In the dark cave, Zetsu rose silently from the earth.
First came the top of his head, then his eyes, shoulders, and neck, like a piece of deadwood slowly surfacing from beneath the water. His face, half white and half black, stood out in the shadows like a fruit cut in two and pieced back together.
Nagato sat atop a large machine, silver-gray hair hanging beside his shoulders. His gauntness made his jaw look too large as he lifted it slightly.
He did not turn his head. He merely shifted his gaze from the ground before his knees toward Zetsu, and the violet-white ripples in his eyes spun once.
Zetsu looked excited and spoke in a rush.
"They've reached Konoha. And Konan has split off from Kakuzu and Hidan to act alone."
"She might be trying to seduce Uchiha Yongye."
"Too bad she flew away. The White Zetsu tracking her couldn't keep up, so we won't get to see the good part!"
"Konan's usually so cold and distant. I bet she's something else when she makes the first move... heh heh heh..."
Nagato's body went rigid.
His slightly slumped shoulders shot up, his hunched back straightened, and his neck turned. His gaze lifted from the ground and fixed on Zetsu's face.
His fingers clenched against the edge of the rock, knuckles jutting as his palm pressed a shallow mark into its rough surface. He roared in fury.
"Konan... how could she be so foolish?"
"Defeating Uchiha Yongye is my responsibility, not hers!"
"I am God Pain! I don't need her trying to seduce him!"
Back then, Konan and Yahiko had loved each other, and Nagato had sincerely wished them happiness.
Then Yahiko was gone. Nagato and Konan had only each other as they passed countless days and nights in the