"I don't want to leave yet."
"I want to stay by his side for a few more days."
Pain's Six Paths stared fixedly at Konan with six pairs of eyes, then abruptly turned and glared at Lin Qing.
"You still haven't released the genjutsu?!"
Since appearing, Pain had shown no emotional reaction during the battle or the slaughter—not even when he saw Planetary Devastation get pierced and Obito escape. This was the first time he had displayed such an intense emotional reaction.
Killing intent.
Fierce, searing killing intent, like a landslide and a raging tsunami.
Yahiko was already dead.
Over the years, one old Akatsuki comrade after another had also perished or left.
Konan was Pain's last family member, and the one who mattered most to him.
"It's not his fault. It's mine."
Noticing Pain's change in mood, Konan hurried to explain. "His technique has already been dispelled. It's just that I've followed Lin Qing all this way, witnessed so many things, and met so many people."
Konan looked around at the ruined Kirigakure.
"I want to see things through to the very end before I leave."
Pain couldn't understand, but after a few seconds of silence, he chose to respect his comrade's decision.
Konan said, "I'll be back in ten days."
Pain nodded slightly. "All right. I'll come for you in ten days."
He glanced at Lin Qing, then Pain's Six Paths turned to leave.
Just then, an angry voice rang out at the worst possible time:
"Hey! What are you doing? You've been fighting and killing all this time, yet you haven't killed a single rebel! Is this what I pay you for every year—to support a bunch of useless fools?
"You there, in black, with the diseased eyes! Stop right there! Did I say you could leave?