Chapter 122 – Konan's Sincerity, and Thanks to Obito
Shisui's face had grown pale, especially after hearing the story Kabuto had been told to share.
It wasn't as emotionally profound as past ones—but it was drenched in blood.
Because this time, Kabuto was one of the main characters.
And what terrified him to his core was just how malicious and convoluted the events were.
"So we almost became Danzo's pawns—and Danzo himself was that twisted and vicious?"
Kabuto had grown up with Haruta. Their orphanage director had been Nonō Yakushi.
Danzo had manipulated them into killing each other just to frame Orochimaru. Haruta had been there—he saw it all.
Now that the truth was laid bare, Shisui had no more illusions left. He finally understood why Haruta was so determined to destroy Danzo.
Because—
"Danzo… you truly deserve to die!"
As Shisui's emotions broke free, Haruta could only shake his head.
"Enough. Don't waste energy on anger. At least now you have the chance to act. And I'm still just speculating.
But we always have to plan for the worst-case scenario.
I brought Kabuto here to help create a retreat plan for the Uchiha.
Some people must die—you know this. But the innocent… deserve a chance to live.
You know the clan from the inside. Kabuto is a master planner and expert at covering tracks. I need you two to work together."
Kabuto gave a quiet nod. He had already guessed the reason for his presence. And Shisui now fully grasped Haruta's intent.
But none of that made him feel better. Especially when he thought about the Uchiha's fate—his fists clenched tight.
"Why did it come to this? How could Danzo dare? And why would the Third let him? Why has our clan come to this?
We tried so hard to integrate into Konoha—so why… why does it end like this?"
Shisui was nearly hysterical, and who could blame him?
It was too tragic.
"I told you already—your clan leader was passive. And there's something else I haven't mentioned until now."
Haruta shrugged nonchalantly. Kabuto, curious, sat down to enjoy the drama.
He hadn't expected to learn so much gossip during this mission.
"Tell me—have you ever really thought about the Konoha Police Force? What do you think about its role?"
"The Police Force?"
Shisui didn't understand why Haruta brought that up, but he nodded anyway.
"The Police Force maintains internal peace in the village—law enforcement, criminal arrests, even military recruitment during wartime. It's a noble institution."
As an Uchiha, few would be unfamiliar with the Police Force. Shisui knew it well.
"Exactly. That's the Police Force. But don't you think… its duties are a bit too extensive?"
Haruta gave Shisui a look, then turned to Kabuto.
"You've spent years infiltrating other villages. What's your take?"
Kabuto didn't hold back.
"From Shisui's description, it sounds like a massive, overburdened organization.
Other villages have similar structures, but something feels off about Konoha's version."
"Off? In what way?"
Shisui asked, puzzled. Kabuto spoke bluntly:
"You have the name, but not the manpower, resources, or scale to fulfill those responsibilities.
To put it bluntly, your Police Force is more form than function."
"Form over function…"
Shisui was stunned. No one had ever put it that way to him before.
Haruta, however, gave Kabuto an approving nod. As expected of the childhood friend he always wanted to strangle—their synchronicity was on point.
"See the problem now? You're running a colossal institution with barely enough people to staff a genin team. Ever thought about why?"
"Why…"
Shisui's face darkened. Something was beginning to click.
"Is it a staffing issue? The Force never had enough people from the start?"
"Exactly. Do you really think such a huge organization could function with so few?"
Shisui had been in Anbu. Haruta wasn't surprised he picked up on the implications.
"Look at Anbu—even if they're all elites, they still have more personnel than your whole clan.
That alone tells you what kind of joke your so-called Police Force has become.
Now ask yourself—who gave the Uchiha the Police Force in the first place? And why?"
"Was it… the Second Hokage?"
Kabuto's eyes glinted—he had figured it out.
"I think I get it. The Second Hokage assigned the Police Force to the Uchiha to help them integrate into Konoha.
Because running such a big organization would force them to interact with others, build relationships, form bonds.
But instead, the Uchiha turned it into a private clan operation—rejecting outsiders, and due to limited manpower, could only take on the grunt work.
