanted her to see me become Hokage..."
"She promised me she would watch me become Hokage, and then coolly save the world..."
Jiraiya patted Naruto on the back.
"Naruto, I miss Kanon too. But she is gone. We must learn to accept reality."
"Those who have passed on will not return. Besides, Kanon helped countless people make up for their regrets."
"Such an achievement proves her greatness. She isn't dead. Kanon lives on in our hearts, doesn't she?"
"Pervy Sage, your expression makes that hard to believe..." Naruto's voice trembled as he looked at Jiraiya.
Jiraiya's cheeks were also streaked with tears. He was always teaching his students profound lessons, but he was human, too. How could his heart not ache at Kanon's departure?
"Kanon spent her whole life suffering. It's time for her to finally rest," Naruto murmured, gazing at the sky. The star-filled expanse showered light down upon them, leaving a sorrowful footnote to the night.
The master and student sat in silence, weeping. Finally, Jiraiya broke the deadlock.
"A shinobi's worth isn't determined by how they live, but by what they leave behind before they die..."
"Naruto... in a few days, let's make a cenotaph for Kanon."
"Yeah... I have so much I want to say to her, even if she can't hear it anymore." Naruto bowed his head, pulling out the special kunai Kanon had given him from his pouch. Seeing it, Jiraiya's eyes trembled. Even though he was a full-grown man now, why couldn't he stop the tears?
After a long while, the two stood up.
"Pervy Sage, what were you doing here anyway?" Naruto asked.
"Oh, oh! I was on my way to find Minato, nearly forgot." Jiraiya patted Naruto on the shoulder. "Kid, your parents are back in this world too. You should be happy about that. At the very least, Kanon wouldn't want you to be this sad."
Naruto shook his head, whispering, "I succeeded. I achieved everything I ever wanted, but she isn't here anymore..."
Jiraiya sighed and patted him gently. "Let's go."
"Go where?"
"Home."
Home. Naruto paused. The word had rarely crossed his mind. Home. That's right, his parents had been resurrected. It could truly be called home now.
"Yeah... home, Pervy Sage." Naruto took Jiraiya's hand and held it tight, afraid that this might be a dream.
Without realizing it, they reached Naruto's apartment in the bridge underpass. Because the village was still under repair from the pain of the Pain and Kanon incident, he was still living there. But, from inside the cramped space, came the unmistakable aroma of a home-cooked meal.
Naruto's eyes widened, his blue pupils contracting. Jiraiya smiled and gave him a gentle shove.
"Go on."
Naruto looked at Jiraiya, nodded slightly, and reached out to pull the door handle. The scene he had fantasized about for decades finally appeared before him. The room was lit with warm light and spotlessly clean. A Fourth Hokage's haori hung on the wall; Minato sat at the table reading a newspaper, and Kushina was cooking at the stove.
Seeming to notice the movement at the door, both stopped what they were doing and looked over.
Jiraiya and Naruto stood there. Looking at his parents, fresh tears welled up in Naruto's eyes. Feeling as though he were in a dream, he whispered in disbelief:
"I... I'm home."
Minato and Kushina exchanged a glance, then smiled at Naruto with gentle, soft eyes.
"Welcome home, Naruto!"
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NOTE: This fic has been completely translated. If you want to read the whole story head over to my p-atre-on: p-atre-on.c-om/Overgod [Just remove the hyphen to access normally]