Things unfolded exactly as Shiba Seika had expected.
Kenjiro didn't let him down. That very night, he went and passed the information on to Nagato.
Not long after the others set out for Kusagakure, Nagato indeed followed them in secret.
Everything was going smoothly.
Shiba Seika stayed behind alone in his room at the inn, humming a little tune about being a good person as he cooked dinner. He planned to wait a little longer on purpose, then follow after he'd eaten.
But things weren't that simple.
Just as he was elegantly preparing various cuts of beef and pork, following one of Hannibal's recipes, someone suddenly knocked on his door.
His ninja instincts quickly told him who was outside.
Was that Big Sis Konan?
Why had she suddenly come over?
This wasn't part of his plan.
Shiba Seika had no time to think. Konan had already pushed the door open and come in.
"Big Sis Konan, what can I do for you? Oh, have you eaten yet? Want to try my cooking?"
Shiba Seika greeted her warmly, his smile as flawless as ever.
He was sure he hadn't given anything away, but the very next moment, Konan pierced his disguise with a single sentence.
"Nagato just went out. He left quietly, without telling even me. This must be another one of your schemes, Seika, right?"
Shiba Seika's expression stiffened slightly.
He'd been careless. He hadn't expected Big Sis Konan, who'd been traveling with them, to be so perceptive.
Before he could hastily come up with a new excuse, Konan spoke again, swiftly sealing his fate.
"Before Nagato left, I used a Paper Butterfly to 'see' Kenjiro come to visit him.
"You probably don't know this, but over the past month, Kenjiro came to Yahiko several times to complain about you. He said you were very good at manipulating people, and often used cunning words to force others to do things for you. He said you were a demon who toyed with people's hearts.
"Seika, you don't have to lie to me. I'm sure this was your plan.
"I haven't told Nagato about this. I just came to ask you for an answer."
For once, Shiba Seika was at a loss for words.
He really had been careless!
Not long ago, he'd kept reminding himself: Konan isn't just a pretty face! Take her seriously and win her over!
Yet in the end, he'd still underestimated this girl, who had left such a profound mark on the Akatsuki Organization in the original story.
Perhaps it was because Konan had been so obedient ever since that day.
She'd followed his lead throughout the battle and willingly given him her complete trust. After they returned to the Akatsuki Organization's base, she'd repeatedly spoken up for him, too.
For a while, Shiba Seika had thought he'd already won over this fourteen-year-old girl.
But he hadn't expected her to stay so clearheaded when it mattered.
"Big Sis Konan, what answer are you looking for?"
At this point, there was no point in trying to be clever. Shiba Seika thought he might as well be honest.
He didn't deny Big Sis Konan's accusation, which was as good as admitting that he'd set things in motion.
And judging by her final words—"I haven't told Nagato"—she must have had her own reasons and intentions.
He should still have a chance to explain himself.
Sure enough, the next moment, Konan unfurled her Paper Style in the room. As Paper Butterflies danced through the air, she stared intently at Shiba Seika and asked in an extremely serious tone:
"Seika, I thought about it for a long time after I returned from that mission. I have to admit, your ideas are more mature than Yahiko's—more mature than all of ours.
"But I need you to answer me honestly! To achieve your goal, to bring about the so-called true peace you talk about, would you ever betray the Akatsuki Organization? Abandon the Land of Rain? Or even use Nagato, Yahiko, or me?"
The Paper Butterflies fluttering all around them brimmed with murderous intent, but Shiba Seika's heart unexpectedly grew calm.
At this point, he wasn't worried anymore.
Because he'd finally realized that he understood Big Sis Konan!
Konan—the least conspicuous of the original Akatsuki Organization's three founders—was actually the most normal of the three!
She wasn't as deeply devoted to their ideals as Yahiko and Nagato. What she cared about was always the people around her: her friends, her companions, and the place she called home.
In the future, when Nagato decided to make the world feel pain, she supported him without hesitation.
But after Nagato was defeated by Naruto and talked into giving up his life with Talk Style, she didn't choose to take up his ideals or carry on the Akatsuki Organization's cause. Instead, she did everything in her power, at any cost, to try to take down Obito, who had been using Nagato all along.
When it came down to it, Konan had never cared that much about the Akatsuki's ideals.
All she cared about was her companions, the few friends she had by her side.
Now that was what a normal person was like!
It was just that, beside the Akatsuki Organization's first leader, a saintly idealist, its second leader, a madman, and all the other lunatics, fanatics, and deranged scientists who came later, the one normal person seemed completely out of place.
She was always out of step with everyone around her simply because she wasn't twisted enough.jpg
Once he understood all this, Shiba Seika immediately knew how to get out of this predicament.
"You can relax, Big Sis Konan. I've never thought of betraying the Akatsuki Organization.
"And Big Sis Konan, aren't we companions? Why would you think of me that way?"
He really wasn't lying. After all, how could a coup count as betrayal?
The Akatsuki Organization needed a leader, so why couldn't it be me?
As for the follow-up—"Aren't we companions?"—it struck right at Big Sis Konan's sensitive, lonely heart. A touch of hurt and confusion mingled on his face, and in an instant, it even made Konan feel a little guilty.
Then Shiba Seika pressed his advantage, closing in step by step. Within that tiny space, he brought out a lifetime's worth of acting!
"Big Sis Konan, although I don't agree with Yahiko and often think his ideas are too naive, I've never once forgotten that you saved me. You reached out to help me, so I didn't freeze to death in that freezing, miserable downpour.
"I've always considered everyone in the Akatsuki Organization my companions—especially you, Big Sis Konan!
"Everything I've done is to keep the Akatsuki Organization from being destroyed by Yahiko's wishful, naive thinking.
"Big Sis Konan, I won't abandon you. Never! Don't you believe me?"
As the saying went—if you were devoted to your ideals, they'd talk about change and peace;
if you were lonely and starved for love, they'd talk about bonds and friendship!
After all, this was the Naruto world. There was something for everyone!
The string of appeals did indeed break through Konan's defenses. She stepped back and withdrew most of the Paper Butterflies. The murderous intent in the room vanished in an instant.
"I'm sorry, Seika. I didn't mean it that way. I believe you're one of us!
"I was just a little scared!
"Your ideas are far beyond ours, and you're so opposed to Yahiko. I was afraid that one day you'd use Nagato or someone else..."
Shiba Seika smiled gently.
Konan was perceptive. In a way, she was right: Shiba Seika really did intend to use Nagato.
But compared with the tragic ending in the original story, who could say that using him wasn't another way of saving him?
So the next moment, he boldly stepped forward and reached out to touch Konan's cheek.
It felt warm. Konan had put away her Paper Style, so her cheek felt soft and smooth against his palm, with a slight spring to it.
She'd startled him badly when she first walked in just seconds ago, but now Shiba Seika couldn't help feeling that maybe this had all been worth it after all.
Perhaps out of guilt, or a desire to make it up to him, Konan didn't pull away. She let him gently caress her cheek.
"Trust me, Big Sis Konan. This Shinobi World is dangerous, and our situation isn't nearly as optimistic as you think. Everything I do is to save everyone—to save the Akatsuki Organization!
"Because we're each other's most important companions!"
With those words, the crisis in the room was completely resolved!
Konan lowered her head, seemingly to hide her flushed face. Only after a long while did she look up and ask in a very quiet voice, "Are you still going after Nagato? I can fly you there."
"Okay."
Shiba Seika nodded at once, letting out a relieved breath in his heart.
He knew he'd finally passed the test for good!
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