A few days had passed since Izumi's last mission when she suddenly received a summons from Pain. Without hesitation, she activated her Flying Thunder God Technique and swiftly teleported to the designated meeting point.
Upon seeing her arrive, Pain wasted no time and immediately delivered some unsettling news.
"Uchiha Itachi no longer wishes to team up with you," Pain stated bluntly.
Izumi blinked in surprise and confusion. "Eh? Why? I get along quite well with him!" she protested, her voice laced with disbelief. She even coughed, adding a touch of irony to her words, "Mom… cough cough… I really do."
Pain's expression darkened as he explained, "He says you curse him frequently and keep bringing up his family and younger brother, which causes him great distress."
"Hmph!" Izumi scoffed in frustration. "Do you know how much it hurt when he ambushed me with a kunai? I only cursed him a few times! He can't even handle that? Are you biased in his favor? Honestly, it was strange to have paired me with him in the first place."
Pain sighed deeply and said, "It's like this. I wanted you to vent your dissatisfaction, and besides, his new partner will arrive soon. That person is assigned specifically to monitor him. You and Itachi were always temporary teammates. Since he requested it, and we cannot risk losing him from the organization due to dissatisfaction, this arrangement is necessary."
Izumi rolled her eyes but sighed in acceptance. "Hmph, fine. But now it's so boring here. There's only one person in the organization. Hmm... oh! I know! I'll team up with Kakuzu for a while."
Pain raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Why suddenly team up with Kakuzu?"
Izumi stuck out her tongue mischievously and licked her lips. "He seemed very arrogant before. I wonder what his expression will be when he's begging for mercy, hehehehehehe."
Pain looked at her sly smile and shook his head firmly. "No. He is one of our important comrades. You cannot harm comrades."
Izumi grinned cheekily. "But he's already killed several comrades, hasn't he?"
Pain fell silent, unable to refute her.
"There you go," Izumi said with a smile. "I'll go teach him a lesson and remind him how important comrades really are."
Pain's tone turned serious. "Are you really thinking that?"
Izumi shook her head and waved the notion away. "How could that be? I'm just bored and want to beat him up. Besides, he has several lives anyway."
Pain gave a warning glance. "Don't go too far. He's the one who manages the organization's finances."
Izumi smiled brightly. "Don't worry." With that, her figure vanished.
Pain watched Izumi disappear and muttered softly, "It shouldn't get too serious... right?"
---
Meanwhile, Kakuzu was on a mission deep in the jungle. His clones were busy attacking a group of enemies below, their movements coordinated and deadly. Suddenly, Kakuzu turned sharply and shouted, "Who's there?"
Beside him, a tall humanoid monster, one of his own clones, also turned to look in that direction.
In front of them appeared a dull-eyed figure dressed in a white mascot costume—a bird with blank eyes. She raised a sign that read, "It's me, it's me, Uncle Kakuzu, don't attack me!"
Kakuzu frowned. "Why are you here?"
Just then, explosions sounded nearby—boom! boom!—signaling that Kakuzu's other clones were still engaged in battle.
Izumi raised another sign: "I'm here to temporarily team up with you."
Kakuzu looked puzzled. "But aren't you teamed up with Itachi?"
Izumi responded with a sign: "He no longer wants to team up with me."
Kakuzu's brow furrowed further. "Oh? Why not?"
Izumi held up a sign that said: "He's too amazing. I can't keep up with his pace, so I came to find you!"
"Hmm?" Kakuzu said grimly. "Are you implying I'm too weak?"
Izumi immediately pretended to be alarmed and shook her head vigorously. She then raised a sign: "No! It's just that my attacks are indiscriminate, and Itachi can't block any of them!"
Kakuzu raised an eyebrow, a sneer curling on his lips. "Indiscriminate attacks, huh? Almost all my ninjutsu have the widest attack range imaginable. You wouldn't even know where you were during my assaults."
He looked her up and down and scoffed, "Hmph. I didn't expect you to be the same kind of person as me—someone who doesn't care about the lives of comrades. Here's the deal: show me a demonstration. I want to see what you've got. If you can impress me, I'll support you. If not, well..."
