Far away.
Five hundred meters above the sea.
Uchiha Lei hovered in midair with Konan in his arms, looking down at that tiny figure until she disappeared completely.
"Lei, why wouldn't you let me persuade her to come to Konoha?"
"She won't come right now." Uchiha Lei withdrew his gaze. "However chaotic Kirigakure is, it's still her home."
"What about later?"
"Later?" Uchiha Lei's lips curved slightly, a deep gleam flashing through his eyes. "Who can say what will happen later?"
He turned and flew toward Konoha.
Konan leaned against his chest and asked softly.
"Are we going back already?"
"Yes."
"What about Kisame? Didn't you say you wanted to find someone?"
Uchiha Lei fell silent for a moment.
"No luck today. We'll come back another time."
What he didn't say was this.
The instant he activated the Mind's Eye of the Kagura, he had actually sensed a faint, sharklike presence flash briefly in the direction of the deep sea.
But that presence had disappeared after Mei Terumi appeared.
Either it had been his imagination.
Or...
That person was watching and waiting too.
An hour later.
Konoha, Tsunade's Mansion.
Uchiha Lei landed and released Konan.
"Did you have fun today?"
Konan nodded emphatically.
"Yes! Thank you, Lei."
"No need to thank me." Uchiha Lei reached up and ruffled her blue hair. "Whenever you want to see the sea, I'll take you."
Konan's cheeks flushed slightly, and she lowered her head with a quiet murmur of assent.
Uchiha Lei turned to leave.
"Lei."
He looked back.
Konan stood in the courtyard, sunlight falling over her and giving her white dress a gentle glow.
"That Mei Terumi... will she really come to Konoha someday?"
Uchiha Lei smiled.
"She will."
"Why?"
"Because..."
He paused and looked up toward Kirigakure, a sharp gleam flashing