RNP Page 202
Page 202
Upon hearing this, Obito let out a low laugh through his mask: "Heh... We not only know each other, we're quite close!"
He deliberately drew out his words, revealing a hint of sarcasm and mockery.
"You're very familiar with me?!"
Jiraiya stared in shock, his eyes wide.
[Ding! Jiraiya's emotional fluctuations have been detected! Emotional value +300!]
When did Xiao Nan get involved with someone like that?
……
Just then, the scene on the screen changed—
Suddenly, the wooden door in the scene creaked open from the outside.
Konan and Yahiko returned to the cabin carrying large bags and small packages, along with a pile of ingredients.
Two slender figures stepped onto the roof one after the other, each carrying a large amount of fresh ingredients.
The moment the door opened, a rush of cold air, mixed with the dampness from the rain outside, hit me, instantly making the once warm little house feel even colder and more humid.
Nagato, who was standing in a daze inside, paused for a moment and instinctively turned her head to look when she heard the door open.
At the entrance, two faces that haunted his dreams appeared—a man and a woman, both young, covered in dust but smiling broadly.
"Yahiko? Konan?" Nagato opened his mouth, but his throat seemed to be blocked by something, and he couldn't make a sound for a moment.
He was somewhat doubtful; could dreams really be this real?
The scene before him was different from the past he remembered, but the atmosphere around him and the smiles of his companions felt incredibly real.
Nagato could even feel the cold wind on her face and smell the cool scent of rain mixed with the fresh aroma of the ingredients.
Is all of this really just a dream?
[Ding! Nagato's emotional fluctuations have been detected! Emotional value +300!]
Before Nagato could think it through, the orange-haired boy who walked in had already seen him.
Yahiko beamed and greeted her cheerfully, "Nagato, you're awake! Come help us! We bought so many things!"
His voice was cheerful and full of energy, like a clear bell echoing in the room, startling Nagato from her daze.
“Ya...Yahiko…” Nagato murmured the other’s name, feeling a lump in his throat.
How long has it been since Yahiko spoke to him so cheerfully?
Overwhelmed with emotion, he stood frozen in place, afraid to blink, lest the smiling boy before him be nothing more than a fleeting illusion.
Yahiko casually lifted his foot, chuckling as he complained about how heavy the things were, and then shoved the large bags he was carrying into Nagato's arms: "Hurry up and lend a hand, what are you standing there for! These are all for dinner tonight!"
Nagato looked down at the bag that had suddenly appeared in her arms, paused for a moment, and subconsciously said "Oh".
Only then did he realize that Yahiko had asked him to help carry something.
This Yahiko is so natural, completely unlike those vague dream images from before.
Nagato quickly reached out and took the two large bags of ingredients from Yahiko. His arm felt a sudden weight in it.
He stepped forward in a daze to help, placing the things in his hands on the simple dining table inside the house.
Nagato was somewhat puzzled; he didn't seem to recall this scene.
In his true memory, after Jiraiya took them in, they had no worries about food and clothing, but they never bought so much food at once.
Not to mention any "dining together".
During those war-torn years, supplies were scarce, and they were used to being frugal. They had never returned with such large bags and bundles as they had ever done before.
But now, in the dream, I and my companions have prepared a table full of food for a certain "guest"?
All of this seemed a little unusual.
Although Nagato was somewhat puzzled, he quickly stepped forward to continue helping.
Regardless, Yahiko and Konan were truly by his side, and he just wanted to cherish this long-awaited time.
Nagato quickly approached Konan, who was about to enter the house, and bent down slightly to take the bucket of water and several packets of rice and flour from her arms.
Xiao Nan smiled at him and handed him the remaining ingredients.
Nagato caught a faint scent of rain and the fresh aroma of ingredients emanating from Konan, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of disbelief once again: Could all of this really be a dream?
He stepped forward, took the things from Xiao Nan's hands, and carried them to the kitchen.
The small kitchen is equipped with a simple stove and cooking utensils.
Yahiko had already deftly rolled up his sleeves and started washing and sorting the vegetables, humming a little tune as he did so, looking full of energy.
Nagato couldn't help but smile at his serious expression.
How familiar this scene is, and how precious it is!
He leaned against the door, still somewhat bewildered, watching Yahiko skillfully wash and chop the vegetables.
The main reason is that this Yahiko is so vivid, completely different from the Yahiko he dreamed of before.