Izumi flashed a confident smile and held up a sign: "A demonstration? No problem! I'll show you my moves! You'll definitely be surprised! But you don't need to support me. My moves are powerful; yours are useless by comparison. It'd be dangerous if you supported me."
Kakuzu snorted coldly. "My moves are useless? Kid, you're full of confidence. You've successfully angered me. If you can't satisfy me, I'll kill you."
Izumi raised a sign that read: "Alright then, you better be careful."
Kakuzu's eyes gleamed with killing intent as he stared at her. "Hmph. Don't worry, I'll watch out for your safety. You better surprise me—I haven't been surprised in a long time."
Izumi nodded vigorously and wrote, "Since you've lived so long, you must be bored. Today, I'll give you a surprise!"
Kakuzu gestured toward the dense forest below. "There are many hidden enemies down there. Use your full power to attack. I'll see how many you can defeat."
Izumi's sign read: "What if I hit your clones?"
Kakuzu waved dismissively. "Hmph! They're spread out. If you can wipe all of my clones out, fine—go ahead and attack directly."
Izumi smiled and held up a sign: "Alright, I'll let you watch from the sidelines."
Kakuzu took a few steps back and positioned one of his Wind Release: Earth Grudge Fear clones behind him. The clone stared intently at Izumi, observing her every move.
Izumi didn't mind the scrutiny. She stepped forward, gazing at the distant forest below, and began warming up with strange, fluid motions.
Kakuzu watched impatiently. The clone behind him opened its mouth to speak.
"Faster!" Kakuzu barked. "If you delay, I'll kill you!"
Izumi nodded calmly and raised a sign: "Don't rush. The timing is just right."
She positioned herself on the edge of the cliff and opened the beak of her mascot costume's bird head.
From the dark beak emerged a radiant blue light.
Suddenly, the bird's beak split open wider and wider, the blue light intensifying until it dazzled the eyes.
Kakuzu's eyes widened in shock as a vast, overwhelming chakra burst forth from Izumi.
The immense chakra forced Kakuzu to take several involuntary steps backward, his face frozen in disbelief.
Before him, the mascot costume transformed into a colossal chakra cannon.
"Boom!"
The thick chakra cannon expanded rapidly, engulfing everything ahead in pure white light.
The world seemed to lose all color, falling silent and still in that moment.
Countless trees, rocks, animals, and even Kakuzu's own clones instantly vanished, swallowed by the endless white brilliance.
Kakuzu barely managed to steady himself against the overwhelming force.
When the smoke cleared, the green forest was gone.
In its place was a conical, bottomless gully stretching infinitely into the distance.
The earth beneath had changed color, revealing layers of soil that had never seen the sun.
Kakuzu stared blankly at the sight, his eyes nearly popping from his skull.
He looked at the gaping chasm and felt like an insignificant ant confronted by a vast abyss.
Turning his gaze to a distant mountain, he noticed half of it was gone, the remaining section a jagged stump.
The other half had been completely obliterated.
For the first time in a long while, Kakuzu's usually unflappable demeanor shattered into stunned silence
Izumi closed the cracked puppet suit with a sharp click, the mechanical joints settling into place. Dust still swirled in the air from the recent clash, but her attention was fixed on the man in front of her. Kakuzu stood there, frozen mid-step, his eyes wide with disbelief.
She awkwardly raised a wooden sign in both hands, the characters painted in thick black strokes:
> "Sorry, Senior Kakuzu, I accidentally destroyed your clone while trying to save myself some trouble."
Her expression was almost apologetic, but her tone — if she had spoken aloud — would have carried an almost playful undertone.
Kakuzu blinked once, twice, then quickly shook his head. "No, no, it's fine!"
Inwardly, however, his thoughts were anything but fine.
What's going on here? How can she be this strong? What kind of power is that? He mentally ran through possibilities. A Tailed Beast Ball? No… but could she be a Jinchūriki? He frowned. Even then… would a Jinchūriki possess such overwhelming power?
He didn't have time to puzzle it out. Izumi was already walking toward him.
Kakuzu's instincts kicked in; he took several involuntary steps back. "You—what do you want?"
She stopped just a few paces away, flipped the sign, and revealed a new message:
> "Ah, nothing much. I just wanted to ask — how was my move?"
