Chapter 184 – Yahiko or Nagato?
"The Akatsuki doesn't allow outsiders."
Konan's voice was cold as ever, her expression unreadable.
"I'm not exactly an outsider, am I? The three of us were once friends, remember? Besides, I happen to know quite a few people around here," Hatake Yusuke replied casually, completely unfazed.
Konan remained silent, her piercing gaze locked onto Yusuke, as if trying to suppress the storm of emotions brewing inside her.
"Come on, don't be so icy. Here—this is for you."
Yusuke tossed a small package in her direction.
Konan instinctively prepared to dodge, but her reflexes kicked in first, and she caught it without thinking.
Seeing that, Yusuke gave a satisfied nod. "Let's go. Take me for a walk around this place."
She didn't answer, but Yusuke didn't seem to mind. He simply strolled forward, stepping past her toward the Akatsuki's hideout. Konan followed behind in silence, the two of them walking side by side through the quiet corridor—almost like old friends.
"I don't sense Yahiko's presence here anymore," Yusuke murmured with a faint smile.
At those words, Konan's eyes darkened, her mood visibly sinking.
"You've changed, you know. You were cold back then too, but now it's… like the warmth has completely vanished."
Yusuke pulled out a snack—one of the sweets Mabui had given him earlier, a new flavor he hadn't tried before.
"Whoa… this is incredible. Pure bliss in every bite," he mumbled, savoring the flavor like a child discovering candy for the first time.
They continued walking until Yusuke suddenly stopped. Konan, not paying attention, bumped into his back.
"Watch where you're going," Yusuke said, glancing over his shoulder.
"You're the one who stopped so suddenly," Konan shot back coldly.
"Haha… You were cuter back in the day, you know," Yusuke grinned. Then, without warning, he held up the last sweet. "Here. It's a limited-edition flavor."
Konan's eyes flickered with hesitation and a hint of… embarrassment. Her rational mind told her to refuse, but her body instinctively leaned closer. In the end, though, she held herself back.
"No need. You can have it," she said firmly.
"Aww, too bad." Yusuke popped it into his mouth himself and continued walking, chewing contentedly.
Inside, Konan felt a twinge of regret—mixed with a strange sense of relief.
"You used to dislike sweets," she said quietly.
"I didn't hate them," Yusuke replied. "Just didn't care for them much back then. But turns out… they're pretty good."
He pointed at the package she still held. "You should try it too. That shop's famous in Kumogakure. I went all the way there just to get it."
Those words stirred something deep inside her.
Did he really go all that way… just for me?
Of course, she didn't know that for Yusuke, going to Kumogakure was like taking a stroll in his backyard. He visited often.
And so, the two of them entered the heart of the Akatsuki hideout. The guards standing watch didn't dare interfere. At Konan's side, Yusuke moved like he belonged there.
As they stepped inside, familiar faces turned toward them.
"Well, look who it is. Isn't this Kisame?" Yusuke called out, waving cheerfully.
Kisame frowned. "Do I know you well enough for that tone? You keep calling me 'Kisame' like we're old friends."
Yusuke chuckled but didn't seem offended in the slightest.
"Oh, and Uchiha Itachi is here too," he said, glancing toward the shadows.
"Yes… Yusuke-nii," Itachi replied, his voice calm and flat.
A new voice cut through the air. "Oh? So you're Hatake Yusuke? Hmph. You don't look as impressive as they say."
Yusuke looked up. "Ah… that must be you."
"You know who I am?" the man asked, licking the edge of a massive scythe with his unnervingly long tongue.
"Of course. The Jashinist cult… I destroyed them myself. You're the son of their so-called prophet, aren't you?" Yusuke replied, a touch of nostalgia in his voice.
"What did you just say?! You bastard! I'll offer your soul to Lord Jashin right now!!" Hidan roared and charged at him, swinging his scythe with reckless fury.
"Die!!"
He was confident he'd rip his opponent apart—after all, Yusuke hadn't even moved.
But those familiar with Yusuke's strength merely smiled faintly.
As the scythe made contact… it halted midair, as if striking an invisible wall.
"What the hell?!" Hidan's eyes widened.
"DIE! DIE! DIE ALREADY!" he shouted, attacking again and again, only for his strikes to be effortlessly deflected by the unseen force.
"Are you a wild dog or something?" Yusuke asked, still smiling. In a flash, he reached out, grabbed Hidan by the neck, and slammed him into the ground.
A shimmering light formed around his hand, and he slashed downward.
"Aghhh!! Dammit, that hurts!!" Hidan howled.
Though the wound should've been fatal, he remained alive.
Kakuzu chuckled from nearby. "He's immortal. No matter how many times you cut him, he won't die."
Yet even Kakuzu watched warily. He knew Yusuke wasn't just another shinobi—he was far, far more dangerous.
"Immortal, huh? Now that's interesting," Yusuke smirked, then turned to Itachi with narrowed eyes.
The other Akatsuki members glared at Itachi, suspicion in their eyes. Was he the one who leaked information to Yusuke?
"Tell me something… who gave you the courage to pick a fight with me?" Yusuke's voice dropped, icy and threatening. "Do you actually think I can't kill you?"
"You bastard! I'll sacrifice you to Lord Jashin!!" Hidan shouted again, lunging forward.
Yusuke didn't flinch. Instead, he raised his hand slowly.
"What if I reduce your body to dust—down to particles too small for the naked eye to see? Will you still be immortal then?"
The room went silent.
Everyone understood the implication.
Hidan may have been immortal… but if his body were completely destroyed—if even his cells were gone—wouldn't that be death?
"What the hell are you talking about?!" Hidan's voice trembled for the first time.
"Ending you would be easy," Yusuke said flatly.
He lifted his hand again. A strange glow radiated from his palm—and in it, something transparent floated and shimmered.
It was Hidan's soul.
"What the hell…?!" Kakuzu instinctively stepped back.
He couldn't see the soul, but Nagato could. He narrowed his eyes.
"Don't... Don't do it," Hidan pleaded. The fear in his voice was unmistakable.
He had never feared death—because he believed he couldn't die. But now… his soul itself was in danger.
"Let him go."
A voice echoed from the shadows.
A man stepped forward, adorned in black with metal piercings and the unmistakable eyes of the Rinnegan.
"Oh? Are you threatening me, Yahiko?" Yusuke turned to him slowly. "Or should I say… Nagato?"
"Hmph. You're mistaken. I am a god. Release Hidan, Hatake Yusuke… or you will die here."
Yusuke's smile vanished.
"Careful, Nagato. I'll give you one chance… to choose your next words wisely—if you value your life."
His voice was low, calm… and absolutely lethal.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Join my Patreon here:
🔗 patreon.com/FaaanzKun
✅ Enjoy 95+ chapters ahead of WebNovel
✅ 2 new chapters every day (Monday–Saturday), exclusive on Patreon
🌙 Note: Sunday is a rest day, so there will be no updates tomorrow. Regular uploads resume as usual on Monday.
Join now and dive deeper into the story—weeks ahead of public release!
Thank you for your amazing support 💖
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —