Chapter 166: Not Many Friends

Hearing Nagato ask her, Konan hesitated for a moment before speaking directly.

Seeing Konan’s expression, Nagato looked puzzled and asked, "What's wrong? Are you having trouble finding the words?"

"No, I seem to have discovered an issue regarding Uchiha Ri."

Konan shook her head, then spoke with a hint of uncertainty.

Based on the intelligence Orochimaru had just shared, combined with some information she had recently tracked down, she had formed a fairly clear understanding of Uchiha Ri.

However, this understanding was not about Uchiha Ri's abilities, but rather about his personality.

The problem was that she wasn't certain if her guess was correct, so she hadn't chosen to voice it immediately.

Yet, if her speculation proved true, Uchiha Ri might be quite problematic.

Perhaps this issue wouldn't affect much in the grand scheme of things, but she didn't want such complications to arise within Akatsuki.

Seeing Konan's hesitation, Nagato said directly, "If you have any thoughts, just spit them out."

Konan rarely wore such a hesitant expression; usually, whenever something came up, she would state it plainly.

If she felt something wasn't worth dwelling on, she wouldn't overthink it.

Yet, showing such hesitation now meant she must have noticed something amiss.

Only then did Konan speak up: "Haven't you noticed that the people around this guy Uchiha Ri are somewhat problematic?"

"The people around Uchiha Ri?"

Hearing Konan's words, Nagato followed that train of thought.

According to Orochimaru's earlier account, because Uchiha Ri had lost his parents at a young age, he had always depended for survival on Uchiha Yui, who had also lost her parents.

The bond between the brother and sister had always been exceptionally close; they had never even quarreled.

This kind of situation was actually quite common; he, Konan, and Yahiko shared a similar dynamic.

Due to the war, they, a group of orphans, had gathered together and supported each other all the way through, making them far more mature than children of the same age.

Drawing from this, after hearing Orochimaru's description of the Uchiha Ri siblings, he had felt a certain resonance.

After all, their backgrounds were, in a sense, identical.

Thinking it over, Nagato couldn't find any major issues.

Aside from the fact that the people around Uchiha Ri seemed rather formidable, each possessing the Mangekyo Sharingan—

Which he already knew about, so Konan couldn't possibly be referring to that.

After a long pause, Nagato, lying in his wheelchair, shook his head and said, "I don't sense anything wrong. If you have something to say, just say it."

Hearing this, Konan nodded and went straight to the point:

"Based on the available intelligence, Uchiha Ri has very few friends in Konoha, just a select few."

"Yet those few friends or relatives, whether it's Uchiha Yui or the Uchiha Jun we just heard about, are all of the opposite sex to Uchiha Ri!"

"Based on this point, that's why I said I might have discovered something odd about Uchiha Ri."

Listening to Konan's explanation, Nagato was slightly taken aback.

He certainly hadn't expected Konan to interpret the situation from that angle.

Besides, shouldn't something like this be of little concern to anyone?

Not to mention that ninjas were far more mature than ordinary people, this could simply be a normal coincidence.

"To try and judge Uchiha Ri's 'preferences' based solely on this seems a bit far-fetched."

With that thought, Nagato dismissed the idea.

In his eyes, someone like Uchiha Ri shouldn't be that kind of person.

Hearing this, Konan didn't refute him, but continued:

"If it were just those two, I naturally wouldn't say this, but what if there are others around him?"

"When I was investigating Uchiha Ri's intelligence recently, I discovered that some time ago, he brought back a young girl named Sara from outside."

"That Sara should be a complete stranger to Uchiha Ri, yet she moved directly into his home."

"This kind of relationship is clearly unusual; there must be something fishy going on there."

This time, Nagato fell silent.

If the intelligence was accurate, then perhaps it was no longer just a coincidence.

Some things, once or twice, could indeed be considered coincidences.

But repeatedly, time and time again, there had to be an underlying issue.

"Could this kid Uchiha Ri really be a lecherous and greedy person?"

Nagato felt a wave of doubt rise in his heart, and his conviction began to waver.

While Nagato was deep in thought, Konan continued:

"Whether it's Uchiha Yui, Uchiha Jun, or Sara, none of them differ much in age from Uchiha Ri."

"And in terms of appearance, they are all quite exceptional. You saw Uchiha Jun just now, and the other two are certainly no less striking."

"In addition, I heard something else: Uchiha Ri seems to really dislike his student, treating him with extreme strictness."

"Keep in mind, Uchiha Ri's student is none other than the clan head Fugaku's son, Uchiha Itachi."

"If you were an Uchiha, would you treat the clan head's son like that?"

"I certainly wouldn't." Subconsciously giving his answer, Nagato pursed his lips and found himself starting to believe it: "Now that you mention it, it really does seem that way."

Pausing for a moment, Nagato said with some uncertainty, "Even so, it shouldn't matter much. Even if Uchiha Ri is a womanizer, it doesn't affect his joining Akatsuki."

"I don't think so," Konan countered. "If that guy really is that kind of person, what kind of conditions should we use to lure him in?"

"Hmm..."

Nagato rolled his eyes, truly at a loss for what to do.

Under his and Konan's meticulous development, Akatsuki lacked nothing—neither funds, experimental equipment, nor various ninjutsu.

Although talent was still somewhat scarce, those they did have were the cream of the crop, with strengths at least reaching the Kage level.

One could say Akatsuki was already a top-tier organization in this world.

It was just that due to the needs of their plan, Akatsuki was still operating entirely in the shadows.

Even so, Nagato had been extremely confident about recruiting Uchiha Ri, even prepared to offer the so-called 'double' condition.

Meaning, whatever Konoha offered, he would double it directly.

However, if Uchiha Ri truly was someone who 'only makes friends with the opposite sex,' then Akatsuki might genuinely find it hard to satisfy him.

The entirety of Akatsuki was practically made up of grown men, except for...

Nagato glanced sideways at Konan standing before him, then quickly looked away.

"No way! Even if Uchiha Ri joins Akatsuki, he must be kept far away from Konan!"

Nagato made up his mind internally; he didn't dare gamble on such a remote possibility.

Taking a deep breath, Nagato regained his composure, thought for a moment, and said, "I'll find a way to resolve this issue—if Uchiha Ri really is that kind of person!"

The world was vast; if worse came to worst, he could just go out and find some women who fit Uchiha Ri's aesthetic.

No matter what, Konan was his—well, his friend.

Therefore, she must never be allowed to become Uchiha Ri's friend!

"I hope my guess is wrong."

Seeing the usually calm Nagato suddenly looking somewhat tight-jawed, Konan offered words of comfort.

She assumed Nagato simply disliked the idea of such a person appearing in Akatsuki, yet because Uchiha Ri and the two Mangekyo users by his side represented a rare and formidable combat force for the organization, he found it hard to let go and was thus torn with indecision.

Calming himself down, Nagato looked at Konan and said earnestly, "Regardless, let's wait for Uchiha Ri's response first."

A trace of a smile appeared on Konan's face as she replied, "Mm, I know..."