Big Sister Konan, You Smell So Nice!

After the dust settled from the fierce battle, the three girls joined the Akatsuki.

As the Akatsuki's representative, Konan had witnessed their agreement, so she naturally called off her fierce assault.

She understood that the purpose of this trip was to strengthen the Akatsuki, not to cause pointless conflict.

"Now that you've decided to join the Akatsuki, nothing can stand in our way, Kakuzu," Konan said calmly, turning to the man with five hearts who could never die. "You've seen Hidan's condition. You should stitch him up as soon as possible."

At that moment, Hidan was lying on the ground, his body hacked to pieces by Kakuzu's ninjutsu. His limbs had been severed from his torso, yet his vitality was astonishingly strong. Even in such a state, he remained as stubborn as ever, trading barbs with Kakuzu without backing down.

Kakuzu glanced over at Hidan, then slowly crouched down and began stitching him back together.

In response to Hidan's taunts, Kakuzu showed no anger. He simply replied in an even tone, "Kid, you're certainly lucky. Otherwise, I wouldn't go easy on you next time."

Hidan heard him and flashed a stubborn, confident grin, as though he hadn't taken Kakuzu's words to heart and instead saw them as a peculiar form of communication between strong men.

Though he was in pain, Hidan didn't back down. Instead, he answered Kakuzu mockingly, "Aw, come on, Kakuzu, looks like you really did go easy on me. If this had happened on any other day, I'd probably be drained of my last drop of blood by now, wouldn't I?"

Kakuzu shot him a glance and snorted. His face remained expressionless, though there was a hint of teasing in his voice. "Hidan, your vitality really is impressive. Anyone else would've been dead from injuries like these. But don't think I'll keep cleaning up your messes forever. Your immortality isn't invincible. Keep acting recklessly, and one day I might actually take you apart for good."

Far from showing any restraint, Hidan laughed even more boisterously. "Ha ha! You're right, Kakuzu. Lord Jashin gave me infinite vitality! As long as my faith lives, I'll never die! And with you around as my walking blood bank, I've got even more reason to act recklessly, don't I?"

Kakuzu glared at him, annoyed but helpless. He replied in the same mocking tone, "Go ahead and enjoy your immortal curse, Hidan. But remember, if you ever really make me lose my temper, I won't mind showing you what 'endless pain' truly means."

Hidan heard Kakuzu's words and laughed. "Likewise, Kakuzu. Your greed and obsession are just as much our way of surviving, aren't they? In this world full of conflict, aren't we the perfect proof of that?"

Afterward, Kakuzu sprang into action, using his unique secret technique to sew Hidan's severed limbs back into place. As flesh and blood knitted together, Hidan's body miraculously returned to normal.

Once Kakuzu had finished his precise, efficient stitching, Hidan's body, which had been torn into pieces, was restored in an instant. He moved his arms and legs, finding his strength unchanged. After his brush with death, he even seemed to have gained a deeper understanding and control of his immortality.

He stood up and brushed the dust from his clothes, wearing a smug, mischievous grin. Then he offered Kakuzu a joking thank-you. "I'm not paying for the surgery. Thanks, bro."

Kakuzu showed little reaction to Hidan's teasing. He merely let out a disdainful snort—"Hmph"—and turned his head away, deliberately avoiding eye contact. His expression was as gloomy as ever, as though a layer of frost permanently shadowed his face, making his true thoughts impossible to read.

Seeing this, Hidan only teased him more boldly. "Oh, what's this? Getting all tsundere, Kakuzu? I didn't know you had such a childish side."

Kakuzu's back stiffened slightly at the remark, but he didn't turn around. He replied in a low, firm voice, "Hidan, don't forget that if I hadn't stitched you back together when it mattered, you'd still be crawling around on the ground. Stop grinning like an idiot and do your job."

Hidan's grin widened. He replied, delighted, "Aw, Kakuzu, once we're working together, won't we know each other inside out? I'm just grateful, in my own way. Don't worry, I won't let you down when we're on a mission."