In those past dreams, Yahiko's figure was always blurry, and most of them were just sad snapshots from his memories.
But today's dream was completely different.
The Yahiko in front of him felt incredibly vivid, as if he were real and alive!
Nagato stared blankly at the busy Yahiko, her eyes suddenly becoming moist.
He had almost forgotten: So this is what Yahiko looks like when he smiles...
Perhaps it was because he had spent too much time with the Heavenly Dao that he had almost forgotten what Yahiko looked like when he smiled.
Yahiko was a cheerful and sunny person who always brought strength to those around him, but he had forgotten that smile in his endless pain.
Thinking of this, Nagato felt a pang of guilt and gratitude.
[Ding! Nagato's emotional fluctuations have been detected! Emotional value +300!]
He raised his hand and rubbed his eyes hard, trying to hold back the tears that were about to spill out, but the corners of his lips involuntarily turned up slightly.
After putting the last ingredient back in its place, Xiao Nan patted the water off her hands.
She walked to the wall, flipped the flip-flop for herself and Yahiko to face up, and then skillfully went back to the kitchen to help Yahiko, who had already started preparing the ingredients.
The three wooden plaques lined up on the wall swayed, with the green police officer's case facing outwards being particularly conspicuous—
Those were the exit cards for the three of them. When the green side faced outwards, it meant that the person was already inside.
Konan skillfully flipped the two wooden plaques bearing the names "Yahiko" and "Konan" from red to green, indicating that the two had returned safely.
Watching Konan and Yahiko work together seamlessly, one as the head chef and the other as the assistant, Nagato watched silently from the side, afraid of disturbing this long-lost heartwarming scene.
He stood there quietly, his eyes never leaving the two busy figures.
Konan occasionally handed over the ingredients, which Yahiko would happily take and continue stir-frying in the pan.
The firelight illuminated their young faces, and the aroma of food wafting from the cabin filled the entire little wooden house with warmth.
Perhaps sensing that Nagato hadn't made a move, Yahiko spent a lot of time trying to figure out that Nagato was still standing there in a daze.
"Nagato, what are you standing there for? Come and help!" Yahiko called out to Nagato as he deftly stirred the food in the pot, grinning broadly. "I have to make a lot of food today! Master Jiraiya said we have guests coming over!"
"Ah, oh!" Nagato suddenly realized what was happening.
He hurriedly responded and rushed to the sink to wash his hands in preparation for helping, but a question lingered in his mind: "A guest? Who could it be?"
Nagato muttered to himself.
In his memory, Jiraiya had never brought back any guests!
After all, they lived in seclusion in the mountains back then, and no outsiders ever visited their cabin.
But now, Yahiko says that guests are coming tonight?
Nagato's mind was filled with questions, but he dared not stop what he was doing.
He quickly washed his hands and joined the busy work, and the three of them worked together to prepare a sumptuous dinner.
Before long, all the ingredients were prepared, and all that was left was to patiently wait for the dishes in the pot to simmer and absorb the flavors.
The three of them were busy in the kitchen for a long time.
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
"Knock knock knock—" The crisp knocking startled the three people inside.
"They're here!" Xiao Nan's eyes lit up, and she immediately jumped up from her chair.
She wiped her hands with her apron and exclaimed excitedly, "It must be Jiraiya-sensei who's back!"
After saying that, he couldn't wait and ran towards the door.
Upon hearing this, Yahiko stopped what he was doing, exchanged a glance with Nagato, and revealed an expectant smile.
Nagato felt a slight tension rise within her—who exactly was the "guest" outside the door?
Xiao Nan happily ran to the door and opened it.
The wooden door creaked open, and the sound of the torrential rain outside became even clearer.
There were two people standing outside the door, both with white hair.
In the dim light at the entrance, one figure could be vaguely seen as tall and strong, while the other was slightly shorter and thinner.
Both of them had full heads of silver-white hair, which shimmered faintly in the rain.
Xiao Nan was stunned for a moment.
Of course she recognized Jiraiya-sensei—his white hair and signature oil-colored headband were instantly recognizable.
However, she had never seen the other white-haired man standing next to Jiraiya before.
The man was about thirty years old, dressed in the uniform of a Konoha Jonin, with a gentle yet heroic face, and a slender scabbard slung over his shoulder.
Although she had a smile on her lips and seemed to have no hostile intentions, Xiao Nan instinctively became more vigilant.
……
in the audience.