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"Brother Hayato, you're back!"
Just as Hayato returned from his training, he heard Konan's gentle voice calling out to him.
"Yeah, I'm back. Huh? Who are they?"
As soon as he greeted Konan, Hayato noticed two boys standing beside her—both looked to be around her age. One had light brown hair and gave off a cheerful vibe. He seemed surprisingly sunny for someone growing up in the gloomy Land of Rain. The other had long red hair and pale skin—almost the same complexion as Konan. He looked fragile and kind of timid, like someone who didn't really have much confidence or direction.
Seeing the two of them, Hayato was a little surprised.
"Brother Hayato, this is Yahiko, and this is Nagato. Just like me… their parents are gone..." Konan said softly, then looked up at him with hopeful eyes. "Can they stay with us too?"
"Yahiko and Nagato, huh…" Hayato thought to himself. So it really is them. He hadn't expected that even with his presence here, Yahiko and Nagato would still end up meeting Konan.
"Yes! Please let us stay, big bro!" Yahiko and Nagato quickly bowed deeply, clearly desperate and respectful.
To be honest, Hayato wasn't really interested in taking these two in. Especially Nagato—he wasn't just some random kid. In the original story, Nagato was a serious problem. More than that, Hayato had seen his eyes just now… the Rinnegan! The legendary eyes only the Sage of Six Paths was supposed to have.
Still, when he looked into Konan's eyes—so full of hope and pleading—Hayato couldn't bring himself to say no. He gave a small nod. "Alright."
"Yes! I knew you were the best, Brother Hayato!" Konan cheered, throwing herself into his arms with joy. Yahiko and Nagato both sighed in relief and smiled brightly.
Even though Yahiko and Nagato would one day go on to become the founders of the Akatsuki—and Nagato would eventually turn into one of the major villains—Hayato didn't treat them any differently. His attitude toward them was cold and distant, keeping them at arm's length.
For Hayato, their arrival didn't change anything, other than needing a bit more food at mealtime. He kept up his intense daily training like nothing had changed, pushing himself constantly to become stronger.
"Um… uh…"
One evening, after a long day of exhausting training, Hayato dragged himself home, only to find Yahiko and Nagato standing in his path again. Yahiko looked hesitant, like he was struggling to say something.
"What is it?" Hayato asked, frowning slightly.
Even though the two of them were living here now, he didn't feel anything for them. To Hayato, they were still complete strangers. If it wasn't for Konan, he wouldn't have let them stay at all.
"We want to learn ninjutsu. Will you teach us?" Yahiko asked, bowing deeply. His tone was serious and respectful. Nagato bowed beside him, silently asking the same.
But Hayato just stood there, unmoved.
If it had been Konan asking for something—even something rare or dangerous—he would've found a way to make it happen. Because to him, Konan was family. She was precious. For her, he'd go to any lengths.
But these two? These strangers? Hayato didn't care. He had no intention of wasting his time or energy on them.
"No time," he said bluntly.
"Huh…?" Yahiko and Nagato both looked disappointed. But Hayato didn't care about how they felt.
Maybe Yahiko had some kind of charisma. Maybe Nagato was the so-called child of destiny.
But what did that have to do with him, Hayato? He wasn't their father. Why should he go out of his way for them? Honestly, if not for Konan, he wouldn't have let them stay here at all.
So even after turning them down, Hayato's life went on like usual—train, train, and train some more. His training was so intense, anyone without his insane recovery abilities would've already passed out—or worse, dropped dead from the effort.
...
"Brother Hayato, you're back!"Just as he came back from training outside, Hayato heard Konan's gentle voice.
"Yeah, I'm back. Hm? Who are they?"As soon as Hayato greeted Konan, he noticed two boys standing next to her—about the same age as her.
One of them had sandy-brown hair and looked cheerful. Strangely enough, even in the gloomy Land of Rain, he still gave off a sunny vibe. The other one had long red hair and pale skin—almost the same complexion as Konan's. He looked weak and soft, like someone who didn't have a strong opinion of his own.
But when Hayato looked at the two boys, he was honestly a bit surprised.
"Hayato-nii, this is Yahiko, and this is Nagato! Just like me… they've both lost their parents…"She paused, then looked up at him with hopeful eyes."Can they stay with us? Please?"
"Yahiko and Nagato, huh…" Hayato thought to himself.So it is those two.Even with his presence here, these two still managed to show up in Konan's life.
"Yes! Please let us stay, big brother!"Both Yahiko and Nagato bowed deeply, speaking politely and respectfully.
Truth be told, Hayato really didn't feel like taking them in. Especially Nagato…That kid, if we're being honest, is serious trouble.In the original story, Nagato becomes a huge problem—especially when you think about those eyes of his… the Rinnegan.The legendary eyes only the Sage of Six Paths was supposed to have.
But then he looked into Konan's eyes—full of hope and pleading.And finally, Hayato gave a slight nod."…Alright."
"Yes! I knew Hayato-nii was the best!"Konan shouted happily and threw herself into his arms. Yahiko and Nagato both let out a breath of relief and smiled.
Even though these two were future founders of the Akatsuki—heck, Nagato would even become a major villain later on—Hayato's attitude toward them didn't change. He kept it cold and distant. Not too friendly, but not outright hostile either.
To him, having Yahiko and Nagato around didn't change anything—aside from needing more food at the table.Hayato kept grinding every single day, training like a madman to become stronger and stronger.
"Um… hey…"
One day, after a long day of exhausting training, Hayato dragged his tired body back home. Yahiko and Nagato stepped in front of him again. Yahiko looked like he wanted to say something but couldn't quite get the words out.
"What is it?" Hayato frowned slightly.
Even though they lived in the same place now, Hayato still didn't feel anything toward these two. Honestly, if it weren't for Konan, they would've just been two random strangers to him.
"We want to learn ninjutsu. Will you teach us?"Yahiko asked and bowed deeply, looking dead serious. Nagato bowed as well, both of them clearly hoping hard for a yes.
Hayato watched their actions, but didn't react at all.
If it were Konan asking—no matter how precious the thing was—he'd do whatever it took to get it for her. In his eyes, Konan was family. She was someone who mattered.But these two? He didn't care enough to waste time or effort on them.
"No time."He said bluntly.
"Huh…?"Yahiko and Nagato looked crushed by the answer.But Hayato didn't care how they felt.
Sure, Yahiko might grow into someone really charismatic. Sure, Nagato might be "the chosen one" or whatever. But what did that have to do with him, Hayato?
He wasn't their dad.Why the hell should he treat them like they're special?If it weren't for Konan, he wouldn't have even let them stay in the house.
Even after turning Yahiko and Nagato down, Hayato's life didn't change at all.Train. Train. Train.That was all he ever did.
And honestly, if he didn't have such insane recovery powers, he would've already killed himself from overtraining.
"....."