Rasp... rasp...
Chinatsu slept leaning against the wall of the hollow tree, in a posture that left her almost completely defenseless. This was the perfect opportunity to attack her, but after a bout of contemplation as long-winded as the monk Tang Sanzang's chanting, Nagato Uzumaki had lost all desire to do so.
Peace? True peace?
The peace described in Jiraiya's book was far too idealistic, but the peace Nagato had envisioned was certainly not true peace either.
It was a simple truth, easy enough to understand, yet Yahiko's death had driven him to extremes. Nagato Uzumaki was disappointed in himself. If he were to punch anyone, it would only be himself. Unfortunately, he was now too weak to even throw a punch. He was like someone in a vegetative state, unable to move.
Uchiha Itachi, ward one.
Nagato Uzumaki, the intensive care unit.
"Chinatsu Uchiha, wake up. Wake up."
Nagato Uzumaki called out to Chinatsu, who lay asleep on the ground, and she finally opened her eyes groggily.
"Morning~"
Chinatsu crossed her arms and stretched languidly, letting out a breath. Seeing her like this, Nagato Uzumaki realized she was not pretending. She really had only just woken up.
"What do you mean, morning? You really don't have a care in the world, do you? Sleeping right in front of me-weren't you afraid I'd attack you?" Nagato Uzumaki grumbled with a frown.
"Huh? It's fine, it's fine. Don't worry about me. If I were facing someone dangerous, I definitely wouldn't sleep in front of him. I'm not into that sort of thing~"
Chinatsu waved a hand at Nagato Uzumaki as she spoke with a grin. His mouth twitched slightly at her words.
Put simply, didn't that mean, "You're too weak, so I don't even need to guard against you"?
*What an