The next day.
Yuto, Konan, and the ninja of Hidden Rain Village held a funeral for Nagato.
Since Yuto himself represented Hidden Mist Village, the Mizukage Terumi Mei didn't come in person. And on this day, Hidden Rain Village — which usually saw unending rain — was blessed with a rare clear sky.
After spending about a day handling these matters, Yuto was in no rush to leave.
Atop a tall, circular iron pipe platform, Konan sat with a calm gaze, looking down at Hidden Rain Village below. A trace of sorrow lingered on her face.
"I knew I'd find you here."
A warm voice came from behind. Yuto appeared out of thin air behind Konan.
Yuto shook his head gently at Konan, then walked over and sat beside her.
"I figured you hadn't eaten, so I brought you some — grilled fish and rice."
Yuto raised the packed container of grilled fish and rice, holding it out to Konan.
The steam rising from the grilled fish carried a familiar fragrance that reached Konan's nose, making her pause.
"How do you know I like grilled fish?"
Konan's light blue-purple hair swayed in the wind. A hint of surprise crossed her delicate face as she looked at Yuto.
"Not only do I know you like grilled fish — I also know you hate deep-fried food."
Yuto smiled gently. Then, under Konan's increasingly curious gaze, he slowly spoke two words:
"Secret."
Konan's orange pupils flickered briefly. Then she rolled her eyes and reached out to take the grilled fish and rice from Yuto's hands.
Seeing Konan start to eat, Yuto wore a faint smile as he also raised his head to gaze into the distance.
Neither spoke. One quietly ate the grilled fish and rice; the other quietly looked at the far-off horizon. Though silent, there was no awkwardness between them.
Konan ate slowly, but with great care. In the end, she finished every last bite of the grilled fish and rice, then gracefully drew a white sheet of paper from her sleeve and gently dabbed her lips.
Seeing Konan pull out the paper, Yuto's eyebrows rose slightly. Paper Release could be used like that? It completely eliminated the need for napkins.
"Thank you," Konan said softly.
"Don't mention it. I don't think Nagato would want to see you like this, either. I still remember the first time I met you — your eyes were full of determination."
Yuto said with a light laugh, his voice gentle and calm.
Konan's slender legs, clad in light purple tight pants, swung gently in the air as she gazed into the distance with a hint of blankness in her eyes.
"During the Second Shinobi World War, Hidden Rain Village was on the edge of the conflict, plagued by constant warfare. I was essentially an orphan — my parents both died in the fighting."
"Those days were probably when I was truly lost and helpless. I wandered from place to place, going hungry every day. And during that time, I met Yahiko."
"I met Nagato after I'd already found Yahiko. One day we were out searching for supplies, and on the way we found a short, skinny boy with red hair, passed out on the roadside. That was Nagato."
"I gave Nagato a piece of bread, and then he came back with me. Oh, and there was also a stray dog called Little Bit."
A look of reminiscence on her face, Konan spoke slowly, a faint trace of a smile at the corners of her mouth.
Konan recounted their past in fragments, her expression shifting between nostalgia, happiness, and even sorrow.
Yuto sat quietly beside her. He didn't echo her words or interrupt — he simply listened as Konan spoke of their shared past, being the best listener he could be.
A long while passed.
Konan seemed to have grown tired from talking. She leaned gently against Yuto, her head tilting to rest on his shoulder.
"I've told you about myself. Shouldn't you tell me about you?"
Konan first adjusted into a more comfortable position, then slowly spoke.
"Sure."
Yuto smiled, then began speaking of the Warring States period, his voice carrying a note of reminiscence.
When she heard that Yuto had also been an orphan, Konan's face clearly showed surprise. But she didn't interrupt him, continuing to listen patiently.
Yuto spoke of his two friends at the time — Hakuren of the Yuki clan, and Setsuya of the Kaguya clan. When mentioning these two, his voice carried a clear note of longing.
Until finally, when he reached the point of being sealed away, Yuto stopped.
"Do you miss them a lot too?"
Konan asked softly.
"Of course I do. Missing the companions I once fought alongside — and I suppose I'm feeling homesick too."
Yuto suddenly chuckled, his tone wistful.
When he mentioned the word "home," his tone shifted noticeably.
Konan didn't notice, assuming Yuto meant the home from the Warring States period.
Before they knew it.
In the course of their mutual confessions, the sun had set. Points of starlight now floated in the sky.
