Pain looked Genya straight in the eye.
"So, I'm asking whether you're willing to join not because you're a cute kid, but because you have ability, intelligence, and... something we need."
Genya's smile faded as he looked at him seriously.
Silence spread between the three of them, with only the rain outside the window continuing to fall.
After a long while, Genya spoke.
"Uncle Pain, I'll admit, you have a very unusual way of persuading people. But!"
He raised his hand and pointed at the curtain of rain outside.
"The world out there is huge, and there's more than one way to solve a problem. I haven't fully figured out which path is right yet. So I can't give you a definite answer."
Pain said nothing.
"But,"
Genya continued.
"I can promise you I'll give it serious thought. And if Akatsuki or Konan needs help, I won't stand by and do nothing, as long as it doesn't go against my principles."
He looked at Konan, then back at Pain, and smiled faintly.
"Will that answer do?"
Pain was silent for a moment, then nodded.
"That's enough."
With that, he turned and headed toward the tavern's entrance.
After two steps, he suddenly stopped and spoke without looking back.
"Next time you come to Amegakure, don't call me uncle."
As his words fell, his figure had already vanished into the rain beyond the door.
The tavern fell quiet.
Konan lifted her cup, took a sip, and teased him.
"Uncle Pain told you not to call him uncle. Did you hear that?"
Genya sat down, poured himself a cup of sake, and smiled.
"Then what should I call him? Big Brother Pain? Would that be too familiar?"
Konan rolled her eyes at him, her lips curving upward.
The rain was still falling outside,