At this particular mont, Aoba was sitting in his room, holding a pen and quickly writing on sheets of paper. The content on these pages detailed the dark secrets about Konoha that Orochimaru and Danzo had revealed during their talk at Hokage Rock.
This information was already firmly etched in Aoba's mind, primarily since he had heard it firsthand. As a result, writing it down was smooth and effortless, his hand moving swiftly without any hesitation.
After so ti, he paused to rest for a while.
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, he sensed a strange chakra fluctuation. It wasn't the usual type of chakra, but one that felt very familiar to him.
"Konan?"
"What is she doing here?"
"And she's alone!"
Aoba was taken aback. As soon as he spread his chakra perception, he noticed Konan sitting inside Ichiraku Ran.
"She's here already?"
Aoba was stunned. He hadn't expected this to happen so soon.
He had told Konan before that if she ever needed to find him, she should go to Ichiraku Ran. Now that she was there, she had sothing important to discuss.
Has sothing happened?
When Aoba spoke with Minato earlier, he retracted his chakra to avoid detection. As a result, he hadn't been aware of the Akatsuki trio's exact location.
But now, after writing everything down, he thought he would check on the trio's position. To his surprise, he discovered Konan was at Ichiraku Ran, while Nagato and Yahiko were nowhere to be seen.
This made Aoba realize that sothing significant must have occurred.
"I guess I should check things out soon."
However, Aoba wasn't foolish enough to appear as himself. He also didn't plan to disguise himself as soone else and go to Ichiraku Ran. The village was relatively stable, and assuming another identity might raise unnecessary suspicion.
For instance, if he transford into a ninja from another village, how that ninja got into Konoha would imdiately arise, drawing unwanted attention.
He was even disguising himself as a Konoha ninja would pose risks. There was always a chance of being recognized, which could lead to complications. If Konan mistakenly thought that another person was his clone or transformation, it could create unnecessary confusion and awkwardness.
Aoba hated dealing with such complications.
Therefore, he decided to wait until Konan finished eating and left the ran shop. Once the area was clear, he would approach her.
This was precisely in line with what Konan had initially anticipated.
...
Inside Ichiraku Ran.
Konan was completely absorbed in the delicious al before her, no longer concerned about whether she had been noticed.
The ran was simply too delicious!
She had never tasted anything like it.
The flavors overwheld her, and she couldn't focus on anything else. Other matters seed trivial compared to the incredible taste of the ran in front of her.
Before long, the gatekeeper ninja also received his bowl of ran.
His hunger had been growing, and seeing Konan enjoying her al had only made him crave it more.
Both of them were fully engrossed in their ran for a brief mont, with the fragrant aroma filling the air.
Konan had never imagined that she would co to love ran this much.
The noodles were so delicious that she couldn't help but appreciate that Aoba had chosen this location for their potential eting. She began to understand why he had explicitly ntioned Ichiraku Ran.
The food was so good that just one taste left her wanting more.
After so ti, the second bowl of ran that Konan had ordered arrived. Despite eating one bowl, the ran was so irresistible that she couldn't help but continue.
She reflected on the state of Agakure, ravaged by the ninja wars, leaving it in a dire economic state. Food like this was a rare luxury she had never experienced before. Her satisfaction with the al made her feel even more connected to Konoha, and she wanted to stay.
"Sigh..."
Konan let out a sigh. She knew that Minato was about to beco Konoha's Fourth Hokage, which should have been good news, especially for them as Jiraiya's disciples.
However, she sensed that Minato had reservations about allowing them to stay in Konoha. She assud these reservations stemd from issues she wasn't aware of, but she understood that Minato wasn't acting out of malice.
Moreover, she realized that Nagato and Yahiko hadn't shown the sincerity they should have during their conversation with Minato.
Given the circumstances, it was understandable that Minato wouldn't want to take risks for people who didn't seem invested in staying in Konoha.
Konan felt a pang of regret that they couldn't establish a connection with Minato and stay in Konoha. However, she was content with the thought that, at the very least, she had co here and tasted the ran, sothing that would leave her with good mories.
In hindsight, she felt that her decision to stay behind and experience Konoha had been right. If she had left with Nagato and Yahiko, she might have never experienced this delicious al.
She could see that Nagato's ambitions had grown. He now saw himself as soone of great power, belonging to the Ōtsutsuki clan. With that attitude, it was unlikely that he would ever lower himself to return to Konoha.
And where Nagato went, Yahiko would follow.
Now that she was here, Konan realized this was probably her only chance to visit Konoha. If she didn't seize it now, she might never return.
"Delicious."
Konan raised her right hand and gave Teuchi a thumbs-up, smiling at him as she expressed her heartfelt appreciation for the ran.
This was genuine praise, coming straight from her heart. She had never eaten anything so delicious, and she wanted to show her gratitude to the skilled chef who had prepared it for her.
After thanking him, she resud eating her second bowl of ran, even though she was already full.
But she was determined to finish it.
It had been so long since she had truly enjoyed a al, and she wouldn't let this opportunity pass her by. Growing up in Agakure, food had been scarce, and survival was always her top priority.
Now, she was beginning to understand why people sought more than just survival—they sought a better quality of life, sothing she had never considered before.
Konan's experience at Ichiraku Ran made her realize what it ant to live and not just survive genuinely.
She wanted to stay in Konoha. The village represented the life she had always dread of but never had.
Lost in her thoughts, Konan focused on savoring the ran before her, determined to enjoy every last bite.
Teuchi, watching the young woman, smiled warmly. He appreciated her sincere praise and was glad to see her enjoying the ran so much. To him, there was no greater reward than a custor relishing the food he had prepared.
At that mont, the footsteps approaching the entrance to Ichiraku Ran caught Konan's attention.
Her eating slowed as her focus shifted toward the door.
Soone was coming.
Konan's heart skipped a beat, and she tensed slightly, wondering if the person approaching could be none other than the incarnation of Ōtsutsuki Shiren.
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