Deep within the hidden mountain base, the air felt different.
Alive.
For the past week the system points had been flooding in faster than I had expected. Every report. Every rumor. Every investigation into the Akatsuki symbol seemed to feed the system.
Batman alone had become a massive source.
The moment he started writing files, analyzing footage, and searching for information, the system notifications began appearing constantly.
System Points +20
System Points +35
System Points +50
Important people noticing the Akatsuki gave far more points than random civilians.
And Bruce Wayne was one of the most important people on the planet.
Not to mention the steady flow of points coming from Kakuzu's mercenary missions.
Every bounty completed.
Every contract fulfilled.
Every criminal organization hearing the name Akatsuki for the first time.
It all added up.
Which meant one thing.
I now had a lot of points.
Sitting comfortably in my chair inside the central chamber of the hideout, I opened the glowing system interface in front of me.
The shop menu appeared instantly.
Rows upon rows of purchasable items.
Abilities.
Techniques.
Bloodlines.
And most importantly—
Akatsuki Members.
I scrolled through the list slowly.
Several names appeared.
Some incredibly expensive.
Others more affordable.
My eyes stopped on the first one.
Konan.
I smiled slightly.
"Well… it wouldn't feel like the Akatsuki without her."
The cost was high.
But worth it.
Konan wasn't just powerful. She was incredibly intelligent, loyal, and one of the few people Nagato had truly trusted.
A bodyguard.
An enforcer.
And more importantly—
A friend.
I pressed the purchase option.
DING
System Notification: Konan Summoned.
A circle of light formed in the center of the room.
Paper began swirling through the air like thousands of white feathers.
The papers folded together.
Compressed.
Condensed.
Then formed into a human shape.
Moments later Konan stood there, her calm amber eyes scanning the room.
Her expression was confused.
"…Nagato?"
I stood up slowly.
Before she could question anything further, I activated a genjutsu.
The illusion gently transmitted the basic knowledge of this new world into her mind.
Memories flowed.
Information about the DC universe.
Modern technology.
Meta-humans.
Heroes.
Villains.
When the genjutsu ended, Konan blinked once.
Then nodded calmly.
"So… we've arrived in another world."
"More or less."
She studied me for a moment.
Then a small smile appeared.
"If you're here, Nagato… then I suppose we'll continue our dream."
"Peace."
I nodded.
"Exactly."
The system panel reopened.
Next purchase.
Yahiko.
He wasn't nearly as expensive.
Compared to most Akatsuki members, Yahiko's raw combat ability wasn't particularly impressive. Around Jonin-level, maybe slightly higher.
Most of the Akatsuki were far stronger.
Kage-level monsters.
Even the weakest member—
Well.
Honestly, Hidan might have been the weakest.
But his bizarre immortality ritual made him extremely dangerous regardless.
Yahiko's real strength wasn't power.
It was leadership.
Charisma.
Hope.
I pressed the purchase button.
Light formed again.
A second figure materialized in the room.
Bright orange hair.
Confident posture.
Yahiko blinked in confusion before looking around.
"…Nagato?"
Once again I used genjutsu to transfer the necessary information.
When the illusion faded, Yahiko scratched the back of his head.
"So we're in another world now."
"Pretty much."
He looked around the massive Akatsuki base.
Then grinned.
"Well… at least we're starting with a cool hideout."
Konan sighed slightly.
Some things never changed.
But the Akatsuki wasn't complete yet.
The system menu opened again.
I still had a large amount of points remaining.
Which meant I could start strengthening myself.
My eyes landed on another item.
Uzumaki Fuinjutsu Master Scroll.
Every sealing technique.
Every piece of knowledge the Uzumaki clan had developed across centuries.
That alone would normally take decades to learn.
I bought it immediately.
A small scroll appeared in my hand.
When I unrolled it, several sub-scrolls spilled out from inside the seal.
Each one packed with dense information.
Barrier techniques.
Chakra suppression seals.
Storage seals.
Binding techniques.
It was a treasure trove.
I sealed the scrolls carefully.
Those would take time to study.
But there was still enough system points for one final purchase.
One more Akatsuki member.
My eyes scanned the list again.
Then stopped.
Sasori of the Red Sand.
A puppet master genius.
A master of poisons.
A shinobi who had literally turned himself into a puppet.
His techniques would be incredibly useful in this world.
Assassination.
Espionage.
Covert warfare.
Not to mention his ability to create hundreds of powerful puppets.
I pressed the purchase option.
The summoning circle appeared again.
Wood creaked softly as a red-haired figure formed from the light.
Cold brown eyes opened slowly.
Sasori glanced around the room.
"…This isn't the Sand Village."
I smiled faintly.
"No."
A moment later the genjutsu transmitted the world's information to him as well.
When it ended, Sasori simply crossed his arms.
"Hm."
That was his entire reaction.
Typical.
Now the chamber was no longer empty.
Standing within the Akatsuki base were:
Nagato.
Konan.
Yahiko.
Orochimaru.
Zetsu.
Kakuzu.
And Sasori.
Seven members.
Not counting the Six Paths of Pain.
The Akatsuki were growing quickly.
And the system notifications were still appearing.
System Points +45
System Points +30
System Points +60
More people noticing the Akatsuki.
More rumors spreading.
More fear growing.
I leaned back in my chair and smiled slightly.
"Welcome to the Akatsuki."
Outside, the world still had no idea what kind of storm was beginning to gather in the shadows.