Chapter 64: Yahiko, Meeting Konan Again
Leaving the cave, Yoru used Body Flicker toward the town.
He didn't take Tsunade's warning to heart.
Throughout the entire shinobi world, no one valued explosive tags more highly than Yoru.
Nawaki had died by explosive tag. Obito Uchiha, who possessed intangibility like him, would have died to Konan's explosive tags too if not for the Izanagi secret technique.
Yoru had always been extremely wary of these blast weapons that showed no chakra signature—small, thin, yet possessing astonishing destructive power.
The reason Yoru trained his ghostly silent Body Flicker was precisely to prevent accidentally stepping on explosive traps.
Regular chakra fused with traces of Space-Time chakra consumed extremely little while enabling instant partial intangibility.
That brief window gave Yoru enough time to teleport away.
Arriving at the town, Yoru purchased two sets of rain gear and conical hats from a small stall.
In this nation of perpetual rain, the best-selling items were naturally rain protection sets.
Consequently, rain coats, umbrellas, and conical hats here cost far more than in other countries.
After buying his items, Yoru prepared to return.
"Move! Move! Hurry up and move..."
At that moment, a series of warning shouts and sounds of feet splashing through puddles suddenly reached Yoru's ears.
Looking toward the source, he saw a small figure clutching a long loaf of bread, rushing about wildly.
Yoru shifted slightly aside, watching the small figure pass.
That small figure happened to glance up at Yoru.
The face appeared clearly.
Orange short hair, a dirt-smudged face, skin showing exhaustion and poor health, brown eyes carrying a hint of fierceness—the perfect image of a street urchin.
Completely opposite to Yoru's pampered appearance with fair skin and handsome features.
Seeing Yoru's appearance, envy flashed in those eyes before the figure ran off without looking back.
Though only a brief glimpse, Yoru instantly recognized who it was.
Yahiko. The future Pain.
Wasn't he from Amegakure? Amegakure had just suffered attack—he'd already appeared here?
Could this mean Konan had also appeared here?
Yoru couldn't help donning his conical hat. Finding a deserted alley, he used Earth Body Flicker to burrow underground, secretly following Yahiko.
Yahiko didn't remain in town. After shaking off the pursuing shop owner or employee, he headed to the outskirts' rocky mountain region, hiding in one of the ubiquitous caves and beginning to devour his meal.
No other figures occupied the cave.
After confirming Yahiko hadn't yet met Konan, Yoru didn't offer assistance. Instead, he teleported back to the cave.
"Let's go. We must infiltrate Amegakure as quickly as possible."
"Yes."
After Tsunade donned her rain protection gear, she and Yoru rapidly headed toward Amegakure using Body Flicker.
Along the way, they encountered numerous refugees.
These people were either refugees who'd escaped Amegakure amid the chaos, or residents too afraid to remain in Amegakure fearing another attack.
Among them, many crying adults and children had either been separated from family or lost relatives to killing.
Tsunade's pace slowed considerably. She seemed somewhat sympathetic, perhaps debating whether to help the innocent wounded.
But for her nation's sake, she ultimately abandoned that thought, choosing to bypass these people to avoid discovery and potential complications.
Initially, Yoru remained silent.
Suddenly, as though discovering something, Yoru likewise slowed his pace, drawing level with Tsunade. "Tsunade-sama, please go ahead. I'll catch up using the Flying Thunder God Technique shortly."
Tsunade immediately surveyed their surroundings. Her gaze quickly locked onto a particular location. "You have an 'acquaintance' in Amegakure too?"
"Yes, we met once before." Yoru nodded.
"Be cautious. Don't delay too long."
Tsunade didn't prevent him. Leaving those words, she accelerated her Body Flicker speed.
Separating from Tsunade, Yoru used several Body Flickers to appear beside a boulder.
Leaning against the rock wall, Yoru turned his head to watch the misty drizzle ahead, awaiting that small figure's arrival.
The figure hadn't noticed Yoru's presence, currently walking with head down, arms hugging her shoulders, shivering.
Wearing only a white short-sleeved shirt, she was clearly quite cold.
"We meet again."
"Ah!"
Passing the boulder, the sudden voice made Konan scream. Her somewhat swollen eyes instantly filled with tears.
When she reflexively looked toward the voice's source, her expression froze.
The familiar rain gear and conical hat, handsome features, and ice-blue eyes triggered Konan's memories.
But because he'd grown noticeably taller since last year, his face showing even less childishness, Konan spoke with uncertain tone: "Big... big brother?"
"We meet again, little sister who sold paper flowers in heavy rain." Yoru retrieved a transparent ziplock bag from his ninja tool pouch, waving it before Konan. Inside was a colored purple paper flower.
Seeing this familiar paper flower and hearing that form of address, Konan's face filled with delight. "It really is you, big brother!"
"During wartime, why aren't you staying in Amegakure? What are you doing here?" Yoru asked despite knowing the answer.
These words made Konan's eyes rapidly redden. Tears that had seemingly dried up burst forth again.
"Dad... Dad and Mom were both killed by bad people. Waaah..."
Finally encountering a "familiar face," Konan could no longer control herself, bursting into wailing sobs.
Yoru didn't offer consoling words. He simply raised his hand to rest on her head, gently stroking.
After Konan released her emotions, Yoru finally spoke softly: "I don't know how to comfort you, because I'm like you—an orphan who lost my parents. No one came to comfort me back then either. If you're not worried I'll harm you, would you like to stay by my side?"
This year's six-year-old Konan, approximately 123 centimeters tall, couldn't help looking up at Yoru before her.
Those ice-blue eyes looked cold, showing no pity—only clear sincerity.
Though his gaze and expression remained so cold, warmth suddenly flooded Konan's heart.
From this person she'd only met twice, she felt an inexplicable sense of security.
Following this feeling, Konan unconsciously nodded, asking with both anticipation and anxiety: "Can... can I really?"
"Of course you can."
Yoru's face finally showed a smile, adding the belated self-introduction: "My name is Gojo Yoru."
"I... I'm called Konan."
Last year's paper flower had become the bond connecting them.
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