Just as Shiba Kiyokawa had predicted, events unfolded according to plan.
Kenjiro didn't let him down. That very night, he delivered the message to Nagato.
Shortly after Kiyokawa and the others set out for the Kusagakure, Nagato, as expected, secretly followed them.
Everything was progressing smoothly.
Kiyokawa remained alone in his room in town, casually humming a tune while preparing dinner. He planned to intentionally lag behind, eat slowly, and then head out later to "check up" on things.
But reality proved less simple than expected.
Just as he was following Uncle Baji's recipe, delicately working with cuts of beef and pork, there was a sudden knock on the door.
A shinobi's instincts immediately alerted him to the visitor's identity.
Konan?
Why was she here so suddenly?
This wasn't part of his plan.
Before Kiyokawa could think further, Konan had already opened the door and stepped inside.
"Konan-ne, what brings you here? Oh—have you eaten? Want to try some of my cooking?" he greeted warmly, smiling with practiced perfection.
He thought his performance was flawless—but in the next second, Konan shattered his act with a single sentence.
"Nagato left just now. He snuck out, even hiding it from me. This must be your doing… Kiyokawa?"
His expression faltered, if only for a moment.
He'd let his guard down. He didn't expect Konan, of all people, to be so sharp.
Before he could come up with an excuse, she pressed further, nailing down his motive completely.
"Before Nagato left, I used paper butterflies to watch and saw Kenjiro visit him.
What you probably don't know is that over the past month, Kenjiro's complained to Yahiko many times—saying you're incredibly manipulative, always using slick words to coerce others into doing your bidding… like a devil who plays with people's hearts.
Kiyokawa, don't bother lying. I know this was your setup.
I haven't told Nagato yet. I just came to hear the truth from you."
For once, Kiyokawa found himself at a rare loss for words.
He'd seriously underestimated her.
Not long ago, he'd repeatedly reminded himself: Konan is no mere decoration. Take her seriously. Win her over.
And yet, he'd still miscalculated.
Maybe it was because she'd been too obedient lately.
She followed his orders during battle, gave him her full trust without reservation, and had spoken up for him back at the Akatsuki base.
All of this led him to believe he had successfully won over this fourteen-year-old girl.
But at this critical moment, she remained startlingly clear-headed.
"Konan-ne, what answer are you looking for from me?"
By now, there was no point in bluffing. Kiyokawa decided it was better to just be honest.
He didn't deny her accusations. His silence was a tacit admission.
And judging from her last words—"I haven't told Nagato yet"—she clearly had her own thoughts and motives.
There might still be a way to talk his way out of this.
Sure enough, in the next moment, Konan unfurled her Paper Style inside the room. As paper butterflies fluttered through the air, she fixed her gaze on him and asked in a firm, serious voice:
"Kiyokawa, after that mission ended, I thought about it for a long time. I have to admit—your thinking is more mature than Yahiko's. More mature than any of us.
But I need you to answer me truthfully.
To achieve your so-called peace… would you one day betray Akatsuki? Abandon the Land of Rain?
Would you use Nagato? Use Yahiko? Use… me?"
The paper butterflies danced with faint traces of killing intent—but Kiyokawa's heart, unexpectedly, grew calm.
He was no longer afraid.
Because in that moment, he finally understood Konan.
Konan—always the least prominent of Akatsuki's original trio—was actually the most normal one among them.
She didn't cling to ideals the way Yahiko and Nagato did. What she cared about was her people. The friends beside her. Her home.
When Nagato decided to make the world feel pain, she supported him unconditionally.
But when he was defeated by Naruto and moved by his words into giving up his life, she didn't take up his dream. Instead, she risked everything trying to kill the one who had manipulated Nagato all along—Tobi.
In truth, Konan never cared all that deeply about Akatsuki's ideals.
She cared about her comrades. Her few precious friends.
Now that's what a normal person looks like!
It's just that, compared to Akatsuki's saint-like founder, its insane second-generation leader, and the later group of maniacs, fanatics, and deranged scientists…
Konan—the only sane one—just looked wildly out of place.
She often seemed like a JPEG image that didn't load right: "Not freaky enough to belong here."
Having figured this out, Kiyokawa immediately knew how to break the deadlock.
"You don't need to worry, Konan-ne. I've never thought about betraying Akatsuki.
Besides, aren't we comrades? Why would you look at me like this?"
He wasn't lying.
After all, seizing the throne wasn't betrayal, was it?
Akatsuki needed a leader. So why couldn't it be him?
As for "aren't we comrades?"—that line hit Konan's most sensitive spot: her loneliness.
A flicker of sorrow and confusion flashed across her face—then, unexpectedly, a tinge of guilt.
Kiyokawa pressed his advantage, stepping up his performance with everything he had.
"Konan-ne, I'll admit I don't agree with Yahiko's ideals. I've always thought they were too naive.
But I've never once forgotten: it was you three who saved me.
You extended a hand when I was freezing and starving in the cold rain.
I've always seen everyone in Akatsuki as comrades—especially you, Konan-ne.
Everything I've done… is to keep Yahiko's blind idealism from destroying Akatsuki.
Konan-ne, I won't abandon you all. Never! Don't you believe me?"
As the saying goes—
If you're drunk on ideals, I'll speak of revolution and peace.
If you're lonely and unloved, I'll speak of friendship and bonds.
This is the world of Naruto, after all. There's always a strategy that fits.
Sure enough, his relentless sincerity finally broke through Konan's defenses.
She took a step back, withdrew most of her paper butterflies, and the murderous pressure in the room vanished completely.
"…I'm sorry, Kiyokawa. I didn't mean that. I believe you're one of us.
I was just… scared.
Your ideas are far beyond ours, and you're always opposing Yahiko.
I was afraid that someday… you might use Nagato. Or someone else…"
Kiyokawa let out a soft laugh.
Konan was perceptive—in many ways, her concerns weren't wrong.
He did intend to use Nagato.
But compared to the original tragic ending… who could say that "use" wasn't just another word for "save"?
And then, bold as ever, he stepped forward and gently cupped Konan's cheek.
Her skin was warm—soft and tender—since she had already dismissed her Paper Jutsu. It felt smooth and bouncy under his palm.
Moments ago, he'd nearly jumped out of his skin when she barged in.
Now, Kiyokawa felt like this might've been a win after all.
Maybe it was guilt—or a need to make peace—but Konan didn't pull away. She allowed his hand to linger, stroking her cheek softly.
"Trust me, Konan-ne. The shinobi world is dangerous.
Our situation isn't nearly as safe as you think.
Everything I've done… it's all to save us. To save Akatsuki.
Because we're each other's most important comrades."
Bonds and friendship—one must experience them for real.
Because this is the shinobi world.
With those words, the tension in the room finally dissolved completely.
Konan lowered her head, perhaps to hide the faint blush on her face. After a long pause, she looked up and asked softly:
"Are you still going to catch up with Nagato? I can fly you there."
"…Yeah."
Kiyokawa nodded without hesitation, letting out a quiet breath of relief.
He knew he'd finally passed the test.