Things subsequently developed just as Shiba Kiyokawa had expected.
Kenshiro did not disappoint him and delivered the message to Nagato that night.
Shortly after they set out for Kusagakure, Nagato quietly followed them.
Everything was going well.
Shiba Kiyokawa stayed alone in the room in the town, humming a little song about life while cooking dinner for himself. He planned to deliberately slow down and catch up after dinner to check on the situation.
However, things were not that simple.
Just as he was learning Uncle Ba's recipes and gracefully preparing various beef and pork dishes, there was a sudden knock on his door.
His ninja skills allowed him to quickly detect the identity of the person outside the door.
It was Sister Konan?
Why did she suddenly come here?
This wasn't part of the plan.
Shinra didn't have time to think, because Konan pushed the door open.
"Sister Konan, what do you want to talk about? By the way, have you eaten? Do you want to try my cooking?"
Shinra greeted warmly, the smile on his face still impeccable.
He thought his performance flawless, but the next moment, Konan exposed his disguise with just one sentence.
"Just now, Nagato left. He slipped away quietly, even hiding it from me. This must be another one of your plans, Shinra?"
Shinra's expression froze slightly.
He had been careless. He didn't expect that his companion, Sister Konan, would be so perceptive.
Before he could come up with a new excuse, Konan quickly spoke again, completely removing his chance to deny it.
"Before Nagato set off, I used a paper butterfly to 'see' Kenjiro going to him.
You probably don't know that Kenjiro has come to Yahiko many times in the past month to complain, saying that you're very good at manipulating people's hearts, often using cunning words to force others into doing things, and that you're like a devil who plays with people's hearts.
Shinra, you don't have to lie to me. I'm sure this must be your plan.
I haven't told Nagato about this yet. I just wanted to come to you to seek an answer."
At that moment, Shiba Kiyokawa was rarely at a loss for words.
He had truly been careless!
Not long ago, he had been reminding himself repeatedly in his heart: Konan is not a mere vase! He must pay attention to her and work on winning her over!
But in the end, he still underestimated the number one "big sister" of Akatsuki who had left such a strong impression in the original work.
Perhaps all this stemmed from the fact that Konan had been acting too obedient since that day.
She had listened to him throughout the battle, giving him unreserved trust. After returning to the Akatsuki base, she had repeatedly spoken up on his behalf.
For a while, Shiba Kiyokawa thought he had successfully won over the fourteen-year-old girl.
But he didn't expect that, at the critical moment, she would still maintain such valuable clarity.
"Sister Konan, what answer do you want to seek from me?"
At this point, there was no point in being clever anymore.
And judging from Konan's last sentence, "I didn't tell Nagato about this," she should have her own purpose and ideas.
I should still have a chance to defend myself.
Sure enough, the next moment, Konan unfolded her paper escape technique in the room. As the paper butterflies fluttered, she stared at Shinra and asked in a very serious tone.
"Shinra, after the mission ended that day, I went back and thought about it for a long time. I must admit that your thinking is indeed more mature than Yahiko, more mature than all of us.
But I need you to answer me truthfully! To achieve your goal, for the so-called true peace you speak of, will you one day betray the Akatsuki organization and abandon the Rain Country? Or even turn around and use Nagato, use Yahiko? Use me?"
At that moment, the paper butterflies dancing around were brewing terrible murderous intentions, but Shinra's heart was unexpectedly calm.
At this point he was no longer worried.
Because he finally realized that he understood Konan!
Konan, the girl whose presence has never been high among the original three giants of Akatsuki, is actually the most normal one among the three!
Her obsession with her ideals is not as deep as that of Yahiko and Nagato. What she cares about is always the people around her, her friends, partners and shelter.
In the future, when Nagato decides to make the world feel pain, she supports him unconditionally;
However, when Nagato was defeated by Naruto and was persuaded to give up his life, she did not choose to take over Nagato's ideals and inherit the cause of Akatsuki. Instead, she tried her best and desperately tried to take away Obito, who had been using Nagato.
Ultimately, Konan never cared that much about Akatsuki's ideals.
All she cares about are her companions and the few friends around her.
This is a normal person!!
However, compared with the first generation saintly figure of Akatsuki, the second generation madman, and the later group of psychopaths, paranoids and perverted scientists, she, the only normal person, seems so out of place.
She often doesn't fit in with her surroundings because she's not perverted enough.jpg
After understanding this, Shinra immediately knew how to break the deadlock.
"Don't worry, Konan, I have never thought of betraying the Akatsuki organization.
And Konan, aren't we companions? Why do you look at me like that?"
He really didn't lie, because how could usurping the throne be called betrayal?
Akatsuki must have a leader anyway, so why can't it be me?
As for the subsequent sentence "Aren't we companions?" it perfectly hit Konan's sensitive and lonely heart. A hint of resentment and confusion mixed on her face, which in turn made Konan feel a little guilty for a moment.
Then Shinra pursued the victory and pressed forward step by step, using his lifelong acting skills in a very small space!
"Konan, although I do not agree with Yahiko and often think his ideas are too naive, I have never forgotten for a moment: it was you who saved me. It was your helping hand that prevented me from freezing to death in that heavy rain.
I have always regarded everyone in the Akatsuki organization as my companions, especially you, Konan!
