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Chapter 202: Goodbye, Konan
🕑 Added 2025-01-22 16:36:29 +0000 UTCKirito had noticed the paper butterfly the moment it appeared. At first, he thought Konan might be scouting the area for revenge on Jiraiya while there were few people around.
After all, following Yahiko's death, only Nagato and Konan remained from their original "Frog Squad." Now that Nagato had been killed by Jiraiya, it seemed reasonable for Konan to seek vengeance.
However, as time passed and evening turned into night, the butterfly made no further movements beyond flying along its fixed trajectory among the flowers. Kirito began to reconsider Konan's purpose. Spying on Konoha, seeking vengeance, or perhaps retrieving Yahiko's body—the last seemed the most likely.
With this in mind, he approached the location of the butterfly later that night, alone, to confirm his suspicions.
His guess had been correct. As Konan materialized from the paper fragments, Kirito glanced at the scroll in her hand and asked curiously, "Why are you giving me this? You're one of the senior members of the Akatsuki organization. Why betray Akatsuki?"
Fearing she might be misunderstood, Konan explained: "The original Akatsuki was created by Yahiko, Nagato, and me to fulfill Yahiko's vision of world peace. Even after Yahiko's death, Nagato carried that dream forward.
"But after Nagato's death, Akatsuki became nothing more than a puppet for that masked man—Madara. His goal has nothing to do with Yahiko's or Nagato's ideals. I no longer recognize this Akatsuki."
Konan's voice softened as she continued, "Before his death, Nagato entrusted his hopes to Naruto, believing he would succeed where we failed. I share Nagato's faith. Since he let me live, I will honor his will and remain in Amegakure, watching this version of Akatsuki meet its end."
Kirito listened silently. It was clear this was a desperate choice for her, yet it was grounded in the memory of her fallen comrades.
As she handed him the scroll, her eyes bore into his—waiting to see his decision. For Konan, this was a gamble. Would Kirito accept the trade or kill her to take the scroll outright?
Interrupting her thoughts, Kirito waved a hand, and Yahiko's preserved body appeared before her. "Here—one hand pays, the other delivers."
Konan blinked, momentarily distracted. She hadn't even noticed him retrieve Yahiko's body. For a shinobi as sharp as her, this lapse felt unsettling. "Was it an illusion? But when did it happen?"
Dismissing her confusion, Konan focused on the trade. Controlling her paper technique, she wrapped Yahiko's body gently, layer by layer, until it was securely cocooned. "Thank you," she murmured.
Kirito glanced through the scroll briefly, then offered a warning: "Don't use the name Akatsuki anymore. Villages will never welcome you."
"Akatsuki is Yahiko and Nagato's will. I won't abandon it," she replied firmly.
"Suit yourself," Kirito muttered, tucking the scroll away. As he turned to leave, he added, "Watch out for the masked man."
Konan said nothing. She silently lifted Yahiko's body, shrouded in paper, and disappeared into the dark night.
Back at the Hokage Building, Kirito walked straight to Tsunade's office, which remained brightly lit despite the late hour.
Inside, Tsunade sat slumped at her desk, drowning in paperwork, while Shizune dutifully handed her another stack of documents.
"Argh! Can't these ninjas cause me less trouble?!" Tsunade groaned, rubbing her temples.
"Some of them were rivals before. It's only natural they'd settle old scores now that they're here," Shizune offered as consolation, though she continued passing more files.
"Are you a devil?!" Tsunade grumbled before noticing Kirito. "Oh, finally—something to distract me! What's up, Kirito?"
Before Kirito could reply, Tsunade stood, eager to escape. "If it's important, we'll talk outside. I can't stay in here anymore—"
"Wait, Lady Tsunade!" Shizune interjected, blocking her escape.
Kirito cut in, handing her the scroll. "This is from Konan—one of Akatsuki's senior members. It's their war plan."
Both Tsunade and Shizune froze in shock. Tsunade snatched the scroll, unrolling it quickly.
"Why do you have this?" Shizune asked, eyes narrowing in suspicion.
"Konan traded it with me in exchange for Yahiko's body. I've verified the contents; they're legitimate," Kirito explained calmly.
As Tsunade scanned the scroll, her expression grew increasingly grim. Finally, she muttered, "Damn it... I didn't expect Akatsuki to escalate this much. This isn't just Konoha's problem anymore. ANBU!"
A masked ANBU agent appeared immediately. "Yes, Lady Hokage!"
"Summon Kakashi, Shikaku, and Jiraiya immediately," Tsunade ordered. She had wanted to send word to the other Five Kage right away but decided they needed to analyze this internally first.
The ANBU agent vanished in an instant.
"Is it that bad?" Shizune asked nervously, clutching Tonton.
Tsunade nodded grimly, setting the scroll on the table. "If this is accurate, we're looking at a war that could engulf the entire ninja world..."
(End of this chapter)