Kakuzu forced his stiff mouth into something resembling a smile. "Uh… haha, very strong. Not bad at all. I didn't realize someone so powerful existed in our ranks."
Izumi's hands moved, and the sign changed again:
> "Weren't you very arrogant before? Why don't you show me your ninjutsu?"
He froze. "Me? Uh… I'll pass. My technique is just Earth Grudge Fear, and you already know it — you've learned it yourself."
Her steps resumed, slow and deliberate.
Another sign rose in front of him:
> "If you refuse to show me… does that mean you're looking down on me?"
Kakuzu's gut twisted. "No, no! I admit defeat."
But she kept advancing.
Finally, irritation flared in him. His eyes hardened, and his voice turned sharp. "What are you pretending for, kid!"
Before she could react, one of his remaining clones sprang forward, mouth opening wide.
"Wind Release: Pressure Damage!"
The air itself seemed to implode. A roaring gale exploded outward, tearing across the battlefield in a violent wave. Stones shattered, debris spiraled into the air, and visibility vanished in the storm's white-grey blur.
Through the howling winds, Kakuzu caught a glimpse of Izumi's form being swallowed by the blast. He let out a cold snort. "Hmph. Seeking death. Even if she's strong, she's still made of flesh and blood—"
"Nani?"
The word escaped before he could stop it. A crushing repulsive force slammed into him, ripping apart the windstorm in an instant. Air burst outward in a shockwave, flattening the ground and sending Kakuzu sprawling.
When the dust settled, Izumi was walking toward him again. Her pace was unhurried, but her presence was suffocating.
"Wait, wait!" Kakuzu called out, raising a hand. "We're from the same Akatsuki organization, first—"
"Ah!" she interrupted with a little exclamation of amusement.
---
Far away, in the rainy heart of Amegakure, Konan spoke to Pain in a low voice.
"Although Uchiha Izumi has been useful — earning both the Land of Rain and Akatsuki a great deal of money — we must remember she was sent by Madara. We should remain cautious."
Pain's lips curved into a confident smirk. "Hmph. With me here, there's no one to fear. Not even Uchiha Madara."
Konan nodded. "That's true. As long as you're here, there's nothing to worry about."
"Exactly," Pain said.
After a pause, Konan tilted her head. "By the way, where is Izumi now?"
"She went to see Kakuzu."
"Kakuzu?" Konan's brows rose. "And what business does she have with him?"
Pain sighed faintly. "From the sound of it… she went to cause trouble."
Konan gave a helpless smile. "Oh? This little girl… she's far too mischievous."
Pain's gaze softened slightly. "But she is… undeniably strong."
"That's true," Konan agreed.
---
Back on the battlefield, Izumi was now holding Kakuzu aloft by his hair. The puppet suit's comical, bald bird-like wings flapped lazily behind her, a ridiculous contrast to the sheer power she displayed. Her voice was light, almost sing-song, but edged with pride.
"Don't underestimate me, old man."
To punctuate the statement, she gave his head a small shake.
Kakuzu's mouth hung open. Blood dripped from the corner of his lips, two teeth missing. His body dangled helplessly, feet barely touching the ground.
"You dared to attack me," Izumi said, tilting her head. "How are you going to compensate me, hmm?"
He mumbled through the pain, "I'll… I'll do anything you want."
Her smile widened. "Last time, I gave you sixty million ryō. This time… how much is your life worth?"
"One hundred million ryō!" he blurted. "I'll give you one hundred million!"
Her eyes narrowed. "Hmm? Is your life only worth that much?"
"Three hundred million! Three hundred million ryō!"
"That's more like it." She patted his face, the gesture somehow both mocking and dismissive. "By the way — don't tell anyone about this. And don't even think about leaving Akatsuki. If you do… I'll kill you. Understand?"
Kakuzu closed his eyes and nodded quickly. "Yes. I understand."
She dropped him unceremoniously to the ground and struck a triumphant pose, hands on hips.
From his position on the dirt, Kakuzu gritted his teeth. I swear… one day…
"What are you thinking about!" Izumi snapped, immediately kicking him twice in the ribs.
"Ow! Nothing! Be gentle, I'm an old man!"
