Want to read ahead? Join my Patreon for just $7 to get early access to all upcoming chapters!
› Patreon.com/NegativeTranslations
───────────────────────────
Chapter 297: ParentsKonan remained silent, her gaze locked onto the souls of her father and mother.
Alex didn't rush her; he just stood by quietly.
After a long while, Konan finally spoke.
"Yes," she said, her voice soft but resolute.
"My father and mother died tragic deaths when they were young."
"Their lives were stolen by the war, stolen by this chaotic world. They did nothing wrong; they were simply born in the wrong place at the wrong time."
"They deserve to restart their lives."
She paused, a flicker of sorrow passing through her eyes.
"But I can't go back."
The sorrow vanished as quickly as it appeared. Her expression smoothed into serenity, and the light in her eyes grew softer.
"Let another version of me continue that interrupted childhood."
"Let another me keep this family living happily together."
She raised her right hand. At the center of her brow, a scarlet Rinne Sharingan slowly surfaced.
A flash of red light erupted.
The light enveloped the souls of her father and mother. It wasn't blinding; instead, it carried a gentle warmth, like the comforting rays of a spring sun.
The moment the light touched them, their semi-transparent souls began to glow. The radiance grew brighter and brighter, until it painted the entire iceberg in a brilliant gold.
The ice began to crack.
The two cells that had been sealed for over twenty years finally opened.
The souls of her parents drifted out of the iceberg, landing gently on the ground. As they descended, their bodies gradually solidified. The ethereal translucence was replaced by real flesh and blood, their blurred features sharpened, and a healthy flush returned to their pale skin.
In a single second, two people who had been dead for over twenty years regained their physical bodies.
They stood on the tundra with their eyes closed, breathing evenly, as if locked in a deep sleep.
Her father wore his plain cloth garments with his short blade resting at his hip. Beside him, her mother wore her simple kimono, her long hair draped smoothly over her shoulders. Their faces were just as young as the day they died. Time had left absolutely no mark upon them.
Looking at them, the corners of Konan's mouth lifted slightly, though something glistened in her eyes.
"Let's leave this place first," she said softly, turning her head away.
Alex nodded, saying nothing more.
The Rinne Sharingan on Konan's forehead flashed once again. A gentle force wrapped around her parents' bodies, lifting them into the air to hover behind her.
Together, they crossed through the rift that was still slowly closing, leaving the Pure Land behind and returning to the soil of the Land of Rain.
. . .
The sun shone down on their faces, warm and comforting.
Konan took a deep breath, expelling the gloomy chill of the Pure Land from her lungs.
She turned around and looked at her father and mother.
They still had their eyes closed, lying peacefully on the grass with steady breathing.
Konan watched them for a moment, then raised her right hand.
The Rinne Sharingan flashed faintly once more, and a soft orb of light appeared in her palm. It wasn't large, but it radiated a comforting warmth, like a hearth fire in the dead of winter or a brilliant beam of spring sunlight.
The orb of light began to stretch and transform. First came the outline, then the finer details, and finally, the colors.
When the light faded, an infant rested in her hands.
It was a baby girl.
Her blue hair was soft and fine, her little face round and fair, and her features as delicate as a porcelain doll. She kept her eyes shut tight, her tiny fists clenched, and the corners of her mouth curved up slightly, as if she were having the sweetest dream.
It was Konan.
Konan at two years old.
Adult Konan looked down at the infant in her hands, a complex mix of emotions flashing through her eyes. There was sorrow, relief, tenderness, and an indescribable sense of melancholy—like a bittersweet farewell, yet also a reunion.
"This is me at two years old," she said softly, as if explaining to Alex, or perhaps just to herself. "Let her stay with Father and Mother. Let her make up for all the happiness that was lost."
She raised her other hand, her fingertips glowing faintly.
The light gently touched her parents' foreheads, sinking deep into their minds.
She was adjusting their memories. She wasn't erasing or forcefully altering them; she was just gently, tenderly plucking the strings of their past. She removed the tragic events, leaving only the warmth.
Every memory of the war, every memory of separation, every memory of loss—she gently swept them all away, like wiping dust off the pages of an old book.
In their minds, the only thing that remained was the blissful life they shared with their two-year-old daughter. The adorable, well-behaved little girl who would smile and call them "Father" and "Mother."
That was all.
Konan withdrew her hand, her gaze lingering on her father, her mother, and the tiny version of herself.
"With my current strength and the things I've experienced..." her voice was barely a whisper. "I'm no longer suited to live with them."
Right now, she was essentially a god of the ninja world, while her parents were just ordinary people. Ordinary, kind-hearted people who had never hurt a single soul.
If they knew what their daughter had become... If they had to face the high-and-mighty "god" who looked down upon the masses...
They wouldn't feel happy. They would feel awe, anxiety, and fear. They would walk on eggshells around her and speak to her with trembling reverence.
That wouldn't be a family anymore. The warmth would be gone.
"I don't want that." Konan shook her head. "I don't want them to look at me with those kinds of eyes."
