At this moment, Yahiko had already impulsively pulled Konan into his arms.
The Akatsuki members, Obito included, saw this and obediently left, giving the two the hall for themselves.
The truth was, there wasn't much left for the two to say. They liked each other, but neither would speak.
Yahiko, because Konan had once rejected Chojuro with the words "the revolution has not yet succeeded, I have no heart for romance," thought she'd say the same to him, so he didn't dare reveal his feelings.
Konan, meanwhile, was a little reserved. She was waiting for Yahiko to confess. But Yahiko stubbornly refused to, and while she was anxious inside, she wouldn't let it show on the surface.
That was why, even though both knew the other liked them, and even though everyone else also knew they liked each other, their relationship never progressed.
Now it was different. The paper window had finally been pierced through, and naturally things developed fast. Clingy, tender, full of affection.
———
Meanwhile, elsewhere—
Under Nagato's lead, Kushina finally saw Uzumaki Kana, who had been in Akatsuki for quite some time, had been cared for, and had at last regained some of her old energy.
The moment the two saw each other, they rushed forward and hugged tightly.
Kushina burst into sobs, "Kana, you're not dead, I thought you were dead! This is wonderful, I finally get to see you! All these years, you must have suffered so much, it's all my fault, all my fault."
Kana cried too, "Sis, I also thought you were dead. Turns out we both survived. You don't need to worry about me, I've been living well. But what about you, Sis, how have you been?"
Since the fall of Uzushiogakure, Kana had lived a wandering, miserable life, cut off from information. Even after coming to Akatsuki, she hadn't asked much about the outside world. So she had no idea Kushina had been living in Konoha, and had even become the Nine-Tails' jinchuriki.
Seeing this, Kushina's heart ached even more. Though she had been bullied in Konoha, with Grandma Mito, Sister Tsunade, and later her husband Minato all protecting her at different stages, her life hadn't been all that tragic.
In fact, her life had been rather carefree. Now, with her husband's prestige and power growing, and him about to become the Fourth Hokage, her days in Konoha were soon to be entirely without restraint.
So when she thought of Kana's hardships, Kushina only felt more guilty. If she had only paid closer attention, kept a tighter watch on Konoha, if she hadn't let herself be so easily deceived, maybe she could have prevented Kana's tragic fate.
No wonder Nagato held such deep resentment. She couldn't help but feel like slapping herself twice.
She lowered her head and said, "Kana, I was taken back to Konoha by their people, and I lived with Grandma Mito. These years, life's been pretty good for me… I… I'm sorry for you."
But Kana, far more mature now, only shook her head, "Sis, when home is gone, it's all just living under someone else's roof, no matter where you are. I've tasted that bitterness countless times, so I know, your life couldn't have been as easy as you make it sound."
Looking at this unusually sensible Kana, Kushina's heart throbbed hard. Was this really the little princess who had once shone brightest in Uzushiogakure?
Her sobbing grew louder, "Look who's talking! You're the one who's had it worst, yet you hide your pain and only tell the good. You say 'living under another's roof', does that mean you're not happy in Akatsuki? Sis will take you back with me, we'll never be apart again."
These words startled Nagato, who had been quietly moved and nearly crying himself. He froze, then seriously wondered, was Kana-nee really unhappy here? If so, then he bore a huge responsibility.
But Kana said, "Sis, what are you thinking? Nagato has taken great care of me. Here, I want nothing. I can do whatever I like. It's almost like the days back in Uzushiogakure."
"So Sis, I want to stay here. If I went back to Konoha with you, I'd just have to adapt all over again. Besides, Aunt Kasui was killed by Konoha ninja, how good could Konoha really be?"
That only made Kushina feel guiltier. She nodded and said, "You're right. Konoha really is no good. And to think I let them fool me for so long… Since you're happy here, then stay."
"Anyway, with Obito around, I can come see you anytime. And when my husband becomes Hokage, I'll bring you to visit Konoha for fun."
Kana gently nodded. The two sisters grew cheerful again, holding hands, chatting about private sisterly matters.
Kushina asked quietly, "Kana, I'm already married, and I'm pregnant with a little girl. You're not young anymore either, have you met someone you like?"
Kana's face flushed red. She turned her eyes aside, a little guilty, "No."
But of course, Kushina could tell her sister was hiding something. With a gossipy look, she teased, "Sis knows you well. Every time you lie, you act like this. Tell me, who is it?"
Under Kushina's curious gaze, Kana's blush deepened until she couldn't hold back anymore.
Hesitantly, she said, "It's… Uchiha… Uchiha…"
But before she could finish, Kushina jumped in shock, "Uchiha Madara? Kana, you like the leader of Akatsuki, the Uchiha Madara who founded Konoha?"
"Kana, listen to me, you must not like that man."
Kana gave her sister a resentful glance, "Sis, how could I possibly like Leader Madara? I've only seen him a few times, and he's so scary. I meant another Uchiha."
This time, Kushina's expression went beyond terrified, "Not Uchiha Madara… don't tell me… Uchiha Obito!"
She stammered, "Sis… this… this is even worse! Obito is only ten years old! And his whole heart is full of Rin, he doesn't have room for another woman. How about… you just like Uchiha Madara instead?"
Kana looked even more resentful, "Sis, are all the Uchiha dead or something? Who said it's only Madara and Obito? The one I like is actually Uchiha Sasuke. But he already has another woman in his heart, and she's one of our clan too, Karin."
Gasp!
Kushina almost jumped up.
'My sister wants to fight her daughter for a man?' [T/N: I can, somehow, visualise it as a manga title]
'This… this is way too inappropriate!'
She never expected Kana had even met Sasuke.
Kushina said, "Kana, I know Sasuke fits your taste. He does look like the prince charming of your dreams. But how about… you just like Obito instead?"
Kana huffed angrily, "Sis, why can't I like Sasuke? Even if I only met him once, and I don't know where he went, the Uzumaki clan is already gone. I don't care if Sasuke still has Karin and Sakura in his heart. Anyway… anyway…"
By the end, even Kana herself couldn't say it out loud, her face red as a big apple.
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