Reborn in Konoha as the Anbu Torturer-Chapter 711: Explain Yourself!

Konan wasn't imagining things for no reason. When she and Aoba made their arrangement, they agreed to meet at a ramen shop. However, Aoba didn't give her all the details, only mentioning the location and telling her that if she came here, she might see him.

So, when Konan heard footsteps behind her, she immediately grew tense.

Anyone could be Ōtsutsuki Shiren.

She didn't turn around immediately but slowed her actions a little. Suppose she was too obvious and misjudged the situation. In that case, it might give the wrong impression to the gatekeeper ninja beside her, potentially leading to her being quickly escorted out of Konoha.

This was no joke.

Konan had a subtle feeling that she might not meet Ōtsutsuki Shiren in the ramen shop but after leaving the village. It seemed more likely that their meeting would happen after she departed Konoha, not while she was still here.

However, she couldn't shake the sensation of being watched, as though someone's eyes were fixed on her. She didn't want to misjudge the situation; she wanted to stay in Konoha a little longer and savor the village's rare and pleasant atmosphere. Even the air here felt sweeter to her.

Konan couldn't help but feel envious. She envied the people who were born and raised in Konoha and who were able to grow up in such a peaceful and happy environment.

Previously, she hadn't considered people's backgrounds much. She assumed everyone faced difficulties like her, but perhaps she was in the group with more significant struggles.

However, her perspective completely changed after coming to Konoha. She realized that many people here were different. They had lived their entire lives in comfort and harmony, never facing the hardships she had endured. It was hard not to be envious.

As the footsteps behind her grew closer, the curtain at the entrance of Ichiraku Ramen was pulled aside, and a familiar voice rang out.

"Hey, Teuchi! The usual!"

A gentle voice echoed outside the ramen shop, followed by a figure stepping inside. The three people inside the shop instantly recognized the voice, as its distinct tone was impossible to ignore.

Each of them had different reactions on their faces.

"Minato, what brings you here today?"

Teuchi, the owner of Ichiraku Ramen, greeted the newcomer with a bright smile. The man who had just entered was the future Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato.

"Just had some free time, so I came for a bowl of ramen," Minato replied, waving his hand with a cheerful smile. Yet behind that smile, he was carrying a lot of worries. After speaking with Aoba and encountering the Akatsuki trio earlier, his mind had been racing, and he felt that a good meal would help him recharge.

As soon as Minato's voice echoed through the ramen shop, Konan lowered her head, trying to hide her face in her bowl of ramen, hoping that Minato wouldn't notice her.

"Damn it," Konan cursed inwardly. She hadn't expected to run into Minato here. This was an unexpected and highly inconvenient situation.

Konan wasn't naive enough to think that Minato was somehow Ōtsutsuki Shiren in disguise. If that were the case, there would have been no need for the earlier drama at the village gate.

It had to be a coincidence—a strange, inexplicable coincidence.

At this moment, Konan was desperate for Minato not to recognize her. Otherwise, her presence in the village would be discovered, and she had no idea how to explain it.

But avoiding recognition was easier said than done. Ichiraku Ramen was small, and there was only one long counter. It would be nearly impossible for Minato to miss seeing her, especially with her distinct appearance—short purple hair, a purple flower in her hair, and her unique purple eyes. She also wore a black cloak with red clouds that identified her as one of the people he had just seen at the gate. If Minato didn't recognize her, it would be hard to believe.

Konan felt highly awkward. She knew that trying to hide her face in her bowl of ramen was a futile effort. It was like closing her eyes and pretending the problem would disappear, but it wouldn't.

Minato would recognize her no matter what.

This unexpected and absurd situation left Konan at a complete loss for how to respond. She couldn't think of a single solution, which all felt ridiculous.

Konan felt helpless and frustrated. She wished she could crawl into a hole and disappear, avoiding this awkward confrontation altogether.

However, Konan wasn't the most embarrassed person in the room. That title went to the gatekeeper ninja who had accompanied her. He hadn't expected such a simple situation to escalate, and now they were face-to-face with the future Hokage, Namikaze Minato.

Half an hour earlier, Minato had explicitly instructed not to allow the Akatsuki trio into Konoha. Yet here he was, with Konan sitting before him, eating ramen.

It felt like a direct violation of his orders, and he had been caught red-handed.

It was a disaster!

The gatekeeper ninja didn't know how to describe his feelings. He couldn't hide because he could already feel Minato's intense gaze, scrutinizing every detail of his presence.

"You two..."

Minato narrowed his eyes, focusing on Konan and the gatekeeper ninja. There was no need for a closer look to recognize Konan. Her outfit was too distinctive, making her easily identifiable.

This was strange.

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Minato frowned, sensing that something wasn't right. He had just seen Konan at the village gate. She was one of Jiraiya's disciples and wanted to stay in Konoha, but Minato refused her request.

Yet here she was, sitting in Ichiraku Ramen, eating noodles.

How had this happened so quickly?

Minato was baffled. It didn't seem possible for such a situation to occur in Konoha without something going awry in the village's management.

"Explain yourselves!"

Minato's gaze focused on Konan. He didn't immediately confront the gatekeeper ninja, knowing that the real instigator was Jiraiya's disciple. His biggest question was why Konan, whom he had just refused, was sitting here eating ramen.

He would get to the bottom of this soon enough. There could be no loose ends during this critical time of transition between Hokage.

"I heard from Jiraiya-sensei that Ichiraku Ramen was very delicious, so I wanted to try it," Konan explained, though she didn't sound entirely convincing, even to herself. But she had no choice but to stick to her story.

"Jiraiya-sensei?"

"Are you saying Jiraiya-sensei loves Ichiraku Ramen?"

"Are you serious?"

Minato was taken aback, his face darkened with confusion. He remembered clearly that Ichiraku Ramen hadn't opened until after Jiraiya had left the village.

When Ichiraku Ramen officially opened, Jiraiya had only visited Konoha once; by then, he was no longer mentoring the Akatsuki trio.

In other words...

Unless they had met Jiraiya again later, there was no way they would know about Ichiraku Ramen through him.

This was a blatant lie.

Minato immediately saw through Konan's story. He realized she wasn't being truthful, and his expression became stern. He wasn't pleased with her lack of sincerity.

"And where are your other two companions?" Minato asked. "If I'm not mistaken... one is named Nagato, and the other is Yahiko. Where are they?"

Minato quickly inquired because he only saw Konan, and the Akatsuki trio usually moved together. The absence of the other two worried him, as they could be engaged in something suspicious elsewhere.

Minato wondered if Nagato and Yahiko were secretly plotting something with the Third Hokage. Any hidden actions during this time of transition were especially concerning to him.

At this crucial moment, every detail mattered. He couldn't afford to overlook anything threatening the transfer of the Hokage title.