Five Days Later – Tanzaku Town
A deserted street stretched out under the pale glow of a flickering streetlamp. Chi Yu stood silently beneath it, waiting.
He was waiting for Yahiko—and for the two new members he had recently recruited.
Before long, the sound of three sets of footsteps echoed down the cobbled path behind him.
Chi Yu didn't turn around. He didn't need to. He could sense their chakra.
Three individuals wearing bizarrely patterned masks approached. Yahiko led them. The strange mask design was Chi Yu's idea—meant to prevent Nagato from recognizing Yahiko's chakra, should they encounter him unexpectedly.
The masks of the other two newcomers had been modeled after Yahiko's, making them an unofficial symbol of their group: the Akatsuki.
Yahiko stepped forward and greeted him with a low voice.
"Leader, I brought the new members."
Though Chi Yu still faced away, he could feel the two sharp, curious gazes peering from behind Yahiko.
He turned slowly and nodded. "Mm. Thank you for your work, Kamiyo."
The two masked figures behind Yahiko stiffened in shock when they saw Chi Yu's face.
"B-Blood-Eyed Shura?!" they exclaimed in unison.
A faint smile curved Chi Yu's lips. He stepped forward. "That's me. I'm Chi Yu, founder of the Akatsuki. Nice to meet you both. Please, introduce yourselves."
Instead of responding, the two looked to Yahiko in disbelief.
"Kamiyo… what's going on?" the woman asked. "Why is he—Konoha's Blood-Eyed Shura—our leader?"
The man echoed her concern. "Isn't he a Konoha shinobi? What the hell is happening?"
Yahiko shrugged. "I told you before—I'm just the co-leader. He doesn't usually handle affairs directly. Now hurry and introduce yourselves. You've heard the rumors about his temper, haven't you? Don't test your luck."
The duo visibly flinched, recalling tales of the Blood-Eyed Shura's ruthlessness.
Chi Yu chuckled. "Kamiyo, you make me sound like a monster. I'm quite friendly—very patient with my comrades."
The two exchanged glances, then removed their masks.
The woman had birch-colored hair streaked with green. Her eyes burned with quiet pride.
"I'm Pakura, formerly a Jonin of Sunagakure. I now walk as a rogue ninja. I specialize in Scorch Release. Kamiyo saved me from an ambush by my own people. That's why I joined the Akatsuki."
The man beside her had long green hair, wild eyebrows, and serrated teeth. His upper body was wrapped in thick bandages.
"Raiga Kurosuki. A former member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. After being hunted by the Hunter-nin from Kirigakure, Kamiyo and Pakura saved my life. That's why I'm here."
Chi Yu raised an eyebrow. Though he hadn't met them before, he knew their names.
Pakura of the Scorch Release—a renowned elite Jonin during the Third Shinobi War. Her kekkei genkai allowed her to incinerate enemies from within, leaving only mummified corpses behind. She had been considered a hero in Sunagakure.
But Chi Yu remembered her tragic story. After the war, when Sunagakure sought reconciliation with Kirigakure, the Kazekage—Rasa—and the village elders betrayed her. They sent her on a so-called "diplomatic mission," where she was ambushed and killed by Hidden Mist operatives. Later, her death was falsified—reported as a casualty of a clash with Iwagakure instead.
As for Raiga Kurosuki—a wielder of the dual-bladed Kiba swords, once one of Kirigakure's most fearsome warriors. During the Blood Mist era, likely under the manipulation of Uchiha Obito and the Third Mizukage, Kirigakure had become a brutal and oppressive regime. Many of the Seven Swordsmen fled or defected, disillusioned with their leaders.
According to records, Raiga had survived a battle against Maito Dai—Gai's father—only barely. His eventual defection likely occurred earlier than originally believed.
Chi Yu gave a nod of acknowledgment. "Welcome to the Akatsuki. With both of you helping Kamiyo, I feel much more at ease."
But before he could say more, Pakura stepped forward, her brows furrowed.
"Wait… why would a hero of Konoha—someone with your status—found an organization like the Akatsuki? Is this some hidden Konoha project? If so, I can't be part of it. I may have left the Sand, but I won't become Konoha's pawn."
Raiga nodded. "Yeah. I won't work for Konoha, either."
Chi Yu turned his gaze to Yahiko. "Didn't you explain why I created the Akatsuki?"
Yahiko blinked. "You never told me your reasons. You just said to gather people. And that Nagato's life depended on it."
Chi Yu paused. "I… didn't?"
Yahiko folded his arms. "You didn't."
Chi Yu scratched his head, mildly embarrassed. "Hmph. Fine. I'll explain it now."
He straightened his shoulders and his tone grew serious.
"Before I tell you why I created the Akatsuki, I want to ask you something. Think carefully before answering:
Everything you fought for before—was it worth it?"
The question struck them like a kunai to the chest.
Pakura clenched her fists.
Was it worth it? She had bled for the Sand. Killed for them. Nearly died for them. And in the end, they used her as a pawn—nothing more than a disposable tool.
Raiga lowered his head, eyes dark.
He had given his loyalty to the Hidden Mist, endured the chaos and violence of the Blood Mist era—and in return, he was hounded like prey.
Pakura's voice came out low and bitter. "If it had been worth it, I wouldn't have joined this organization."
Raiga echoed softly, "Same here."
Chi Yu's lips curled into a knowing smile. "Then we're the same. It wasn't worth it for me either."
Pakura and Raiga looked at him with disbelief.
Why? they wondered. How could a man like him—respected, feared, a war hero—say it wasn't worth it?
Chi Yu exhaled.
"You probably think it makes no sense. I fought for Konoha, I brought them victory after victory. So why would I say it wasn't worth it?"
He looked them both in the eye.
"Because I had no choice. If I hadn't given everything to Konoha, I'd have been forgotten. No—worse. I'd have been erased."
His voice hardened.
"My family was driven to ruin by the village. My life began at the bottom. I was nothing—less than nothing. Beaten, ignored, despised."
He paused.
"If I hadn't fought tooth and nail, if I hadn't made them acknowledge me, there would be no Blood-Eyed Shura. No Chi Yu."
Yahiko's eyes widened. Even he had never heard Chi Yu speak of his past.
Pakura and Raiga were stunned into silence.
This wasn't the story of a Konoha loyalist.
This was the story of a survivor—someone shaped by betrayal, forged by necessity, and now… leading a rebellion born from the cracks in the shinobi world.
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