"No way!" Before Konan could even react, Yahiko and Nagato shouted in unison. Even Yahiko's smile twisted into anger as he stepped protectively in front of Konan, glaring at Anya, afraid he might try to take her by force.
Even Jiraiya found Anya's actions quite strange, unable to understand why he suddenly decided to take one of them.
Anya had expected their resistance and calmly said, "Won't you at least ask her opinion?"
The moment Anya spoke, both Yahiko and Nagato anxiously turned their eyes to Konan.
Konan finally reacted then, shaking her head furiously with flushed cheeks. "I won't go! I don't want to separate from you guys!"
Anya fully understood Konan's reaction but continued composedly, "In this chaotic world, I know how difficult it is for all three of you to stay together, and how deep your bond runs. But haven't you been living a tough life every day? Now an opportunity has appeared before Konan — a chance to free her from present hardships and live a worry-free life. She's still young and doesn't need to understand completely. But don't you two boys understand either?"
Those final words? Classic manipulative mind games straight from a past life — potent enough to break an adult, let alone two kids. The more they cared, the more those words would tear into them.
Indeed, after hearing this speech, both Yahiko and Nagato fell silent. They recalled scenes of all of them stealing food together, being beaten up, soaked by rain, starving, and having nowhere to return. Their hearts wavered.
Finally, Yahiko painfully opened his mouth and said, "Konan, he's right. You should go with him."
"No! I won't leave!" Tears welled up in Konan's eyes desperately.
Yahiko forced out a faint smile. "Didn't he say so himself? After you become a ninja, you can come back for us. Nagato and I will always be here waiting."
Nagato also urged, "Yes, Konan. You'll only suffer staying with us. Once you have the ability to protect yourself, come back. We'll definitely reunite."
Hearing both urging her to leave, Konan felt as if the sky had collapsed. Dizziness washed over her, and her originally frail body staggered slightly, nearly falling over. Finally, she deeply glanced at both of them once again, then silently walked beside Anya, her silence heartbreaking.
At this moment, Yahiko finally felt regret creeping in and was just about to call Konan back.
But Anya wouldn't give him the chance and spoke first. "Jiraiya-sama, then let's see who trains better students in the future."
Jiraiya gave Anya a meaningful glance. He realized Anya's personality was far more complex than he'd imagined. That eloquent, sharp speech didn't sound like something someone his age should be capable of. Originally, he thought he was quiet and reserved, much like White Fang. But now — he already knew how to mask his true self so skillfully. There must have been good reason the Third placed him in Anbu. Was there truly anyone else more suited for the task?
Jiraiya burst out laughing heartily, easing the sadness among everyone. He patted Yahiko and Nagato on their backs and generously declared, "Alright then! I won't lose to brats like you. You two had better keep training — unless you want to get beaten by a girl next time you meet!"
"Just like that," Anya took Konan, Tsunade, and Orochimaru with him as they left. Jiraiya remained behind. Nagato and Yahiko silently stared at Konan's retreating figure for a long time.
Anya's group of four arrived at the gambling town from before and found an empty room to rest in. Tsunade glanced at Konan, who had been quiet throughout their journey, and mockingly said to Anya, "I almost forgot—you're quite the pervert."
Upon hearing this, Konan's expression instantly changed as she turned toward Anya. Hurriedly defending himself, Anya said, "Hey, you can't just say things like that! Even if I were a pervert, do you really think I'd be interested in a little girl?"
Orochimaru, egging him on, asked from the side, "Then tell me, who *are* you interested in?"
"Naturally, it's..." He couldn't bring himself to say it out loud. With a sigh, Anya shook his head and said, "Forget it. You all rest up—I'll grab us something to eat."
Stepping outside, Anya made a beeline for the casino. The atmosphere was just like last time—familiar and unchanged. This time, he won a small amount and immediately cashed out. No need to keep playing at the same table and risk getting blacklisted. He assured himself his gambling skills were fine—it was clearly that chance encounter with Tsunade and her sudden stroke of luck that threw him off last time.
He didn't mind spending money earned from gambling. He bought every delicacy the town offered, determined to improve the diet of those who had been eating nothing but dry bread for days.
When Konan saw Anya arrive with bags full of ingredients, she couldn't hide her surprise. Obviously, this was the most food she had ever seen at once. Judging by the quantity, it could have lasted three people several days back then. Thinking of Yahiko and Nagato, Konan's mood darkened again.
Tsunade arched an eyebrow and asked, "Didn't you say you were broke?"
"Don't you know there's a casino here? I stopped by and picked up a bit of extra cash. Perfect for buying food."
Anya spread the food across the table, the rich aromas making everyone's stomachs grumble instantly.
Tsunade's eyes lit up excitedly. After sampling a few dishes, she eagerly said, "The food here is pretty good. I'll buy some more and take it back for the old man to taste."
Without another word, Tsunade bolted out the door—her excuse barely more than a distraction. Fully aware of her habits, Anya and Orochimaru knew exactly where she went, yet made no move to stop her.
Anya set out several kid-friendly sweets in front of Konan, signaling she could start eating.
Blushing slightly, Konan hesitated for a moment before finally reaching for the treats.
Orochimaru wasn't particularly interested in food. During the meal, however, he carefully observed Konan and confirmed she was simply an ordinary little girl. Curious, he turned to Anya and asked, "At your age, why take in an ordinary girl as your student?"
While eating carefully, Konan listened closely. In truth, she had always wondered too—why, of all people, she had been the one Anya chose.
Faced with Orochimaru, Anya had always been quite cautious. Casual words definitely wouldn't cut it, nor could she tell the truth. Fortunately, Anya had come prepared and half-truthfully replied, "Just because the Second Battle ended doesn't mean there won't be a Third one. Rain-hidden Village's geographical position is special. I want to bring Konan along so she can support me in the future."
Hearing this, Konan paused mid-bite for a moment, then continued eating as if nothing had happened.
As for Orochimaru, he narrowed his eyes slightly after listening. Whether he believed her or not was unclear — but at least he didn't push further.
For a moment, the room was filled with the quiet sounds of the three eating.
Soon after, the room door was violently kicked open. Tsunade stormed in with an angry look on her face. Seeing the table completely cleared of food, veins bulged on her forehead. With one slap on the table, it shattered into pieces. The sight left the other three in the room completely stunned.
Unquestionably, Tsunade had lost a bet...
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