Chapter 312

The Rainy Night Outside Amegakure

On a slick, rain-washed rock outside Amegakure, Shinji, draped in a dark raincoat, stood with a smirk, his eyes fixed on the village.

Behind him, Minato stood with a reluctant expression. He wasn't out there because Shinji said it would be fun, but because his subconscious told him he shouldn't let this Mr. Anli venture alone into populated places like the village.

"Mr. Anli, is it really okay to leave Haku and the others behind? As far as I know, the Land of Rain is a very isolated and chaotic country. If..."

Minato trailed off, but the worry on his face was genuine. Though it wasn't purely out of concern for the kids; he also hoped to persuade Shinji to return.

"Didn't you leave your Flying Thunder God mark? It's fine, and don't underestimate my barrier," Shinji replied nonchalantly, turning his gaze back to the village. Suddenly, Minato sensed something.

"Mr. Anli! Someone's coming out of Amegakure!"

As he watched the figure darting through the rainy night, Shinji's smirk widened. It was Konan, a woman Kishimoto claimed had an incredibly attractive figure under her Akatsuki cloak.

"Mr. Anli, that woman is heading right towards us. Shouldn't we hide?"

"No need. Here's the plan: you ambush her and leave her in a near-death state. I'll handle the rest."

"Huh?"

Minato was puzzled. What was Shinji planning? Why ambush an unknown Amegakure ninja, and what did he mean by handling the rest?

"Think of it like this: ever read those novels where a hero saves a beauty, and the grateful lady spends a night with him before they part ways?" Shinji asked, slinging an arm around Minato's shoulders.

"No, never!"

Minato immediately understood but felt an inner resistance to Shinji's morally dubious plan. Mr. Anli's idea was to make him play the villain, while he swooped in as the hero. And he wouldn't take any responsibility afterward!

"Anyway, hurry up and get ready. Remember, just leave her in a near-death state. I'll handle the rest!"

"No! I refuse! This goes against my principles!" Minato protested, trying to reason with Shinji. "Mr. Anli, how about we just go to a nice shop instead? I'll find the best-rated place for you in Amegakure!"

"No, I want to play out a storyline tonight."

Minato: ...

"Please, just be a decent person!"

Seeing Minato's reluctant and defeated look, Shinji waved his hand dismissively. "Alright, alright. If you're so unwilling, you can go back. I'll do it myself."

Minato: ...

Konan in the Rain

With light blue-purple hair, a blue paper flower on her right side, sharp eyebrows, light purple eyeshadow, and a lip piercing that added a touch of maturity, this was Konan, running alone in the rain.

This was her first mission outside the village since Yahiko's death. Normally, her role was just to stay by Nagato's side.

"The Akatsuki members are all busy with their tasks, but you're always with Pain. This sets a bad example," the man who claimed to be Madara had said. Though something felt off, with Pain's approval, she had no choice but to comply.

The mission wasn't particularly difficult, just capturing a rogue ninja who had fled into the Land of Rain. Madara said this rogue might have information about a tailed beast.

Although she didn't want to leave Pain, since he agreed, she had to go and return quickly. Pain needed her.

Konan silently sighed, thinking of Yahiko's lifeless form now controlled as Pain's Deva Path.

Not just Yahiko had lost his smile; Nagato had too.

Sometimes, Konan wondered if it would have been better if she had died that day instead. If she had sacrificed herself to let Yahiko and Nagato escape, perhaps things wouldn't have turned out this way.

If she had died, they might have been sad but would have eventually moved on, especially with Yahiko guiding Nagato towards a brighter world.

And peace would have come one day.

Welcoming Jiraiya-sensei in the place where they once lived, though she wouldn't be there, Yahiko and Nagato would smile on her behalf.

But...

Yahiko died.

Was it really okay like this? Was it right for Nagato to walk this path so contrary to Yahiko's?

Konan didn't dwell on such questions. She believed in Yahiko and Nagato without question.

She kept telling herself that no matter what path Nagato took, she would follow.

Because those two were everything to her.

Hidden in a dark corner, Shinji glanced at the approaching Konan and then at Minato, who had taken out his kunai.

"Are you sure you want to help? If it's too much, you can back out. I can handle this alone."

Minato's eyes flickered with inner conflict, but he finally relented. "Mr. Anli, you're sure you'll save her, right? And you won't go into Amegakure alone?"

Shinji sighed, shaking his head. "Why do you sound like you're negotiating terms? I've said I can do it alone. Just go back."

"Uh..." Minato scratched his head awkwardly, realizing he had been caught. He had hoped for a guarantee from Mr. Anli, but no luck.

"However, rewarding obedient subordinates now and then isn't a bad thing... Alright, I promise this time."

Minato felt a surge of relief and prepared for battle as Konan neared. He would strike to leave her in a near-death state as planned.

The forehead protector with a slash through it marked her as a rogue ninja. Sacrificing a rogue for the village's peace seemed reasonable, though Minato still felt some guilt.

"By the way, are you sure you don't want to change your appearance?" Shinji asked, scratching his chin. "You're pretty recognizable."

"Uh..."

Minato thought for a moment. It was true. Although he planned a swift, fatal ambush, accidents could happen.

What if she saw him?

It was better to keep his survival a secret for now and avoid causing any trouble for Konoha.

Poof!

Shinji nearly laughed out loud seeing Minato transform into a certain masked man.

This master-student pair... Unbelievable!

And the timing!

If Minato had refused, Shinji was ready to transform into Obito himself for the ambush. Turns out, Minato had the same idea.

Great minds think alike!

"This should work."

Minato nodded, then disappeared in a flash.

In the next moment—

Konan fell to her knees.

The Yellow Flash's ambush left little chance for anyone to react!

Seeing the battle over in an instant and Konan unable to even identify her attacker, Shinji felt a pang of regret.

It was too fast, no thrill at all.

More importantly, Konan hadn't even seen her assailant! That wouldn't do! Acts of heroism needed recognition!

"Mr. Anli, you need to stop the bleeding quickly. She has no more than thirty minutes to live. Please!" Minato said, bowing deeply.

Shinji waved him off. "Alright, it's handled. Go back now."

"Please save her, Mr. Anli!"

"Of course. How else would she repay me?"

With that, Shinji stepped forward, reminding Minato of the schedule. "You'll monitor the academic test tomorrow morning, and the usual training in the afternoon. I might be back a bit late."

Minato clenched his fists, unable to hold back his frustration. "Mr. Anli, don't you have any guilt?"

"What's that?"

Minato: ...

Konan's Struggle

As her consciousness faded, Konan could no longer feel the rain hitting her face.

At that moment, her thoughts weren't on who had ambushed her but on Nagato.

Was she going to die?

What about Nagato?

I can't die yet. Not now.

She still needed to stay by Nagato's side, to watch over their dreams...

But as much as she willed it, her eyelids grew heavier, and her senses began to fade.

The enemy's presence had flickered briefly and vanished. They must have assumed she wouldn't survive and left her to die.

"I must... live..."

A minute passed, then two, then three...

Time ticked away, just like Konan's life.

As her eyelids nearly closed and her senses dulled, the sound of boots splashing in puddles reached her ears, followed by a man's voice.

"Do you really want to live?"