Southward Conquest in Sight!

That night, although Nagato had witnessed a spectacular spray of blood.

Afterward, though, he could not bring himself to feel very happy.

"This just proves it, doesn't it? Deep down, Konan didn't see me as a member of the opposite sex at all. That's why she had no reservations between men and women. This bond and friendship are so profound that they leave me feeling powerless..."

"And even after Yahiko's mourning period ends, getting Konan and me to that point will surely be fraught with difficulties. The road ahead is long, but I won't be discouraged, even if it turns into a 'war of attrition'!"

How could Nagato have known then that their relationship would make a breakthrough someday in the near future?

And... under unexpected circumstances, in an unexpected way, and in an unexpected position!

There would be no endless difficulties, no long road ahead... the road was not far at all. Nor would it become a war of attrition. If it had to be described, then for Nagato, it was a "surprise attack"!

Though it was a surprise attack... it also felt so natural, so inevitable.

To the point that afterward, whenever Nagato recalled it, he racked his brains and could only use two words to describe that experience—wonderfully strange.

Of course, that was a story for later...

Konan likewise could not have imagined that what she was thinking at that moment was: Next time... if Nagato asks to let Rin into the women's bath again, what should I do? If I refuse, will he get the wrong idea?

They entered the inn.

Nagato said, "Innkeeper, two rooms."

Upon hearing that, the mustachioed innkeeper glanced at the room tags and rubbed his hands. "My apologies, you two, but there is only one room left."

"This..." As Nagato hesitated, Konan had already taken out her wallet, ready to reserve the room.

"I'll take that room."

At that moment, a cold male voice came from the doorway.

A white-haired youth wearing a Konoha ninja uniform and a Konoha forehead protector walked in.

"Brother Mizuki, isn't that a little inappropriate? They got here before us," another boy said as he appeared in the doorway, trying awkwardly to dissuade him.

"Iruka, it's bad enough that you won't drink with me. Now you're going to nitpick over where I stay too? Ninjas have priority selection rights to begin with!"

Iruka looked even more troubled. "B-but... the Three Ninja Prohibitions clearly state that no one may drink alcohol before turning twenty."

Nagato's eyes flickered. Looking closely, it really was... Iruka and Mizuki as children!

Iruka was nine years old at this time and still attended the Ninja Academy. He had come along to broaden his horizons under Mizuki, who had already become a Genin. (According to the official databook, Mizuki was five years older than Iruka.)

"Hmph, the Three Ninja Prohibitions..." Mizuki snorted. "I knew it. You and I really don't get along."

With that, he stubbornly walked over and had the innkeeper give him the last remaining room.

"Sigh." Iruka sighed helplessly, then stepped forward and repeatedly bowed to Nagato and Konan. "Big brother, big sister, I'm terribly sorry. My brother is actually a very gentle person. He only acts this way because he drank alcohol. Please don't blame him, okay?"

"I'm willing to pay for you to stay at another inn!"

Nagato smiled. "It's fine. We couldn't stay in one room anyway, so we were just about to find another place. No need to spend your money!"

Iruka bowed again and again. "Thank you so much!"

Mizuki had not cared at first, but when Konan passed in front of him... her cold, breathtakingly beautiful face made his eyes light up instantly.

Riding the buzz of alcohol... he actually stepped forward and blocked Konan's path!

He swept back his hair, a drunken, frivolous expression appearing on his youthful face. "Miss, you're pretty gorgeous. Do you live in this town? Hehe, don't let my age fool you. I'm a Konoha ninja!"

Konan stared at Mizuki expressionlessly.

"Why don't you come have a drink with—" Spurred on by the alcohol, Mizuki actually raised his hand to touch Konan's cheek.

"Brother Mizuki, stop!!!"

The sight terrified Iruka, and he hurriedly shouted to stop him.

"Huh?" Mizuki coldly turned back and snapped, "Iruka, are you trying to interfere with me again?"

Iruka said awkwardly, "This sort of thing... is expressly forbidden by the village. I don't want you to be punished because of it, Brother!"

At that moment... the innkeeper's expression became subtle, and more people began gathering outside the inn to watch.

Mizuki's face shifted. He waved Iruka off. "Fine, fine, you're always right. Go back to the village yourself. Don't come with me!"

In the end, Mizuki moved aside and let Konan pass.

Iruka kept apologizing to Konan. "I'm sorry, I'm really sorry. My brother drank too much. Please forgive his rude behavior..."

"It doesn't matter," Konan replied coolly.

Nagato had not said a word throughout the whole exchange. But... before turning to leave, he cast a cold glance at Mizuki, who was following the innkeeper upstairs.

No wonder ninjas had the Three Ninja Prohibitions. Alcohol did not merely ruin things—it could cost someone their life.

At dawn the next day, Mizuki left Woodflower Ferry and raced alone through the forest toward the village.

He had sobered up, and fear had begun to set in.

"That bastard Iruka... he won't really tell the Fourth Hokage about what happened last night after he gets back to the village, will he?"

Suddenly, Mizuki stopped.

Behind the swaying shadows of the trees stood a figure.

Mizuki drew the shuriken strapped to his back and demanded, "Who are you?!"

The figure slowly stepped out.

Mizuki... saw a cold face wearing the forehead protector of an Amegakure rogue ninja!

"Trash like you has no right to know who I am."

As Deva Path Pain finished speaking, he raised a hand... Mizuki's body flew through the air toward him.

Crack!!! A Black Rod pierced straight through his heart!

"You..." Mizuki's eyes widened. Even in death, he could not believe why... things had turned out this way.

This man, who in the original story had killed an injured teammate while on a mission and later incited Naruto to steal the Scroll of Seals, had his life come to an end at sixteen.

Not long after, Nagato and Konan arrived beside Deva Path Pain. Looking at Mizuki's corpse, Konan said, "There was no need to kill him over such a trivial matter."

Nagato said, "Killing him isn't the main purpose. The main purpose is that our next operation requires temporarily increasing the number of Pains..."

Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!

Nagato thrust the snapped Black Rods haphazardly into Mizuki's face and body. The King of Hell of the Naraka Path rose up, swallowed Mizuki whole, and chewed!!

"Feel honored, trash. For the next few days, you will serve as my Human Path Pain!"

In the frigid wind, Konan's expression settled as she solemnly watched Nagato's back...

This... was how Nagato should be toward everyone other than her.

"What about... the other two Pains?"

Nagato looked up at the "cloud formations" in the sky.

"There's still time. Let's find two temporary substitutes as well, but we need to choose the candidates carefully. Konan, we may have to use your ability..."

"Yeah, leave it to me."

After forming hand seals, Konan spread her arms and closed her eyes, her body transforming into exquisitely beautiful paper butterflies...