Pain silently watched the scene from the side.
The emotion in Konan's eyes grew increasingly apparent, and her conversation with the Uchiha boy gradually became more relaxed.
He could feel that "Blue Bird" and Genya's "sincere" account of why he had written it had truly touched the softest part of Konan's heart.
The part that held Yahiko and the original dream the three of them had shared.
As the conversation deepened, the atmosphere even began drifting toward something resembling an artistic exchange.
Pain's cold voice rang out, interrupting the conversation that had gone somewhat "off track."
"Genya Uchiha."
Genya and Konan stopped talking at the same time and turned to him.
Pain looked straight at Genya, his tone brooking no argument.
"Join our organization, Dawn."
Beside them, Uchiha Itachi's Mangekyō Sharingan shifted slightly. *...???*
Dawn? Recruitment? What kind of turn was this?
His grip on his blade tightened, every muscle in his body tensing as he prepared for a conflict that might erupt at any moment.
This man who called himself a "god" and his organization really were up to no good!
Yet, to both Itachi's and Pain's surprise, Genya barely hesitated. With an eager expression, he looked at Pain, then at Konan.
"You mean the organization you and this pretty lady belong to? Dawn... sounds cool!"
"Sure, I'm in!"
Pain: "..."
That readily?
He fell silent for a few seconds, wondering whether he had misheard, then spoke to Konan beside him.
"This is what you meant by... unlikely to agree?"
Konan was visibly stunned as well. A flicker of disbelief crossed her face at Genya's agreement, so readily given that it almost seemed frivolous.
She had imagined every kind of reaction: refusal, suspicion, bargaining, even outright hostility...
The only thing she had not expected was for him to agree