"Y-you... don't come any closer... If you come any closer... I... I'll scream..."
Konan hugged her shoulders and stared at Chu Aotian in apparent terror, raising her voice.
"Tsk, tsk, go ahead and scream. The more you scream, the more excited I get..."
Chu Aotian remained unmoved. An unhealthy flush colored his face, and his lecherous grin widened.
"We've never done anything to you. Why would you do this? We've always treated you as a comrade!"
Konan continued to feign confusion as she questioned him.
"Tsk, in an age of endless war, where would you find true comrades? Only an idiot like Yahiko would call a complete stranger his comrade. Possessing a treasure is a crime in itself. I want both the Rinnegan and you."
Chu Aotian's breathing had grown ragged. He rubbed his hands together and impatiently reached for Konan.
"Oh, so that's how it is. You're disgusting, but there's one thing I agree with: Yahiko really is an idiot."
Konan parted her rosy lips and murmured as though she finally understood.
Then she cast a meaningful glance behind Chu Aotian, putting particular emphasis on the word "idiot."
The tension, unease, and terror on her little face gradually faded away.
Her expression returned to calm, and the corners of her mouth lifted as she regarded Chu Aotian mockingly.
Chu Aotian, however, seemed not to have noticed the change in her expression.
Just as his outstretched hands were about to touch Konan, a hand suddenly grabbed him from behind.
Chu Aotian froze in surprise. Turning around, he discovered Yahiko, who had awakened at some point.
Yahiko was staring at him with bloodshot eyes, his gaze burning with fury.
"Chu Aotian! Why? Why? Why? We treated you as a comrade! Yet you want to hurt us?"
Yahiko roared in anger, shouting