"Yahiko, watch out!"
Just as Yahiko was about to give up—ready to accept death—
Konan moved.
She raised her hand.
A storm of paper sheets burst from her sleeves, spiraling forward in a violent gust and forming a barrier in front of him.
The flames swallowed the paper almost instantly—feeding on it, burning even hotter—
But that brief moment was enough.
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"
Yahiko leapt back, forming seals in a flash. A curtain of water surged up, slowing the advance of the flames just long enough for him to break free from their encirclement.
He darted backward repeatedly, finally escaping the range of the Dragon Flame Bomb.
But before he could steady himself—
A figure appeared directly in front of him.
"Die."
The masked "Root" shinobi drove a kunai toward Yahiko's throat.
Yahiko twisted desperately, barely avoiding the fatal strike—
But the opponent was too fast.
The second thrust came instantly.
This time—
His body could not keep up.
Am I… going to die again?
"Paper Release: Shuriken!"
Konan acted once more.
Dozens of folded paper blades shot toward the attacker in a deadly arc.
The masked man stiffened for half a second—then chose to retreat rather than finish Yahiko.
"Troublesome."
He had nearly used his intangibility instinctively—
But that ability was far too distinctive.
He could not risk exposing himself.
Konan rushed to Yahiko's side.
"Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine," Yahiko said, though his expression was grim.
He stared at the masked shinobi.
"So this is Konoha's Root… He's insanely strong."
Most of Yahiko's past opponents had been minor rogue ninja.
Even when mediating conflicts between Konoha and Iwagakure forces, true combat had rarely erupted.
This—
Was his first encounter with someone this overwhelming.
In front of this man—
He felt utterly powerless.
His fingernails dug into his palms.
The helplessness filled him with self-loathing.
"Yahiko…"
Konan sensed his turmoil.
"I'm okay." He exhaled slowly, eyes sharpening. "Konan. I'm his main target."
"I'll hold him off. You run."
She froze.
Then immediately shook her head.
"No. I will never abandon you."
She had known Yahiko longer than Nagato.
Her bond with him carried something deeper than simple camaraderie.
There was no world—
In which she would flee and leave him behind.
Yahiko looked at her, utterly serious.
"Konan. If we both die here, it means nothing."
"But if I die protecting you… then it has meaning."
"I promised Nagato I'd protect you."
Her breath caught.
The resolve in his eyes was unshakable.
"Have you decided?"
The masked shinobi tilted his head, voice deliberately distorted.
"I have a proposal. Tell me where the red-haired brat is… and I might let you live."
"Never!"
Yahiko didn't hesitate.
"I would rather die than betray Nagato!"
Behind the mask—
A faint smile formed.
"Your life doesn't matter to you. But what about hers?"
In an instant, he vanished—
Reappearing before Konan.
His hand shot toward her throat.
Yahiko didn't even see the movement.
Konan reacted on instinct, trying to dissolve into paper—
But the masked man had anticipated it.
From his palm extended a black rod.
It pierced straight through her shoulder.
Blood blossomed red against her clothes.
The black rod carried a strange chakra—
Disrupting her flow instantly.
Her techniques collapsed before they could form.
With a sharp crack, he snapped the rod—
Leaving part of it embedded inside her to suppress her chakra.
Then he yanked her close.
The remaining fragment pressed against her throat.
Everything had happened in less than a heartbeat.
By the time Yahiko understood—
It was already too late.
"Don't move."
The masked man's voice was cold.
"Choose."
"The girl."
"Or the red-haired brat."
Yahiko trembled violently.
If it were his own life—
He would choose without hesitation.
But this—
This was Konan.
And Nagato.
How could he choose?
Behind the mask—
The man's lone eye gleamed.
Yes.
That's it.
Feel it.
Understand it.
Only through despair can you see the truth of this world.
A world filled with tragedy has no value.
If only Nagato were here to witness this—
How perfect that would be.
"Yahiko…"
Konan saw his agony.
She couldn't let him make that choice.
Her gaze hardened.
Yahiko caught the change in her eyes.
His heart lurched.
"Konan, don't—"
He never finished the sentence.
She leaned forward—
And drove her own throat onto the black rod.
Thud.
Warm blood sprayed across Yahiko's face.
His eyes went wide.
Empty.
Unfocused.
He looked down—
At the blood covering his hands.
His body shook uncontrollably.
"Ya…hiko…"
The light faded from her eyes.
Her body went limp.
She collapsed.
"I…"
"Why…"
"Konan…"
"AAAAAAAHHHHH!!!"
Yahiko fell to his knees, his scream tearing through the rain.
If he had been an Uchiha—
Such agony might have awakened a Mangekyō Sharingan.
The masked man stepped back slowly.
But his visible eye remained fixed on Yahiko.
Show me.
What will you choose now?
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