She kicked him again. "Don't 'old man' me!"
---
Meanwhile, Pain and Konan were still mid-conversation when Izumi suddenly appeared, materializing as if from thin air.
She waved cheerfully. "Hi."
Pain raised an eyebrow. "Back so soon?"
"I just played with Senior Kakuzu for a bit," she said with a coy smile. "It was really fun."
"Is that so?" Pain replied. "Konan has gathered information on several other rogue ninja — potential recruits for Akatsuki. We'll be going to meet them. Do you want to come along?"
She shook her head. "Forget it. Sounds boring."
"Boring?" Konan echoed.
"I'll be busy for a while," Izumi explained. "So don't call me unless it's important."
"Oh? Something urgent?" Pain asked.
"Just… private matters," she said vaguely. "If I don't contact you, assume I'm tied up with my own things."
Pain studied her for a moment, then nodded. "Very well. Do what you need to do."
"Thanks, Leader. Bye-bye."
And with that, she was gone.
---
When she reappeared, it was not anywhere on Earth — but on the moon.
In her palm rested a pair of scarlet Mangekyō Sharingan, glimmering faintly in the lunar light.
She had done it. Using her spiritual power and carefully prepared divine talismans, she had catalyzed her mother's Sharingan into a Mangekyō. She held them as if they were priceless jewels, her gaze lingering on them for a long moment.
Activating them experimentally, she felt the surge immediately — her physical strength multiplied, chakra reserves swelling until they threatened to overflow.
"This power…" she murmured to herself. "The kind of power that strengthens you directly, without any tricks or hidden costs."
It reminded her of Uchiha Madara's own Mangekyō — pure, overwhelming force. Her Susanoo flared in her mind's eye, now more imposing than ever.
"It's a pity," she admitted to herself, "that I catalyzed it artificially. If Mother had awakened it herself, perhaps it would have had unique, special abilities. But this is… more than enough."
She turned to her clone. "Integrate these eyes into mine. I want to awaken the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan."
The clone smirked. "Even though you could fuse Fugaku's or Shisui's eyes after talismanization?"
"Yes," she said firmly. "I want my mother's eyes. I want them with me — always. Anyone else's… doesn't matter."
The clone's expression softened. "No problem. Let's begin."
Izumi nodded once. "Begin."
---
Far below, Akatsuki's recruitment was progressing. Deidara. Hidan. Kisame Hoshigaki, brought in through Obito's recommendation. One by one, the core members fell into place, the organization's true power solidifying.
On the moon, Izumi's transformation was complete. Her new Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan gleamed — a striking design, a cross set within an octagonal sun.
And in the depths of her mind, one quiet resolution formed: this was not the end. With time, and more catalyzation, these eyes would evolve again… into the Rinnegan
Several days had passed since Izumi's transformation. Emerging from the confines of her hidden chamber, her eyes now burned with an intense crimson light, the unmistakable pattern of the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan shining brilliantly—its intricate design resembling a cross nestled within an octagonal sun.
Izumi's gaze swept across the vast expanse of the Ninja world stretching before her. A wild, almost feral smile crept over her lips as she whispered, "It's time to try out my new power… and I will begin right there."
Without hesitation, her figure vanished like smoke, reappearing in an instant within the very heart of the Konoha Ninja Village—the place she once called home.
The scene that greeted her was both familiar and alien. The place she had left behind had been ravaged by an explosion she herself had unleashed, a violent rupture that symbolized her complete severance from her past life. The scars of destruction had not faded completely, but new houses had already sprung up, rebuilt by those determined to reclaim normalcy.
Izumi's eyes scanned the neighborhood. The sight stirred something strange within her—a fleeting pang of melancholy—before a cold, resolute expression settled over her face once again.
Her attention fixed on a particular house, simple and unassuming. Peering through a window, she observed the occupants resting inside: a couple and a small child. As her gaze lingered on their peaceful forms, a cruel smile unfurled on her lips. Her long tongue slowly extended, tracing over them as if savoring the moment.
"Hehehehe…" The sound was low and chilling, a laugh laced with madness and determination.
"That's right," she murmured, fingers lightly touching the corners of her eyes, "a lot of time has passed. Now… it's time for reckoning—one by one."
