Konan sat down with some hesitation.
But she didn't touch the iced tea before her.
Although she could tell at a glance it was a refreshing drink, perfect for the heat, she didn't know whether the man before her was friend or foe—and so naturally, she dared not drink it.
Uchiha Natsuki leisurely sipped from the iced tea he had brought from Konoha, letting out a satisfied sigh.
In the past, he hadn't really thought about how to face Akatsuki—after all, dealing with them was supposed to be something that happened years later.
But now, the timeline had advanced.
From what he remembered, Nagato and Konan had always been wary of Obito.
That was why Konan secretly prepared all of Kakuzu's hard-earned money as explosive tags.
Unfortunately, she never knew of Izanagi's existence, which ultimately led to her failure.
But even that wasn't enough—there was information Nagato and Konan still didn't know.
Natsuki decided to fan the flames early and add more trouble for Obito.
"Do you still remember Chūsuke?"
The sudden question made Konan spring to her feet in shock, nearly toppling the table. Fortunately, Natsuki pressed it down in time.
"Who are you?" Konan demanded, already in battle stance as paper sheets unfolded from her body, fluttering in the air.
But Natsuki sat calmly, without the slightest hint of hostility.
"I'm Uchiha Natsuki. Didn't you already know that?"
Konan dispersed the flying sheets of paper, her expression cold. "How do you know about Chūsuke?"
Seeing that she still wouldn't drink the tea, Natsuki poured her cup back into his own. In the Land of Wind, nothing could be wasted anyway.
He didn't answer her question.
"Let me ask you something real. If you can answer it, not only will I join Akatsuki, I'll even give you the secret recipes of Chinese Cuisine."
"Whether you can answer or not, I'll tell you how I knew about Idaten Chūsuke."
Konan was no longer thinking about recruiting Natsuki—her full attention was now locked on him.
"Fine. Ask!"
For Konan, the deaths of Chūsuke and the others had always been a wound.
Not only because Chūsuke confessed to her, but also because he died while rescuing her when she was kidnapped. She always felt his death was her fault.
Natsuki spoke clearly, word by word.
"Why are you and Nagato working with Zetsu and the masked man—when they're the very ones who killed Chūsuke, Daibutsu, and the others? Why haven't you avenged them!?"
Konan's mind reeled as if struck by lightning. "What!?"
"They're the ones who killed Chūsuke and Daibutsu!?"
"Where did you get this information!?"
Natsuki sneered. "Hah… pathetic. Your enemies, your comrades' killers, are right by your side—and you don't even know. You even scheme alongside them every day."
"When you were kidnapped, Nagato and Yahiko rushed to rescue you.
Chūsuke received intel that Yahiko was in danger, so he rallied comrades to help—but on the way, they were ambushed by Zetsu and the masked man.
In the end, Chūsuke and Daibutsu combined their secret techniques, sacrificing their lives to try to take down the masked man and protect you.
But alas, Chūsuke was turned into cement, eyes wide open even in death—he never rested in peace."
Konan's chakra went into turmoil. She knew of Chūsuke's secret technique—it was his ability to spit cement.
"And yet, the ones he died trying to protect ended up working with his murderers.
Hahaha… what a cruel irony."
Her legs weakened, her head shaking violently.
"No! Why would he do that!?"
Natsuki mocked her. "Have you forgotten how the masked man first approached you? How he tried to recruit you?
Would Nagato have joined them if Yahiko were still alive? No. It was precisely because Yahiko lived that they needed to stop Chūsuke and Daibutsu.
Because they needed Nagato to fall into darkness. That's why Yahiko had to die!"
Konan recalled that first encounter with the masked man, his words to Nagato… She was beginning to believe Natsuki.
"And isn't Nagato now exactly what he wanted him to be?"
But how did Natsuki know so much detail?
He tossed her a scroll.
Instinctively, Konan caught it.
"This technique is called Impure World Reincarnation, a forbidden jutsu invented by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju. It can summon the souls of the dead back into the living world, granting them physical form again."
"If you can find Chūsuke or Daibutsu's bodies, and a living sacrifice, you can ask them yourself whether I'm telling the truth.
Of course, if you miss Yahiko, you could even bring him back."
"Resurrect the dead!?" Konan's heart trembled. Could Konoha really harbor such a terrifying jutsu?
But right now, she had no time for doubts. She needed to confirm if Natsuki's words were true—and if she could really see Chūsuke and Yahiko again.
"Why are you doing this?" she asked, her voice tight.
Natsuki poured another cup of tea.
"Because that man pretending to be Madara Uchiha is the one who orchestrated the Nine-Tails' attack on Konoha.
He made my clan suffer endless suspicion and hatred. Nearly wiped us all out.
He thinks he can keep hiding in the shadows, pulling strings? Dream on.
I'll make him pay the price!"
He slammed his palm against the table, rattling both cups.
The Nine-Tails attack… The information had been tightly sealed within Konoha. Konan only knew it had cost countless lives—including the Fourth Hokage himself.
"You know his identity?" she pressed.
Now, she finally picked up the teapot and poured herself a drink. She downed it in one gulp, the refreshing coolness calming her body and mind.
Natsuki smiled at that. Her action meant she was beginning to trust him.
"Him? He's just another pawn.
Let's see… ah, here it is."
From a pile of sealing scrolls, Natsuki retrieved another, unsealed it, and revealed a stack of written scrolls.
He sorted through them, then handed one to her.
"Read this on the road. Take it back to Nagato and discuss. You may not be able to kill him, but you can try.
I've got other business, so let's end it here. Next time, have Nagato come find me directly—I'll tell him more.
If you want to reach me, go to Otogakure. If I'm not there, leave word with Itachi."
Konan unrolled the scroll. It contained a sketch of the masked man, and beneath it was written:
"Uchiha Obito. Gravely injured at Kannabi Bridge, saved by Uchiha Madara, now acting as his proxy. Wielder of the Mangekyō Sharingan. Abilities include…"
Meanwhile, Natsuki packed away the table, chairs, and teapot into his storage scroll, and set off toward Sunagakure.
Konan skimmed the scroll quickly and finally understood why Natsuki said Obito couldn't be killed.
From a distance, Natsuki's voice drifted back to her:
"Those revived by Impure World Reincarnation won't last long. The jutsu isn't permanent—use it carefully."
Clutching the scrolls on Edo Tensei and Obito's identity, Konan spread her wings and shot into the sky.
Damn Uchiha Obito. Disgusting schemer.
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