Hidden Rain Village.
Nagato finished reviewing the files of Konan's recent mission assignnts and discovered a recurring na: Uchiha Raizen.
This caused Nagato to recall the "High-Reward Child Recruitnt" mission from years ago; the protagonist of that mission was also Uchiha Raizen. He went to investigate the Black Market in the Land of Rain and found that the recruitnt mission was still active.
Nagato's spirit shook violently as a terrible suspicion took root in his heart. Could it be that while Konan was on her bodyguard mission, she also... took on that child recruitnt task?
"No, impossible!"
"Konan would never do such a thing!"
Nagato shook his head vigorously, yet he couldn't explain why Konan was behaving so suspiciously. "I must go to Konoha. Once I probe the mories of this Uchiha Raizen, everything will beco clear."
Unable to find peace, Nagato decided to depart for Konoha imdiately. He controlled the Hungry Ghost Path to carry his body while leading the other Six Paths toward the Land of Fire.
As the Six Paths of Pain moved rapidly along a small trail, a figure descended from the sky, blocking Nagato's path. It was Konan. She stared at Nagato and demanded loudly, "Where are you going, Nagato? Why did you leave without telling ?"
Nagato's body was crippled and weak; she had always been the one responsible for his physical safety. Seeing him leave the Land of Rain alone made her furious.
"Konan... how did you know where I was?" Nagato asked, a hint of confusion on his face.
"I am in charge of the village's intelligence," Konan replied. "Soone inford the mont you visited the Black Market. Why are you sneaking away? What are you planning to do? Don't you know your body isn't fit for traveling?"
Nagato looked at Konan with a complex gaze. "Konan, I know everything. Did soone bully you? I'm going to get revenge for you."
"What do you know?" Konan froze, her heart skipping a beat.
"I heard about the child from the doctor," Nagato said. "I'm going to find out who the father is and if he forced himself on you. If he did, I will bring him to justice."
"No one forced . I was willing," Konan said, taking a deep breath.
"Did you... did you actually do that recruitnt mission?" Nagato pressed.
Konan shook her head. "It wasn't that mission!!!"
But she thought to herself: It was, however, that man!!
Nagato asked, "Then who is the father? Is it soone from the organization?"
Konan shook her head again. "It's no one from Akatsuki. The father is soone else."
"Who? Who managed to win your heart?"
The image of Uchiha Raizen surfaced in Konan's mind. Her expression remained calm, but a trace of joy flickered in her eyes. "He is a very handso man. Stop asking, Nagato. Just return to the village imdiately."
"Unless you tell , I'm going to Konoha to find out myself!" Nagato insisted.
"How do you know the father is from Konoha?" Konan asked, startled.
"Your last long-term assignnt was a bodyguard mission in Konoha," Nagato explained. "Based on the timing of your pregnancy, you were in the village protecting the Uchiha clan when it happened. The father is almost certainly from the Leaf. Who is he? Tell , Konan!!!"
"...Uchiha Raizen!!!" Konan finally spoke the na to prevent Nagato from causing a disaster in the village by searching for him.
"Uchiha Raizen... Itachi's uncle." Nagato frowned slightly, then let out a deep sigh. "So, what do you plan to do now? Will you leave Akatsuki to be with the father, or stay?"
"I intend to stay in the Land of Rain. I'm not going to Konoha." Konan planned to raise the child alone without telling Raizen. He had so many won already; she wouldn't be missed, and she didn't want to be just another number in his collection.
Nagato sighed heavily. "Fine. Let's go back."
The New Recruit
That afternoon, Raizen brought an excited Nawaki to the Konoha Military Police Force HQ. He handed him a uniform and assigned him the code na 004.
"This kid is still a bit green," Raizen joked to the others. "You guys look after him!!"
"Brother Raizen, I'm actually pretty good, okay?" Nawaki protested. "I might still be a Genin, but I have actual battlefield experience. I'm not a rookie!"
"Nawaki, familiarize yourself with the place," Raizen said. "I have things to do, so I'm leaving. See ya!!"
Raizen vanished in a Body Flicker.
"Young Master... I never expected you to be resurrected as well," Sakumo Hatake marveled.
Nawaki waved his hand dismissively. "Sakumo-senpai, hello! Just call Nawaki from now on. I'm not a 'Young Master' anymore. My grandfather has been dead for a long ti; using that title feels wrong."
"Even so," Sakumo noted, "your sister is the Fifth Hokage. Your status remains noble."
"I don't want to rely on my sister's status," Nawaki said, his eyes shining with determination. "One day, I will beco Hokage through my own hard work."
Influenced by his grandfather and grand-uncle, Nawaki had been driven to reach that seat since childhood. His dream was to be a Hokage as great as they were.
"I support you, Nawaki! You'll make it!" Might Dai gave him a massive thumbs-up, his teeth flashing brilliantly.
Hizashi Hyuga smiled. "With your lineage and hard work, I believe you'll see that dream through."
The three veterans welcod the boy into their ranks with open arms.
The Birth of a New Generation
Ti flew by. Nine months passed in the blink of an eye.
Shizune, Big Hinata, and Rin Nohara—all with heavily rounded bellies—sat together in a circle, playing cards. They were over eight months pregnant and would be due in just a few weeks.
Simultaneously, in the Hidden Rain Village...
The sound of a woman screaming in labor echoed from a hospital room. Hearing Konan's cries, Nagato waited outside, his face etched with anxiety.
"Konan... please be alright. You must bring the child into the world safely."
"Yahiko... if you're watching from above, protect Konan. Let the birth go well."
Listening to Konan's pained cries, even Nagato—a ninja of transcendent power—was a nervous wreck. He could do nothing to help; he could only pace the hallway in agonized anticipation.
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