Chapter 167: Nagato Has No Way Back

Seeing the expression on Haruna’s face, Yuto couldn’t help smiling, letting out a soft chuckle.

In all of Kirigakure, the people who knew him and still dared to talk to him this casually… were probably only Haruna.

“Today, it’s my treat. Eat whatever you want.”

Yuto reached out and patted Haruna’s small head, speaking with a light laugh.

“Really?!”

Haruna’s eyes lit up, her face instantly filled with delight.

The moment she heard that, the Haruna who had been walking behind Yuto immediately dashed ahead of him, eyes shining as she looked all around at the street vendors calling out their wares.

Yuto kept both hands in his pockets, strolling leisurely behind her.

Even though the street was full of noisy shouting and bustle, in Yuto’s ears it strangely carried a sense of ease.

A shame that this kind of ease probably wouldn’t last much longer.

In the history of the shinobi world, war had always been the dominant tone.

As for things like friendship and bonds… they were only there to set off war.

Yuto lifted his head, casually taking in the bustling street ahead, the large and small carriages, the scenes of hauling and transporting goods.

And then—

A figure with short, pale-blue hair suddenly entered Yuto’s field of view.

The moment she appeared, she walked straight toward him.

Konan approached with a calm expression. Seeing Yuto momentarily stunned, she spoke softly.

“What, Yuto-dono… it’s only been a day, and you don’t recognize me anymore?”

As Konan’s voice reached him, Yuto snapped back to himself. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes as he looked at Konan, who was dressed so strikingly.

The black cloak with red clouds she usually wore—its oppressive, heavy feeling—was gone.

In its place, she wore a light-blue kimono. It was a simple kimono, yet on Konan it looked unexpectedly dazzling.

“I’m just surprised you’d take that cloak off,” Yuto said with a small shake of his head.

“This is your Kirigakure, after all. Even if Yuto-dono already gave orders in advance… that cloak is still far too eye-catching.”

Konan’s eyes flickered slightly as she spoke.

Just then, Haruna came trotting over from the side, staring up at Konan with big eyes as she let out a little gasp.

“Waa—what a pretty onee-san!”

Konan froze for a moment, and a blush quickly flashed across her cheeks.

“This little girl is…?”

Konan crouched slightly and gently patted Haruna’s head.

“Ringo Ameyuri’s little sister. A total foodie.”

Yuto shrugged casually, sounding helpless.

Hearing that, Haruna immediately puffed out her cheeks, about to argue—

Then she saw Yuto’s smug look as he pointed at the wallet at his waist.

Haruna shut her mouth at once, her little face turning into a deeply wronged expression.

Seeing that, Konan suddenly found it funny.

Especially Yuto—his relaxed expression right now was nothing like how he looked when facing Madara. It was as if they were two different people.

Right now, Yuto gave off an extremely easygoing vibe.

Haruna muttered under her breath, “Cheapskate…”

Then she obediently started eating what she was holding with both hands, while her eyes kept drifting toward the snacks along the street.

The corner of Yuto’s mouth lifted, a satisfied look on his face. Following the flow of people, he walked forward as if he were simply taking a stroll.

Seeing Yuto move, Konan paused, then quickly got up and followed after him.

Noticing Konan keeping pace, a sharp glint flashed through Yuto’s eyes.

He’d thought it was a coincidence running into her… but now it seemed it had been intentional.

“Thank you… for those eyes, Yuto-dono.”

Walking beside him, Konan wore an expression of gratitude.

“I already told you—no need to thank me. I do things for my own reasons. Looks like Nagato’s operation went very well.”

Yuto shook his head lightly, his voice calm.

With the Uzumaki Clan’s constitution, there basically wouldn’t be any problems.

Konan nodded. After a brief silence, she spoke softly.

“Yuto-dono… I want to ask about the Eien no Mangekyō Sharingan (Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan).”

“Oh? So Nagato sent you to ask.”

Yuto raised an eyebrow, a faint smile forming.

Konan didn’t respond—neither confirming nor denying.

“The key is Itachi’s little brother—Sasuke. As long as his eyes evolve into the Mangekyō Sharingan (Kaleidoscope Sharingan), then you already know what to do next.”

“As for whether you can take those eyes from Sasuke… that depends on whether Nagato has the ability.”

Yuto spoke evenly.

So it really was that.

Konan’s expression showed understanding. She bit her lip lightly, then continued in a low voice.

“And if Nagato loses…?”

Yuto, who had been walking as if on a casual stroll, suddenly stopped.

He turned his head, looking at Konan with a cold, indifferent gaze.

Konan’s heart trembled.

“You seem to have misunderstood something. The moment Nagato made this choice… he no longer had any way back.”

“And there are only two outcomes: either Sasuke takes back Itachi’s eyes, or Nagato succeeds. And the loser only has one ending—death.”

Yuto’s detached voice fell into Konan’s ears.

Konan’s face went pale. She understood exactly what he meant.

More than anyone, Konan knew what Nagato was carrying on his shoulders right now.

Nagato had no retreat left.

Or rather… Nagato didn’t need a retreat at all.

What Konan truly worried about wasn’t Sasuke—

It was Madara. That was Konan’s real concern.

“Onee-san, here!”

Just then, Haruna’s voice rang out from the side.

Haruna held a skewer of grilled dried fish and thrust it into Konan’s hand.

After giving Konan the grilled fish, Haruna grinned and handed the fish balls in her other hand to Yuto.

“Oh? Since when did you become so well-behaved?”

Yuto took the fish balls, eyes lighting up, and teased Haruna with a smile.

“Haruna has always been well-behaved!”

Haruna pouted, then turned to Konan and gave her a playful wink, before running off toward the front of the street again.

Konan looked down at the grilled dried fish in her hand, then couldn’t help lifting her eyes to glance at Yuto.

“Don’t look at me. Just eat.”

Yuto spoke casually while chewing on the fish balls.

The slightly tense atmosphere from earlier vanished in an instant thanks to Haruna’s little interruption.

“If you’re worried about Madara… then you can relax.”

At the same time, a somewhat muffled voice reached Konan’s ears, and Konan’s heart finally loosened.