Chapter 140 – First Meeting with Konan, A Shaken Heart
"So this is the so-called Shinobi Nation?"
After parting ways with Zetsu, Konan entered the village alone. Everything she saw shocked her.
So it really was possible to gather all the villages together and have everyone live in harmony.
The shinobi had taken off their original forehead protectors and now wore ones newly crafted for the Shinobi Nation. But from various distinct features, it was still possible to tell which village they had originally come from.
Because many people had only just moved in, business in the village was booming. All sorts of things Konan had never seen in the Land of Rain were available here.
Perhaps this was what they had always been searching for.
"Big sister, would you like to buy a bottle of perfume? This is today's special limited-edition release! It commemorates the union of the Five Great Shinobi Villages into one. The Hokage—I mean the Leader—said this version has a unique design and won't be sold again. It has great commemorative and collectible value!"
A child stood in front of Konan, holding perfume and promoting it. Since many newcomers didn't yet have jobs, the village had arranged positions like this—if a sale was made, the seller received a commission. Many children from smaller shinobi villages welcomed the opportunity.
They came from poor regions without any backing. As long as the job paid, they would take it. Right now, the whole shinobi village was developing—almost anything could be sold with ease.
"Limited edition?"
Konan took the perfume and examined it. Due to the Uchiha Commerce Guild's promotions, these products had also spread to the Land of Rain.
She had bought a bottle of perfume there too. Though she only used it once out of curiosity, the scent of osmanthus still lingered in her memory.
But this was her first time hearing of a limited edition.
"Would big sister like to buy a bottle? There won't be another chance later."
"Which village are you from?"
"The Land of Snow. Everyone said life here would be better, so I came too."
The child spoke shyly. Coming from a small country, he feared being looked down on. But after arriving, he found that no one seemed to care.
That let him completely relax.
"The Land of Snow…"
Konan murmured, looking at the bottle of limited-edition perfume in her hand. After hesitating, she asked, "How much?"
Although the organization was short on funds and Kakuzu was working hard to earn money, she still felt a bit guilty spending like this. But seeing the hopeful eyes of the boy before her—someone also from a small country, just trying to survive in Konoha—
Konan decided to buy it. Not because it was a limited edition, but for the child.
"Three thousand ryō."
That expensive?
Konan silently complained, but since she had already expressed interest, it would feel awkward to return it now.
No wonder this was the last item the child had—everything else was sold out. Apparently not many people could afford this.
Just one small bottle selling for three thousand ryō… If they sold ten thousand, that's thirty million. That was easier than completing missions.
After handing the money to the boy, Konan felt a flicker of regret. Kakuzu had trusted her to manage the money, and although she often spent it on explosive tags, this was clearly a personal indulgence.
Still, since she had already paid, she buried the guilt deep in her heart.
Then her attention was quickly drawn to more curious items around Konoha.
All day long, she forgot what she'd originally come for. She wandered wherever her feet took her, eating and shopping as she went. The combined styles of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, plus those of smaller villages, made everything here feel fresh to her.
She couldn't even remember how much she ate or bought.
All she knew was that she had definitely spent a lot. The guilt she had pushed aside earlier now returned in full force. After some thought, she resolved that she absolutely wouldn't spend like this again tomorrow!
But this ramen really was delicious.
Was it from Ichiraku Ramen?
Konan looked up at the sign. She vaguely remembered hearing of this shop back in the Land of Rain.
"Lady Koyuki really won't return to the Land of Snow?"
"No. The Land of Snow is gone, and everyone's already moved here. We're all working for a better future now. There's no need to cling to the past. Besides, didn't we learn what treasure Father left behind?"
"Boss, one bowl of ramen here! Samui, don't leave—I swear I'll beat you today!!"
Inside Ichiraku Ramen, the place was lively and crowded. Konan couldn't help but be affected by the atmosphere, and her mood relaxed considerably.
"Hey hey hey, Teacher Renji! How was my training today? One day, I'll defeat you and become the second leader of the Shinobi Nation!"
"Naruto, you idiot! Sensei will never lose to you. The only one who can beat him is someone from the Uchiha clan!"
Sasuke shot back. The four of them entered the ramen shop one after the other.
Besides Naruto and Sasuke, Hyūga Neji had also been taken in as Renji's disciple at the request of Hiashi Hyūga.
And so, the four-man squad was formed.
Following the voices, Konan instinctively looked up—and Renji, noticing her gaze, looked over as well. When he saw Konan, a flicker of surprise flashed through his eyes. He hadn't expected to run into her here.
Was the Akatsuki gathering intel because of his unification of the shinobi world?
A small smile appeared on Renji's face. Konan was momentarily stunned, and then awkwardly returned the smile.
It had been so long since she'd smiled… she had almost forgotten how.
Thinking of that, she lowered her head and focused on eating her ramen.
That boy must be the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki—and the one beside him, Uchiha Itachi's younger brother?
Before coming here, Konan had done her research and gathered detailed intel.
Almost all the other Jinchūriki were here now. It seemed the easiest-to-capture hosts were now training under Renji. It would be unwise to act.
Besides, this time they might not need to use force at all.
Nagato had said before—they were only here to gather intelligence.
Meanwhile, Renji was considering whether to absorb the Akatsuki into his ranks.
Except for those truly beyond redemption, anyone who survived and was recruited would give him a chance to draw a lottery. That was more rewarding than the entire Shinobi World War had been.
"Renji-sensei, are you even listening to me?"
