"Could he do it?"
Though he did not name anyone, Konan understood who her teacher Jiraiya was referring to.
"Although they have never fought, and there is no way to know their exact strength, I believe he can do it. At the very least, the fact that Madara took the initiative to seek him out proves as much."
"I hope you can think this through and not do something you'll regret."
After hesitating for a long time, Jiraiya ultimately gave up trying to persuade Konan. He set the digging tools aside and slowly walked away.
After Jiraiya left, Konan stared fixedly at Nagato and Yahiko's bodies in the pit. Endless resentment erupted from her body.
"No matter the cost, I'll make them come down and be buried with you. Forgive me, Nagato, Yahiko."
Picking up the tools Jiraiya had used for digging, Konan resolutely began burying their bodies. There was no tombstone, only a simple little mound of earth.
Buried beneath that small mound were two former leaders of Akatsuki, two men who had given every major ninja village a headache.
On another side of Kumogakure, atop a small mountain peak, Ronglin sat on a boulder. Several bottles of fine wine and some food had been set before him.
Ronglin had casually taken them when he left Kumogakure. They would have been left amid the ruins otherwise, and wasting things was shameful.
Itachi and Kimimaro stood quietly some distance away. Both were curious—Kumogakure was in complete chaos right now, so why had Ronglin brought wine and food here? It looked as though he was waiting for someone.
"Hmm?!"
Suddenly, Itachi and Kimimaro both tensed. They sensed an incomparably powerful Chakra presence approaching this place.
"This..."
When the other person drew near, Itachi thought his eyes were playing tricks on him.