Like punishing criminals and guarding high-risk prisoners… The kind of jobs everyone hates."
Kabuto paused, then gave Shisui a peculiar look.
So it wasn't that Konoha didn't give the Uchiha a chance.
They just royally screwed it up themselves.
At that moment, Shisui's face changed completely.
Haruta had once said their clan head was a useless coward, one who allowed the family to fracture from the inside.
But to think the truth was even worse than expected—that kind of man… was actually the clan head?
"As for why the Third Hokage allowed Danzo to act unchecked, the reason's pretty simple."
Seeing his "best spokesperson" had finished laying the groundwork, Haruta was happy to steer the topic in a new direction.
"The world's not as pretty as you imagine it to be. Konoha needs someone to do the dirty work.
The Anbu covers part of it, sure, but the bulk of it gets handled by others.
Danzo—that's his job. And Root, our division, exists precisely for that purpose.
Besides that, they were classmates. Their bond goes back decades—even before Konoha was properly founded.
And just look at Orochimaru. He was the Third Hokage's own student, and even he got off scot-free. So do you really think the old man would raise a hand against his old friend, a man who contributed so much to Konoha?"
Whether it was true or not, saying it that way would never be wrong. And Haruta didn't forget to tack on a final remark:
"That said, the Third Hokage did seem like he wanted to bring you guys back into the fold. The Anbu always knew what the Uchiha were up to.
And yet they never acted. Even when Danzo moved, he waited until the Hokage was out of the village.
Danzo's already on our hit list. But your clan? If they had known how to seize the opportunity, things might've turned out differently."
"That's why I said long ago—nothing good comes from staying with a bunch of parasites."
"It's time to crush the bugs and shoot down the sun!"
Hearing those words, both Shisui and Kabuto felt a fire ignite in their hearts. That one sentence brought something burning to their eyes.
Kabuto's hatred for Danzo was already sky-high.
As for Shisui, it wasn't just Danzo he despised—he was itching to storm back to the Uchiha compound and confront his so-called clan head face-to-face!
Some things you don't realize until you really sit down and think. But once you do start thinking—the problems become shockingly obvious.
So this is how the Uchiha were played and ruined?
Shisui couldn't accept it!
And just then, Kabuto sucked in a sharp breath.
"'Crush the bugs… Shoot down the sun'?"
---
At Konoha's village gates.
Konan, in disguise and flanked by several Amegakure shinobi, arrived at the entrance. The welcoming party was sizable, and at the head of it stood none other than Yamanaka Inoichi, clan leader of the Yamanaka clan.
"Welcome to Konoha," he said, keeping his tone polite despite the wariness in his heart.
To Konoha's newer generation, the Land of Rain might feel unfamiliar. But to those who'd survived the Second Great Ninja War, it was a different story.
A small nation daring to start a war was alarming enough. What made it worse was the man behind it—a fearsome legend.
Hanzo the Salamander.
A man so powerful he was dubbed "Demigod." That title alone said it all.
The title of "Sannin" might seem prestigious now, but those who knew history knew it came from humiliation. Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru—students of the Third Hokage—were all defeated by Hanzo alone.
It wasn't a title of honor. It was one of defeat.
There were even whispers that Hanzo had spared the Sannin not out of mercy, but fear—that if he'd killed them, Hiruzen Sarutobi would have launched an all-out war against the Land of Rain. So Hanzo spared them, acknowledged their strength, and exchanged mercy for peace.
No one knew if the rumor was true, and no one ever responded to it.
Now, after years of silence, Amegakure's shinobi had come to Konoha. Their purpose? Unknown. It left people puzzled.
But regardless of their motives, with Hanzo still alive, Amegakure remained a threat. Konoha couldn't afford to treat them lightly.
"It's our first time in Konoha. We're in your care," Konan said politely, scanning her surroundings before continuing.
"The air here… It's so much better than in the Land of Rain. No wonder it's the most prosperous land in the ninja world."
"You flatter us. The Land of Rain's abundant water is something many nations would envy," Inoichi responded with practiced diplomacy. He wasn't quite Nara Shikaku, but as teammates, he'd learned a thing or two about verbal sparring.
