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Chapter 44 — Konan: "Alex, Help Me Blow-Dry"
After a short while, Alex wobbled out of the bath, dizzy and his mind full of vivid images of Konan.
Even though he was only a sheet of paper now, that slender line of temptation left no space in his thoughts.
'Wow… that was an incredible reward…' Alex's soft paper form felt rigid with excitement.
He hovered midair for a moment, steadying himself, and checked his own status.
Konan's fusion with the Uzumaki bloodline had brought benefits to him as well: his chakra capacity increased—his storage limit had risen, and he could now hold up to ten koku of chakra.
Creak!
The bathroom door opened and Konan stepped out.
She was bare-chested for a moment, and Alex's attention snapped to the sight in front of him. His eyes nearly glued to the gentle rise and fall of her form.
Her light violet-blue hair was still damp, beads of water trailing down her smooth cheeks, along her slender neck, and resting just at the hollow of her collarbone.
The droplets trembled with each of her steps.
She walked in front of him, stretched, and then slowly dressed—every movement unhurried and graceful, displaying her perfect figure in motion.
Once clothed, she sat on a stool.
"Alex, can you help me blow-dry?" she asked.
Blow-dry? Where? Alex knew exactly what she meant. He flew above her head and, using his paper body, generated a gentle breeze—like a hairdryer.
—Wind Release: Hair Drying Technique.
Konan's violet strands swayed and dried under the soft wind, releasing a fresh, faint scent.
[Done.]
Alex looked proudly at his handiwork. Her hair was smooth and glossy; split ends had been trimmed away by paper shears he'd fashioned. He couldn't help feeling a little pleased—who would've thought he'd moonlight as a hair stylist?
Konan studied her twenty-year-old reflection and smiled slightly.
She stood, cupped Alex in her hands, and said softly, "Alex, thank you. Having you by my side feels really good."
He had brought her strength and a better life—she had little to repay him with, so she offered what she could: comfort.
Once again Alex was cradled in warm softness.
Knock, knock! A brief knock sounded at the door.
Konan straightened and smoothed her clothes before opening it. Alex and his paper companions hovered by her side.
Honoka stood at the doorway.
"Lady Konan, Uncle Kameda says dinner is ready. Would you like to eat on the deck or have it brought to your room?" she asked.
Konan closed the door and replied, "On the deck."
She preferred the pavilion's breeze and wide view whenever there was nothing urgent.
Honoka followed, noticing Konan's freshly styled hair. "Lady Konan—do you have a barbershop on the Sky Fortress?" she asked, running a hand through her long red hair in mild frustration.
"My hair hasn't been cut in ages. I'm afraid of ruining it if I try myself," she added.
Konan didn't look back as she walked. "There's no barber on the fortress."
Before she finished, three white paper scissors—controlled by Alex—darted to Honoka and began snipping.
Once again Alex took on the role of stylist.
The three blades moved deftly, trimming the fiery red locks with precision. Fallen strands were caught by sheets of paper laid beneath. Honoka froze, eyes shut at first, tense at the snipping sounds.
Konan leaned against the wall and watched with interest as Honoka's hair shortened and neat ends replaced the roughness.
In minutes, the hair was tied into a cute bun. Alex continued to control the papers, then transformed two sheets into washcloths and one into a flowing stream to rinse the hair. The other papers guided warm air to dry it.
In just five minutes, the whole cut–wash–dry routine was finished cleanly and neatly.
Honoka opened her eyes, pulling out a small mirror to inspect the result. "Wow—this is so much better than the island barbers." She bounced with joy; the style suited her perfectly.
Alex's control over each sheet was meticulous—he could produce nearly any haircut he imagined.
Honoka hopped over beside Konan, excited. "Lady Konan, your Paper Release is so useful—not just powerful in combat but handy for daily life too."
Konan only smiled and continued toward the pavilion. "Let's go—don't let dinner get cold."
Alex decided not to reveal himself yet. He would observe Honoka for a while longer before choosing whether to make himself apparent.
On the Sky Fortress deck, Kameda stood by the exit awaiting them. Seeing Konan and Honoka, he greeted them quickly. "Lady Konan, dinner is ready. Tonight's seafood was caught from the deep ocean—very fresh, enjoyed by some nobles."
The pavilion table was piled with delicacies: king crab, Australian lobster, abalone, grouper—rich and sumptuous. Alex hovered nearby, mouth watering in vain. He couldn't eat it himself.
One advantage of having a faction was logistics—the food and supplies were well taken care of.
Konan took her seat. Honoka sat beside her and picked up chopsticks. Noticing Kameda still standing, she offered, "Uncle Kameda, why don't you join us?"
Kameda waved it off. "I've already eaten."
He knew Honoka was inexperienced with social niceties; as a subordinate and a man, he felt it improper to sit with the leader.
The sunset cast a golden glow across the deck. Konan enjoyed the meal with small, elegant bites. Honoka ate more boldly—chopsticks flying as she cheerfully devoured seafood, making Konan smile and eat a bit more herself.
After the meal, Kameda had two attendants quickly clear the table and then personally brought two cups of cooling tea.
"These are freshly picked herb buds from nearby isles—refreshing for after a meal," he explained. Alex watched the proud, smiling steward and thought to himself that Kameda was skilled at pleasing people.
Kameda suddenly felt a chill—he glanced around but saw nothing unusual, and continued to stand carefully.
When Konan had drunk half her tea, he gently asked, "Lady Konan, the fortress is still hovering near the island. Where shall we head next?"
Honoka put down her cup and listened.
"Next stop: the Land of Water—Kirigakure."
Konan had already discussed the next target with Alex; being so far into the sea, it made sense to visit Kirigakure, which harbored many kekkei genkai nearly rivaling Konoha.
"Yes, my lady. I'll notify the operations hall to adjust our heading."
Kameda hesitated, then spoke up in a small voice. "Lady Konan—I must be frank. Our funds are limited. I'm afraid the daily expenses and maintenance of the Sky Fortress may be hard to sustain."
Konan raised an eyebrow, mildly surprised. She'd assumed there was a shortage of some kind—money was not an issue for her. Even after allocating a large sum to prepare their explosive tags, she still had enormous reserves.
She tossed a passbook toward him.
Kameda picked it up and, at just a glance, his eyes widened at the long string of zeros. Their leader truly had wealth—funds accumulated by Akatsuki over the years: some taken during Obito's control era, some from Kakuzu's hidden hoard. If Kakuzu knew his little stash had been spent, he'd likely be furious.
Money—his money—gone. Kameda's mind buzzed at the sight of the figures.