Clash...

"Konan? What brought you here?"

Morning.

The bleary-eyed Itachi was awakened by a knock at the door. He casually threw on a robe, opened the door, and looked at the woman before him in confusion.

"Still not awake, Itachi?"

Before Itachi could speak, Konan walked into his room and sat in that familiar spot.

As she poured herself a cup of tea, she spoke.

"Uh, I ate a little too much last night, so I couldn't sleep..."

Watching Konan's movements, Itachi blankly shut the door and touched his slightly unusual bedhead before replying awkwardly.

"Mm. Don't do that again."

At Itachi's words, Konan took a sip of tea and replied blandly.

"Did you need something from me?"

Itachi looked oddly at where Konan was sitting. Remembering what had happened last time, he picked up the teapot with a somewhat unnatural expression and poured himself a cup before asking lazily.

"Mm, starting today, we're teammates. I heard you don't like picking up missions, so I've already accepted one. Once you get ready, we can set out."

Konan smiled faintly at Itachi's languid manner and spoke softly.

"Huh? All right..."

Itachi was briefly stunned by Konan's words, but soon calmed down and stood up to wash up.

"You sound a little surprised?"

Konan caught the surprise in Itachi's tone and asked curiously.

"Mm, I am rather surprised. A newcomer joined the organization yesterday. He treated me to dinner and wanted to give me a gift. I thought he'd be my teammate from now on."

Hearing Konan's question, Itachi turned around, looked into her eyes, spread his hands, and answered casually.

"Pain had originally planned it that way, but considering the organization is a little short on combat strength, he made a slight adjustment."

Konan gently explained Itachi's casual remark.

"Mm, I understand."

Itachi's pupils contracted slightly. Then he turned away and answered.

His mood was somewhat heavy, far from as relaxed as he appeared.

Because from this moment on, the course of this world had changed, and his foresight was no longer complete...

And as the world continued moving forward, the major branching points would grow farther apart, bringing vast changes to the final outcome.

Konan said nothing upon hearing Itachi's response. She merely watched his back in silence.

Lost in thought.

This was no longer like before, when they were merely getting acquainted. If danger arose during a mission, they would need to entrust their backs to each other.

She had spoken to him with a scrutinizing attitude, so she carefully considered the intent behind every word Itachi said.

She wanted to gather as much information as possible and understand him.

Konan's gaze made Itachi somewhat uncomfortable.

After thinking for a moment, he removed the robe draped over his body.

Revealing the pale, powerful muscles of his back, bare from the waist up.

He then picked up an undershirt with somewhat mesh-like edges and put it on.

What surprised Itachi was that Konan did not avert her gaze. She simply watched quietly.

As though she were merely appreciating the sight innocently, without any other thoughts, which made Itachi's heart sink slightly.

After Itachi put on his robe, washed up, and tidied his somewhat messy hair.

He turned around and saw Konan thoughtfully examining the tea in the cup held in her delicate hand.

"I'm ready. Let's go."

Itachi put on the conical hat hanging on the wall and spoke softly.

"Okay."

Hearing Itachi's voice, Konan placed the teacup on the table and rose gently to her feet.

The entire process seemed as though she had practiced it thousands of times, making it rather pleasing to watch.

Especially that elegant, delicate face of hers—the longer one looked, the more charm it seemed to possess.

After Konan walked out of the room, Itachi surveyed everything inside, inhaled the wafting fragrance lingering beside him, and shut the door.

"What is this mission, Konan?"

When Itachi turned around, his aura changed. He silently exuded a stern, serious presence.

The vigor of youth had been completely reined in, as though it had never existed at all.

Konan glanced sideways at Itachi's tone, then noticed the solemn aura radiating from him.

She realized that she seemed not to know the person before her anymore...

That lazy Itachi, the Itachi who zipped his collar all the way up to his neck until he could barely breathe, the Itachi who did not mind taking off his shirt in front of her at all...

"What kind of person are you..."

A hint of confusion appeared in Konan's beautiful eyes as she sighed inwardly.

"Konan?"

Receiving no response, Itachi turned back in puzzlement and looked at the preoccupied Konan in surprise.

"Oh... It's nothing... What was it?"

Hearing Itachi's voice and seeing his solemn face blurred beneath the conical hat, Konan replied softly.

She was somewhat overwhelmed by Itachi's presence.

Or rather, her heart was in turmoil, and she felt lost...

If it had been some other stranger she did not know, this absolutely would not have happened.

Itachi was still staring at her. Konan uneasily curled her slender fingers around her slightly long sleeve...

What does he want? Why is he looking at me like that? Is there something dirty on my face?

Itachi's gaze left Konan at a loss.

Seeing Konan's evasive eyes and flustered expression, Itachi turned away.

He gained a clearer understanding of Konan.

Konan was actually someone who was not very good at communicating with strangers, or perhaps she was somewhat introverted?

Watching Itachi turn away, Konan secretly breathed a slight sigh of relief.

To be honest, if it were not for Pain's arrangement to have her spend more time with Itachi, this would never have happened.

Pain's unspoken intention was for her and Itachi to become companions, to bring Itachi into their fold.

But she did not quite know how to handle such a relationship...

Toward strangers, she was very aloof. Calling her an iceberg would not be an exaggeration.

But when she approached someone with an objective in mind from the very beginning, she truly did not know what to do. Especially when Itachi himself was such an enigmatic person.

He seemed to have asked about the mission just now? I don't think I told him yet? Should I tell him now? But wouldn't it be awkward to tell him now?

Watching Itachi walk ahead, Konan stared at his back, feeling conflicted.

Perhaps girls were just like this, constantly trapped in a state of indecision...

Making it impossible for others to guess what they were thinking.

Itachi stopped walking, startling the preoccupied Konan and jolting her awake.

She seemed to have unconsciously cared too much about Itachi's thoughts and actions.

As a result, she had fallen into a passive position.

"This mission is to kill a ninja with a relatively high bounty. Our organization currently needs money to maintain the intelligence network and preserve order."

Having come to her senses, Konan spoke softly.

Though her tone was gentle, waves of killing intent emanated from her.

She had now broken free of Itachi's aura, and her own aura emerged as well, faintly forming an opposing stance.

"Mm, lead the way."

Itachi turned back to look at the serious Konan, then smiled slightly and spoke softly.

The aura around him melted away like ice and snow...

Konan stared at Itachi's figure in silence...

It felt like throwing a punch into cotton, leaving her extremely uncomfortable...

Somehow, she felt as though this boy before her had mentally controlled her...

This was a powerful opponent. How was he some little lamb? He was clearly a hungry wolf in sheep's clothing...

Konan grumbled inwardly.

Pain had deceived her...

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