Chapter 538: I Only Have You Left

Having sent off Nagato, who carried a heavy heart and unfulfilled wishes, along with Konan, who accompanied him in silence, Naruto stood at the doorway, watching their figures disappear into the end of Hidden Leaf Village’s night streets.

The faint sound of footsteps gradually faded into the distance, finally returning to silence.

Naruto gently closed the door and turned to look at Karin and Hikari inside the room.

The two of them also seemed affected by the heavy emotions contained in the conversation just now, appearing somewhat quiet.

"Let’s go," Naruto stretched his stiff shoulders, trying to dispel the lingering gravity in the air. "Let’s go to the roof to get some fresh air. The moonlight is nice tonight."

Karin and Hikari nodded. They had previously agreed with Naruto to watch the moon together often.

The three of them didn’t take the stairs; instead, with a few light leaps, they vaulted directly from the indoors onto the mansion’s spacious roof.

Tonight was another night of the full moon.

The full moon, like a silver plate, hung high in the deep night sky. Its pure, white light poured down without reservation, enveloping the entire Konoha Village in a hazy and gentle silver veil.

In the distance, the Hokage Rock stood out in sharp relief under the moonlight, while the nearby houses and trees cast dappled shadows.

The night breeze was slightly cool, brushing against their cheeks and bringing the fresh scent of plants, also slightly dispersing the gloom in their hearts.

Karin took a deep breath of the cool air, a smile reappearing on her face, and was just about to say something to Naruto.

"Must be nice, just the three of you tonight..."

A faint, distinctly resentful voice suddenly came from the shadows on the other side of the roof.

The three of them froze at the same time and looked towards the source of the sound.

In the shadows of the eaves where the moonlight couldn’t reach, a delicate figure sat there hugging her knees. Her long white hair shimmered at the edge of the moonlight, and the signature wooden horns on her head were also gilded with a silver glow.

She was barefoot, looking like she had been abandoned.

It was none other than Otohime.

Otohime slowly turned her head. Her golden Rinnegan appeared somewhat dim in the shadows, but the resentful expression on her face that said "I’m angry, come coax me" was exceptionally clear.

Her gaze first swept over Naruto, and then fell heavily on Karin and Hikari, her tone growing even more profound:

"Why didn’t you call me for dinner?"

"Uh..."

The smile on Karin’s face instantly froze.

Oh no, she had completely forgotten about Otohime!

Her mind had been entirely filled with Naruto’s return and preparing a sumptuous dinner.

Indeed, she had completely thrown that game-addicted girl—who spent all day holed up in her room playing games and often couldn’t be budged even at dinner time—to the back of her mind.

Uchiha Hikari also shifted her gaze away guiltily, unconsciously scratching her cheek with her right index finger.

She did remember that Otohime was playing games in her room, but the atmosphere at the time was a bit subtle, and later, the conversation during dinner was very serious, so she hadn’t thought to call Otohime at all.

Facing Otohime’s almost tangible resentful gaze, Naruto merely snorted and crossed his arms.

He remembered that Otohime didn’t need to eat; members of the Otsutsuki clan relied on Chakra to maintain their vital signs.

Eating was just one of her pleasures, especially eating snacks.

"I thought you were living off of video games."

Naruto complained bluntly, "The last few times I called you for dinner, you either said ’it’s a critical moment in the dungeon,’ ’after this match,’ or ’not hungry, don’t bother me.’

What, did you run out of food in your game today, and now you know what hunger is?"

His tone was teasing.

Otohime had been obsessed with games lately, so she really hadn’t paid much attention to meals, sometimes even refusing directly.

Her coming out this time was also because she had just cleared another game and suddenly realized she hadn’t gone outside in a while, which was why she stepped out.

Being retorted by Naruto like this, Otohime’s resentful expression crumbled slightly, her fair cheeks puffing out like two little steamed buns.

She was indeed in the wrong, as she was the one who had refused to eat several times before, but this time they really hadn’t called her at all!

They didn’t even ask!

She felt left out!

"Th-that’s different!"

Otohime tried to argue, but her voice lacked confidence. "Before was before... this time you guys didn’t plan on calling me at all!"

As she spoke, she deliberately rubbed her stomach, making a pitiful "I’m so hungry" expression. Paired with her youthful but slightly childish face, she did look quite pitiable.

Seeing this, Karin quickly tried to smooth things over. "Sorry, sorry, Otohime, it was my oversight today.

There should be some leftover ingredients in the kitchen. I’ll go down and make you something to eat right away. What do you want to eat?"

She said as she began to walk toward the edge of the roof.

Hikari, on the other hand, didn’t care; she didn’t care about Otohime at all.

Naruto looked at Otohime’s attitude—clearly she was the one who had been difficult first, yet now she was demanding an explanation so righteously—and shook his head with amusement.

He walked over to Otohime’s side, sat down as well, and looked up at the full moon in the sky.

"Alright, stop acting pitiful."

Naruto patted the roof beside him. "Come sit here. Karin, no need to cook anything special. Just see if there are any sweets or snacks and bring some up for her.

We’ll just watch the moon here."

Hearing this, Otohime’s eyes lit up, and most of the resentment on her face instantly vanished. She immediately shuffled over to sit next to Naruto, not forgetting to shout to Karin, "I want Three-Color Dango and tea!"

"Okay, coming right up!"

Karin let out a sigh of relief, replied with a smile, turned, and lightly leaped off the roof to go prepare the food.

There was already Three-Color Dango in the fridge, and the tea just needed to be brewed.

