Even so, Nagato showed no sign of wavering. "I'm asking when you plan to leave and return to Konoha."
There was no anger in his words, but Konan sensed that he didn't want her there.
Nagato seemed deeply unhappy that she had come.
Yahiko was about to smooth things over when Nagato's low voice sounded again.
"Go back. Return to Konoha and stay by his side. Once Amegakure is stable, you can come back!"
Nagato's meaning was simple: it was dangerous here right now.
Warmth filled Konan's heart, and she broke into a smile. "But I'm a member of Akatsuki too. I can stay and help!"
Her voice was firm.
As soon as she finished speaking, a dilapidated house they were passing collapsed with a crash.
Konan jumped and looked at Nagato and Yahiko as if to say, I didn't do that.
Nagato found it a little funny, but he was serious about her staying.
"Konan, go back to him. Leave tonight."
Konan was helpless in the face of his insistence.
She lowered her head, trying to think of what to do.
"You'll be safe with him. Here, you'll have to suffer and fight. If you get hurt, we'll never forgive ourselves!"
He looked at her earnestly.
Konan had never seen that expression on Nagato's face before. For a moment, she was stunned.
The boy he had once been seemed to have grown up all at once.
Unable to refuse him, Konan nodded.
Nagato let out a quiet breath, looking relieved.
Yahiko chimed in. "Konan, don't worry. Only the buildings were damaged. Not a single person in the village was hurt!"
He looked into the distance. "As long as everyone's still here, we can take our time putting things right."
Yahiko spoke so softly that it was hard to tell