"Please, follow me into the village. Though if I may ask, the reason for your visit…"
"The Land of Rain and the Land of Fire are neighbors," Konan replied smoothly. "We've had our differences, but the war is over.
Lord Hanzo believes it's time we built trust, fostered mutual exchange, and opened trade.
I've heard Konoha is a village of peace, respectful of its neighbors. Surely you don't look down on a small nation like ours?"
That last part was clearly a joke. Even if Inoichi had doubts, he knew this wasn't the time to voice them.
He put on a warm smile.
"Not at all. To us, all guests are equal. I'm sure the Hokage will be pleased with your proposal."
---
Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office, Haruta, Yugao, and Kakashi's team had gathered.
"Apologies for cutting your break short, Haruta. This matter is a bit special," said Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Hokagr–sama, I am a member of Anbu…" Haruta replied, slightly confused by the old man's politeness. Was Tsunade blackmailing him or something? Still, Haruta bowed respectfully.
Though as he looked at the old man, his mouth twitched involuntarily. He couldn't help thinking of that idiot, Kabuto.
After the meeting with Shisui, Haruta had instructed him to start mapping out the Uchiha's internal situation and arranged a follow-up meeting. As he prepared to escort Kabuto back to Root, the bastard had suddenly asked, very cautiously:
"'Crush the bugs… shoot down the sun'?"
"Yeah. What about it?"
"That 'sun'... is it Danzo? Or the Hokage…?"
"…?"
"If it's Danzo… does that mean Danzo is the 'sun in your heart'?"
"…?"
"If it's the Hokage, then you—"
"…!!"
In that moment, Haruta genuinely wanted to strangle Kabuto. Did he not know what a metaphor was? Just because it said "shoot the sun" didn't mean it was his sun!
Thank the heavens someone had come to fetch him when they returned to Anbu HQ. Otherwise, Haruta would've made sure Kabuto got a taste of just how painful Root's "training" used to be.
Thinking of Kabuto, Haruta glanced over at Uchiha Itachi, standing silently behind Kakashi.
That kid… looked colder than ever.
---
"I've called you all here for an important mission," the Third Hokage began without delay.
"You may have heard: the Land of Rain has sent emissaries. They've already entered the village.
Although our history is full of conflict, they're guests. And Hanzo… he's a special case.
I want you to protect these visitors. And if possible—figure out their real reason for coming."
Hiruzen was unusually solemn. Hanzo wasn't someone to be taken lightly.
His nickname alone—Demigod Hanzo—struck fear across the ninja world.
"Yes, Lord Hokage!" the group responded without hesitation. For Anbu, difficulty wasn't a deterrent.
"Go prepare," Hiruzen said, nodding.
This sudden visit from the Land of Rain had caught him off guard. What was Hanzo up to? What was his goal?
For some reason, he thought back to his old friend. It was entirely possible that back then, Danzo and Hanzo had together founded the Akatsuki…
"Let's just hope this doesn't end in the worst-case scenario…"
Hiruzen sighed, growing ever more discontent with his meddlesome old comrade.
---
"Investigate the people from the Land of Rain, huh…"
Haruta muttered to himself. He'd just been thinking about it, and now the mission had landed right in his lap.
Perfect. He wanted to know what the Akatsuki's intentions were. Were they here to negotiate…?
"Lord Hokage," Kakashi suddenly spoke up, turning to Hiruzen with a serious expression.
"Will our two squads be working together again on this mission?"
"Yes. You're familiar with each other. I want you to coordinate closely."
At those words, Kakashi wasted no time. He raised his hand and said firmly,
"In that case, I strongly recommend Haruta as team leader!"
"…?"
Haruta, who had still been lost in thought, froze.
The next second, his face turned completely deadpan.
Kakashi, you bastard. How scared are you…?
---
At the Senju estate.
Tsunade frowned as she drank.
"So they dumped the Rain delegation mission on you guys?"
The Land of Rain didn't hold pleasant memories for her. Back in the day, Hanzo had beaten her within an inch of her life—she hadn't forgotten.
