Sure enough, I was suspicious. I really should not have bought that outfit.
So careless of me~
The information from the destroyed clone fed back into her mind. Zaraki Kita stopped in her tracks, turned her head toward the direction of Konoha, and sighed inwardly. Konoha really did play dirty. Not only did they eliminate the client, they even withheld two hundred thousand from her mission payment. Thinking about it now, she really should have bargained harder at the start.
Well, whatever. She would head back first. It was not a wasted trip anyway. Of course, what she brought back was not some souvenir.
Amegakure was still shrouded in a constant drizzle. Wherever she passed, people hurriedly moved out of her way. Zaraki Kita felt that this kind of treatment was actually quite nice. Aside from the disdainful looks, there was no real insult. At least no one threw stones at her or yelled for her to get out. No one picked fights with her while drunk either. To her, this was already excellent. More importantly, here she could be herself. She did not have to live in constant fear of her identity being exposed, did not need to wear a collar at all times, and did not have to survive cautiously under fear imposed by others. She could pretend to live like a normal person. Besides, she had friends here, and a lover.
Thinking of her lover, Zaraki Kita's lips curved upward unconsciously.
Nagato bit into a piece of Konoha's specialty red bean pastry and felt that Konoha's craftsmanship was indeed not bad. On the low table were tea and water, yokan and red bean pastries. No one knew that the leader of Akatsuki had an intense sweet tooth, and no one knew that the famed Angel of Amegakure had a particular fondness for yokan.
"How did the investigation go?" Nagato asked during a pause between bites. Konan had told him that Zaraki Kita went to investigate Uchiha Itachi. Nagato was not particularly worried, but since Zaraki Kita wanted to go, he let her.
Zaraki Kita set down her teacup and gave a simple answer.
It was not a whim, nor some kind of test. Konoha and the Uchiha clan are at odds, and the clan has long been under surveillance.
"You drove Zetsu away. Madara will not let that slide," Konan said bluntly. Nagato nodded in agreement. "That is true. He has always been very wary of you." It was meant as a reminder.
Zaraki Kita smiled, clearly unconcerned.
I just do not like Zetsu's ability very much. It is useful, but uncontrollable. I cannot keep an eye on him all the time. Sorry. If I had known he would send someone so troublesome, I might as well have kept Zetsu.
Nagato waved his hand. "That is not necessary. Madara is right about one thing. We really are short-handed." He paused, looked at Zaraki Kita, and added, "Kakuzu needs a partner. Anyone new will not survive long enough for him. Why not become a full member?"
Zaraki Kita immediately shook her head and waved her hands.
I am not suited for partnered missions. If there is a task that needs me, I will do it, but joining is out. No joining.
She emphasized it twice. Konan's expression darkened. She even set down the yokan in her hand, turned around, and went back to the hall where she handled village affairs every day. Oh right, this was Nagato's room.
The door slammed shut. The 'Angel of the Rain' was truly furious.
Nagato blinked his unsettling Rinnegan eyes and looked at Zaraki Kita with utter innocence.
"Did you really have to make Konan angry?"
Zaraki Kita gave a bitter smile, a hint of helplessness in it.
This is for the best.
In this rain-soaked land, Akatsuki was deeply revered. If she, a non-human, became one of them, what kind of upheaval would that cause in people's hearts?
Zaraki Kita did not know, and she dared not know.
"Are you planning to live like this forever?"
She could not answer that question, so she chose not to.
I will keep investigating Itachi's matter. I will also keep an eye on Madara.
Nagato looked at her for a long moment. He knew she was trying to gloss over the previous question. Though he wanted to say more, this was ultimately between Zaraki Kita and Konan. He was not the type to force others, so he spoke instead,
"I just said Madara finds you unpleasant, and now you want to provoke him further. If you really anger him, even I will not be able to help."
I cannot just ignore it. It will be fine. At his current level, Madara and I can still barely coexist.
Nagato looked at her seriously and only nodded after confirming she was not lying. He said plainly, "If something happens, we will not be able to save you. Do you understand?" It was a stance of caution. For now, they could not afford to completely fall out with Madara. That was what Nagato meant.
Zaraki Kita nodded. She understood this very well.
"When are you leaving?"
Tomorrow.
"May I come over for dinner?"
I would love that.
Nagato liked hotpot. Konan liked fish. Zaraki Kita believed her cooking skills were decent enough, at least judging by how much Konan praised it. The two preferences did not conflict, so dinner was seafood hotpot.
When Zaraki Kita was preparing the ingredients, Konan returned. Her expression was far from pleasant. Zaraki Kita did not need to think to know why. Without greeting anyone, Konan went straight into the bedroom. Zaraki Kita smiled faintly and continued working on the ingredients.
A few minutes later, Zaraki Kita suddenly felt arms wrap around her from behind. The familiar presence pressed against her back was Konan. The voice in her ear made Zaraki Kita feel as if she had no regrets left in this life.
"I will not lose my temper so easily anymore."
By "losing her temper," she meant storming out and slamming the door earlier. Zaraki Kita smiled and shook her head. Before others, the Angel was always calm, composed, and confident, like a lofty deity. But only in front of her did Konan become someone who could cry, laugh, and throw tantrums like a child. Zaraki Kita asked herself, aside from Konan treating her so well, what exactly did she like about her? The answer came in less than half a second.
She loved everything about her. Whether it was the imposing authority of the Angel, or Konan's playful charm, even her misplaced anger or unreasonable stubbornness. Every part of her was something Zaraki Kita loved.
Do you like me?
The pale purple yukata, decorated with light white birds, harmonized perfectly with her blue hair.
"Yes."
That is good.
"Thank you."
Are you still angry?
"Angry."
I will find Kakuzu another partner. It is easier for me to act as an external member. Konan, I am sorry.
There was no verbal reply. Only a light peck against her cheek, like a dragonfly skimming the water.
"This Angel has decided to forgive you~"
Zaraki Kita smiled until her eyes curved into crescents.
━━━━ ❖ ━━━
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