The weather was bright and clear, with not a cloud in sight.
Because of Uchiha Itachi's outstanding performance, his squad was assigned a C-rank mission this time—escorting a merchant caravan.
Under normal circumstances, missions like this carried little risk. Without ninja interference, ordinary bandits were easy enough to deal with.
Unfortunately—
They encountered the mysterious masked man, Tobi.
After a fierce battle, the caravan was almost completely wiped out.
Their jōnin instructor, Mizuki, was sucked into the Kamui dimension by Tobi. Itachi's two fellow genin, Tenma and Shinko, were mercilessly killed on the spot.
Uchiha Itachi, enraged, activated his double-tomoe Sharingan. Tobi, struck by a sudden appreciation for talent, chose to spare him, allowing Itachi to escape death.
When the news returned to the village, the Third Hokage merely ordered a brief investigation before suppressing the matter entirely.
According to the investigation results, the masked man's strength was unfathomable.
Konoha was already beset with troubles, and he had no desire to invite further complications.
Uchiha Yusuke also received the news.
Unlike the Third Hokage, he took the masked man extremely seriously.
According to the original course of events, Tobi would soon assist Uchiha Itachi in carrying out the massacre on the Night of the Clan's Destruction.
Although Danzō's threat had already been eliminated, the secretly active Obito was still someone who could not be ignored.
Kamui's space-manipulating ability allowed him to appear and disappear without a trace.
If he wanted to stir up trouble, it would be far too easy.
If Tobi targeted others, Uchiha Yusuke might turn a blind eye.
But if he dared to provoke him—
Yusuke would make him pay the price.
If others do not offend me, I will not offend them.
If others offend me, then no matter how far they run, I will destroy them.
That was Uchiha Yusuke's creed.
If you won't let me live in peace, then I won't let you live at all!
Although Tobi's space-based dōjutsu was extremely troublesome, to someone like Uchiha Yusuke—who controlled a time-based dōjutsu—it was far from unsolvable.
As long as Obito wasn't determined to flee at all costs, Yusuke would always find a way to make him stumble.
So what if he inherited Uchiha Madara's legacy?
At best, he was nothing more than a pitiful pawn being used by others.
Tobi's life was tragic enough.
Tormented by fate for most of his life, only to be defeated in the end by Naruto's strongest genjutsu—"Talk no Jutsu."
Uchiha Yusuke had not never considered saving that old classmate of his, but Rin was already gone, Naruto was still growing, and anything else was utterly ineffective against Tobi.
Even with his teacher Namikaze Minato and his close friend Hatake Kakashi standing right in front of him, Obito could turn hostile without hesitation.
Relying on nothing more than shared clan blood and old school ties, Yusuke had no confidence he could persuade him.
While Konoha remained calm and peaceful, the Akatsuki was anything but idle.
During the time Tobi was off causing trouble, Nagato and Konan had already made contact with several recruitment targets.
On the border of the Land of Waterfall—
The rogue ninja Kakuzu was carrying out a newly accepted bounty mission.
Ever since failing to assassinate the First Hokage, he had stolen the forbidden technique "Earth Grudge Fear" from his village.
He then fled to remote regions and became a bounty hunter.
Making money.
Making money.
Still making money.
He tirelessly pursued his path of wealth accumulation.
After easily killing his target, a contemptuous smile curled at the corner of Kakuzu's mouth.
"Pathetic trash. Took only a few moves."
"Won't fetch much money at all."
With a flick of his sleeve, Kakuzu turned to search for his next target.
He had accepted multiple bounties at once, casting a wide net to maximize profit.
Suddenly, two mysterious figures in black cloaks patterned with red clouds approached.
They were the leader of Akatsuki, Tendo Pain, and the intelligence officer, Zetsu.
The moment they appeared, Zetsu couldn't help mocking Kakuzu's reckless behavior.
"You really do like going wild, don't you?"
The sudden voice startled Kakuzu slightly. He flipped backward gracefully, landing in front of the two.
"You've seen my strength, and you still dare talk nonsense?"
"Who are you people?"
Exuding overwhelming presence, Tendo Pain stepped forward.
"Immortal ninja Kakuzu, we are here to invite you to join Akatsuki."
Kakuzu looked utterly confused.
"Akatsuki?"
"What kind of thing is that?"
Zetsu patiently explained.
"It's an organization created to bring about true peace."
That answer made Kakuzu laugh outright.
"Hmph. I'm not interested in that kind of organization."
"The only thing that can attract me now is money."