"Strange, isn't it? That guy Hanzo hasn't shown his face for years. Why send people now?"
"When something's out of the ordinary, there's always a reason," Haruta replied between bites of food.
Shizune's cooking really was top-tier. Maybe it was because she and Tsunade had spent so many years on the road—and Tsunade often gambled away everything—that they'd learned to cook for survival. Over time, they'd gotten pretty good.
He glanced around the table.
Yugao ate in quiet bites beside him.
Karin's eyes darted nonstop between dishes.
Even the ice-cold Hikari Uchiha, though silent, was clearly enjoying the food.
This household… was kind of cozy, wasn't it?
"Yeah, we do need to look into it…" Tsunade agreed, but soon narrowed her eyes.
"But is this how you planned to 'look into' it? You being lazy is one thing, but why drag Yugao into it too?"
"Full of lies," Uchiha Hikari mumbled, raising her head and shooting a look.
That tag-team jab made Haruta arch an eyebrow.
What the hell were they saying—did they think they were Indra and Asura or something?
Still, the girl seemed to be adjusting to life here. She wasn't such a quiet, brooding type anymore.
"Me? Lies? Ask Yugao! I've been friends with Uchiha Shisui for three years! Three years of bond!"
Haruta glared at Hikari and then turned to Tsunade.
"This time, I'm the team leader. Kakashi chickened out. But now that I'm in charge… they want an easy mission? Dream on!"
Kakashi made him team lead?
Time for some payback.
Haruta had plenty of methods to squeeze information out of people. After all, before transmigrating, he'd seen countless cases of "being strung up on a lamppost" in action.
"But it's only right to do some digging. I plan to head over myself a little later and see what they're up to."
He was genuinely curious about who these people were that had come so openly and boldly. What were they thinking, coming to Konoha without any disguise?
Unfortunately, he hadn't received any intel from Kakuzu this time. That could only mean one thing—it was probably a decision made by Nagato and his group.
That realization helped Haruta narrow down the possibilities. Most likely, they were here to follow up on their last conversation and intended to initiate a new round of negotiations.
"You're going alone?" Yugao raised a brow. "Need me to go with you?"
"No need."
Haruta shook his head without hesitation. He couldn't let others find out about his dealings with the Akatsuki—his carefully crafted persona would fall apart.
"Senpai, you're strong, no doubt. But having more people would only complicate things. Besides, I already had Tenzo leave a Flying Thunder God mark in their lodging. Kakashi and the others are just providing cover from outside.
So for this operation, going solo is better."
"Is that so?"
Yugao thought for a moment, then nodded without pressing further.
Haruta had considered her feelings—he'd praised her strength and emphasized that infiltration worked better solo. With that, she had no reason to object.
"Then I'll wait for you to come back. Be careful, alright?"
"Don't worry, senpai. I've got this."
Haruta smiled, but from the side, Tsunade snorted as she sipped her sake.
"Tch. This brat sure knows how to talk smooth."
Once dinner was over, Haruta quietly left the Senju clan estate on his own.
He had sensed a disturbance at one of his Flying Thunder God markers, so he immediately teleported to Tenzo's side.
"Sigh… Captain Haruta, you're here?"
Tenzo noticed his arrival and grinned as he greeted him.
"Yeah. Everything done?"
Haruta nodded as his sensory perception flared out. He quickly detected Kakashi and Uchiha Itachi positioned in different directions, quietly monitoring the area.
"Yup."
Tenzo nodded and chuckled.
"Since you're the squad leader this time, I wasn't going to slack off. But are you sure about going in by yourself?
We could just disguise ourselves as bounty hunters and bag these Rain ninjas, you know?"
His eyes sparkled with enthusiasm as he spoke, and Haruta stared at him in disbelief.
In his memory, Tenzo was supposed to be a quiet type.
Sure, he'd occasionally pull some wild moves, but overall, he was reliable.
Growing up under Danzo's Root, in such a repressive environment, he'd been forced to suppress his nature. Even after joining ANBU, where there was more freedom, the rules kept him in line.
