"Alright, alright—I'll find you a few more capable people to squeeze… for example by using Edo Tensei, Edo Tensei, or, you know, Edo Tensei."
Seeing Nagato's deadpan face, Uchiha Yorin hurried to reassure him: "Look at Konoha's Second—good old 'born-evil' Tobirama. His kit is insanely strong."
"But… didn't you hand him over to Orochimaru as a lab assistant?" Nagato asked, curious and uneasy.
"People with ability do more," Yorin said blandly.
…
The Second still didn't know he'd soon be leaving the blissful Pure Land to return to the miserable mortal realm—for an eternal overtime shift.
If he knew, he'd probably be comforted.
He'd clap Yorin on the shoulder and say, "Your shamelessness captures my former style perfectly."
"But in that case… we're supposed to be partners of justice—isn't defiling the dead…?" Nagato still hesitated.
He'd clearly grown attached to the "ally of justice" mantle Yorin gave him—so much so he'd developed a tiny bit of idol baggage. Yorin almost snapped:
"You turned your best friend's corpse into a Pain—but now you're clutching pearls?"
He swallowed it.
For a talented and loyal subordinate like Nagato, Yorin stayed patient:
"How is it defilement? It's bond—a bond beyond friendship! Fallen heroes revived for a righteous cause, fighting once more alongside their comrades—what could be more romantic?
That is our Fate/stay night, okay?"
Nagato: "Really?"
Yorin: "Really."
Nagato: "You're not lying?"
Yorin: "Of course not."
…
Good thing the Second is dead; otherwise he'd probably tremble and croak, "Never have I seen someone so brazen."
No matter—at Orochimaru's current pace, Yorin would soon be trading barbs with the old man in person.
Then it'll be your line—"Born-evil Uchiha brat"—and mine—"Born-brain-dead Senju fossil." Lovely.
…
With Nagato settled, Yorin's "harem unit" packed their bags.
That surprised him—he'd thought traveling with girls would be a hassle.
Turns out, girls aren't all the same. His "harem" are girls and shinobi.
Which means: having a kunoichi for a girlfriend is pretty convenient.
Before leaving, Yorin gave Orochimaru one last look—inspected Uchiha Pharma's next-gen products, asked about Edo Tensei progress—and, after confirming he hadn't turned into Lady Orochi yet, beat a quick retreat.
Stay any longer and Orochimaru would grab him for more research funding.
With Nagato, though, Yorin was all tender reluctance—tugging him close, rattling off reminders:
"Oh, one more thing—swing by Ryūchi Cave and Mount Myōboku; you might train Sage Mode. Sign a few business contracts for me while you're at it. I've got a delinquent to smack in Konoha—no time to go myself."
"And—small-fry villages have some serious hitters. Poaching them costs far less than stealing from the big five, and your odds are higher. Give it a shot."
"And—Akatsuki's swagger is on you. Like I said, lay into corrupt officials, tycoons, lords, black-hearted merchants—then raise our banner."
Yorin: "And—"
Nagato: "And—and I just remembered—"
Watching his task list balloon for no reason, Nagato hastily cut in: "I think there's soup on the stove. If I don't check it, it'll burn. Anyway—that's that. I'll do everything you asked! Don't worry, Yorin-sama."
Yorin: "Ah—oh, okay."
He still had more to say, but if Nagato put it that way, so be it.
"Do your best, Nagato."
"I will, Yorin-sama."
"I'll come see you next time, Konan-nee."
"Come early, Yorin."
Nagato: "Uh, wait—what…?"
For some reason he suddenly felt like Chapter 383 Jiraiya—the vibe of a man left behind.
In the end, he said nothing—just lifted his head to the sky and thought, "Yahiko—if you could see this, you'd be comforted… right?"
…
Shinobi travel fast—but Yorin checked the dates: his sister-in-law's due date was close. He couldn't work Nagato to death.
So on the way back to Konoha, he and the harem took a small detour.
Today: the Land of Lightning—smash a few corrupt officials, then, to cheers, declare: "Akatsuki is here for three things—fairness, fairness, and still fairness!"
Tomorrow: the Land of Earth—cut down some price-gouging merchants, then shout to the crowds: "Do you know what a curry–fried-noodle bun costs now?! Five hundred thousand ryō! That much money won't fit in a wagon—and they're afraid we'll 'make trouble'?!"
The day after: back in the loyal Land of Fire. For celebration—first kill a few corrupt bureaucrats, then a few crooked merchants, and finally target a rogue-nin bandit crew.
After reducing them to dust, he addressed the cheering people again: "We Akatsuki are friends of the poor, comrades of the weak, warriors of all who labor!
Liberty, equality, fraternity—our slogan!
We will topple the daimyo's tyranny and found an advanced capitalist republic, okay!"
…
Yorin's speeches were wildly stirring—full of feeling, tear-jerking—enough to make the harem suspect he'd toggled something.
"I don't know what it is—but it slaps!"
"Ahhh, Your Majesty, we adore you!"
"Your Majesty—lead us!"
To the thunder of the crowds, Akatsuki brushed off its sleeves and vanished—claiming neither credit nor name.
And the names Akatsuki and Rin'yō rolled like thunder across the shinobi world.
Uchiha Yorin: "Heh—doing good at random is pretty satisfying… Wait—that's Minato's summoning toad. Courier?"
He took the scroll from the Myōboku toad, tossed it a can of cat food, and, amid the toad's grumbling, cracked the seal. Minato's resentment practically spilled out: "Yorin—have you forgotten your sacred vow to kill Obito?!"
"Ah, crap!"
Playing hero (and redistributing wealth to himself) had felt too good—he'd almost overshot his sister-in-law's due date.
No—move. Back to Konoha, fast.
If that brat Obito really unleashes the Nine-Tails and gets his sister-in-law and his brother killed—killing the brat a billion times wouldn't be enough to pay for it!