Naruto entry

Page 490

Despite Hashirama Senju's seemingly effortless and commanding demeanor, he actually spent most of his time performing hand seals, though he used them only a few times.

The "Wood" Release technique usually ends with the "Snake Seal" seal.

The hand gesture for "巳印" is exactly like this: both hands are clasped together with the thumbs turned inward.

Under such circumstances, it's easy to imagine how attentive the ninja opponent would be.

However, Xiao Nan's hands were incredibly soft and smooth to the touch.

"Is this the compensation you're talking about?"

Xiao Nan found it hard to understand.

"The reward I want is to please me."

Qingsi spoke.

A look of pain and inner turmoil immediately appeared on Xiao Nan's face.

Kiyoshi emphasized the compensation so many times; she should have noticed it long ago.

"Miss Konan is a righteous ninja who advocates mutual understanding and fights for world peace. Surely she understands the meaning of gratitude."

Qingsi smiled.

He saved Konan and also defeated Nagato, the traitor, for the Akatsuki organization.

This kindness is truly immense.

The key point is that the two had made a verbal agreement beforehand.

If Kiyoshi is weak, it doesn't matter if Konan doesn't acknowledge him.

However, he was incredibly powerful and was one of the most likely candidates to become the Fourth Hokage.

All these factors made Xiao Nan suppress her urge to take action.

Even so, her face still showed signs of tearing, like a book that had been turned over.

The atmosphere in the air seemed to freeze for a moment.

Kiyoshi continued to touch Minami's hand, ignoring everything else.

Using your own hands and using someone else's hands are, of course, completely different sensations.

"Can't we choose another one?"

Xiao Nan remained silent for a long time, enduring the discomfort of being touched by Qing Si.

She was terrified. What if Yahiko came in and saw this?

Should we break off relations with Kiyoshi?

But what about Nagato's injury?

Does this mean amputation is really necessary?

Furthermore, all the transactions involving ninja tools between Akatsuki and the Ninja Cat Clan also had to go through Kiyoshi's hands.

If things really come to a head, the Akatsuki will definitely not fare well.

At this moment, Xiao Nan felt as if she had returned to her childhood.

The oppression and powerlessness brought to her by those powerful ninjas were etched into her memory.

Now, she thought of herself again, powerless, just as weak as she is now.

"Miss Xiao Nan, be careful, it's hot."

Looking into Konan's amber eyes, Kiyoshi reminded her and wiped her sleeves for her.

Xiao Nan hesitated for a long time, knowing that Qing Si was offering him a way out.

If she answers accordingly, who knows what other demands Kiyoshi might make.

"If you don't want to, I won't force you too much."

Qing Si suddenly released his hand.

His tone remained unchanged, but the smile on his face faded.

Xiao Nan felt a little flustered. There was nothing she could do; she needed Qing Si's help, so she naturally dared not truly offend him.

"I...I'll talk about it later, okay?"

Xiao Nan spoke in an almost pleading tone.

She guessed that Kiyoshi would make some demands of her. Konan wasn't a little girl who had just left the ninja world anymore, so naturally she would have to follow all sorts of rules.

She could tolerate it as long as the final step wasn't contaminated.

All of this was for his comrades, and it was also Yahiko's dream.

Xiao Nan clenched her fists.

"I don't like forcing people, Miss Nan. There's no need for that expression. Please leave; I need to rest."

Kiyoshi picked up his teacup and took a sip.

The tea here may grow up being watered by rain all year round, which gives it a fresh fragrance after the rain.

Xiao Nan sighed and left the room.

She walked down the corridor, her mind in turmoil.

How do you choose the right option?

Xiao Nan was unaware; she clenched her hands tightly.

If Kiyoshi had made such a request from the beginning, Minami would have been very annoyed.

Ironically, it was only after she changed her opinion of Qing Si that he made such a request, which made Xiao Nan feel very complicated about Qing Si.

……

In a room of another building.

Nagato lay on the bed, his body wrapped in white bandages.

The white bandages had faint traces of blood seeping through them.

Nagato's body was very thin, as if he were malnourished.

Coupled with his pale, bloodless face, one could easily believe he was about to die at any moment.