Tendo Pain showed him no courtesy at all.
"Whether you're interested or not, you must join Akatsuki."
Kakuzu's face darkened instantly.
"What an arrogant way of speaking."
"Looks like another ignorant fool who doesn't know his place."
"Even if you're not worth much—"
"I'll reluctantly take you anyway!"
Tendo Pain smiled and slowly closed his eyes.
"You want to challenge me?"
"That's fine."
"If I win, you'll join Akatsuki."
Kakuzu sneered coldly.
"Hah. You think you can beat me?"
"Don't make me laugh!"
He swung his fist and launched an attack at Tendo Pain.
Tendo Pain remained calm. With a single Shinra Tensei, he slammed Kakuzu into the ground.
"You lost."
Tendo Pain's indifferent voice echoed beside him as doubt flickered in Kakuzu's eyes.
"This power… what exactly is it?"
Tendo Pain spoke with solemn authority, completely straight-faced.
"I am the god who guides this world."
"Come, immortal one."
"I can give you a place to belong."
Seizing the opportunity, Zetsu piled on the persuasion.
Before long, Kakuzu was convinced.
"With someone like you around, there should be plenty of chances to fight high-value bounty targets."
"Akatsuki… seems like an unexpectedly lucrative organization."
Zetsu looked thrilled.
"Then it's happily decided!"
Tendo Pain flicked his sleeve and turned away.
"Mission complete. Let's go."
...
A vast desert sea shrouded in dust.
Sasori of the Red Sand had just wiped out a small hidden village using his puppets.
He sighed thoughtfully.
"What a desolate village."
"Not a single thing worth using as material."
"Hopefully the next place will be better."
A gentle breeze passed by.
Konan quietly appeared before Sasori.
"A hidden village scattered to the winds, annihilated overnight."
"Looks like your handiwork."
Sasori calmly looked up at Konan floating in the air.
"What do you want?"
A gentle smile appeared on Konan's face.
"I want to invite you to join Akatsuki."
Sasori felt puzzled.
"Akatsuki?"
"Never even heard of it."
Konan explained seriously.
"We'll need your power for what's to come."
"Lend us your strength."
A dangerous curve formed at the corner of Sasori's mouth.
"Heh."
"You sound awfully condescending."
Konan remained unfazed, continuing with a smile.
"You can think of Akatsuki as a refuge for those who have betrayed their villages."
"As long as you complete the missions, no one will interfere with what you do."
Sasori's expression remained calm.
"I see. That does sound appealing."
"But I'm used to working alone."
"I don't like being restrained."
Facing Sasori's killing intent, Konan asked calmly,
"What do you want to do?"
Sasori slowly pulled out a scroll from behind him, sealing the puppet of the Third Kazekage.
"Looks like my luck isn't bad."
"Even though I found nothing in that village earlier—"
"A top-tier material has delivered itself right to me."
"Don't worry."
"I'll turn you into a collection on par with the Third Kazekage."
Sasori's face burned with murderous excitement, but Konan remained serene.
Sasori controlled the Third Kazekage puppet and charged forward, slicing Konan—who had taken on an angelic form—into three pieces.
He clicked his tongue dismissively.
"Looks impressive."
"But in reality, you're nothing special."
However—
Konan's severed body suddenly transformed into countless sheets of paper and reassembled itself.
"Sorry."
"Your attacks don't work on me."
Sasori sneered.
"Hah. Big words."
He commanded the Third Kazekage puppet to unleash its ultimate technique, Iron Sand World Method. Konan was shattered again, yet quickly restored herself.
Poisoned weapons and Magnet Release techniques were completely ineffective against Konan's Paper Person Technique.
In terms of attributes, Konan held a natural advantage over Sasori.
This battle left Sasori at a serious disadvantage.
Later on, he would add high-temperature flames to his techniques—likely prepared specifically to counter Konan.
Unable to grasp Konan's abilities for the moment, Sasori muttered to himself,
"Again?"
"What kind of jutsu is this, exactly?"
Konan replied calmly,
"You don't need to understand my abilities."
"You only need to know that your puppet techniques are useful to us."
Sasori laughed coldly.
"Heh. You're quite interesting."
"I'm going to capture you and study you thoroughly."
Sheets of paper slowly enveloped the Third Kazekage puppet.
"I'll say it one last time."
"Lend your power to Akatsuki."
Sasori clicked his tongue.
"Don't be ridiculous."
After a fierce battle, Sasori gradually fell into the disadvantage against Konan.