Suddenly, the air around her shimmered. Her eyes, burning bright with the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, unleashed their formidable power: Kamui.
In the past, her Kamui had been limited in scope, a precision technique useful for defense and brief disappearances. But now, the power she wielded was magnified exponentially. A massive, impenetrable barrier blossomed around the house and its immediate surroundings, veiling them completely from prying eyes.
Izumi's lips curled into a satisfied smile. "This way, no one will sense what's happening inside."
As if layered with further intent, another barrier shimmered into existence—a spell barrier devised by Izumi herself. It sealed the area tightly, making escape impossible.
The neighborhood had fallen into a deadly silence as Izumi crossed the threshold of the house, her presence now an ominous shadow among innocent lives.
Inside, the man—a medical Ninja—stirred suddenly, his eyes snapping open. His heart leapt in terror at the figure standing at the bedside.
"Who's there?!" he shouted, instantly rousing his wife and young child from their sleep.
The man's gaze locked on Izumi's form, recognition striking him like a lightning bolt. "Uchiha Izumi? You're… you're not—"
Izumi's smile was cruel as she interrupted, "Dead? No. I am now a vengeful spirit. A spirit of the dead come for retribution. And you… you remember exactly what you did, don't you?"
Fear clouded the man's eyes. He instinctively recoiled, pulling his wife and son close, trembling. "I… I don't know what you're talking about!"
Her lips curled into a sneer. "My mother was healthy… until your trash doctors poisoned her! And you dare say you don't know?"
The man raised his hands defensively, pleading, "I'm just a medical Ninja. I was following orders! Please, spare my family!"
Ignoring his desperate pleas, Izumi's smile deepened into something unhinged. She dropped a small packet of medicine onto the floor before him.
"Here," she said coldly. "Experience the pain your actions caused."
The man's eyes widened in horror as he recognized the contents—medicine identical to what had been administered to her mother. The dosage, the chemical concentration—it all matched perfectly.
"No! No, this can't be…" His hands trembled uncontrollably, yet despite his fear, he found himself reaching toward the packet.
"No! Please, don't—" he cried, looking back desperately at his wife and child.
Unable to resist, his hand moved against his will, lifting the medicine.
He opened the child's mouth and forced the bitter liquid down their throat.
His anguished cries pierced the air. "Help! Someone! The Uchiha Clan isn't completely wiped out! Someone, please help!"
Izumi's tongue flicked out again, tracing over her lips in wicked delight. Then, covering half of her face with her hand, her crazed eyes bore into him.
"Hahaha! Don't worry," she taunted. "The night is long. Ending this quickly would be boring. Besides, there are others to visit. We will play this game for a long time. Feel the agony of your loved ones slowly dying, hehehehe…"
The man's terror broke him entirely. "You're a devil! A devil!" he screamed, shaking as he poured the medicine into his child's mouth once more.
Silence eventually swallowed the house. The man's face was vacant—laughing foolishly one moment, crying the next.
Izumi looked down at him with disdain, then gave him a final shove. He swallowed the medicine himself before she turned and left the house.
"Two left," she whispered, stepping out onto the quiet street.
A strange, chilling laughter escaped her lips as she slowly strolled down the road, the night air heavy with dread.
Nearby, a patrolling Ninja spotted her. Something was off—her long hair obscured her face, she moved in a strange, uneven gait, and a dark aura radiated from her form.
Nervously, the Ninja called out, "Hey! Who are you? What's wrong? Are you drunk?"
Izumi abruptly lifted her head, crimson eyes blazing beneath her long hair.
"Sharingan? You're a survivor of the Uchiha Clan…" the Ninja stammered.
Suddenly, a bloodcurdling scream shattered the silence.
Residents awoke with a start, peering fearfully through curtains to see a dark, shadowy figure standing over the Ninja's lifeless body. Its eyes glowed a terrifying crimson Sharingan.
Around her, an inky black curtain undulated like a living shadow, blotting out all light.
Terrified villagers slammed doors and windows shut, barely daring to breathe.
More Ninja rushed to the scene, only to meet the same fate—cut down silently, trapped inside the barrier that allowed no escape.
