(I was going to write something a little harsher, to give the readers a small shock.)
"Who are you?"
Yahiko looked at the black-robed man and Zetsu.
"Don't you remember me?"
The black-robed man looked calmly at the uniforms on Nagato and Yahiko and slowly said, "The Red Cloud Cloaks you're wearing were designed by Konan and me."
At those words, Yahiko and Nagato's eyes widened!
"You're Kenji?!"
Nagato's lips trembled as his Rinnegan widened in disbelief at the black-robed man before him.
Yahiko was slightly stunned, then immediately furrowed his brows.
"How do you prove it?"
Yahiko asked in a suspicious tone.
Ever since what happened with Hanzo of the Salamander, neither of them trusted anyone so easily anymore.
"How do I prove it..."
Then, beneath Yahiko and Nagato's stunned gazes, Kenji slowly recounted all the little moments from before.
Including his speech back then and how he had met Yahiko and the others.
As well as the battles they had fought together...
As Kenji went deeper into his story,
Yahiko was already eighty percent convinced of his identity!
A tear slid down Yahiko's cheek.
"Stop."
The past had been too beautiful, while the present was too cruel. The contrast was inevitably heartbreaking.
"I heard that you've taken control of the Land of Rain. It seems our dream from back then has taken a huge step toward becoming reality."
"Where's Konan?"
Kenji pretended not to know as he asked.
At that, neither of them spoke.
The atmosphere became heavy and oppressive.
"It seems those from the past are gone... My condolences."
Kenji offered his comfort indifferently.
Yahiko slowly opened his eyes and looked at Kenji before him.
"Why are you hiding yourself? What is your purpose in coming back?"
Yahiko asked, his gaze steady.
Nagato remained vigilant throughout, because