Bathing with Konan

Beneath a star-filled night sky, misty vapor shrouded the open-air hot spring, turning the bright white moonlight into a perfect painting.

"Glub, glub, glub..." Nagato was submerged up to his nose in the spring water. His fair skin quickly flushed red, and along with the rising bubbles came thoughts unfit for children.

Because... on the other side of the hot stone he was leaning against, Konan was splashing water around completely naked.

Good heavens, Konan is actually bathing with me without any reservations... Could it be she simply doesn't see me as a man?

Or... does she already see me as a man!

"Nagato." Just as Nagato's thoughts ran wild, Konan called to him from the other side of the stone.

"!" Nagato jolted violently, his heart beginning to pound.

He hurriedly composed himself, suppressing the tremor and anticipation in his heart. "What is it, Konan?"

On the other side of the spring rock, Konan soaked in the water as white moonlight filtered through the surface and rippled across her chest.

Her hands passed through those ripples, scooping up a pool of spring water that reflected her face as she gently confided her feelings to the person behind her.

"We've been away from Amegakure for almost a month now. So much has really happened during that month."

Nagato's restless heart calmed beneath Konan's gentle, even words. He rose higher from the water, gazed at the moonlight overhead, and felt deeply moved.

What kind of life had he been living just one month ago, and what about now?

He had changed from Lin Feng into Nagato. In the world of Hokage, he had found precious bonds and a goal worth striving for...

His life had been ignited because of Hokage.

"Yes... it really feels like a lifetime ago."

That sigh... contained far too much.

Of course, to Konan, it was merely Nagato's own reflection.

Relaxed and soothed by the hot spring, she continued voicing things that she could not say in their usual atmosphere.

"Over this past month, I've seen another side of you... one I never knew before."

Those words instantly made Nagato's heart leap into his throat.

Could she... have noticed something?

Nagato... no, Lin Feng, could not completely play Nagato. Even for his beloved Konan, he could not entirely conceal himself. So from the very beginning, he had decided to use Nagato to play himself!

If she had noticed anything because of that, then so be it. At worst, he could simply come clean to Konan...

But he was clearly overthinking it. As a being from a two-dimensional world, Konan's perspective was limited to that world as well. The concept of transmigration did not even exist in her mind. Since she had no such concept, how could she possibly make that connection?

Nagato quickly regained his composure. "Oh? What other side of me is that, Konan? Tell me."

Konan said, "To be honest, Nagato. In the past, Yahiko, everyone in Akatsuki, and I... all regarded you as a savior. But in the end, that was because of the Rinnegan, and the aura brought by the legend of the Six Paths behind them, rather than because of you yourself..."

"But now, I'm gradually seeing the qualities that belong to Nagato the ninja beyond those eyes themselves—your wisdom, and your sense of responsibility..."

Nagato could not help feeling conflicted and ashamed. "Konan, perhaps I'm not as outstanding as you think I am."

Konan gently shook her head. "No. You're simply slow to notice such things about yourself, Nagato. But I can see them very clearly..."

At that moment, Nagato boldly asked, "Konan, then tell me, what else is different about me? For example... my personality?"

Konan smiled. "There is. Sometimes, you sit alone without anyone knowing what you're thinking, making strange faces to yourself. Sometimes you even show expressions I can't understand. But I think that must be because you were struck on the head by a stone when you saved me from Hanzo!"

Nagato clenched his hand, wanting to use this chance to understand Konan's true feelings. "If that were really the case, then could it be... that I became a different person?"

After seriously considering it, Konan said, "Of course not. In my view, even if a stone striking your head caused some trauma, it wouldn't make traits that weren't part of your personality appear out of nowhere. Since they have appeared, it means those qualities were already part of your personality to begin with."

"So Nagato is still Nagato. That will never change in my eyes."

Thank you... Stone Sage. Someday, I'll definitely build you a huge temple!

"Konan, to be honest, ever since I woke up after being unconscious for ten days, I've noticed that I've changed too. But no matter what, it's difficult for me to completely return to who I was. Yet I... don't know how to explain this to you, and it has been troubling me."

"There's no need to be troubled, Nagato. No matter when it is, you only need to be yourself. In the past, you always carried the expectations of everyone in Akatsuki. The identity of a savior was undoubtedly both a heavy burden and a shackle for you. I don't want you to be bound by it. Whatever you want to do, you can do it."

"Konan, everyone's expectations and the role of savior are not burdens or shackles to me. On the contrary, they are my motivation... I want to save this world. I want to bring stability and peace to it. That is a wish from the bottom of my heart. Even if I were hit on the head by a stone a hundred more times, it would never change!"

Nagato's resolute words moved Konan deeply. "I'm honored to be able to stand by your side, accompany you, and witness your journey."

No... I'm the honored one, Konan. Nagato said those words to himself in his heart.

The water rippling in her palms reflected Konan's knowing smile. "The uncertain future... used to leave me somewhat uneasy. But now, my heart is at peace."

Splash!

She splashed the water in her hands onto her face and rose from the spring. Amid the curling steam, her beautifully curved body appeared and vanished from view.

She gently tucked a strand of wet hair behind her ear, then turned her beautiful eyes toward the spring rock behind her. "Also, Nagato, no matter when it is, don't force yourself..."

Force... himself?

Nagato said, "I-I'm not forcing myself..."

Konan's gaze shifted softly. "That's good. The two of us only have each other now... If there's ever anything you need my help with, you must tell me."

Nagato said, "You're being too formal, Konan. Haven't I always been like this?"

Without confirming or denying it, Konan walked to the edge of the hot spring, put on the underclothes folded there, draped on her outer robe, and then... placed a paper flower back beside her hair before looking over her shoulder with a smile.

"I'll be waiting for you... at the usual place."