Everyone's gaze shifted to the speaker—a short, half-grown boy.
To be honest, what he said was tempting.
But killing one's superior…
"That can be arranged," the flaxen-haired kunoichi said softly from the side.
"Poison. Assassination. Traps."
Those were things they'd done plenty of times before—just less often this year.
"As long as Kiyu dies and we unify our story afterward, no one can touch us."
When she finished speaking, the room fell into silence. Judging by the flicker in their eyes, it was obvious—they were tempted.
They'd killed comrades before. This wasn't some moral line they'd never crossed.
In small ninja villages, selection was far crueler than in the great villages. They couldn't provide the best education, so they simply chose the most vicious survivors.
"…Do it," the tall ninja said in a deep voice.
When their own lives were at stake, resistance was the only option.
Hyūga Akira had no idea that his temporary subordinates were plotting to kill him.
And even if he did know, he probably wouldn't care.
He abandoned his work entirely and walked out of the tower. He was here undercover—not to be a beast of burden.
On the muddy streets, he held a purple umbrella to shield himself from the rain.
The city was sparsely populated. During times of chaos, everyone preferred to stay quietly indoors.
The Land of Rain had never known peace—internal strife on one side, foreign ninja on the other.
The pedestrians he passed wore clothes patched again and again. Around them were houses built of stone and mud.
Perhaps because of the environment, these buildings were at least good at withstanding rain, never quite soaking through.
Compared to Konoha, which still had hints of modern construction, this place was less a city and more a village—like something stuck in the Warring States era.
Poor food. Thin clothing. Constant illness from the damp air.
"What a tragic country," Akira couldn't help but sigh.
In the game, all this had just been background flavor. Only by living here did one truly understand the hardship.
As Akira walked down the main road, lost in thought, a red-haired boy with bangs covering his eyes jogged up to him and held out a bundle with trembling hands.
"This… this is for you," Nagato said softly.
"Huh?"
Akira took it, confused. Peeking through the wrapping, he saw a bento box inside.
Nagato turned and was about to run when Akira suddenly grabbed his shoulder.
Nagato froze and turned back.
"You should at least explain," Akira said, shaking the bento lightly. He had come out to eat, but being randomly handed a meal was still baffling.
"My… my mom made it," Nagato said with his head lowered. "It's really good."
Akira hesitated for a moment, then suddenly lifted Nagato's bangs, revealing the black pupils underneath.
Not Rinnegan?
So Madara hadn't implanted them yet.
In that case…
"Then let's eat together," Akira said, lifting the bento.
"This portion's too big for me alone anyway."
He was genuinely interested in Nagato. In Akira's view, Nagato's future idea of peace was pointed in the right direction—he just wasn't firm enough and got talked down by Naruto's Talk no Jutsu.
"Come with me," Akira said, angling the umbrella to shield Nagato as the light rain pattered against it.
Since he'd already found food, there was no need to look for a restaurant—this city didn't seem like it had any decent ones anyway.
After a brief hesitation, Nagato followed obediently.
Akira brought him back to the tower.
"The Central Tower…" Nagato looked up at the cylindrical structure with unconcealed envy. The stairs spiraled upward inside.
"Is this place famous?" Akira asked curiously.
"It's the most famous building here," Nagato said, a bit excited.
"You can see the whole city from the top, but it's never open to the public."
Akira nodded thoughtfully. The central tower was probably the city's only real landmark—though whether it would still exist in the future was another question.
By now, the tower was entirely Akira's domain. He pushed the documents on the desk aside and pulled up two chairs.
"Sit," he said casually, opening the bento.
Grilled fish. Tempura. Vegetable dumplings. Rice.
Not many varieties, but generous portions.
There were even extra pairs of chopsticks. He handed one to Nagato.
"I'm curious," Akira said, picking up a piece of fish.
"Why did you bring me food?"
Nagato pressed his lips together and answered softly, "Because… you're a good person."
"Pfft—"
Akira burst out laughing. "That's a pretty good joke."
Anyone in this world might be a good person—but Akira knew himself well. He was definitely not one.
If those Rain ninja heard this, they'd probably drag Nagato out to argue to the death.
"You avenged Aunt Shuna," Nagato said quietly.
"The wandering ninja killed her whole family."
That gentle woman always helped homeless children when she saw them—only to be slaughtered by rogue ninja.
"It was just profit-driven," Akira replied flatly.
"I don't know who I avenged. They were just good hunting targets."
He didn't like being handed a "good person" label. It made killing people later feel awkward.
Nagato shook his head slightly.
"I can feel it. You really did it for Aunt Shuna—even if you didn't know who she was."
Akira's chopsticks stopped midair.
He narrowed his eyes at Nagato.
Kagura's Mind Eye.
He'd awakened a bloodline limit at this age?
Now Akira understood why Madara had chosen Nagato.
Surviving Uzumaki weren't that rare—no one knew how many were still hidden in the world.
But Nagato's massive chakra reserves, combined with a possible awakening of Kagura's Mind Eye…
Madara couldn't have found a better candidate.
"Kid," Akira's expression darkened.
"My name is Kiyu. From now on, when you hear that name, it will always be tied to violence and brutality."
Whatever Kiyu did had nothing to do with Hyūga Akira.
Nagato lowered his head, silent, lost in thought.
Akira looked at him and recalled Nagato's potential drops:
Rinnegan.
Uzumaki bloodline.
Summoning: Gedo Statue.
Crystal of Pain.
Akatsuki Emblem.
Five items.
None of them were exclusive—others could drop them too.
They weren't absolutely necessary.
Yet a strange thought surfaced in Akira's mind.
"…Kid," he said slowly,
"Do you want to become my disciple?"
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