"Yahiko, Nagato... Lately, whenever I went out, I felt like the way people looked at us was really strange!"
Konan returned to the little courtyard where the three of them lived, her face full of confusion.
As a young beauty with outstanding looks—or, more accurately, looks that practically crushed all of Kumogakure—combined with her gentle and lovable personality, Konan had been very popular during her time in Kumogakure.
Not only were the neighbors friendly and often considerate toward her, but even the Kumogakure Ninja she occasionally encountered were amiable, greeting her with smiles nearly every time.
It perfectly illustrated how beauty knew no borders.
But things had changed somewhat over the past two days.
First, the Kumogakure Ninja who would occasionally greet her when they met on the street now seemed to be pretending not to see her. Just as they were about to approach, they would suddenly look up at the scenery or loudly strike up a conversation with their companions. In short, the only thing missing was the words "I'm busy, I didn't see you" written across their faces.
Then there were the nearby shopkeepers and neighbors. They had not gone so far as to outright ignore her, but their attitudes were vastly different from before. Their warmth was gone, and every exchange carried a perfunctory, distant air.
Especially when they whispered among themselves and pointed at her.
This left Konan deeply confused.
She carefully reviewed her recent actions, yet found nothing improper or anything that might have offended someone. It made her quite frustrated.
But Konan was considerate and understanding. She did not immediately tell Yahiko and Nagato about her feelings, lest she affect them as well. Instead, she kept it to herself and planned to find the reason first.
But that discomfort reached its peak today.