Do You Believe Fate Brought Us Together Here?

"Lady Tsunade, I'm really fine already."

Inside a fairly clean and tidy room, Uchiha Sōgetsu, wrapped up like a rice dumpling, looked utterly helpless.

"No. Am I the doctor, or are you?" Tsunade said as she lay beside him without the slightest decorum, wearing a loose teal kimono. Her fair, ample breasts pressed together into a deep valley, exuding alluring mature charm.

Beneath the hem of that kimono, her long, plump, rounded legs were casually crossed and stretched out. Her delicate toes curled lightly, flawless as white jade.

This woman... had no shame!

Uchiha Sōgetsu covered his eyes and sighed. "Lady Tsunade, I've said this many times. Could you please pay attention to yourself?"

"Oh my, what are you afraid of~?"

Tsunade licked her lips and gave him a seductive look. "Kid, don't tell me you're thinking about something improper?"

"Sorry, I don't like women older than me."

Uchiha Sōgetsu shot back firmly.

"Tch~" Tsunade curled her lips and waved a hand. "Stop being so full of yourself. I don't like you either, you brat!"

For a moment, the scene turned cold, and the atmosphere abruptly froze.

"Oh, right. Where did Little Hikari go?" Unable to bear Tsunade's occasional resentful glances any longer, Uchiha Sōgetsu coughed twice and asked.

"Tch, little pervert." Tsunade rolled her eyes. "Don't worry. I sent Little Hikari to buy some things. We're some distance from Amegakure, so it's safe."

"Oh."

Uchiha Sōgetsu said nothing else.

"Hey, tell me honestly. Do you like Little Hikari?" Tsunade suddenly leaned closer and teased.

Uchiha Sōgetsu froze. He had not expected Tsunade to crowd so close. Breathing in the refreshing fragrance around him, he only had to lower his head slightly to see this woman's "broad" chest. His thoughts stirred, and he nearly got forced out of his Spectator state.

"No, you misunderstand."

Uchiha Sōgetsu adjusted his glasses and said calmly, "I don't like her. I'm merely concerned for a companion."

"Tch~ A man whose words don't match his heart."

Tsunade seemed convinced that he liked Little Hikari. Muttering, she said, "Dishonest brat. Don't let your words come back to bite you someday!"

Uchiha Sōgetsu shook his head and did not respond.

Like her?

No. He would not like anyone.

From the moment he drank the Spectator pathway potion, any unnecessary emotion had become a luxury to him.

Just as the room's atmosphere grew stiff, Little Hikari pushed open the door. "Lady Tsunade, I'm back."

"Ah, good work, Little Hikari~" Tsunade reclined on the bed like a useless layabout, half-closing her eyes in comfort.

Uchiha Sōgetsu glanced over what Tsunade had asked her to buy. It was mostly beer and boxed meals. Helplessly covering his face, he said, "Lady Tsunade, didn't you say you wouldn't drink anymore?"

"Huh? Did I say that?" Tsunade rolled her eyes, then had a sudden idea. "Haha, I think I did say that. But the mission is over, so a little drink is fine~"

Before long, she had gotten herself drunk and lay there snoring away.

A lightweight who still loved drinking—was this what it meant to be weak but addicted?

Uchiha Sōgetsu shook his head and turned to Little Hikari. "Little Hikari, I need to go out. It'll probably take around two days. During that time, I'll need you to forge something and implant a false memory in her for me. I'm counting on you."

"No problem."

Little Hikari nodded obediently, biting her lips and twisting her fingers together. She carefully asked, "Um... can I come with you?"

"No need. I can go alone." Uchiha Sōgetsu rubbed the girl's hair and chuckled. "Besides, I think you staying here would help me even more."

"Yes. I won't let her affect you."

Little Hikari could not help feeling somewhat downcast, but she still pulled herself together and made him that promise.

"Very reliable."

Uchiha Sōgetsu changed clothes, put on a conical hat, and pressed down its brim with a hand before opening the window. "Then I'll leave it to you, Little Hikari."

Using the pitch-black night as cover, he leaped outside.

Whoosh!

After several jumps, he vanished into the night like a ghost.

Amegakure.

The weather was as gloomy and unpleasant as ever, with a light drizzle falling.

Pedestrians hurried along, businesses remained open as usual, and the liveliest places were naturally the little taverns along the streets.

Everything was as it had always been. It seemed that nothing had changed.

"As expected, they concealed the news of Hanzo's death."

Konan wore a black hood and held a paper umbrella as she silently observed the familiar village, her heart filled with sorrow. "It's just a pity that this brief peace will soon be shattered."

In only two days, her life had undergone earth-shaking changes.

Yahiko's tragic death had left Akatsuki without a leader. Nagato, the only one capable of stepping forward to stabilize the situation, had used that forbidden Summoning Jutsu, causing too much Chakra to be drained from him at once. He had become skin and bones; now, even standing had become difficult.

So far, the only good news was that the Rain Ninja seemed to have identified Tsunade, one of Konoha's Legendary Sannin, as the culprit.

This had given the already chaotic Akatsuki a rare chance to catch its breath.

"Yahiko... can you tell me... what exactly should I do now?"

Lost and confused, Konan strolled through the rain beneath her paper umbrella. Her lonely, slender figure seemed isolated from the rest of the world.

For some reason, after wandering around, she arrived before a crude stall.

The stall stood at the entrance to a remote side road, where there were hardly any pedestrians. It even relied on the rain shelter of the building above, barely occupying an area of less than three square meters.

A middle-aged man dressed in a simple white robe, with a cross pendant hanging from his chest and a plain, gentle temperament, was flipping through a black book in his hand.

What a strange person... That was Konan's first impression when she saw him.

The noisy surroundings seemed completely unable to affect him. He exuded an enchanting aura of calm that made her subconsciously approach.

Perhaps it was this sense of security that had drawn her in.

"Lost lamb."

The man set down the book beside him and slowly raised his head. His gentle voice was like a ray of sunlight. "Do you believe fate brought us together here?"

"What are you talking about?"

Konan, who had been trapped in confusion, seemed to have been struck in the heart by those words.

She stared blankly at him. His black eyes were as clear and pure as an infant's, as though they could reflect the chaos and unease within her heart.

"I can tell that your eyes are filled with confusion."

The middle-aged man folded his hands over his abdomen and crossed one leg over the other. In a gentle tone, he said, "If you don't mind, you can confide in me. Perhaps... I can share some of your burden."

"N-No need."

Konan came back to herself and shook her head bitterly. "No one can help me. Thank you."

She turned to leave. She had only come out today to procure supplies, and she had already been gone long enough. It was time to return.

Yet she had barely taken two steps when that voice came again.

"Fate... is cruel, isn't it?"

Konan's eyes abruptly constricted. Upon hearing those words, her expression changed drastically, and she turned to stare fixedly at the man.

"Every gift bestowed by fate has already had its price marked in secret."

The middle-aged man's eyes were pure and clear, yet countless whirlpools seemed to rise and fall in their depths. Meaningfully, he said, "I just wonder whether you are satisfied with this 'price.'"

My cold has gotten really bad. I've got a low fever and a cough, but I still have to force myself to go to work. Being a worker is simply miserable. As always, please send some recommendations, investments, and follow-up reading~