But now, with Haruta's influence, this guy was letting his inner freak out. There was nothing "quiet" about him anymore.
"I'm telling you again—I never kidnapped anyone, okay? Stop spouting nonsense."
Haruta considered giving him a bonk on the head like Kakashi would, but ultimately let it slide.
"I invited them. Got that? Invited. You need to learn the art of wording."
"The art of wording?"
Tenzo blinked. Haruta nodded solemnly.
"Let's say you have 100 ryo, and you lend Kakashi 50. If you just say you lent him 50, people might think you're stingy, right?"
"Uh… yeah?"
"But if you say you gave him half your money, that's still true, right? And people would think you're generous?"
"…"
Tenzo gasped. So it could be played like that?
"That's why how you say things is an art. We're a legitimate Hidden Village—we don't kidnap people. We 'invite' them. Understand?"
Seeing Tenzo's expression of dawning enlightenment, Haruta nodded in satisfaction.
"Now keep watch, and don't go blabbing too much to Kakashi and the others. I'm going in."
"Got it, Haruta."
Tenzo nodded, still mentally chewing over Haruta's "wordplay wisdom," while Haruta had already vanished from sight.
When he reappeared, he was inside the inn where the Rain nin were staying.
"So it's her who came?"
Haruta narrowed his eyes, already recognizing her chakra.
Faces could be disguised, but chakra signatures never lied.
No wonder Kakuzu hadn't sent anything back—he probably had no idea what was really going on.
After confirming the situation, Haruta kept his sensory ability active, created a Wood Clone, and stepped forward to gently knock on the door.
Moments later, the door creaked open.
Behind it stood a woman with a disguised face—but Haruta recognized her instantly: Konan.
"You—"
Konan froze at the sight of him. But then she noticed Haruta's clone next to him shift and take her form.
"Shh—"
Haruta placed a finger to his lips and scanned both sides before placing a hand on her shoulder.
Buzz—
In an instant, they vanished from the inn.
When they reappeared, they were standing in a quiet valley near Konoha.
The sudden Flying Thunder God teleportation had Konan reeling, but before she could react, Haruta spoke up.
"That inn has a special sealing barrier. After all, Konoha has the Byakugan, and plenty of intel-gathering tools.
To make guests feel safe, the barrier blocks most perception from the outside. I couldn't sense inside at all.
But just in case, I brought us somewhere quieter."
As one of the Five Great Nations' ninja villages, Konoha knew how to receive foreign guests. Protecting their privacy was a top priority.
Haruta hadn't understood this back when he watched the Chūnin Exams. How could no info about outsiders leak when they stayed so long in the village?
Besides Orochimaru's betrayal, there had been no other security issues.
Only after joining the ANBU did he realize—so that's how it worked.
Of course, he didn't fully trust those sealing barriers either. That's why he kept his sensory skills active at all times, and chose to shift locations.
"You're even more cautious than I expected," Konan said, finally regaining her composure.
"But that's good. It avoids unnecessary trouble."
"Trouble can wait. Right now, I just have one question."
Haruta ignored her praise, narrowing his eyes at the "angel" before him.
"What were you thinking, showing up here like this? You do realize that if your identity is exposed, things won't end well for you."
"And if I'm exposed…" Konan replied coldly. "If Konoha decides to scan my memories and finds out about you… what then?"
Haruta's brow twitched. He didn't like the sound of that, but she didn't press further.
"The last conversation between you and Nagato was cut short. This time, I've come in his place—and I've brought sincerity."
"Oh?"
Haruta blinked. He remembered exactly what he told Nagato last time—he'd just wanted to mess with the guy a bit, but apparently, it had actually stuck?
He quickly shook his head. It was time for more poisonous chicken soup.
"If you're here about that matter, I'll say it again—you're in no position to negotiate with me."
"You won't even hear me out?"
Konan frowned, unsure of his intent.
"I'll listen," Haruta replied, "but first, let me ask you something."
He continued coldly.
"Maybe through Uchiha Obito, you have a rough idea of your plan's scope. But have you thought about afterwards?
Do you really understand the meaning of strength—or the true nature of humanity?"
