When the Third knocked on the door, Nagato and Konan happened to come around the street corner carrying their groceries.
Nagato still wore simple, dark casual clothes. His red hair looked a little dry in the sunlight as he walked silently behind her, carrying a cloth bag full of vegetables and fresh meat.
The Rinnegan he had previously used was still being studied by Orochimaru, so he now had a pair of ordinary red eyes instead.
He looked like an ordinary man in somewhat poor health.
Konan walked ahead, her pale blue-violet hair arranged in an immaculate bun, a white paper flower tucked at an angle beside her temple. She paused briefly when she saw the Third at the door, then gave him a polite smile.
"Lord Third, have you come to see Miwakan again?"
Konan hurried forward to open the door, her tone gentle.
The Third nodded with a smile, gently set his bag of baby supplies on the shoe cabinet in the entryway, then bent down to change his shoes.
"Yes. This child is much better behaved than Konohamaru was at his age. So quiet and lovable."
"Konohamaru is a very well-behaved child too." Konan shook her head, her smile not reaching her eyes. "He's just a little more lively."
However mischievous Konohamaru might be, he was still Hiruzen Sarutobi's own grandson.
However well-behaved Miwakan might be, he was only his student's child.
During her time living in Konoha, she had long since learned to recognize these subtle distinctions in closeness.
Nagato had not spoken a word the entire time.
He nodded to the Third in greeting, then carried the groceries straight into the kitchen.
To minimize contact with Konoha's villagers and make things easier for Konan, he had recently made a point of learning to cook from