A Negotiation Doomed to Fail

Yahiko and Nagato stared at Konan in astonishment, their eyes wide. Yahiko crept up beside his companion and whispered, "Nagato, could Konan have an older sister? Do you know?"

Nagato flushed faintly when Yahiko leaned close. He looked at the person before him, who looked just like Konan.

They looked exactly alike—the same hair, the same face, the same jutsu. Even their reserved personalities seemed identical. If Nagato hadn't known that Konan didn't have a sister, he might have instinctively thought this was her older sister. It was no wonder his companion had reacted that way.

Looking into Konan's eyes, Nagato felt a strange familiarity stir within him. He asked softly, "You... who are you, really?"

"That doesn't matter. What matters is that you can't go to the negotiations. It's a trap. Hanzō has allied with outsiders and set an ambush there. The moment you arrive, they'll attack you."

The two exchanged glances, unable to understand why the person who seemed to be Konan's older sister would say this.

After thinking it over, Yahiko stepped forward and looked at Konan. "Konan's older sister, uh... let me call you that for now. This is an opportunity we fought hard to obtain. Lord Hanzō has also announced this cooperation to the whole village. All the villagers and shinobi will come to watch, so even if it is a trap, for the sake of peace in our village, we'll go without hesitation."

Yahiko's resolute expression showed a sense of responsibility far beyond his years.

Konan gazed at the blond boy before her, her face filled with wistfulness. Yes, that was exactly what Yahiko had been like. Even knowing there was a trap ahead, he'd charged forward without hesitation. In the end, he had even thrown himself onto Nagato's kunai and taken his own