Konoha: The Honored One

"You want my life, so I'll take advantage of you casually, and you don't have any complaints?" Gojo tilted his head slightly, his signature smug grin widening as his fingers brushed teasingly against Konan.

"You…" Konan's cheeks flushed a deep crimson, her usually composed demeanor cracking. Her body trembled slightly, a mix of shame and rage coursing through her. No one had ever dared treat her this way—not in battle, not in her entire life. For the first time, the thought of truly wanting someone dead burned hot in her mind.

This man, this Gojo, didn't just disregard her as an opponent—he didn't even seem to take her existence seriously.

"Universal Pull."

The low, commanding voice echoed across the battlefield as the atmosphere shifted. Suddenly, an immense gravitational force yanked Gojo forward, pulling him toward the stoic figure of Tendo Pain, who had materialized alongside the rest of the Six Paths of Pain. They stood in a perfect formation, their presence radiating an air of divine judgment.

"Oh?" Gojo mused as the invisible gravity seized him. "Rinnegan, huh? Someone's trying to impress me."

Pain remained impassive, his hand raised with a black orb of concentrated gravity forming in his palm. The gravitational pull intensified, drawing Gojo closer. "You know of the Rinnegan? This is the power of a god," Pain intoned, his voice cold and steady. With a swift motion, a black rod extended from his other hand, aiming for Gojo's neck.

Just as the rod came within inches of his skin, Gojo clapped his hands together. "Ninja Art: Meat Shield."

In an instant, the positions shifted. Konan, who had been hovering nearby, suddenly found herself infront of Gojo. Before she could react, Gojo grabbed a handful of her hair and pulled her forward, positioning her as a shield between himself and Pain's weapon.

"Seriously?" Pain's voice, though calm, carried a note of disapproval as he halted his attack and retreated a few paces, putting distance between himself and Gojo.

Konan's eyes widened, disbelief flooding her expression. "What are you doing?!" she demanded, her voice shaking with a rare mixture of shock and anger.

Gojo's grip on her hair was firm but oddly gentle as he smirked. "Hiding back there, are we, Nagato? Don't worry, I see you," he said, his crystalline eyes flashing with amusement. "Trying to observe me in secret while sending your angel to do the dirty work? That's not very godlike."

Konan's mind raced. She had never felt this level of humiliation. In front of Nagato, the person she trusted most, Gojo's audacious behavior stung deeper than any blade. "You're nothing but a rogue! Let me go!" she snapped, her wings flaring in a futile attempt to break free.

"Oh, Nagato-kun," Gojo called out, his voice dripping with mockery as he addressed Pain directly. "Do you care about her that much? Here, let me make it worse for you."

Gojo's hand shifted, sliding down to gently trace Konan's leg. His gaze flickered with faux curiosity as he inspected her toned figure. "Wow, Konan-chan. These legs... perfectly trained, slim, strong, balanced. I could play with these for days." He clicked his tongue appreciatively.

Konan bit her lip hard enough to draw blood, her body trembling with anger and shame. "Nagato… stop him!" she demanded, her voice nearly breaking.

Pain—calm, cold, and unmoving as always—finally spoke. "Gojo Satoru, what is your purpose here?" His voice was even, but there was a clear edge beneath it.

"Purpose?" Gojo said, releasing Konan and popping a lollipop into his mouth with practiced nonchalance. "Who needs a purpose? I just wanted to see what you'd do when I pushed your buttons. Jealousy looks good on you, by the way."

Konan instinctively tried to retreat to Pain's side, but her movements halted abruptly. It felt as if she had run into an invisible wall. No matter how hard she tried, her body wouldn't budge. "What… what is this?" she whispered, panic creeping into her tone.

"Just a little trick of mine," Gojo replied with a smirk, still savoring his lollipop.

Pain ignored the taunt, his voice low and commanding. "I'm not asking about your games. What are your dreams? Your ambitions?"

Gojo's expression shifted slightly as he leaned back, arms crossed. "Dreams, huh? You mean like your whole 'Let's make everyone feel pain so they understand each other' shtick? Yeah, not interested."

Pain's face remained impassive, but the rest of the Six Paths adjusted their stances, readying themselves. "You've witnessed the horrors of war, the suffering inflicted by the great nations. You've seen the destruction they bring to smaller countries like ours. You, of all people, should understand the need to change this broken world."

"Understand?" Gojo said, raising an eyebrow as if the very idea amused him. "Oh, I understand plenty. You think you're the only one who's seen people die? The only one who's watched nations burn?" His smirk returned, sharper this time. "Let me tell you something, Nagato. I don't care."

Konan's eyes widened as Gojo continued, his tone casual yet cutting.

"There will always be weak people. And the weak will always suffer. That's just how the world works. I'm not interested in changing the ninja world. If someone important to me stands behind me, I'll keep them safe. That's it."

As he spoke, a flicker of something softer crossed his face, a memory stirring within him. The image of Tsunade appeared in his mind—a moment long ago when he was a broken child, scavenging for food among the ruins of his village. He could still hear her voice.

"Oi, brat. Come with me. I've got food."

That simple act of kindness had shaped him more than anything else.

"Changing the world is for people who don't know when to quit," Gojo said finally, his voice light again. "Me? I just want to protect the people who matter to me. Everything else? Not my problem."

Pain remained silent for a long moment, his Rinnegan glowing faintly. Finally, he spoke. "You refuse to understand. You see only the suffering of the weak as inevitable. You are powerful, but you are no god."

"Finally, something we agree on," Gojo said with a laugh. "I'm no god. But I am invincible. And that's all I need to be."

Konan clenched her fists, her anger and frustration boiling over. Despite Pain's composure, she could feel his growing tension. For the first time, she wondered if they had miscalculated.

Gojo stretched, his grin widening. "Well, I've had my fun. You want to keep going, or are we done here?"