Yahiko looked at Nagato and clenched his fist.

This is a side effect of using "Super Shinra Tensei".

Yahiko had witnessed Nagato using the power of the "Rinnegan," and that excessive use of this power would have a significant impact on Nagato's body.

This made Yahiko ponder whether the "Rinnegan" was a legendary auspicious omen or a harbinger of disaster.

Click.

The sound of the door being pushed open interrupted Yahiko's contemplation. He looked in the direction of the sound and saw that the person who came in was none other than Konan.

"How is Nagato doing?"

Konan came in, first glancing at Yahiko, then looking at Nagato lying on the bed.

Nagato's lips had turned white, and upon hearing the noise, he managed to open his eyes a crack.

"You don't need to help me. Just wait for me to recover my chakra."

Nagato spoke while panting.

"You'll definitely suffer permanent injuries if you keep doing this. Do you want to become a cripple, Nagato?"

Yahiko frowned.

Since he acquired the puppets, Nagato has preferred to have them act in his place in the outside world.

He himself remained hidden in the darkness, observing everything indifferently with his pale purple eyes.

Yahiko feared that this would exacerbate Nagato's extreme thoughts, so even if he brought him back now, it would only be a temporary measure.

If Nagato still holds the same thoughts as before, he would probably still choose to establish Shinkyo.

"I don't care about... my injuries, what's more important is... Xiao's future."

After Nagato finished speaking, he was panting heavily.

Kiyoshi's injuries to him were far too severe. If it weren't for the fact that he carried the bloodlines of the Uzumaki and Senju clans, and that his regenerative abilities and chakra were extraordinary, he would have been in a much worse situation.

Otherwise, with these injuries alone, he would have died before he could even be carried back to the Akatsuki organization.

"Nagato, you are an indispensable part of the peaceful future I envision."

Yahiko bent down and grasped Nagato's shoulders with both hands, his tone sincere.

The trio has grown so close together that their bond has become deeply ingrained.

He absolutely would not allow anything to happen to Nagato and Konan.

"Xiao Nan, how's the communication with Qing Si going?"

After Nagato fell asleep from exhaustion, Yahiko turned to look at Konan.

Xiao Nan looked troubled, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.

Why did Kiyoshi keep touching his own hand?

And why are you staring at me with such intense gaze?

The reward they wanted was all too obvious.

Xiao Nan didn't understand what benefit Kiyoshi gained from doing this, nor did she have a way to solve her current predicament.

Nagato said that it would be fine once the chakra recovered, but what if it didn't work after waiting for a while?

Chakra alone cannot cure diseases.

Are we just going to stand by and watch Nagato die?

She gripped her black cuffs tightly, her heart filled with unbearable pain.

Xiao Nan can still recall memories from the past.

Her parents died early, and her warm little home was gone. She lived a life of uncertainty, wandering and starving every day.

At that time, all she could get was her own death.

In this moment of despair, someone saved Xiao Nan.

"...Eat."

In front of him was an orange-haired child whose manner was rude, yet he exuded a sense of warmth.

It's as if it's naturally revealing its gentleness.

Konan looked at the child in surprise, and that child was none other than Yahiko.

Faced with the loss of everything, Yahiko gave Minami something important again.

Later, Konan encountered Nagato.

At that time, Nagato was just as powerless as she was, having no one to rely on.

So Konan brought Nagato back with her, and Yahiko accepted Nagato. The three of them then began to work hard together to make a living.

"Xonan?"

Yahiko called out a few times, but found that Konan did not respond.

"He...he agreed."

Finally, Xiao Nan snapped out of her reverie and told a white lie.

"It's good that you agreed. With Kiyoshi's medical skills, he's probably no worse than Princess Tsunade."

Yahiko said earnestly, his furrowed brows suddenly relaxing considerably.

With Kiyoshi's help, Nagato's injuries should stabilize soon.

"Did you hear that, Nagato? Your injuries can be healed. As long as you turn back in time, we can still be the best of comrades."

Yahiko looked expectantly at Nagato on the hospital bed, wanting to share his joy with him, even though Nagato was too tired to hear him at all.