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.

Attracted by an explosion, the class encountered Kawaki and Himawari, who revealed that Hana, actually an assassin, had killed Kae. Himawari pointed out that her actions made more sense if Hana wanted to keep Kae as a hostage. Working together, the students tracked Kae and Hana to a cave, Konashi smelling the pastry he gave Kae earlier and finding a crumb trail. Finding the situation too dangerous for the students, Kawaki revealed himself as a shinobi, and credited them for helping find Kae. Eiki still believed there was something they could do.

As the class rushed to the docks, hoping to find a boat of some kind to get help, they were approached by Sai Yamanaka, whose team came to help after learning the truth about Hana. Upon finding Hana, she was already defeated by Kawaki and Himawari. As Hana decided to kill herself rather than be captured, she was stopped by the good personality inside her. As it was learned that Hana had a split personality disorder and her original self truly cared for her students, the students kept encouraging her to regain control, ultimately helping her break free.

Later, Hana was allowed to return to teaching with a seal in place to ensure her other personality couldn't take control again. Kae also revealed that she had to return home early to step up as leader of her country with her father having fallen ill. As a sendoff, the class performed their intended play from the festival. Later the train station, the class saw her off.