Yuto lowered his head slightly. Looking at Konan, who had fallen asleep with a trace of weariness on her face, he gently ruffled her light blue-purple hair, then reached out and lifted her into his arms, turning to vanish from the platform.
Over the next few days, with Yuto's companionship, Konan finally emerged from the grief of Nagato's passing. At the same time, the two grew closer and closer.
Until one evening watching the sunset, Konan and Yuto shared a kiss, officially becoming a couple.
A few days later.
Hidden Mist Second Village, Mizukage's office.
Terumi Mei leaned back in her chair, listening to the report from Ao and Chojuro before her, a satisfied expression on her face.
The situation across Hidden Mist Second Village had now basically stabilized. As long as things developed normally, there should be no problems.
"How are things on the funding front?"
Terumi Mei suddenly remembered something and looked at Chojuro to ask.
"There are no issues with funding at the moment. Whether it's the assets left behind by the former Hidden Leaf Village or the wealth from the Fire Daimyo's court after the fall of the Land of Fire — everything is more than sufficient."
"Moreover, the Water Daimyo recently injected a large sum of funds and supplies into the village."
Chojuro spoke respectfully, a smile on his face.
"The Daimyo being this proactive is rather unexpected."
Ao, overhearing Chojuro's report, raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"Compared to the small patch of land we occupy, the entire Land of Fire is currently under the Land of Water's jurisdiction."
"A mere bit of money and supplies — why would the Water Daimyo be stingy about that?"
Terumi Mei shook her head and said with a light laugh. Then her tone shifted:
"Since funds are plentiful, the formal expansion of Hidden Mist Second Village can be put on the agenda."
"Also, the Water Daimyo's court isn't short of money right now. Chojuro, you'll go to the Daimyo's court in person. Tell them Hidden Mist Second Village is in urgent need of supplies."
"Request another batch of funds and materials from the Daimyo's court. The Daimyo is being generous these days — he shouldn't refuse. As for our own funds, leave them untouched for now."
Expansion?
Chojuro and Ao both paused, then exchanged a glance.
"Mizukage-sama, Hidden Mist Second Village's current area is already sufficient. There's really no need to expand further."
Ao asked with a hint of confusion in his voice.
"Ao, our goal isn't just the Land of Fire. According to Yuto-sama's wishes, what we're building is a nation exclusively for shinobi..."
"Not just a village!"
As Terumi Mei spoke, her gaze passed beyond Ao and Chojuro, a brilliant smile on her face:
"Isn't that right, Yuto-sama?"
At these words.
Chojuro and Ao both froze, then quickly turned to look behind them.
There, at some unknown point, Yuto was already sitting on a sofa against the back wall.
"Yuto-sama!"
"Yuto-sama!"
Chojuro and Ao were startled and quickly spoke respectfully. They hadn't even noticed when Yuto had appeared.
"That's right — Hidden Mist Second Village alone is still too small."
"But the expansion plan isn't urgent. Proceed at a normal pace. Also, hand some of the more time-consuming outer construction projects to merchants from various nations to handle for us."
"No need to pay the full amount upfront. Settle a third or even less first, and let the merchants advance the rest. Pay them in installments as each section of construction is completed."
Yuto explained patiently, offering his suggestions.
Ao and Chojuro's eyes lit up at the same time, as if discovering a new continent. Ao even pulled out a notebook and began taking notes.
"Yuto-sama, there's one more issue."
"Will those merchants really agree to advance the funds for us?"
While taking notes, Ao seemed to spot a problem and asked respectfully.
Terumi Mei and Chojuro beside him also turned their puzzled gazes toward Yuto. The method Yuto had proposed was certainly a good idea.
But those merchants wouldn't be that foolish.
"That's a good question."
"With Hidden Mist Village's name behind us now, they won't worry about us defaulting. And with a project this large, the materials alone represent substantial profit for them."
"So during the process, we'll also need to send personnel to oversee construction quality and ensure the merchants aren't inflating their costs."
Yuto continued, and Ao and Chojuro's eyes grew brighter with each word.
"Understood, Yuto-sama."
"I'll immediately contact the relevant departments to finalize this plan."
Ao bowed deeply and quickly spoke, then turned toward the door.
After taking two steps and seeing Chojuro still standing in place, Ao's eyes flashed with helplessness. Talk about lacking awareness.
Ao reached out and pulled the somewhat bewildered Chojuro along as they left the office together.
[
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