Akatsuki Mobilizes (2) We've Grown Up

High atop the pitch-black building.

Standing on a platform, Konan walked over to Yahiko in surprise and asked doubtfully.

"Yahiko, that just now was...?"

Hearing her words, Yahiko slowly opened his eyes amid the calm. His expression remained composed as he answered in a low voice.

"That was Deidara unleashing one of his techniques in the upper sky. As for why... that is still unknown..."

Konan's expression tightened, her gaze sinking as she said gravely.

"Could news of Lord Aizen's return have leaked!?"

"Or has the Akatsuki base been discovered!?"

Hearing her words, Yahiko smiled faintly and looked at Konan with ease.

"Don't worry. Something like that probably hasn't happened..."

At that point, a glint flashed in his eyes as he murmured.

"Even if it has... we are no longer the same as before..."

"If that truly is the case... we will protect Lord Aizen!"

As his voice fell, a thin figure slowly emerged from a side room nearby.

At the sight of him, a sharp gleam flashed through Yahiko's eyes, though his expression did not change. His face instead turned slightly cold.

Upon noticing the newcomer, Konan glanced worriedly at Yahiko before looking back at the arrival, seeming somewhat anxious.

Perhaps unwilling to make things too difficult for Konan, Yahiko's expression darkened as he spoke first.

"Nagato, what brings you here?"

Over fifteen years, the two, once close, had for some unknown reason grown extremely estranged.

Hearing him, Nagato, whose face was equally pale and indifferent, glanced at Yahiko and said in a low voice.

"The cause of the earlier explosion has been confirmed. It was Deidara acting rashly. It had nothing to do with an enemy attack."

Hearing that, Konan's expression relaxed slightly.

Yahiko, however, merely looked at Nagato coldly, his meaning already obvious.

Nagato understood as well.