Using the brainwashing methods taught by Nagato, Konan successfully persuaded Sasori of the Red Sand, the rogue ninja from Sunagakure.
Akatsuki's base.
Tendo Pain distributed the organization's exclusive rings to the two new members.
Kakuzu was given the codename "Hokuto," while Sasori of the Red Sand received the codename "Gyokunyo."
After recruiting two formidable warriors, Akatsuki once again set its sights on Konoha's rogue ninja—Orochimaru.
Orochimaru's situation was somewhat different from the others.
While Akatsuki was watching him, he was also secretly monitoring Akatsuki's every move.
Tobi was currently focused entirely on Uchiha Itachi, intending to bring this talented rising star under his command.
As for Orochimaru, Tobi merely gave Tendo Pain and Konan a brief instruction.
"Orochimaru is a dangerous double-edged sword."
"Recruit him or kill him—decide for yourselves."
After some consideration, Tendo Pain chose to recruit Orochimaru.
He soon sought him out, accompanied by Sasori of the Red Sand.
Sasori and Orochimaru seemed naturally incompatible. The moment they met, they started arguing.
"Orochimaru, you dare investigate us in secret?"
"You've got some nerve!"
Orochimaru spread his hands.
"So what if I did?"
"Are you planning to silence me?"
Sasori's eyes turned cold as he prepared to strike, but Orochimaru showed no panic at all.
"I know your information quite well."
"Although you hide inside that ugly Hiruko shell, your real trump card is the Third Kazekage, isn't it?"
Sasori's gaze remained indifferent.
"I don't recall ever leaking information about the Third Kazekage puppet."
Orochimaru explained seriously,
"I'm the type who likes pursuing truth."
"When something interests me, I always trace it to its source."
Orochimaru licked his lips, then suddenly shifted his gaze to Tendo Pain.
"I never expected those eyes to be hidden within Akatsuki."
"I failed to obtain the Sharingan—but the Rinnegan has delivered itself right to my doorstep!"
A powerful killing intent erupted from Orochimaru.
Tendo Pain's Rinnegan ignited the deepest curiosity within him.
The wind howled.
The red-cloud cloaks of Tendo Pain and Sasori fluttered violently.
Sasori stared at Orochimaru, killing intent filling his eyes.
"I don't care what you're interested in."
"You're destined to die here today!"
Orochimaru smiled faintly.
"Heh. That's hard to say."
"As long as I capture you, everything I want will be mine."
Sasori sneered again.
"Heh. You're courting death."
He turned to Tendo Pain.
"Don't interfere."
"Let me handle him."
Tendo Pain nodded lightly.
"Very well."
"Do as you please."
Sasori emerged from Hiruko.
"Orochimaru, today I'll let you see my true strength!"
Orochimaru's expression grew serious.
"You're going to fight with your real body?"
"That really is something to look forward to."
Sasori smiled slightly.
"Using Hiruko wouldn't be a problem."
"But I want you to experience the feeling of being completely crushed."
He took out a scroll and once again summoned the Third Kazekage puppet.
Orochimaru remained calm.
"Crushed?"
"What does that feel like?"
"I've never experienced it in my life."
Sasori was equally confident.
"You'll understand soon enough."
"Trash snake."
The battle was extremely fierce, and Orochimaru was eventually knocked to the ground.
Sasori waved his hand and recalled the Third Kazekage puppet.
"It's over."
However—
The Orochimaru lying on the ground suddenly moved.
"No, it's not over yet."
Orochimaru used the Substitution Technique, emerging directly from his own mouth. His movements were slippery and unpredictable as he bypassed Sasori and charged straight at Tendo Pain.
"The Rinnegan—I'll take it!"
Tendo Pain's expression remained cold.
"Shinra Tensei!"
Orochimaru was suddenly struck as if by lightning, his body blasted away.
"What just happened?!"
Tendo Pain spoke coldly.
"Orochimaru, there's a limit to jokes."
"State your true intentions."
Orochimaru clicked his tongue lightly.
"Heh. Fair enough."
"I thought I was lucky."
"As expected, the Rinnegan isn't that simple."
"Then I'll be direct."
"How about letting me join Akatsuki as well?"
"I'm very interested in Akatsuki right now."
"My combat strength should be sufficient, shouldn't it?"
Sasori looked displeased.
"This guy…"
"He already lost to me, and he still dares spout nonsense?"
Orochimaru waved his hand casually.
"I wasn't serious just now."
"Letting me join won't be a bad thing."
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