A Voice That Resonates
Orochimaru's words struck like a venomous serpent—
hissing—
then lunging straight for the throat.
"…!"
Gen's lips twitched.
Seriously?
New account, don't grief me like this.
His undercover career hadn't even started—
and it was already about to end?
Orochimaru—
you snake!
Pain and Konan both turned to him.
Orochimaru nodded with absolute certainty.
"Connect the events, and the scheme becomes obvious."
"This man…"
"…is a spy sent by Konoha."
"An infiltrator."
Konan gave a slight nod.
"…It is too coincidental."
Pain's gaze returned to Gen.
Those emotionless Rinnegan eyes pressed down like a collapsing mountain.
A silent question:
What do you have to say?
One wrong step—
and it was the abyss.
At this point—
it was already a death sentence.
Akatsuki could accept Uchiha Itachi—
because he had slaughtered his clan.
He could never return to Konoha.
Even if he still had dealings with its higher-ups—
he was a tool.
Useful.
That was enough.
But a confirmed spy?
Unacceptable.
And Gen—
his destruction of Root—
was still unverified.
Under Pain's overwhelming gaze—
Gen suddenly laughed.
"Hahaha…"
Orochimaru shook his head with a cold chuckle.
"That old man…"
"…sending such a fool to die."
Pain slowly raised his right hand.
Konan lowered her eyes—
unwilling to watch what came next.
The farce—
was about to end.
But—
Gen was ready.
Because espionage—
was never a game.
Facing the prelude to Shinra Tensei—
he didn't panic.
Instead—
he calmly planted his cane into the ground.
Reached into his pouch—
and pulled out two scrolls.
He unfurled them—
like paired banners—
letting them spread across the ground.
Bang—
Hands forming seals—
he slammed both palms onto the scrolls.
Smoke burst forth.
Then—
before Pain, Konan, and Orochimaru—
bodies appeared.
One after another.
"…!"
Orochimaru's expression changed.
He recognized them.
At the front—
lay Aburame Ryoma.
Danzō's right hand.
Someone Orochimaru himself had worked alongside.
He knew exactly how dangerous that man was.
And yet—
he was dead.
Killed by this boy?
Orochimaru's gaze swept across the rest.
More faces.
All familiar.
All high-ranking members of Root.
His heart jolted.
Half of Root's core—
was lying here.
At Gen's feet.
His pupils shrank.
For the first time—
he truly looked at this seemingly ordinary boy.
"These…"
Gen shrugged lightly.
"…are Root's key members."
"I have no place left in Konoha."
"I have nothing to do with them anymore."
That night—
before confronting Danzō—
he had already visited Root's headquarters.
This—
was no fabrication.
Even Hiruzen had sent ANBU to question him.
His answer had been simple:
"This is the price Konoha must pay—for me to join Akatsuki."
Itachi killed his clan.
To join Akatsuki—
Gen had to destroy something of equal weight.
Looking at the corpses—
who among them would ever serve the Third Hokage?
Pain spoke.
"…Your purpose?"
Gen tilted his head upward—
as if recalling something painful.
"I once saw…"
"…Root shinobi slaughter civilians."
"A helpless mother and child."
In the darkness—
Nagato's eyes widened.
Even Pain's Rinnegan flickered.
Gen continued:
"If Root has rotted this far…"
"…then what about Konoha's leadership?"
"For the sake of preserving Wood Release—"
"to control its power—"
"They conducted human experiments."
"Men, women, children…"
"…none were spared."
Then—
he turned toward Orochimaru.
Smiling faintly.
"Wouldn't you agree…"
"…Lord Orochimaru?"
Konan glanced at him.
Orochimaru said nothing.
His golden eyes shifted downward.
Gen continued:
"The great villages preach protection…"
"…while spreading suffering to smaller nations."
"They ignore the pain of others."
"They don't understand it."
"They use war…"
"…as an excuse for more war."
Silence.
At some point—
Pain's raised hand—
lowered.
Crack—
In the shadows—
Nagato crushed the armrest of his chair into dust.
Behind his red hair—
his Rinnegan burned.
Anger.
Recognition.
Resonance.
Good.
Very good.
Because—
he understood pain.
"I cannot return to darkness…"
"…after seeing the light."
Gen's voice steadied.
"After leaving Konoha…"
"I heard of Akatsuki."
"I learned more."
"And so…"
"I came here."
Pain glanced at Orochimaru.
"Check the bodies."
Despite his growing approval—
he would not be deceived by words alone.
"…Understood."
Orochimaru stepped forward.
Stopping before Gen.
He looked at him—
really looked.
Then knelt—
and began examining the corpses.
If they were fake—
this would end here.
If they were real—
then this boy…
was something else entirely.
Moments later—
he had his answer.
Orochimaru stood.
Took a slow breath.
Then looked at Pain.
"…They're real."
Silence.
Then—
Pain turned to Gen.
And nodded.
"…You are worthy."
"You have earned…"
"…the right for me to test you personally."
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