"Konan, Sensei and Lord Jiraiya have already left."
When Yahiko and Nagato woke up the next morning, they discovered that Jiraiya was already gone.
When they stepped out through the wooden door, they saw Konan standing alone in the wind and rain, her frail back completely still.
"Yes. They didn't say goodbye. They left in the middle of the night."
Konan's voice carried through the wind and rain, as calm as ever.
Yahiko and Nagato exchanged a glance, each seeing the concern in the other's eyes.
For three years, they had watched just how much Konan depended on Wuye.
Now that they had parted, they might never see each other again.
And even if they did, they might stand on opposite sides as enemies.
How heartbroken and despairing must she be...
"Konan..."
Yahiko stepped forward, wanting to say something, but his mouth seemed tied in knots. No words of comfort would come out.
"Yahiko... Nagato..."
Konan raised her head and looked at the sky, letting the drizzling rain fall upon her delicate face.
"We always say this country has been crying..."
"The rain is like the tears on people's faces, never stopping for even a moment..."
"But today, I suddenly feel that it's quite nice too..."
"At least..."
"It's crying with me..."
And people wouldn't be able to see the tears on one another's faces, even if they were sobbing their hearts out...
Yahiko and Nagato failed to understand what Konan meant. They simply stood with her in the rain.
Until, at some point, Konan suddenly began walking forward.
"Let's go. From this moment on, we are... Akatsuki."
The two hurriedly followed her.
The figures of the three gradually vanished into the curtain of rain.
The Land of Rain's only light finally took its first step through the thick clouds.