After the fierce battle, Kakuzu, Hidan, Konan, and the new Akatsuki recruits—Uchiha Hanabi, Gojo Rin, and Gojo Satoru—arrived at a hot-spring resort in Yugakure.

Yugakure was famous for its abundant hot springs. The six of them were now enjoying the soothing, peaceful waters, trying to wash away their fatigue and the stench of smoke from the battlefield.

But their peaceful mood was interrupted by urgent news: Hidan had killed several innocent villagers.

Kakuzu showed off his wealth. With a wave of his hand, he dealt with the problem in the blink of an eye, using money to buy out the village's entire hot-spring industry and secure the group's bathing time.

In the women's bath, gentle steam rose through the air, carrying a faint scent of sulfur. Konan, Uchiha Hanabi, and Gojo Rin soaked in the warm water together, their conversation relaxed but cautious.

Konan looked at Hanabi with interest, curiosity glittering in her eyes. "Hanabi, I've always wanted to know: how did you learn about the Akatsuki, and what made you decide to join us?"

Hanabi put on a playful expression and teased her deliberately. "Oh, Big Sister Konan, I heard the villagers talking about it. They said the Akatsuki was a great organization devoted to maintaining world peace. The villagers here think very highly of you and speak warmly of you."

Gojo Rin immediately chimed in, putting on an earnest expression as she added, "That's right, I heard the same thing. We both thought it would be an incredible honor to join an organization that pursues peace and justice. That's one of the main reasons my sister and I decided to join the Akatsuki."

Through the steam rising from the hot water, Hanabi's gaze happened to fall on Konan's full, upright breasts. She couldn't help admiring the Akatsuki leader's charm and strength.

As one of the organization's central figures, Konan's bearing and abilities inspired Hanabi's respect. That accidental glimpse also made Hanabi intensely curious about Konan's life.

Sensitive as ever, Konan quickly noticed Hanabi's searching gaze. But rather than scold her or act embarrassed, she smoothly changed the subject in a calm, caring tone. "I heard you're an orphan of the Uchiha Clan, a girl from Konoha. How did you end up joining this peaceful village?"

After hearing the question, Hanabi immediately composed herself. Her face took on just the right blend of sorrow and resolve, and she began a stellar performance. "That's right. I'm an orphan of the Uchiha Clan. I lost my parents when I was little and grew up alone in Konoha. Later, the Uchiha Clan rejected me, so I came here by myself. Maybe because of who I am, or maybe because of everything I've suffered, the villagers have been especially kind and sympathetic to me. I chose to join because I had nowhere to go and no one to care for me. I'm an orphan. Waaaah."

Gojo Rin joined the conversation at just the right moment, following Hanabi's lead. "That's right. Hanabi's life has been full of hardships. Though she was well-known in Konoha, deep down she always felt lonely, like she could never fit in. My sister and I only came here after meeting by chance."

Hearing Hanabi talk about her past and the path she'd taken, Konan felt a deep sense of sympathy and understanding well up inside her.

She, too, had been orphaned by war. She still vividly remembered the pain and helplessness of losing her family and facing the world alone.

Looking at the two young girls before her, who had also endured so much—especially the sorrow and strength in Hanabi's bright eyes—

Konan, a woman who had gone through similar hardships, felt her tender heart deeply moved.

Konan sighed softly. "Poor girls. Your story reminds me of my own past—alone and struggling to find my way through the depths of hardship. I understand how you feel, and I can sense your courage and determination."

Hearing Konan's words, Hanabi's eyes grew moist. She edged closer and gently nestled against Konan's chest, as though she had found the support she'd missed for so long.

She looked up at Konan with tearful eyes and said, half-joking and half-serious, "Big Sister Konan, look how pitiful I am. No one cares about me or loves me. Rin and I only made it this far by supporting each other."

Konan's heart tightened, her sympathy plain to see. She gently stroked Hanabi's hair, her voice as soft as a spring breeze. "Don't cry, Hanabi. You're not alone. Now you have the Akatsuki as your family. We're all family here. My comrades and I will care for and support you. We can't erase the pain of the past, but together we can create a future where children won't have to suffer anymore."