Hikari also smiled slightly and sat down on Naruto’s other side.

On the roof, the moonlight was like water and the cool breeze brushed their faces. The heavy atmosphere brought about by Nagato earlier seemed to have been diluted quite a bit by Otohime’s fuss.

Looking at Otohime, who had regained her energy beside him, then at Karin, who had gone to fetch food, and Hikari, who sat quietly to the side, Naruto suddenly felt that having someone to make a fuss and someone to keep him company on such a night seemed... not bad.

As for the fatigue of cultivation, the annoyance of administrative affairs, and the challenges of the future... let’s set them aside for now.

Hidden Leaf Village’s nights were different from the constant rain of the Land of Rain. The night sky here was often clear, with starlight and moonlight interwoven, spilling onto the clean and tidy streets.

The streetlights emitted a warm, dim yellow glow, lengthening and shortening the shadows of pedestrians.

Lights shone from the windows of the houses on both sides of the street, with occasional laughter or the sound of television programs drifting out, filled with the unique peaceful atmosphere of a peaceful era.

Nagato and Konan walked on the road back to their temporary residence. Both were silent, seemingly still immersed in the conversation they had just had with Naruto.

Nagato kept his head slightly lowered, wondering what he was thinking.

Konan looked straight ahead, her steps steady, with little expression on her face. Only when she occasionally passed by flying insects under the lights would her eyelashes flutter slightly.

Turning a quiet street corner, the light from the streetlamp was blocked by the eaves of a nearby roof, casting a deeper shadow. Right at this moment, Konan, who was beside Nagato, suddenly stopped.

Nagato turned his head slightly in surprise, wanting to ask.

In the next second, a slightly cool but firm hand gripped his arm with some force.

Nagato’s body stiffened. He could feel the force of Konan’s fingers—it was a tight grip accompanied by a slight tremble, as if suppressing a massive wave of emotion.

He raised his head, wanting to see Konan’s expression clearly.

However, Konan happened to be standing right at the boundary between the streetlight’s glow and the shadow of the eaves.

The dim yellow light spilled down from diagonally above, illuminating her deep blue hair and half of her shoulder, but shrouding most of her face in shadow, making it impossible to see her current expression.

Only those purple eyes appeared exceptionally deep in the shadows, as if reflecting the faint light of the streetlamp, yet also as if hiding endless, unspeakable emotions.

"Nagato..."

Konan’s voice rang out, very soft, yet carrying an unprecedented, almost fragile hoarseness that broke the silence of the night.

This voice was not as cool and calm as usual. Instead, it seemed to be squeezed with difficulty from the depths of her chest, carrying an almost imperceptible sob.

Her fingers gripping Nagato’s arm tightened a bit more, as if trying to transmit her own strength, or perhaps to confirm his existence.

"You must... live on well..."

She paused, her eyes in the shadow seeming to shimmer with a faint light, and her voice grew even lower:

"I only have you left."

These words were very soft, but falling upon Nagato’s ears, they were like a sudden clap of thunder.

He realized that Konan had heard his conversation with Naruto.

Only you.

Not "us," not "Akatsuki," not "ideals."

It was "me" and "you."

Yahiko was already gone. That youth, who had pulled her and Nagato out of despair like the sun, was forever left in the cold rain.

The former Akatsuki Organization, their former ideals, and their former paranoid path of "letting the world feel pain" had also long since vanished into thin air with the dramatic changes in the Hidden Rain Village and their capture.

Now, in this unfamiliar Hidden Leaf Village that was gradually revealing the dawn of peace, in this quiet night, under this dim yellow streetlight, all she possessed and held tightly to was this companion before her who was equally scarred—this last family member who had walked through the darkest years with her and shared all the pain and struggle.

She could not, and could never again, bear to lose anyone else.

Naruto’s calm analysis of how resurrecting Yahiko was nearly impossible was like a bucket of ice water, extinguishing the faint glimmer of hope that might have been hidden deep within her heart.

And the Third Hokage’s advice about how "Konan should also have her own life" made her realize even more clearly that, to her, Nagato had long since transcended the boundaries of a companion or comrade-in-arms.

He was her only and final connection to the past, the only person left in this world whom she could care for and protect without reservation.

Feeling the slight coolness of Konan’s fingertips and the unquestionable force transmitted from his arm, and hearing the deep-seated fear, dependence, and pleading in her words, Nagato felt as if his chest had been struck heavily by something, aching with a sour throb.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but his throat felt as if it were blocked.

He remembered how, after Yahiko’s death, Konan had silently supported him on that extreme path; he remembered how, when he was immersed in pain and power, Konan had single-handedly shouldered the burden of the Hidden Rain Village while also taking care of his increasingly decaying body; he remembered how, after being brought to Hidden Leaf Village, Konan had carefully adapted to the new environment and silently accompanied him whenever his spirits were low...

He had always thought that he was the one who needed Konan’s care and support.

Only at this moment did he suddenly realize with a start that Konan also needed him—needed him to live, to live on well, as her final anchor in this world.

In the shadow, Konan did not speak further, only gripping his arm tightly like that, as if the moment she let go, he would disappear just like Yahiko.

The halo of the streetlight danced on the tips of her hair, yet could not penetrate the shadows deep in her eyes.

Slowly and with extreme difficulty, Nagato raised his other withered hand and placed it over the back of Konan’s hand, which was gripping his arm.

His hand was very cold, even colder than Konan’s, yet it carried a firm strength.

He did not say "I will," nor did he make any promises.

He merely squeezed Konan’s hand back gently, yet with immense strength.

Loving Book So Far?