Chapter 239: Into the Trap

In the largest courtyard on West Street of Garden City, a square-shaped office building had now been constructed.

A piece of white paper floated through the window, fluttering to form a purple-haired woman inside the room.

"Yuto-sama, do you really think he will come to assassinate Arai?"

"Money can move hearts; never underestimate the power of wealth. If someone were to throw a mountain of gold at me, I'd even activate my Sage Mode to work for them. After all, making money isn't something to be ashamed of."

Konan chuckled, the trinkets on her parasol jingling like wind chimes, "I thought you'd just turn into a bandit."

"How could I? I've always considered myself a conservative. Rules, of course when reasonable, should of course be followed." Yuto glanced at the purple-haired woman, "So, how is Arai?"

"He's been making waves lately. The rising star of Garden City—I've heard a lot of people shouting, 'Restore the Uzumaki glory!'"

"You shouldn't say things like that... you know..." Yuto began to speak but suddenly froze, "Did you buy oranges?"

"No... Oh, maybe it's the perfume." Konan pulled out a small bottle and dripped some of the liquid onto her wrist, then held it under Yuto's nose, "Just bought it outside. Yuto-sama, you have such a keen sense; you could smell it even through the glass bottle."

"You really know how to flatter me." Yuto turned his head slightly, taking in the faint citrus scent, which inexplicably reminded him of Tsunade's fragrance.

Feeling slightly irritated, Yuto set down the scroll, "Come with me for a walk. The last time I was here was three years ago. I remember there was a family-run shop that sold fresh slices, and they were really good."

"Yes, but... Yuto-sama, what if he assassinates Arai while we're gone?"

"I've left a sensory barrier behind. Killing someone I'm protecting? Does he think he's Hashirama Senju?"

Relieved, Konan put away her parasol and followed the young man.

Her steps were light, and every time she encountered a crack in the cobblestone street, she would playfully hop over it.

However, throughout the walk, Konan stayed half a step behind Yuto, never overstepping her boundaries.

"You seem happy," Yuto commented, stopping at a jewelry stall and browsing through some trinkets. He thought about buying something small to secretly send to Tsunade, "If the members of the Akatsuki saw this, they'd be shocked."

The purple-haired woman bit her lip, looking a bit nervous, "Yuto-sama, am I being too disrespectful?"

"No, quite the opposite." Yuto picked up a flower hairpin set with a red agate and held it up to Konan's head, chuckling, "The sun exists to make flowers bloom."

The design was nice, and the quality seemed decent...

Yuto nodded with satisfaction and purchased the hairpin, planning to give it to Tsunade next time he saw her.

However, he didn't notice the strange look Konan was giving him from the side.

'Is she thinking that giving gifts on the street lacks ceremony? Yuto-sama isn't going to wait for a special occasion to give it to me, is he? Could it be that he... Wait, no, it can't be. I haven't heard anything about Yuto-sama being interested in women.'

'But… isn't he about 22 now? Maybe he's starting to open up? Does he need companionship now?'

'So, is he testing my reaction by buying this hairpin in front of me? If I don't show obvious discomfort, will Yuto-sama try to find an opportunity...?'

Konan awkwardly twirled her parasol and rubbed her cheek, "Yuto-sama, you..." She hesitated for a moment but didn't ask, instead blurting out, "You really know how to speak."

"That's a skill I honed when I was the head of the ANBU. The higher-ups in Konoha are masters of smooth talk. After a while, I picked it up too." Yuto wrapped the hairpin and continued walking, "Konan, why are you still carrying your parasol? It's not raining."

The purple-haired woman, lost in thought, was startled when Yuto called her name, "My deepest apologies, Yuto-sama. I really can't... uh? The parasol?" She realized what he meant, her embarrassment growing as she nervously dug her toe into the ground, "It's just too sunny."

"Huh?"

"I mean, the UV rays are too strong." Konan cleared her throat, trying to push aside her chaotic thoughts and spoke seriously, "I was born and raised in the Land of Rain. Unless I'm on a mission, I rarely see the sun. So, my skin is sensitive to UV rays. If I'm exposed too long, I break out in rashes."

"That makes sense. Coastal cities do have strong sunlight."

"Actually, Yuto-sama, places with ample sunlight are much better. At least crops grow easier. The Land of Rain is perpetually cloudy, and there are only a few areas that can grow enough food to support everyone. The cost of buying grain each month is a huge burden."

"Don't worry. One day, when I've mastered that power, the sun will shine on the Land of Rain as well."

"Yuto-sama, I'm willing to die for that ideal."

"There you go again... Don't forget, I could also end up being hacked to death by the shinobi world." The young man turned back with a carefree grin.

"But for a shinobi, no matter the outcome, as long as you continue walking your path even at the moment of death, that's enough. Dying with unfulfilled regrets is a kind of romance in itself."

The purple-haired woman stopped in her tracks, gazing at the tall young man.

Though he walked among the crowd, he was still utterly alone. He was a rebel, a man who would usher in a new era, a leader destined to be remembered in the annals of shinobi history.

Such a man would never have companions. His only companions in life would be power and solitude.

Fine. I'll just take this as giving my life for an ideal…

Konan steeled her resolve and blurted out, "Yuto-sama, if you truly want to..."

"Hmm? Wait, hold on, don't speak." Yuto made a silencing gesture, "The barrier's been triggered... Heh, they're quite efficient for the money I paid!"

In a flash, he disappeared, moving so fast that even Konan couldn't see how he executed the body flicker.

The purple-haired woman stomped her foot in frustration and followed after him.

She was genuinely afraid that Yuto might just pull out two hearts without a second thought.

...

In the largest courtyard on West Street of Garden City.

A masked man stood in the shadows, his presence blending perfectly with the surroundings.

"The Tower Merchant Group... Arai." He closed his scroll and made a series of hand signs, using a reconnaissance jutsu. Though it wasn't his specialty, he performed it flawlessly.

"The target is in the third room on the left. The other rooms are empty... but there's a sensory barrier." He calculated the distance and almost chuckled aloud.

'Three seconds! I can rush through the barrier, locate the target, and eliminate him in three seconds! The shinobi protecting him are too arrogant. Even if they sense me, they won't be able to stop me in time, let alone save him from me.'

—'Do they think they're Hashirama Senju?'

(End of Chapter)