Screams of terror echoed through the streets, fading only when the shadowy figure finally vanished as mysteriously as it had appeared.
Only after long moments did a few brave souls dare step outside.
What they found was grim—the patrolling Ninja lay dead in the streets.
Thus began the legend of the Uchiha Clan's vengeful spirits—ghostly figures roaming the Uchiha district at night, seeking retribution for their clan's destruction.
The Third Hokage, a man of reason and skepticism, dismissed the rumors as superstition. He dispatched investigation teams, but no further incidents were reported.
Time passed, and the fearful whispers faded.
But just as the village's collective memory began to dim, the vengeful spirit attacks returned with renewed fury.
This time, the deaths spread beyond the Uchiha district. Members of other great clans—the Sarutobi, the Shimura, and others—began to fall mysteriously, victims of shadowy assassins none could catch.
The Third Hokage personally intervened, leading investigations, but the culprit always eluded capture.
Thankfully, the attacks were rare, occurring only once or twice each year, but each incident sent shockwaves through the village.
The timing was uncanny—around the anniversary of the Uchiha Clan's annihilation, the bodies began to pile up.
Among the victims, the Sarutobi and Shimura clans suffered the greatest losses, their members increasingly wary of the unseen threat.
The villagers slowly pieced together a disturbing truth—the killer or killers were targeting specific individuals, making the Uchiha Clan's destruction far more complex than anyone had admitted.
Despite this, the Third Hokage insisted that patrols composed of ninja from the Sarutobi, Shimura, and other clans maintain vigilant night watches.
This order was met with resentment—no clan wanted to share blame or suspicion—but none dared speak out.
All could do was pray the vengeful spirits of the Uchiha would spare them from their wrath
Deep within the cold, shadowed confines of a dark stone chamber, a number of figures gradually appeared, each one stepping into the dimly lit room with purposeful intent. They gathered quietly, their eyes and expressions sharp, awaiting the arrival of their leader—Pain.
With a sudden gust of wind, Pain's imposing figure materialized, standing tall amidst the assembled members. His calm, penetrating gaze swept across the group, confirming that everyone had arrived. Without hesitation, he began to assign tasks with deliberate authority.
"Now that Orochimaru has betrayed the organization and abandoned us," Pain announced in a steady voice, "we are down one member. I have decided that the vacancy will be filled by one among Yan and Tobi."
At once, Yan raised a sign high above her head, boldly proclaiming: "Of course it will be me! Since joining, I have made significant contributions to the organization."
Before the others could react, a sudden movement disrupted the moment—Tobi stomped forcefully on Yan's puppet suit, sending a cloud of dust swirling in the air.
"Hahahahaha!" Tobi laughed mockingly. "Lord Pain, surely you will choose me. Yan here only spoils our organization's image!"
Not to be outdone, Yan swung a sign to swat Tobi away and then quickly raised another sign: "How could it possibly be you? I have close ties with several senior members—Itachi and Kakuzu in particular. Our relationship is extraordinary. How dare you challenge me!"
Watching the exchange, both Kakuzu and Itachi exchanged long, slow breaths, restraining themselves from intervening. Kakuzu, especially, felt a sting of humiliation but buried it deep within his chest. The strength Yan had displayed was undeniable.
Tobi, unwilling to concede defeat, continued the skirmish, but soon found himself entangled by a thin but unbreakable paper net launched by Yan.
"No… This… this is Konan-senpai's technique!" Tobi muttered nervously, struggling in vain against the binding paper.
With a smug smile, Yan held up a sign boasting: "That's right. I have already received the true teachings of Konan-senpai and Kakuzu-senpai. Our powers are no longer comparable, hahahahaha!"
The final 'hahahaha' was even drawn on the sign, as Yan playfully pretended to laugh triumphantly, clearly relishing the moment.
Hidan furrowed his brow and asked, "Kakuzu, when exactly did you teach her Ninjutsu?"
All eyes turned to Kakuzu.
He snorted and said, "She bought it."
"Oh." The room collectively understood; that answer was fitting for Kakuzu's style.
Tobi pounded the ground in frustration, letting out a cry that sounded almost childlike: "Damn it! That's so unfair! She secretly got in good with the seniors and left me behind! Wuwuwuwu…"
The others watched this scene in silence, dumbfounded by the odd little battle between Yan and Tobi.