Naruto grumbled, unhappy that Renji had ignored him. He swore to himself that he'd make Renji pay attention eventually.
Recently, he'd learned the Shadow Clone Technique, and based on that, he had developed an even stronger jutsu. He was sure Renji would be shocked when he saw it.
"Naruto, wasn't your dream to become Hokage?"
Coming back to his senses, Renji smiled and turned toward Naruto.
Back then, Naruto had said it nonstop: "I'm going to be Hokage." But now?
"Hokage is old news! I want to surpass sensei—and my dad, even though I've never met him!"
There was no Hokage anymore, after all.
"So you think that by defeating and surpassing me, you'll become the leader of the Shinobi Nation?"
Renji's words weren't just directed at Naruto—Sasuke and Neji were also listening.
Compared to Sasuke's frequent interactions with Renji and Naruto's natural boldness, Hyūga Neji was colder and more reserved. Having just met Renji, he wasn't yet comfortable speaking much. But silence didn't mean he lacked determination.
He wanted to break free of his destiny. Right now, he was nothing more than a caged bird.
"Of course!"
Naruto nodded firmly. In his mind, as long as he surpassed Renji, he could become the leader!
Even though, deep down, he simply wanted others to acknowledge him.
Though the "Nine-Tails" label had been wiped away, and with more Jinchūriki arriving in Konoha, Naruto had made new friends—like Gaara, who though reserved, seemed destined to become close.
He'd heard that if one became the leader, they would be recognized by everyone. So he wanted that—he wanted acceptance.
"Becoming the leader isn't what earns others' recognition. Only when everyone acknowledges you can you become the leader. Naruto, your journey is still long—there's no need to rush."
Renji saw through Naruto's intentions and chuckled. Seeking recognition didn't require becoming Hokage.
After all, the old Jinchūriki policy had always been twisted.
Now that the shinobi world was unified, Renji planned to extract the Tailed Beasts without harming the Jinchūriki, letting the beasts live freely near the village.
Tailed Beasts weren't inherently terrifying. Boruto had made that clear. It was humans who captured and sealed them—anyone would go mad under those conditions.
"This guy sure knows how to talk."
Konan, listening nearby, glanced at Naruto's pensive expression. Her view of Renji subtly shifted.
After a day of observation, Konan noticed that prices in the Shinobi Nation were much lower than before, and many policies had changed. The old system where nobles held all the power no longer worked here.
Even civilians now had the right to live well. This wavered her resolve. If they were to capture the Tailed Beasts and start a war again, wouldn't that destroy the peace? Wouldn't they become the villains?
"Neji, about the Caged Bird seal placed on the branch family—I'll talk to Clan Head Hiashi. At the very least, I'll have your seal removed."
Since Renji had accepted Neji as a disciple, he would not allow Neji to remain bound by the Caged Bird seal.
He also intended to push for broader reform within the Hyūga clan. If they were to move forward with change, the Hyūga's rigid hierarchy had to go. The separation between main and branch families was just another version of the noble-shinobi divide.
Renji wouldn't allow such a system to persist. Of course, he would begin with negotiation.
"Remove… the Caged Bird?"
A flicker of disbelief passed through Neji's eyes. Could he truly be freed?
From the moment it was engraved into his forehead, Neji believed he was doomed. The branch family existed only to serve the main family. The Caged Bird was a prison, and he was the bird within. It even created a flaw in his Byakugan.
"I told you—the goal of building the Shinobi Nation is for everyone to be equal. That's not just empty talk."
"Sensei, I…"
Neji clenched his jaw. For someone who had always been strong, a strange tightness rose in his chest.
He'd always felt there was an uncrossable gulf between him and people like Renji, Naruto, and Sasuke.
Renji aside—even Naruto and Sasuke had freedom. But he didn't. He'd always worn a cold mask to protect himself.
All because of the Caged Bird.
It was what made Neji believe he was inherently inferior.
"Don't cry. If you cry now, these two guys will mock you for life."
Renji wasn't just acting on impulse—part of it was keeping his word, part of it was to see if it could unlock a lottery opportunity.
"I won't. Thank you, Sensei."
Neji replied quietly. He wasn't crying—just choked up.
Since his father's death, it had been so long since he'd felt warmth like this. He was moved—but not to tears.
"Hurry and eat. Then head home."
Renji still had tasks to handle. As for Konan, he wasn't in a hurry to confront her.
He didn't yet know her exact objective—but under the observation of his Observation Haki, he could detect her at any time.
So he wasn't concerned about tracking her. He had more pressing matters.
After finishing at Ichiraku Ramen and sending the three boys home, Renji spent the next few days handling state affairs. When all was finally done, he suddenly realized—
He'd forgotten someone.
Sensing with Observation Haki, Renji discovered Konan was still in Konoha. After some hesitation, he decided to go find her.
At this time, Konan was wandering around the village. Though she had come with the intention of gathering intelligence, the deeper she explored, the more it seemed their cause might be misguided.
These people were clearly working toward peace.
The once scattered villages were now slowly converging on the ruins of the old Konoha.
The Shinobi City was expanding every day, spreading outward. More and more people were arriving in search of opportunity.
Even some civilians from the Land of Rain—Konan's homeland—could be seen here.
Everyone seemed to like this place. If they destroyed it… would they be destroying something everyone had come to cherish?
She decided she would report everything she had seen to Nagato. Maybe then, Nagato would find his answer too.
Wasn't this the very future they had once longed for?
"We meet again, Miss Shinobi."
(End of Chapter)
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