The three children stood in the rain, soaked to the skin, but none of them backed down.
Yahiko stood in front, with Konan at his side and Nagato half a step behind.
They exchanged glances, and finally Yahiko spoke first. "We've... made up our minds."
He swallowed. His voice still carried a boy's youth and nervousness, but his tone was serious:
"We want to survive. We want to get stronger. Whatever you want to teach us, we'll learn."
Konan said nothing, only nodded.
She had already put away her kunai. Her hands rested together in front of her, like a newly sprouted sapling standing tall against the wind and rain.
Nagato was silent for a moment before finally giving a soft murmur of agreement.
Tsunade looked at them.
There was no gratification or affection in her expression. She simply accepted their decision calmly.
As though she had known all along that they would follow her.
"Come with me."
She turned and walked into the curtain of rain.
The three children exchanged a glance and followed.
Jiraiya shook his head helplessly and came along.
By the time Tsunade brought them to the Konoha camp, the rain had eased a little.
She entered a tent, took a dry cloth off a rack, and tossed it to Yahiko. Then she pointed at a stack of clean clothes in the corner.
"Change into those. Don't catch a chill."
"Konan, go to that tent over there. Someone inside will help you change."
Konan glanced at Tsunade without saying anything more.
She silently took the clothes, turned, and left.
Jiraiya looked at Yahiko, then at Nagato, and scratched his head.
"All right, I'll take this orange-haired kid somewhere to rest."
"What about Nagato?"
Tsunade glanced at Nagato. "Nagato's coming with me."
Jiraiya asked no further questions