All I did was to prevent Akatsuki from being destroyed by Yahiko's wishful thinking.
Konan, I will never abandon you, never! Don't you believe me?"
As the saying goes – if you are drunk and imaginative, we will talk about change and peace;
If you are lonely and lack love, let's talk about bonds and friendship!
In the world of Naruto, there is always one that suits you!
The continuous attacks really broke Konan's defenses. She took a step back and took back most of the paper butterflies. The murderous intent in the room disappeared in an instant.
"I'm sorry, Shinra, that's not what I meant, I believe you are our companion!"
felt it would be better to be honest.
He no longer denied Konan's accusation, which was equivalent to tacitly admitting to his plan.
And judging from Konan's last sentence, "I didn't tell Nagato about this," she should have her own purpose and ideas.
I should still have a chance to defend myself.
Sure enough, the next moment, Konan unfolded her paper escape technique in the room. As the paper butterflies fluttered, she stared at Shinra and asked in a very serious tone.
"Shinra, after the mission ended that day, I went back and thought about it for a long time. I must admit that your thinking is indeed more mature than Yahiko, more mature than all of us.
But I need you to answer me truthfully! To achieve your goal, for the so-called true peace you speak of, will you one day betray the Akatsuki organization and abandon the Rain Country? Or even turn around and use Nagato, use Yahiko? Use me?"
At that moment, the paper butterflies dancing around were brewing terrible murderous intentions, but Shinra's heart was unexpectedly calm.
At this point he was no longer worried.
Because he finally realized that he understood Konan!
Konan, the girl whose presence has never been high among the original three giants of Akatsuki, is actually the most normal one among the three!
Her obsession with her ideals is not as deep as that of Yahiko and Nagato. What she cares about is always the people around her, her friends, partners and shelter.
In the future, when Nagato decides to make the world feel pain, she supports him unconditionally;
However, when Nagato was defeated by Naruto and was persuaded to give up his life, she did not choose to take over Nagato's ideals and inherit the cause of Akatsuki. Instead, she tried her best and desperately tried to take away Obito, who had been using Nagato.
Ultimately, Konan never cared that much about Akatsuki's ideals.
All she cares about are her companions and the few friends around her.
This is a normal person!!
However, compared with the first generation saintly figure of Akatsuki, the second generation madman, and the later group of psychopaths, paranoids and perverted scientists, she, the only normal person, seems so out of place.
She often doesn't fit in with her surroundings because she's not perverted enough.jpg
After understanding this, Shinra immediately knew how to break the deadlock.
"Don't worry, Konan, I have never thought of betraying the Akatsuki organization.
And Konan, aren't we companions? Why do you look at me like that?"
He really didn't lie, because how could usurping the throne be called betrayal?
Akatsuki must have a leader anyway, so why can't it be me?
As for the subsequent sentence "Aren't we companions?" it perfectly hit Konan's sensitive and lonely heart. A hint of resentment and confusion mixed on her face, which in turn made Konan feel a little guilty for a moment.
Then Shinra pursued the victory and pressed forward step by step, using his lifelong acting skills in a very small space!
"Konan, although I do not agree with Yahiko and often think his ideas are too naive, I have never forgotten for a moment: it was you who saved me. It was your helping hand that prevented me from freezing to death in that heavy rain.
I have always regarded everyone in the Akatsuki organization as my companions, especially you, Konan!
All I did was to prevent Akatsuki from being destroyed by Yahiko's wishful thinking.
Konan, I will never abandon you, never! Don't you believe me?"
As the saying goes – if you are drunk and imaginative, we will talk about change and peace;
If you are lonely and lack love, let's talk about bonds and friendship!
In the world of Naruto, there is always one that suits you!
The continuous attacks really broke Konan's defenses. She took a step back and took back most of the paper butterflies. The murderous intent in the room disappeared in an instant.
"I'm sorry, Shinra, that's not what I meant, I believe you are our companion!"
"I'm just a little scared!
Your ideas are far beyond ours, and you are so against Yahiko, I am afraid that one day you will use Nagato or others..."
Shinra smiled lightly.
Konan was very perceptive, and to some extent her judgment was correct Shinra did want to use Nagato.
But compared with the tragic ending in the original work, who can say that exploitation is not another form of salvation?
So the next moment he walked up bravely and touched Konan's cheek.
The touch was warm. Because Konan had already put away the paper escape technique, the touch reflected in Shinra's palm was soft, tender, and a little chewy.
He was clearly shocked when Konan just walked in a few seconds ago, but at this moment, Shinra suddenly felt that he hadn't lost out today.
It was hard to tell whether it was out of guilt or a desire to compensate, but Konan did not avoid his hand, instead letting him gently caress her cheek.
"Believe me, Konan, this ninja world is very dangerous, and our situation is not as optimistic as you think. Everything I do is to try to save everyone, to save Akatsuki!
Because we are each other's most important partners!"
Friendship and bonds are something you must experience, because this is the ninja world!
After these words were spoken, the crisis in the room was completely resolved!
Konan lowered her head, as if to hide her blush. After a long while, she raised her head and asked in a low voice, "Do you still want to go to Nagato? I can fly you there."
"Good."
Shinra nodded decisively and breathed a sigh of relief.
He knew that he had finally passed the test!