Standing nearby, Gojo Rin was completely stunned by Hanabi's superb acting. Every word and gesture seemed so genuine, as if Hanabi truly were a helpless orphan longing for someone to take care of her.

Rin marveled to herself. Hanabi was a natural actress, able to play the scene so convincingly that she deserved to be called the "Joyful Prankster." Even when she was acting, she threw herself into it as though it were real, striking straight at the heart.

This had to be Konoha's doing!

Just as Rin was completely immersed in the dramatic tension of Hanabi's performance, Hanabi suddenly made a startling move, pressing close to Konan with a motion that seemed natural yet undeniably flirtatious.

With the water's movement to help her, she seemed to brush her full, rounded breasts against Konan's. Then she pulled Konan into her arms without hesitation, tightly wrapping both arms around her slender yet supple body.

Faced with the sudden intimacy, Konan stiffened. A tingling sensation surged through her, making her heart race and her cheeks flush a captivating shade of pink.

While Rin was still trying to process what she was seeing, Hanabi grew even bolder. Not only did she press herself against Konan's chest, but she also let her hand slide down to Konan's waist. Wherever her fingertips touched, it was like plucking a string, setting off ripples.

Konan's already curvaceous figure seemed even more alluring beneath Hanabi's touch, her delicate skin gleaming enticingly in the hot-spring water.

Konan became even more bashful. She had never imagined Hanabi would express her feelings so boldly and openly. An unfamiliar sensation spread through her chest and waist, making her heart race and her breathing quicken.

She tried to steady herself, but the blush had already spread to her neck. It was an emotion mingling embarrassment, shyness, and gratitude, as delicate as cherry blossoms in spring.

Hanabi's actions had undoubtedly crossed the line, yet they had also created an intense visual impact and stirred powerful emotions.

Her tears looked real and unreal at once, glistening on her delicate face in the faint light reflected from the hot spring. Everyone present was moved by the sight.

"Big Sister Konan, Hanabi has had such a miserable life. I'm an Akatsuki fan, too. Waaaah," Hanabi said.

Though Hanabi's sudden attack had left Konan somewhat flustered, seeing her weeping made Konan's sympathy and affection well up. Instinctively, she rubbed Hanabi's back, silently comforting her.

In a corner of the hot spring, Gojo Satoru—a white-haired woman in this setting, having undergone a complete gender swap—stared wide-eyed at Hanabi's bold yet tender behavior.

Surprise and confusion flickered in her bright blue eyes. Hanabi's direct, passionate display of affection had clearly left her shaken.

At the same time, she quickly pulled out her system device, secretly snapped a photo, and sent it to the Akatsuki's private chat group.

Meanwhile, far away in Konoha, Sasuke and Naruto were locked in a fierce gaming showdown in Sasuke's living room.

As he worked the controller, Naruto took the time to tease Sasuke beside him. "Sasuke, what's wrong with you? You can't even beat me at a game. You've barely beaten me in a real fight, either. You're such a noob!"

Sasuke wore a disdainful expression, the faintest smile on his lips. "Tch. Who knows which of us stayed up practicing until dawn last night? You call it training, but all you're doing is making yourself more tired."

His words revealed how worried he was about Naruto overworking himself.

Naruto immediately bristled and shot back, "What are you talking about? I'm perfecting my skills and constantly improving. Got it?"

As soon as he'd finished speaking, the two plunged into another round of gaming.

At that moment, Uchiha Ruri was busy preparing dinner in the kitchen when the corner of her eye caught sight of a newly uploaded photo in the System Chat Group.

In the picture, Hanabi was holding Konan tightly, Konan's face was flushed, and Hanabi had tears in her eyes. They looked like a devoted mother and son.

The knife in Uchiha Ruri's hand stopped moving. The words burst from her mouth before she could help it: "Holy crap! These two are incredible!"