Chapter 189 — A Special Gift
"All right, let's go."
Yusuke stepped forward and soared into the sky. Since Nagato's real body couldn't move easily, only the Deva Path followed from a distance. Konan soon joined him in the air.
"This is such a pain. I shouldn't have used that ability earlier…" Yusuke muttered with a shake of his head.
"Konan. Nagato. Step back a little," he said.
The two of them obediently retreated to a safe distance.
"Arise… Flame-Flame Fruit. Heat-Heat Fruit…"
"Sixty million degrees Celsius—Artificial Sun."
A boundless sea of fire burst forth, surrounding Yusuke. Then, as if responding to his will, the flames condensed into the center of his palm.
From there, a blazing sphere took form—swelling rapidly until it grew into a massive fireball over a kilometer in diameter.
An intense wave of heat surged in all directions, engulfing the entire region.
Unlike the focused nature of Cruel Sun, which stored heat inside and incinerated anything it directly touched, this technique slowly radiated its heat outward—dissipating the temperature across the environment.
In stunned silence, the Akatsuki members watched as the enormous orb, as bright as the sun, rose high into the sky. All around them, the ice and snow that had covered the land began to melt.
"That should be enough. In a week or so, the land will return to normal," Yusuke said, gazing up at the sky.
"But… even if it returns, it'll just become barren land," Konan murmured under her breath.
Yusuke clicked his tongue and lightly flicked her forehead. "So pessimistic."
Konan's cheeks turned a shade of red from the unexpected intimate gesture. A faint, warm smile spread across her face.
"Don't worry. I'll fix it. Leave the rest to me," he said with a gentle grin.
"All right. I'll be waiting here in a week. But… before I go, I want to give you something."
"A gift?" Konan blinked. "Wait, what are you—"
Before she could finish, Yusuke took her hand and disappeared with her in a flash of teleportation—leaving Nagato behind.
Though his brow furrowed, Nagato said nothing. He understood that Yusuke wouldn't harm Konan without reason.
In the next moment, the two appeared in the middle of a city within the Land of Rain.
"What's this gift?" Konan asked, looking up at him.
"You once told me… you hated how gloomy this country always is, didn't you?" Yusuke said with a small smile.
"Yeah. Who would like a place where the sun never shines?" Konan replied as raindrops streamed down her cheeks.
"It's sad, I agree. But some people find comfort in skies like these," he said softly, beginning to activate the Limitless Technique.
A gentle, translucent barrier of Chakra enveloped Konan's body—shielding her from the rain.
"Who would enjoy something so suffocating?" Konan asked, her eyes revealing a deep loneliness.
"There are people… who can only cry freely when it rains," Yusuke murmured.
In his mind, the image of Itachi surfaced. That child had carried a burden no one ever should…
"But if given the choice, who would ever want to cry instead of smile?" Konan looked at him seriously.
"You're right," Yusuke answered with a simple nod.
If people could laugh instead, why would anyone choose to weep?
Konan smiled faintly at his lack of rebuttal.
Then, Yusuke unsheathed his sword—Black Blade Enma, a blade forged by his own hand. Among his many weapons, this one remained his most trusted companion.
"What are you going to do?" Konan asked, confused, watching as Yusuke floated up into the sky. She formed wings from paper and followed him upward.
"Remember when I said I wouldn't let Hanzo hurt you again? I broke that promise."
"You didn't," Konan said with a gentle smile, remembering the day she first met him.
"Well then… allow me to fulfill that promise now—with a gift worthy of you."
His sword darkened further, and his entire body began to radiate overwhelming power. Conqueror's Haki, Armament Haki, and Chakra surged together in crimson lightning arcs that danced around him.
"Infused with Armament Haki. Infused with Conqueror's Haki. Infused with Chakra."
Even without swinging the blade, Konan could already feel a crushing pressure around her.
"Watch closely. To heal this land… sometimes, it must be broken first. Slash—!"
With a single shout, Yusuke swung his blade.
A thunderous gust erupted.
A crimson crescent-shaped slash split through the sky—its power shaking the entire world.
Konan's eyes widened. This was far more powerful than the Artificial Sun or the frozen realm he had once conjured.
With one slash, the skies above the Land of Rain split apart. The dark, oppressive clouds that had loomed for years were torn asunder.
And then… the rain stopped.
Sunlight—warm, golden, radiant—pierced through the clouds and bathed the land below.
The villagers who had been watching in silence now stood stunned… and then, cheers erupted across the city.
"That's… That's our Angel!"
Someone in the crowd shouted.
"Yes! That's her—our Angel!"
"All hail the Angel!"
"Our Angel!"
Konan looked down at the people who cheered for her with tears of joy, and an expression of pure, radiant happiness bloomed on her face—a smile that could rival even the sunlight itself.
As the cheers echoed across the skies, Konan and Yusuke slowly vanished from view.
"Did you like it?" Yusuke asked, his eyes still on her face.
"…Thank you. I really loved it."
Konan looked at the man in front of her, heart full and warm with gratitude.
"In that case, great. Want to come with me to Konoha? I'll treat you and Itachi to some dango."
Yusuke grinned.
"No need. Don't you still have things you need to take care of? Just take me home. I'm already happy enough."
But deep down, Konan found herself quietly annoyed at the mention of Itachi.
"All right then," Yusuke replied.
In the next moment, they reappeared back at the Akatsuki hideout—right in front of Deva Path and the others.
"Well then, I'll be off. Try not to miss me too much… and don't forget my last message. Until next time!"
With a cheerful wave and a smile, Yusuke disappeared.
Once he was gone, Nagato resumed his orders to hunt down the Tailed Beasts.
At the same time, Tobi appeared—as Deidara's new partner. The latter looked far from thrilled, but had no choice but to accept it.
"Konan. If you truly love him… you're free to go and be with him," Nagato said out of the blue.
He knew that ever since Yahiko's death, Konan had been his one weakness. All he wanted was for her to be happy.
"No. Your dream and Yahiko's dream… are my dream too. As long as that dream hasn't come true, how could I ever walk away?"
Konan answered with unwavering resolve. But deep inside, a quiet doubt began to form—
Am I really needed… by his side?
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