She looked down at the infant in her hands, a gentle smile gracing her lips.
"So, the childhood version of me will take my place. She'll give them the love they missed out on."
"She'll stay by their side, and they'll live a prosperous, safe, and joyous life forever."
She paused.
"And I... I'll be able to feel those precious memories too."
Konan carefully placed the baby beside her mother, letting the tiny infant snuggle into her mother's arm. As if guided by pure instinct, her mother's body shifted slightly, her arm curling protectively around the child.
Konan stood up, her gaze resting on the three of them for a moment longer.
"Let's go," she said.
Alex nodded, and the two turned to leave.
The sun cast their shadows long across the vibrant green grass, stretching further and further until they slowly vanished over the horizon.
Konan never looked back.
But she walked very slowly.
Alex walked beside her without a word, only turning his head occasionally to check on her.
They walked a long way, so far that the nameless little town had become nothing more than a blurry silhouette on the horizon.
Suddenly, Konan stopped and turned around, looking back in that direction.
Her gaze pierced through the vast distance, over the rolling hills and sprawling fields, finally landing on that exact patch of grass.
There, her father and mother were waking up.
Her mother stirred first.
Her eyelids fluttered, her eyelashes catching the sunlight before slowly opening. Her soft eyes carried the groggy confusion of someone just waking up, but the moment she saw the infant in her arms, that confusion melted away like morning mist under the sun. It was immediately replaced by a natural, unhesitating flood of pure maternal tenderness.
She looked down at the baby. Soft blue hair, a chubby little face, sleeping soundly. The tiny reflection mirrored in the mother's eyes caused her lips to curl into an uncontrollable, adoring smile.
"Konan," she called softly, her voice raspy but dripping with affection. "Are you awake yet?"
Her father woke up right after.
He sat up, rubbed his eyes, and looked over at the baby in his wife's arms. A massive grin split his face.
"Is little Konan still sleeping?" He leaned in, reaching out to gently poke the baby's cheek. His tone carried that specific, clumsy joy unique to fathers. "This little rascal actually slept in longer than we did."
Her mother rolled her eyes at him playfully. "She's still little. Of course she needs more sleep."
"Right, right, right." The father laughed, pulling his hand back. He stretched his arms wide, taking in his surroundings. The weather was perfect, the grass was vibrant, and the distant chimneys puffed lazy trails of smoke. The outline of the town looked peaceful and inviting in the morning light.
"It's a beautiful day today," he said, perfectly content.
His wife gave a soft hum, her attention entirely focused on the baby. The sound of her parents' voices seemed to stir little Konan. Her tiny brow furrowed, she let out a soft mumble, and then her big, bright eyes slowly fluttered open.
Those clear, innocent eyes immediately locked onto her mother's face.
The mother's heart melted completely.
"You're awake?" she coaxed, gently tapping the baby's nose. "Are you hungry? Let's go home and eat."
Looking up at her, little Konan broke into a massive, gummy smile.
Watching from the side, the father's eyes grew slightly red, but he laughed out loud. "She smiled! Konan smiled!"
"She's known how to smile for a long time, you big oaf." The mother shot him an exasperated look, though her eyes were shining with happiness.
The father scratched the back of his head with a sheepish chuckle. He stood up, dusted the grass off his clothes, and leaned down to wrap both his wife and daughter in a tight embrace.
"Come on. Let's go home."
The mother nodded and stood up, cradling Konan carefully. The family of three made their way down the path toward the town.
Held securely in her mother's arms, little Konan gripped her mother's collar with one tiny hand and looked around at the world in awe—the blue sky, the white clouds, the wildflowers, the butterflies, and her father's broad back walking just ahead.
Her eyes sparkled like stars.
Her mother looked down at her and couldn't resist pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead.
"Konan."
"Hm?"
"Mommy loves you."
Little Konan couldn't understand the words, but she smiled anyway.
The sunlight bathed the family of three, casting their connected shadows onto the stone-paved path. It looked like a warm, beautiful painting.
Far away, Konan stood completely still on a hill, her gaze crossing the vast distance, taking in every single detail.
Her expression was calm, but something glistened in her eyes. It wasn't sorrow. It was a warm, soft feeling—like being wrapped in pure sunlight.
She watched her father take her mother's hand. She watched her mother hold the tiny version of herself. The family of three walked further and further away, their laughter drifting over on the breeze like distant wind chimes.
She watched for a very, very long time.
Then, she turned to face Alex.
"Let's go," she said.
This time, there was no heaviness in her voice. There was only a light, airy sense of total relief.
Alex looked at her, the corners of his lips curving up.
"Alright."
The two of them walked down the hill together, heading toward the horizon.
Behind them, the sun was shining brightly.
The silhouettes of the family of three melted into the morning light and the curling smoke of the town.
That was their happiness.
And now, she had hers.
───────────────────────────
Support this fanfic by leaving reviews, comments, and Power Stones!
For advance chapters, visit:
› Patreon.com/NegativeTranslations