"Go on! Say it out loud, let Yahiko know how you feel about him!"
Under Lin Yu's encouraging and expectant gaze, Nagato took a deep breath and walked towards Yahiko.
"Damn it!" Yahiko fell from the tree again, his mouth full of dirt and grass, a look of unwillingness on his face. I won't lose to Nagato and Konan. I'll become stronger to protect them!
Just then, a figure walked up to him. Yahiko looked up, his expression quite displeased, and pouted, "Nagato, are you here to laugh at me? I'll be able to climb trees soon. I was just a little bit off!"
"Yahiko, I..." Nagato looked at Yahiko nervously, his expression a little strained and hesitant, but then he remembered what Senior Lin Yu had said.
A small bubble popped up above Nagato's head. Lin Yu bared his white teeth, gave him a thumbs-up, and said, "Roll on, Nagato! Love must be said out loud! Don't wait until it's lost to regret it!"
*Pop!* The bubble burst. Nagato took a deep breath again, looked at Yahiko with utmost seriousness, and said in a solemn tone, "Yahiko! My feelings for you are more than just liking; I... I love you!"
As he said the last words, Nagato could no longer maintain his tense expression. He closed his eyes, his small face flushed red, and he roared at Yahiko.
"Huh? Nagato, what nonsense are you talking about?" Yahiko looked at Nagato in disbelief. Did he mistake the target of his confession?
After saying it once, it was no longer so tense. Nagato seemed exceptionally relaxed and said to Yahiko again, "Yahiko, I don't just like you; I love you!"
"What! Ugh! Nagato, why would you say that to me?" This time, Yahiko heard it clearly. It was directed at him. His face contorted as if he were constipated, and his expression was more terrifying than seeing a ghost.
"Yahiko, listen to me. I love you. I want to be with you for the rest of my life, to protect you forever. Let's achieve our dreams together!" Nagato's serious and deeply affectionate gaze was fixed on Yahiko.
"Stop! Achieving dreams is fine! But nothing else is! I absolutely do not accept your love!" Yahiko scrambled up the tree, his chakra control perfect. He learned to climb trees instantly. As expected, people don't know how excellent they are until they push themselves!
"Yahiko, stop! Listen to me carefully. It's not what you think. My love for you..." Seeing Yahiko about to run, Nagato hurriedly chased after him, wanting to explain something.
"Go to hell with your love! I'm not listening to your explanations!" Yahiko covered his ears and darted back and forth on the tree.
...
"Tsk, I didn't expect Nagato and Yahiko to have reached this point." Konan had already moved far away from them. Her curious little face was filled with disdain. Girls understood matters of the heart much earlier than boys.
However, it was hard to say for little girls. She also thought Nagato's feelings for Yahiko were true love. After all, they had lived together for so long. She knew Nagato's attitude towards Yahiko better than anyone.
Fortunately, I'm normal! Konan patted her chest, her small face blushing as she looked at Lin Yu.
Suddenly, she seemed to recall something. She ran to Lin Yu's side with her small, long legs and reached into Lin Yu's palm, gently grasping it. A blush appeared on her clear and lovely little face. Seeing that Lin Yu didn't object, she couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. She didn't want Lin Yu to misunderstand that she was also... that kind of person!
Lin Yu's mind was completely absorbed by his thoughts, completely unaware of Konan's little thoughts:
Monthly Missions:
Mission 1: Trick Nagato into saying "I like you" to Yahiko (Completed).
Reward: Two hours of free experience using the Rinnegan (Claimable).
Mission 2: Fist bump with Kurama.
Reward: Yang Release Refinement.
Mission 3: Treat Uchiha Mikoto to a meal.
Reward: Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu.
Accumulated Missions (2/10):
Mission: Obtain a title from Uchiha Madara.
Reward: Perfect Sage Body.
Mission: Return to Konoha Village from the Land of Rain.
Reward: Mangekyo Sharingan.
Limited-time Reward: One hour and thirty-nine minutes and forty-nine seconds remaining of free Rinnegan usage (Frozen).
Seeing the word "Claimable," Lin Yu's heart fluttered with excitement. Although Nagato hadn't said "I like you" to Yahiko exactly as the mission stated,
This was clearly an over-fulfillment! The system is so stingy for not giving any bonus rewards!
Lin Yu grumbled slightly and withdrew his thoughts. He felt a soft touch in his hand and squeezed it gently. It was cool and boneless.
Lin Yu smiled knowingly, "Let's go. It seems they'll be occupied for a while longer. We'll go prepare dinner."
"Mhm!" Konan raised her small face and smiled sweetly.
"What do you want to eat tonight?"
"Grilled fish!"
"What else?"
"A super large portion of grilled fish!"
Lin Yu: "..."
Night, by the campfire.
"Hahaha, and then you dodged Nagato all afternoon?" Jiraiya, upon hearing about Nagato's confession to Yahiko, looked quite amused. He then patted Yahiko's shoulder, almost laughing himself to tears.
Yahiko looked at Nagato with a mournful expression. Now he had lost all face in front of his friends. It was all Nagato's fault for not liking someone else but him. What was even more terrifying was that he said he loved him. Who could handle that?
Nagato, being stared at by everyone, looked a little embarrassed but still spoke, "I really like Yahiko. No, I love him!"
Nagato paused and then looked at the others, "I also like Teacher Jiraiya, Senior Lin Yu, Ko..."
"No! I don't like you!" Konan quickly interrupted Nagato, tightly clutching Lin Yu's arm with her small hand, as if to declare her attachment.
"Uh..." Nagato looked somewhat dejected. He felt like he was being messed with.
Jiraiya was still emotionally stunted. As for Lin Yu, the instigator, he naturally wouldn't explain the meaning of "like" and "love" in Nagato's words.
Lin Yu was starting to enjoy this kind of life. If he didn't have ties in Konoha, if he didn't have missions to complete, he might have retired and no longer involved himself in the affairs of the ninja world. But he couldn't. He needed to become stronger. For some reason, he had a feeling that there were many people like Yahiko and Nagato waiting for him to "save."
Laughter echoed through the deep woods for a while. Jiraiya suddenly said, "Although I hate to say it, Lin Yu kid, you need to return to the village."
Lin Yu's expression froze. He hesitated and said, "Isn't there about ten more days? Did something happen in the village? Kushina?"
Jiraiya nodded solemnly, "I received news that Mito-sama is nearing her end. In two days, the Nine-Tails jinchūriki transfer will take place. Kushina is the only candidate for the new jinchūriki. You..."
Lin Yu took a deep breath and said, "I understand. I'll head back to Konoha tomorrow."
Jiraiya nodded and said no more. He had already decided to stay and look after Nagato and the others, at least to ensure they had the ability to survive in the ninja world before he left.