"Konan? What are you doing here?"
Morning.
A groggy Itachi was woken by the sound of knocking. He casually threw on his robe and opened the door, his expression puzzled as he looked at the woman standing before him.
"Still half-asleep, I see," Konan remarked.
Before Itachi could respond, Konan stepped into the room and sat down in a familiar spot. Pouring herself a cup of tea, she began speaking.
"Uh... I ate a little too much last night and couldn't fall asleep..."
Itachi, watching her actions, closed the door absentmindedly. Scratching his head and noting his messy hair, he spoke sheepishly.
"Well, don't do that again," Konan replied coolly, sipping her tea.
---
"Is there a reason you came to see me?"
Itachi asked, eyeing Konan's chosen seat with a touch of awkwardness. Memories of their last meeting came to mind, and his expression shifted slightly as he lazily poured himself some tea.
"Yes. Starting today, we're teammates," Konan said with a soft smile. "I heard you're not fond of taking missions, so I already picked one for us. Once you're ready, we can head out."
Itachi blinked in surprise, but quickly composed himself and stood to prepare.
"You seem a bit startled," Konan noted, curious.
"Yeah, I am a little," Itachi admitted. "A new recruit joined the organization yesterday—lots of dinners and gifts. I assumed he'd be my next teammate."
Turning back to her, Itachi shrugged and spoke casually.
---
"Originally, that was the plan," Konan explained lightly. "But with the organization's current strength a bit lacking, there was a slight adjustment."
"I see," Itachi replied, his pupils narrowing slightly before turning away.
Despite his outward calm, his mood grew heavy. From this moment, the course of the world had changed. His once-clear foresight was no longer complete. The shifting dynamics of the world's events meant that major outcomes could now vary significantly.
Konan said nothing further, simply observing Itachi's back.
Unlike previous casual encounters, this was different. On missions, facing danger meant trusting the person behind you.
Her demeanor carried a sense of evaluation. Every word Itachi said was weighed, its underlying meaning carefully considered. Gathering intelligence and understanding him better were her priorities now.
---
Konan's gaze made Itachi slightly uncomfortable.
After a moment of thought, he took off his robe, revealing his pale, muscular back. Shirtless, he grabbed a netted undershirt and slipped it on.
What surprised him was that Konan's eyes didn't waver. Her gaze remained steady, as though she were merely appreciating the view without any ulterior thoughts. Itachi's heart sank slightly.
Once dressed and having tidied up his messy hair, he turned to see Konan deep in thought, her delicate hands cradling a teacup.
---
"I'm ready. Let's go," Itachi said, grabbing a hat from the wall and placing it on his head.
"Alright," Konan replied, placing the teacup on the table and standing gracefully.
Her movements were so fluid and practiced that they seemed almost choreographed, a sight that was oddly satisfying to watch. Her clear, refined face carried a subtle charm that only grew with each glance.
As Konan stepped outside, Itachi took a moment to glance around the room. The faint scent of her perfume lingered in the air. He closed the door.
"What's the mission, Konan?"
Turning back, Itachi's demeanor shifted entirely. His presence became serious and composed, his youthful energy completely suppressed, as if it had never existed.
---
Konan noted the change in his tone, her eyes flickering slightly. She realized the aura radiating from him demanded respect.
She realized she no longer seemed to recognize the person standing before her…
The once-relaxed Itachi, now pulling his zipper up so high it nearly choked him, the Itachi who seemed completely unbothered by removing his shirt in front of her…
"What kind of person are you, really…"
Konan's beautiful eyes seemed dazed, her thoughts silently wandering.
"Konan?"
Receiving no response, Itachi turned back, puzzled, and looked at the preoccupied Konan with surprise.
"Oh… it's nothing… what's wrong?"
Hearing Itachi's voice and catching a glimpse of his solemn yet slightly obscured face beneath the hat, Konan replied softly.
She felt somewhat overwhelmed by Itachi's presence.
Or perhaps her heart was in turmoil, lost in confusion…
…
If it had been someone else—a complete stranger—this would never have happened.
The Itachi standing before her was still staring at her, making Konan nervously fiddle with her slightly long sleeves…
"What's he trying to do? Why is he staring at me like that? Could it be there's something on my face?"
Itachi's gaze left Konan flustered and unsure of how to respond.
Seeing her avoid his eyes, her expression betraying a hint of panic, Itachi turned his head away.
He now had a clearer understanding of Konan.
Konan wasn't particularly good at communicating with strangers. Perhaps, in a way, she was a little introverted?
…
As Itachi turned away, Konan quietly let out a small breath of relief.
To be honest, if it weren't for Pain's arrangement, asking her to spend more time with Itachi, this situation would never have happened.
Pain's underlying intention was clear: he wanted her to make Itachi her ally, to recruit him to their side.
But she didn't really know how to navigate such a relationship…
To strangers, she was always aloof, like an icy mountain.
But when something began with a clear purpose, she truly didn't know how to handle it. Especially when Itachi himself was such a mysterious figure.
"Wait, didn't he just ask me something about the mission? I think I still haven't told him yet? Should I tell him now? But if I tell him now, would it feel awkward?"
Staring at Itachi's back as he walked ahead, Konan's heart was in a tangle of indecision.
Perhaps that's just how a girl's heart works—constantly caught up in moments of doubt.
Impossible to guess what's really on her mind.
…
Itachi suddenly stopped walking, catching the preoccupied Konan off guard and snapping her back to reality.
She realized she'd been paying far too much attention to Itachi's thoughts and actions, leading herself into a passive state.
"This mission is to eliminate a highly-bountied ninja. Our organization currently needs money to maintain the intelligence network and uphold order."
Now fully aware of the situation, Konan spoke softly.
Although her tone was gentle, she exuded an aura of lethal determination.
She had broken free of Itachi's overwhelming presence, and her own aura rose in response, subtly forming a sense of opposition.
"Alright. Lead the way."
Itachi looked back at the now-serious Konan, gave a faint smile, and replied softly.
His presence seemed to melt away, like snow under the sun…
…
Konan looked at Itachi's figure in silence.
It felt as if she had thrown a punch into cotton—soft, yielding, and utterly unsatisfying.
She felt, in an intangible way, as though she'd been mentally overpowered by this boy in front of her…
This was a formidable opponent. Not a little lamb, but a wolf in sheep's clothing…
Konan sighed internally, venting her frustration.
Pain, you've deceived me…
---