Days passed.
The rain didn't stop.
And neither did they.
Survival became routine.
Wake up.
Move.
Search.
Eat.
Train.
Sleep.
Repeat.
Food was never guaranteed.
Some days, they ate well.
Other days, barely anything.
Yahiko complained.
Often.
"I'm starving," he groaned one morning.
Nagato didn't even look at him.
"Then find food."
"I tried!"
"Try better."
Konan suppressed a small smile.
Despite the harshness, something was changing.
They were improving.
Nagato watched closely.
Always.
"Yahiko is impulsive," he thought.
"Strong will… weak control."
Yahiko relied on instinct.
Emotion.
Drive.
"Konan…"
Nagato's eyes shifted toward her.
"Precise. Observant. Patient."
She adapted quickly.
Learned faster.
Together—
They balanced each other.
"Good combination," Nagato thought.
Training started small.
Basic.
Fundamental.
"Chakra control," Nagato said.
Yahiko groaned.
"Can't we do something cool?"
Nagato stared at him.
"…This is the cool part."
Konan tilted her head slightly.
"Why?"
Nagato placed his hand against a tree.
"Because without control…"
He pushed chakra into his feet—
And walked up the tree.
"…You're useless."
Yahiko's jaw dropped.
"No way…"
Nagato stopped halfway up and looked down.
"Your turn."
Yahiko stepped forward confidently.
"I got this."
He placed his foot on the tree.
Focused.
Stepped—
—and slipped instantly.
THUD.
Konan sighed softly.
Nagato didn't react.
"Again."
Yahiko stood up immediately.
"Yeah, yeah…"
He tried again.
Failed again.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Hours passed.
Konan stepped forward.
She placed her hand on the tree.
Closed her eyes.
Focused.
Stepped—
One step.
Two steps.
Three—
She slipped.
But didn't fall hard.
Nagato nodded slightly.
"Better."
Yahiko looked offended.
"Hey! I'm trying too!"
Nagato glanced at him.
"You're trying fast."
"…Is that bad?"
"Yes."
Konan almost smiled again.
"Control," Nagato said.
"Not speed."
They trained until sunset.
And then—
Kept going.
At night, they rested under broken shelters or abandoned structures.
Yahiko talked.
A lot.
"One day," he said, staring at the sky, "I'm gonna change this place."
Nagato listened quietly.
"No more war. No more hunger."
Konan lay beside them silently.
"…A peaceful world," Yahiko continued.
Nagato looked at him.
"…You really believe that?"
Yahiko turned his head.
"Yeah."
No hesitation.
No doubt.
Nagato looked away.
"…That kind of thinking…"
"…gets people killed."
Yahiko frowned.
"Or maybe it saves them."
Silence.
Konan spoke softly.
"…I think both can be true."
Nagato didn't respond.
But his thoughts moved.
"Hope…"
"…is dangerous."
But—
"…maybe useful."
Days turned into a week.
Progress became visible.
Yahiko could stay on the tree for a few seconds.
Konan could climb halfway.
Nagato watched them closely.
"…Faster than expected."
He crossed his arms.
"…Good."
One evening—
They sat quietly.
Exhausted.
Yahiko laughed suddenly.
"This is kinda fun."
Nagato raised an eyebrow.
"…Getting beaten by a tree is fun?"
"Yeah," Yahiko grinned.
"Because I'm getting stronger."
Konan nodded slightly.
"…Me too."
Nagato looked at them.
Tired.
Hungry.
Bruised.
But smiling.
"…Idiots."
But—
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"…Not bad."
The rain continued to fall.
But now—
It didn't feel as cold.
Because in a broken world—
Even small growth…
Felt like victory.
And somewhere deep inside—
Nagato realized something.
This wasn't just survival anymore.
This was the beginning—
Of something much bigger.