In the dimly lit room, Konan's eyes lingered on the two empty seats before her. Her expression was sharp, her thoughts heavy with unease.
Akuma.
A child barely eight years old, yet capable of killing the Third Hokage, Itachi, countless elite shinobi, and even destroying Konoha in a single day. Such a feat was beyond reason. No ordinary child could achieve this.
Out of caution, she had suggested to Pain that Akuma be eliminated before he grew into a threat to the Akatsuki. But both Pain and Madara had disagreed.
"His goal of destroying the Five Great Villages aligns with our own. Killing him would be wasteful. Recruiting him would be far wiser. The organization needs strong members, and Akuma embodies that strength perfectly."
Konan had reluctantly agreed, but her heart remained unsettled. A boy so young, killing so mercilessly and without hesitation, was not someone she could underestimate. To ensure success, Pain and Madara themselves, along with two other members, had gone to confront him.
She sat in silence, waiting. Not because she doubted their power; four Akatsuki together could crush nearly any opposition. What gnawed at her was the possibility of loss. If even one of them were to fall, the consequences for Akatsuki could be disastrous.
Her patience stretched thin until the sound of footsteps echoed through the hall. She lifted her gaze as Madara and Pain entered, taking their seats across from her. Relief washed through her like a quiet exhale. They had returned safely.
"How did the mission regarding Akuma go?" Konan asked, her voice steady but edged with tension.
Pain met her eyes, his expression unreadable.
"He refused."
The word lingered in the air like a blade. Konan's fingers curled slightly.
"Refused… Did you kill him? Is everybody alright?" she pressed, her face betraying her worry.
Pain's reply was calm, absolute.
"No. We didn't kill Akuma, nor was anyone harmed."
"Then why let him walk away?" Konan asked, forcing her voice to remain even.
Pain's gaze narrowed, his tone carrying the weight of judgment.
"Because if we tried to force him, we would risk losing more than we gained. He is not ready to join us yet, but his hatred mirrors our own. When the time comes, he will join us."
Madara leaned back, the single eye behind his mask glinting sharply.
"That boy is an anomaly. Even without chakra, he already surpasses most shinobi in the world. He wields elements without chakra, genjutsu has no hold on him, and even my ability is useless against him. That child is beyond reason. I don't know how many more surprises he holds, but one thing is certain: whatever he does, Akatsuki will either become stronger than ever or be destroyed from within. Either outcome will shape the world."
Silence followed, heavy and suffocating. Konan lowered her gaze, unease tightening in her chest. She had never trusted Madara. That was why, in the shadows of her mind, she had already begun weaving a plan to bypass his so-called unbreakable defenses should he ever turn against Akatsuki. She knew all too well how overwhelming his abilities were.
And yet, a boy who could pierce even Madara's impossible barriers was no ordinary child. Akuma was a danger, but also a weapon, one that could tip the balance in ways even Madara had not foreseen. Konan quietly considered the possibility: if the day came, perhaps Akuma himself could be the answer to Madara.
Her eyes hardened into calm resolve. If Akuma ever turned against them, or if Madara's schemes spiraled beyond control, she would be ready. In silence, Konan's mind folded into shapes like origami wings, crafting a plan. Not just for Akuma. Not just for Madara. But for both.
After Obito left the room, Konan turned her gaze toward Pain, who sat in deep thought.
"What do you think of that child, Pain?" she asked softly.
Pain's eyes shifted to her, his voice calm yet heavy.
"I'm quite fond of him. In that boy, I see a reflection of ourselves. Especially in his eyes, which already understand what true pain is. I wonder what he will bring to Akatsuki."
Konan's eyes widened slightly. His words stirred the weight in her chest, pulling memories of their past to the surface, their suffering, their losses, the endless cycle of pain that had shaped them. To hear Pain speak of the boy in such a way made her heart grow heavier.
And yet, in that heaviness, something shifted. Her view of Akuma began to change. No longer just a dangerous anomaly, he had become something else, a question mark for the future.
---
After washing the blood from her body in the river, Karin walked over to Akuma, who was waiting nearby. He turned to look at her. At first, he didn't recognize her, perhaps because she hadn't been wearing her glasses when he found her, or maybe because he had only caught fragments of her face in the chaos. But when she introduced herself, the name clicked.
He hadn't wanted anything to do with the girl at first. But then he realized Karin could be useful. A natural healer. A chakra reservoir. An asset.
Akuma's gaze lingered on her, sharp and unreadable. Karin instinctively pulled his gi tighter around her body, cheeks warming. The fabric barely covered her, and standing so close to his shirtless, well-built frame only made her pulse quicken. He seemed completely unconcerned, his presence calms yet overwhelming, as if the world bent subtly around him.
"Let's go," he said flatly, turning on his heel.
Karin hurried after him, keeping close as they entered the town. After a few blocks, Akuma stopped in front of a small clothing shop. His eyes flicked to her.
"Here's the money. Go buy something to wear."
He handed her a few bills without ceremony. Karin's face flushed deeper as she realized how she must have looked, walking through town in nothing but his gi. Snatching the money, she darted inside the store.
Minutes later, she stepped back outside dressed in a simple green shirt and black shorts. Akuma gave a small nod of approval before turning to walk away.
"Uh… here." Karin held out his gi to him, hesitating. "And… thank you. For saving me."
Akuma took the gi wordlessly, slipped it back on, and started walking again.
"Follow."
Karin hugged her arms close as she trailed behind, her eyes fixed on his back. Inside her, fear and awe tangled together. The boy who had appeared like a devil to her attackers now seemed untouchable, an overwhelming force she couldn't turn away from.
And somewhere deep inside, she realized she wanted to stay near him. Not out of obligation… but because she couldn't bring herself to do otherwise.