Konashi Nerikiri

is an Academy student of Konohagakure.

Background
Konashi comes from a family of shinobi and wagashi artisans.

Personality
Konashi is a dedicated, but shy, boy. Despite being willing to enter a sweets competition, he struggled with asking Kae her opinion on his sweets until the competition's deadline. He was unable to ask her directly, so he left her a note asking to meet her in private. Later, after witnessing Kawaki defeat a flame bear, he developed enough confidence to ask her directly, and developed a deep admiration of Kawaki.

Abilities
Konashi is quite skilled in making sweets, coming from a family of sweet artisans. When Kae, herself skilled in making sweets and having experience with famous chefs, tried his sweets, she commented positively on their taste and design.

Kawaki & Himawari Academy Arc
Konashi attended the Academy opening ceremony as part of a new class. His classroom was put under the care of new teacher Hana Kaka. His class included many children of famous people, including the daughter of an acting duo, the daughter of the Seventh Hokage, and Kae Yukiwari, the princess of the Land of Bamboo. The class also included Kawaki, a noticeably older student.

When Hana had the class separated in teams for a practical lesson, Konashi was placed on a team with Mimi and Kande. He tried talking to Kae when the lesson began, but gave up, unwilling to ask her for advice in front of everyone. During lunch, he was impressed by Kande's use of Lightning Release to start their fire. Konashi sent his request to meet with Kae in private on a note, but later ran when coming across a flame bear. When Kawaki found him, Konashi explained the situation, and was deeply impressed by Kawaki's defeat of the bear. He later asked Kae for her opinion directly.

Konashi's class had to put on a play about the Sannin. When Eiki's struggle with Kawaki damaged the stage, Konashi joined in the repair efforts.

The day of the festival, Konashi was responsible for a snack booth. He was overjoyed when Chōchō Akimichi enjoyed his sweets, and took her criticism to heart, vowing to improve. When the festival received a terrorist threat, Konashi stayed inside.

Following the terrorist attack, Konashi joined his class-mates in visiting Hana, who was injured in it, in the hospital. He presented her with some personally made sweets. Later, Konashi was amused by Sōsha's story about Eiki's crush.

Later, following Hana being hospitalised from the terrorist attack, Konashi joined his class in welcoming back their teacher. To make up for the festival being cancelled, Hana arranged for the class to undergo survival training on an uninhabited island. However, Kikuchiyo was injured and their food supplies vanished, stoking fear about a rumour of killer missing-nin settling on the island. Everyone formed groups to scavenge food, and later to look for Neon's damaged drone. By night, everyone enjoyed their food, Konashi offering Kae and Kawaki his latest dish, asking for their opinion on it.

Soon after, they learned from Kawaki and Himawari that Kae was killed by Hana, who was actually a hired assassin. As everyone was horrified to learn the truth about their kind and beloved teacher, Himawari noted that Hana's actions as an assassin seemed too excessive, including how she took Kae after seemingly killing her. Realising that Kae is likely still alive, the class worked together to find and save her, contributing their various skills to the goal. With prior knowledge of the island from an old article, they realised she was most likely somewhere on the west coast of the island. Along the way, Konashi noticed a trail of crumbs from the pastry he gave Kae earlier. He realised that Kae was indeed alive, using deliberately leaving that trail. The class soon found Kae hidden in a cave. Before they could move forward, Kawaki told them to stay behind as they were just students against an elite assassin. Kawaki also revealed himself to really be a full-fledge shinobi, with the mission to protect Kae. As the students reluctantly accepted Kawaki's order, they worked on another method to help.