"The meaning of strength… and humanity?" Konan looked puzzled, sensing something deeper.
But Haruta didn't press. Instead, in one sudden move, he lunged toward her, hand raised as if to slap her across the face.
Konan's expression changed. She tried to dodge, but vines burst from the ground, binding her in place.
The hand came closer.
Instinctively, she turned her face aside, bracing herself.
But the slap never came.
Instead, Haruta's hand gently brushed her cheek.
"You—!"
Konan's eyes widened. Haruta spoke softly.
"See? A raised hand is most threatening before it strikes.
Once the slap lands—once you know its strength and intent—all that's left is pain… or hate."
He withdrew his hand and released the vines. Konan stood frozen in place.
"That's the real display of power. And look at yourself.
You knew you couldn't win, yet you still flinched and resisted. Why?"
"…It's… human nature?"
Konan touched her face, recalling the surge of fear and defiance when she thought she'd be hit.
"Yes. No one likes living under fear and shadows," Haruta said with a shrug, doubling down on the toxic chicken soup.
"It's not about strength. It's about being human.
Sure, you can hunt the Tailed Beasts. Sure, you can use that power to subjugate the ninja world.
But will that really bring peace? No. That's nonsense.
No matter how tightly you suppress or eliminate rebels, as long as your rule is built on fear and hatred, opposition will never cease.
Even insects cling to life—there will always be those who bow on the surface, but plot in the dark.
What happens after you're gone? Will your so-called peaceful empire crumble overnight?
Think about it. Weren't you once a rebel?
If you resisted, why wouldn't others?"
Haruta's stream of harsh truths left Konan stunned.
She recalled how they, as children, had longed to resist Konoha's invasion.
Even though Rain had started the war, they'd still hated Konoha.
They'd risen up against Hanzō, unwilling to let Rain suffer under his cruelty.
If they had fought back, others would too. Would people really submit to power alone?
No. They wouldn't.
There would always be someone… ready to rise.
Relentless slaughter only breeds more hatred in the hearts of their families and friends—inevitably giving rise to a new generation of resistance.
"How could it be like this…"
Konan murmured, her face pale. Haruta stood calmly beside her and nodded.
"That's human nature. But… it's not like there's no solution."
"What kind of solution?"
Konan's eyes lit up instantly as she turned to him. Haruta rubbed his chin before speaking slowly.
"Just kill off all of humanity. Then there won't be anyone left to resist."
"…"
Konan's eyelids twitched. She truly wanted to curse him for being insane. Yet Haruta seemed to know exactly what she was thinking.
"Sounds crazy, right? And extreme too. But let me make it clear—based on your methods, this is the most suitable path.
You want to forge peace through fear and overwhelming power? Then to prevent future uprisings and posthumous chaos, the best way is to make sure no one is left alive.
Where there are people, there will always be conflict—ideologies, beliefs, and resistance. Wipe them all out, and you'll have perfect peace."
Konan remained silent. Though her exchange with Haruta had lasted only a few minutes, she couldn't help feeling like she had gained something significant.
His words—half-understood yet thought-provoking—resonated deeply.
Combined with what he'd said earlier about "political demands" and "action platforms," Konan felt a few ideas slowly beginning to form in her mind.
"…We would never do such a thing. What we desire is peace—not a world without people."
She sighed and looked at Haruta seriously.
"If what you said is true… then what's the point of power?"
"Without power, would you rather stand helplessly as Yahiko dies in front of you again?"
Haruta's ability to stab right where it hurts was top-tier. With a single sentence, he made Konan's fists clench.
And yet, this brutal method of "trauma-based persuasion" did hit deep. After a long moment, she gave a subtle nod.
"Power… is the shield to protect ourselves, isn't it?"
"Exactly. Without power, no one will listen. No one will even want to talk to you."
Haruta shrugged and pointed down toward Konoha.
"When the village was first founded, the First Hokage was the one who spoke of peace and unity, convincing others of its value and rallying allies.
Uchiha Madara? He was in charge of dealing with those who couldn't be reasoned with—those who refused peace. And for them, there was always a… physical solution.
