"You're wrong." Konan gently shook her head, getting straight to the heart of the matter.
"People change."
"The one who persuaded you to let go of your obsession and promised to reform the Land of Rain was Naruto, the gentle, kindhearted boy full of ideals."
"But the one who truly has the power and means to overhaul the Shinobi World and protect the Land of Rain is the Seventh Hokage, a decisive leader who controls the entire board."
"They're the same person, yet two completely different beings. You can't conflate them."
Those words laid bare the essence of Naruto.
The one you believe in is Naruto Uzumaki.
Not the Seventh Hokage!
Pain shuddered, his hovering body momentarily faltering as he froze in shock.
He had never considered the issue from that angle.
A gentle idealist could only promise a future.
Only a ruthless ruler could deliver it.
After a long silence, Pain slowly closed his eyes and conceded quietly, "You're right."
"Konan, I've always known. You see things more clearly than either Yahiko or me. You're smarter than both of us."
Konan's expression remained calm, but she did not deny it.
Pain fell silent for a moment, then suddenly turned toward Konan beside him and spoke slowly.
"Konan, do you think we should try following Sarada's approach?"
Konan paused at his words, confusion filling her fair face as she instinctively asked, "You mean follow Sarada's example, establish trade channels with Konoha, open workshops in the Land of Rain, and improve people's livelihoods?"
"Exactly." Pain nodded lightly, his tone serious, without a trace of humor.
"The Sky Screen is bound to expose all our futures and every one of the Akatsuki's plans to the entire Shinobi World."
"Before long, our control over the Land of Rain, our collection of the tailed