Leaving the cave, Gojo Yoru Body Flickered toward the town.
He didn't take Tsunade's warning too much to heart.
In the entire shinobi world, no one feared explosive tags more than Yoru did.
Nawaki died to explosive tags. Obito—who also had intangibility—would've been blown to pieces by Konan's explosive tags too if he hadn't had the secret technique Izanagi.
Yoru had always been wary of these explosives: no chakra to sense, small and thin, yet unbelievably destructive.
One reason Yoru developed a ghostly, silent Body Flicker was precisely to avoid stepping into explosive traps by accident.
By fusing ordinary chakra with a tiny amount of space–time chakra, he could enter partial intangibility instantly at very low cost.
That brief window was enough for Yoru to teleport away.
Reaching the town, Yoru bought two sets of raincoats and straw hats at a stall.
In a country that lived under near-permanent rainy season, the best-selling items were, of course, rain gear.
As a result, raincoats, umbrellas, and straw hats were far more expensive here than in other countries.
After buying the items, Yoru turned to head back along the same route.
"Move! Move! Get out of the way—!"
A string of shouted warnings and the sound of feet splashing through puddles suddenly reached his ears.
Looking toward the sound, Yoru saw a small figure clutching a long loaf of bread, barreling through people like a wrecking ball.
Yoru shifted slightly to the side, watching the figure rush past.
The small figure also happened to glance up at Yoru.
That face flashed into view:
Short orange hair, a filthy face, exhausted and unhealthy skin, and brown eyes with a hint of feral sharpness—a textbook street orphan.
The complete opposite of Yoru's well-fed, pale, handsome appearance.
Seeing Yoru, the boy's eyes flickered with envy—then he ran off without looking back.
It was only a quick glance, but Yoru recognized him instantly.
Yahiko—the future "Deva Path" Pain.
Wasn't he supposed to be from the Hidden Rain? Amegakure had just been attacked not long ago—so why was he here already?
Did that mean Konan was here too?
Yoru pulled his straw hat down, slipped into an empty alley, used Earth Body Flicker to sink underground, and quietly followed Yahiko.
Yahiko didn't stay in town. After shaking off the shop owner or workers chasing him, he went out to the rocky area outside town, ducked into a common cave, and began eating like his life depended on it.
There was no one else inside the cave.
Confirming that Yahiko still hadn't met Konan yet, Yoru didn't step in to help. Instead, he teleported back to the cave where Tsunade was waiting.
"Let's go. We have to infiltrate Amegakure as fast as possible."
"Yes."
After Tsunade put on the rain gear, she and Yoru rushed toward the Hidden Rain using Body Flicker.
Along the way, they ran into many refugees.
Some were civilians who'd fled Amegakure amid the chaos; others were locals too afraid to stay after the recent attack.
Among them were many adults and children wailing—either separated from family, or mourning relatives who'd been killed.
Tsunade slowed down noticeably—perhaps out of pity, perhaps hesitating whether to help the innocent wounded.
But for her nation's sake, she gave up the urge. She chose to go around them instead, avoiding being noticed and preventing complications.
At first, Yoru remained silent.
Then, as if he noticed something, he slowed down as well and walked alongside Tsunade. "Lady Tsunade, you go ahead. I'll meet you later using Flying Thunder God."
Tsunade immediately scanned the surroundings. Her gaze quickly locked onto something as she asked, "You have a 'friend' in Amegakure too?"
"Yes—met once," Yoru nodded.
"Be careful. Don't waste too much time," Tsunade said, and then accelerated her Body Flicker.
After splitting from Tsunade, Yoru took a few quick flashes and appeared beside a large rock.
Leaning against the stone, he turned his head and watched the misty rain ahead, waiting for that small figure to arrive.
She didn't notice Yoru. Her head was down as she walked, arms wrapped around her shoulders, shivering.
Wearing only a short white shirt, she was clearly freezing.
"We meet again."
"Ah!"
A voice suddenly sounded in her ear as she passed the rock, startling Konan into a scream. Her slightly swollen eyes instantly filled with tears.
She instinctively looked toward the voice—and froze.
The familiar raincoat and straw hat, the handsome face, those ice-blue eyes—her memories surged back.
But because he was taller than last year and his face had lost more of its childish softness, Konan spoke uncertainly.
"O-Onii-san?"
"We meet again, sister who sells paper flowers in heavy rain," Yoru said. He pulled out a clear resealable bag from his tool pouch and waved it in front of her. Inside was a dyed purple paper flower.
Seeing that familiar flower—and hearing that nickname—Konan's face lit up.
"It's really you, Onii-san!"
"In a time like this, why aren't you staying in Amegakure? What are you doing out here?" Yoru asked, even though he already knew the answer.
His words made Konan's eyes redden instantly. Tears she thought she'd cried dry burst out again.
"D-dad… Daddy and Mommy were killed by bad people… wahhh…"
Having finally run into a "familiar person," Konan completely lost control and sobbed loudly.
Yoru didn't try to comfort her with words. He simply rested a hand on her head and gently stroked it.
After Konan had let out her emotions, Yoru finally said softly, "I don't know how to comfort you—because I'm like you. I'm an orphan too. No one comforted me back then. If you're not worried that I'll harm you… do you want to stay by my side?"
Konan—only six this year, around 1.23 meters tall—looked up at Yoru.
Those ice-blue eyes looked cold, with no visible pity—only clear sincerity.
His gaze and expression were so cold… yet Konan felt warmth flood her chest.
From this person she'd only met twice, she felt a strange sense of safety.
Following that feeling, Konan nodded unconsciously, and asked with a mix of hope and nervousness, "C-can I?"
"Of course."
A smile finally appeared on Yoru's face as he added the introduction he'd never given before.
"My name is Gojo Yoru."
"I… I'm Konan."
The paper flower from last year became the bond that connected them.
~~~
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