If you can't even protect yourself, how can you possibly hope to reason with anyone?"
"…I've learned something today."
Konan, though still feeling like some of his logic was jumpy, genuinely understood the core message.
Still, she couldn't help sighing inwardly. This boy in front of her… probably wasn't someone the Akatsuki could recruit.
He had such a sharp perspective and delivered heavy ideas with simple words—even if veiled, they were worth pondering.
But someone like that? He probably had even bigger ambitions. Their Akatsuki may not be enough to move him.
"By the way, I actually came today to tell you something."
Though she sighed inwardly, Konan steadied her emotions and spoke calmly.
"Uchiha Obito—or at least, that's what we're calling him for now. We haven't confirmed his true identity. But that man seems to have set his sights on Konoha. He's planning something… and might be calling us together soon."
"Uchiha Obito… and Konoha?"
Haruta blinked at the news, mildly surprised, but quickly pieced things together.
Uchiha, huh?
In Haruta's memory, the Uchiha Clan Massacre happened with Konoha's tacit support, a lockdown on the compound, and two Mangekyō wielders going in to clean house.
One targeted the elite of the Police Force. The other? Men, women, children—it didn't matter if they were shinobi. Everyone got slaughtered.
"Could it be… that because of me, Uchiha Obito's path has shifted?"
Haruta murmured internally. He suspected that was the case.
After all, he had hammered Obito so many times already—it would be strange if the guy hadn't started to change. Maybe that's why he now wanted to bring the entire Akatsuki into it.
"Is that so? Now that's interesting…"
Haruta chuckled and nodded. Seeing this, Konan hesitated and asked in a low voice:
"Do you want me to reject him? It might be a hassle, but if that's what you want, we can—"
"Reject him? Why?"
Haruta gave her a baffled look. Why would he reject such a gift?
This was The Uchiha Clan Massacre, for crying out loud. It was practically a free-point bonanza!
(T/N: Just as I suspected, he only care's about himself and points.)
He'd been fretting about how to stir things up recently—resorting to making up stories just to farm points.
And now Obito turned around and handed him a golden opportunity? How could he possibly refuse?!
"If nothing goes wrong, this incident won't even hurt Konoha. It might even help the village in the long run.
Let him do it. It's a good way to earn some trust. And besides—you people wanted to cooperate with me, didn't you?"
"You're thinking of using this as a stepping stone to gain merit?"
Konan caught on instantly, and the moment she spoke, Haruta smiled knowingly.
"Exactly. I'll handle the prep. Consider it a trial run for our collaboration."
"Then… here's to a smooth partnership."
Haruta stepped forward, extending a hand. Konan instinctively flinched—but in the end, didn't move.
When his hand landed on her shoulder, in the blink of an eye, they were back inside her room at the inn.
"…To a smooth partnership."
Still slightly dizzy from the teleportation, Konan nodded.
"Oh, one more thing."
Just then, Haruta's curiosity was piqued again.
"This 'sincerity' you mentioned… what exactly is it?"
As he spoke, his gaze drifted up and down Konan's figure—almost instinctively.
The angel… is in this room?
If that was her sincerity… that's quite the sincerity.
"…Didn't I already tell you? About Obito's plan?"
Konan was momentarily confused. But when she saw Haruta's disappointed expression—and heard the sigh that followed—she instantly snapped.
"You bastard! What the hell were you thinking?!"
"Nothing much. You misunderstood. I'm actually quite close with Lord Jiraiya. My teacher told me to learn from him… and I'm doing my best."
Haruta shrugged, retracting his gaze and feigning innocence.
Tsunade had indeed told him to learn from Jiraiya. What exactly she meant by "learn," though, was up to his interpretation.
"In that case, get some rest. I'll be going."
With a single hand sign, the wood clone disguised as Konan dispersed. Haruta's figure faded from the room, leaving Konan alone.
For a while, she simply stood there. Then she gently touched her cheek—right where Haruta's hand had rested.
A moment later, she whispered under her breath.
"…Learning from Lord Jiraiya, huh."
...
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