Pain finally spoke to Yan: "Very well. Yan, you will be the new member. I will assign tasks to you personally."
Yan beamed with pride, then quickly flipped her sign down and back up, this time with a different message: "Everyone, we are now comrades. Just call me Yan. If you need anything, I will help you."
Deidara frowned, muttering, "Why do I feel so annoyed? Hey, Leader, won't letting someone like this become a full member lower the organization's image?"
Pain offered no response, remaining silent.
Ignoring the others, Yan wrote a quick message for Tobi to see: "From now on, you must call me senior. If you behave well, I might even give you some pointers."
Seeing this, Tobi wailed even louder.
"Ah, ah, ah! I'm so envious—no, furious! I wish I could say things like that too! Ah, ah, ah!"
Yan decided not to tease him further. Instead, she picked up the small ring that represented Empty Chen and slipped it onto the puppet bird's wing. The thick band tightened like a comical necktie, making the puppet look absurdly dignified.
Deidara couldn't hold back any longer. "Hey, hey, hey, Leader, can we just kick her out? This is too embarrassing!"
Pain said nothing, remaining expressionless.
Hearing Deidara's words, Yan swiftly ran over and squeezed herself between him and Itachi.
"What are you doing?" Deidara and Itachi both shifted to either side, making room.
Once in place, Yan straightened her posture and looked around at everyone's reactions—especially at the puzzled looks from Deidara and Itachi.
Pulling out her sign, she declared: "I am an official member now, and I want to be part of your circle. Deidara, move over a little."
Deidara blinked, pointing at her. "Hey! Yan, what's gotten into you? You don't even call me senior anymore after becoming official. You just say my name? You're too realistic!"
Tobi seized the opportunity. "Deidara-senpai! Please let me become an official member too! I'll always call you that!"
"Get lost!" Deidara roared. Tobi immediately crouched in the corner, covering his head in mock fear.
"Sorry!" he squeaked, drawing small circles on the floor.
Yan lifted her sign again: "I am an official member, so please show me some respect, okay? Deidara, move over to your side."
Deidara scowled. "Hey, there's more space on Itachi's side. Why don't you make him move?"
Yan's sign reply read: "Because Itachi is stronger than you. I heard you got one-shot by him!"
A few of the others chuckled quietly.
"I'm so mad!" Deidara growled, clenching his fists. He wanted to strike, but he wasn't in his real body—just a clone created by his Shape-Shifting Jutsu.
"You!…"
Pain's voice cut sharply through the tension. "Alright, Yan, Deidara, enough. In-fighting is forbidden within the organization. And Deidara is your senior."
"Yes!" Yan quickly wrote: "Sorry, Deidara. Please forgive me! But don't take it too hard—he's an Uchiha, so it's normal to be unable to beat him."
"Hmph." Deidara snorted, tightening his fists in frustration.
"Uchiha Itachi," he muttered, "it's all because of you!"
Deidara's mind flashed back to the humiliation Itachi had dealt him—the disdainful, cold, and arrogant gaze.
"I will become stronger. And I will surpass you through my art!"
Meanwhile, Uchiha Itachi watched Yan, newly inducted, with calm eyes. He knew she was trying to shift blame, but to him, it was meaningless. After all, he was Itachi Uchiha—fear was a foreign concept.
"With this Mangekyō, who could be my match?" he mused silently.
His gaze shifted to Pain's Rinnegan, then to Tobi, who was feigning foolishness, and finally back to Yan.
"I cannot yet see their true strength," Itachi thought. "Is Yan strong or weak?"
He noticed something strange—Yan's puppet suit appeared to block his Sharingan's perception, something unusual and unsettling.
Just then, Pain spoke: "Our next mission is to continue with our assignments and gather more funds."
"Itachi, Kisame, stay behind for a moment. I have a special task for you. The others are dismissed for now."
One by one, the figures dissolved into thin air, leaving only Itachi and Kisame behind. Yan and Tobi also departed silently.
As Yan watched Zetsu burrow underground, her lips curled into a sly smile.
She stuck out her tongue, licking her lips as she whispered, "I'll give you a surprise later