Konan had always believed herself to be someone who rarely dreamed. Even in the lowest points of her life, dreams seldom came. She thought the reason was simple, she knew how to take care of herself, how to regulate her emotions. When she lost her parents as a child, when she later lost Yahiko, and even when she had once "lost" Kita, she had rarely woken from nightmares. Because she refused to dwell on what could not be changed. If reality cannot be reversed, then there is no need to torture yourself with it. Instead, she filled that emptiness with other things, work, responsibilities, anything to occupy the mind. She was, in truth, very good at managing her emotions. So the idea that "what you think about during the day appears in your dreams at night" never applied to her.
Which was why this, dreaming of Shibai after seeing him during the day, felt wrong. Not frightening, not exactly unpleasant, but unnatural. Especially because her mind, within this so-called dream, was too clear. Dreams were supposed to be hazy, fragmented, impossible to distinguish between truth and illusion. Yet now she could clearly recognize the man before her. It was Shibai. Not the aged form from before, but a younger version of him. By Konan's standards, he was handsome. Why would I see his younger self? Have I lost my mind? No. Even if I did, he's not my type.
That eliminated the possibility that this dream originated from her own thoughts. Which left only one explanation: this dream came from him.
"This is a constructed realm." Shibai's voice was as distant and ethereal as ever. Konan couldn't detect hostility in it. If anything, there was a trace of gentleness. But that only made her more cautious. Is this meant to break us from within? A faint trace of ridicule rose in her heart. Using me for that? He chose the wrong person.
Still, she asked plainly, "Why have you brought me here?"
"A thousand years ago, within this realm, I saw you. You sought something. I responded."
Konan blinked. That made no sense. No matter how she thought about it, she couldn't understand. Seeking something from an enemy? That wasn't her nature. And the Otsutsuki responding to a "lower being"? Even less believable. And a thousand years ago? She didn't believe in reincarnation, not like that. The only known cases she was aware of were Indra, Asura, Madara, Hashirama, Naruto, and Sasuke. She had never considered herself someone bound by that kind of destiny. Fate is just an excuse people cling to.
"Come." Shibai spoke again.
Konan had no intention of moving, but her body betrayed her. Without stepping forward, she began to drift toward him. Her eyes widened. She struggled, but to no avail. This feels like a genjutsu. Or like Itachi's Tsukuyomi. Everything here was under his control. If it was an illusion, could she break it? Against someone like Itachi or Obito, perhaps. But the Otsutsuki, they didn't rely on illusions.
And now he stood before her. No attack. No violence. Instead, he took her hand.
Konan froze. The same Byakugan. The same gray Rinnegan. But that smile, warm, gentle, almost human. Do beings like them have kindness?
"What is kindness?" Her heart skipped. He heard that too.
"This realm is of my creation. All within it is known to me." With a wave of his hand, the world shifted. Scenes unfolded like reflections in water. Familiar. Unfamiliar. Past. Unknown. A lifetime seen in a glance.
The sheer volume of information flooded her mind. For the first time, Konan felt overwhelmed. Her steps faltered. She nearly fell, but Shibai caught her. That same gentle smile. Then a finger touched her forehead. Instantly, the dizziness vanished. The pain faded. Clarity returned. This man.
"What is kindness?" he asked again. Before this, the answer had been simple. Now she could not answer.
After a long silence, she asked instead, "Why me?"
"Because I saw you." He did not press the question further. Instead, "What is life?"
Konan had no answer.
"Fleeting as clouds, brief as a mayfly," Shibai said softly. "I do not know." His gaze deepened. Filled with confusion. Even sorrow. For a moment, he seemed human.
Konan did not respond. Instead, she asked, "What should I do?"
Shibai shook his head. "You know. I do not."
Something inside her snapped. She stepped back, pulling her hand free. Her composure broke, rare, raw emotion flooding her face. She retreated again and again, eyes filled with something close to collapse. Not fear of power. Not terror of the gap between them. But something else. Like a younger person lashing out at someone older.
"Then why show me this?! Why bring me here?!" "I don't know anything! Take it back, I don't want this!" "I came here to destroy the Otsutsuki! Only when you're all gone will our home be safe!" "You were the ones who invaded us!!!" Her voice broke.
Shibai remained calm. "Are you protecting something?"
"That's not protection!" "It's just what must be done!!!"
Silence fell. Only after a long time did Konan steady herself. She turned away, from Shibai, and from the God Tree behind him, where the rise and fall of an Otsutsuki played out. "Send me back. Don't ever bring me here again."
"I have seen you. This is your fate. You cannot escape it."
Konan did not stop walking. She did not turn back. "Fate. Prophecy. I don't believe in either." "You chose the wrong person."
Her figure faded. The realm collapsed. Shibai stood alone. Watching it all fall apart, and smiled peacefully. "What you speak, I have already seen."
Konan woke feeling exhausted. Did I sleep wrong? Even after more than ten hours, her body felt heavy. The freezing night had passed. Now came a scorching day. Even standing still caused sweat to drip.
She glanced at her companions, training flight techniques beneath wooden shelters created by Wood Release. She felt genuine admiration. And then she expressed it.
SPLASH! A massive wave of water crashed down from above, slamming Kakuzu, who had barely lifted himself half a meter, back into the ground.
"Tch! Konan, are you trying to sabotage us?!"
"I'm showing respect," she replied calmly. "Cooling you down. At this rate, you'll get heatstroke." Standing comfortably in the shade, she spoke with ease. As someone already skilled in aerial combat, she had no need to join their training.
At the mention of heatstroke, Sakura, acting as the team's medical ninja, immediately stopped and spoke up.
...
The complete fanfic (Chapter 261) is already available on P@treon(.)com/Crimson_Lore