Just as Shimizu was sending off the courier ninja and preparing to close his door, Konan approached from the distance.
"Shimizu Uchiha, Yahiko wants you to come over. This isn't a threat, just an invitation."
"Let's go."
Shimizu nodded.
With the Flying Raijin Jutsu at his disposal, if he wanted to leave, no one could stop him. Nagato did not possess the ability to kill him in a single strike. Shinra Tensei had a cooldown period, and the startup time for Chibaku Tensei was too long. The rest of the dōjutsu abilities were insufficient to cause Shimizu's immediate death.
In other words, Nagato could not kill Shimizu.
"You aren't afraid of a trap?" Konan asked.
She had always been curious about where Shimizu's mysterious confidence came from. He simply didn't fear the Akatsuki organization at all.
"Lead the way."
Konan nodded and began running quickly through the light rain. Shimizu followed closely behind.
After about an hour, Shimizu arrived at the ruins. He pretended to lean against a wall for support, flipping over a broken section to land on the level ground. At the same time, he left an imperceptible Flying Raijin formula marker on the wall.
"Mr. Shimizu, it is good to see you again."
Yahiko walked over, using a wooden stick as a makeshift crutch. The other members of the Akatsuki watched Shimizu warily. Meanwhile, the Deva Path of Pain emerged from the shadows.
"The people your Akatsuki recruits are certainly unusual," Shimizu quipped.
Even facing the subtle pressure emanating from the Deva Path, his expression remained unchanged.
What exactly is Shimizu Uchiha's power level? What is the nature of his Sharingan? Nagato wondered inwardly, feeling a sense of apprehension toward Shimizu Uchiha.
Possessing the Rinnegan, he could detect a special kind of chakra residing in Shimizu's eyes. Through Jiraiya, he had learned what this special chakra was called.
Pupil Power!
Shimizu wasn't releasing his full visual prowess, but the amount currently radiating was enough to make a Jōnin feel heart palpitations and adopt a stance as if facing a formidable enemy.
Why could Shimizu Uchiha remain so calm and indifferent?
Nagato thought of many possibilities in that instant. The rumors from the outside world about "Shimizu of the Body Flicker" were absolutely absurd; Shimizu Uchiha was no less capable in other areas than he was in the Body Flicker Technique—perhaps even stronger!
Nagato's thoughts remained unknown to the others. Yahiko smiled and led Shimizu inside. Shimizu acted as if nothing was amiss and entered the Akatsuki base beneath the ruins.
The air here wasn't exactly fresh; it smelled either of various medicinal herbs or the stench of sweat. To be honest, Shimizu was quite curious about how they managed their restroom situation.
"I assume the leader of the Akatsuki invited me here to discuss important matters," Shimizu said, sitting down on a worn-out chair.
Yahiko sat on the edge of the bed and nodded. "I hope, Mr. Shimizu, that you will continue to provide us with supplies. In return, we will pay double the market price."
Yahiko opened a suitcase filled to the brim with banknotes.
With Konan around, the Akatsuki organization wasn't particularly short on money. Their current predicament was having money but nowhere to spend it. Buying necessary supplies at twice the market rate was not a problem for them.
"That isn't a major issue. By the way, don't neglect the intelligence gathering on orphans I asked you to do." Shimizu nodded.
He wasn't short on supplies. Suzumebachi was the granddaughter of the Kamizuru Clan's patriarch. Her strength had increased significantly, giving her a chance to vie for the position of patriarch. Shimizu could easily dump some kunai, explosive tags, and soldier pills he drew from his simulator onto her in exchange for large quantities of supplies.
Not to mention, he also knew a wealthy woman. The Priestess of the Land of Demons, Miroku! Weren't Miroku's possessions effectively Shimizu's?
"Agreed," Yahiko said excitedly.
He hadn't expected Shimizu to agree so easily. Finding intelligence on specific orphans was quite simple; they could do it once the Akatsuki's scale grew again.
Next, Yahiko and Shimizu discussed the details at length. Kyūsuke and the other Akatsuki members listened in a daze. The only thing they understood was that they would no longer be burdened by a lack of supplies, and their living conditions would improve significantly. This made them want to cheer.
Nagato listened quietly to the conversation between Yahiko and Shimizu without interrupting. However, when the discussion ended and Shimizu was about to leave, Nagato stopped him.
"Treat Yahiko. Didn't you say it required surgery to reconnect the meridian system inside? Your medical skills are the most suitable."
"I've been a bit busy lately. Find someone else."
Shimizu waved his hand, put down the sealing scroll containing the supplies, picked up the suitcase full of money, and prepared to walk out.
The Six Paths of Pain had approached unnoticed, and six different Pains now stood blocking the doorway.
"Nagato!"
Yahiko immediately realized what Nagato intended to do. Shimizu had refused to treat him. He was a little disappointed, certainly, but not to the point of resentment. Without Shimizu, he would have lost his life long ago; how could he repay kindness with enmity?
It would be as absurd as the Akatsuki killing their greatest mentor, Jiraiya, for the sake of peace. That would simply be abandoning one's morality as a human being!
Throwing these irrelevant analogies to the back of his mind, Yahiko leaned on his crutch and walked to the door. His meaning was clear: if they wanted to move against Shimizu, they would have to go through him first.
"Yahiko, you..."
deep inside, with his legs in a machine and black chakra receivers stuck in his back, Nagato raised his head and looked in that direction.
He felt that Yahiko was being a bit pedantic. Continuing with such indecisiveness, how could they stop the strife in Amegakure? How could they spread peace throughout the entire world?
The Rinnegan observed the details of Yahiko's expression closely; his determination was self-evident. Eventually, Nagato controlled the Six Paths of Pain to retreat.
"It seems Yahiko is the reasonable one. I have seen your sincerity, Yahiko."
Shimizu looked at Konan and casually scratched his back. It looked as if he was simply scratching an itch. The others' expressions remained unchanged, noticing nothing amiss. Only Konan's pupils constricted slightly.
Shimizu Uchiha is... hinting at me?
It wasn't that he was busy, but that he required her "sincerity"?
Seeing Konan's slightly changing complexion, Shimizu knew she had received his message, and he bid them farewell.
After Shimizu left, the atmosphere in the Akatsuki organization was somewhat oppressive. Anyone smart could see there was a bit of conflict between the leader and the second-in-command.
"Cough, cough..."
Yahiko coughed a few times, breaking the silence. Konan helped Yahiko sit back down on the bed.
"Yahiko, don't you want to be cured?" Konan asked after a moment of hesitation.
Nagato's solution was indeed the optimal one. It just didn't align with their morals.
"Mr. Shimizu hasn't brought war to the Land of Rain; he is merely residing here temporarily."
The Akatsuki had investigated and found that Shimizu was working for Orochimaru, one of Konoha's Sannin. They didn't know exactly what he was doing, but since Shimizu rarely left the village, they knew he wasn't there to stir up trouble in the Land of Rain.
"We cannot do something so treacherous. Alright, let's not mention this again. Kyūsuke, distribute these things."
Yahiko's complexion was still somewhat pale, and his voice lacked strength.
"Yes."
Kyūsuke took the supplies out of the sealing scroll and distributed them to their comrades according to category.
Konan bit her lip, her hands clenching unconsciously. If Yahiko continued like this, he would only become unsuited to remain in the Akatsuki. No matter how you looked at it, the Akatsuki was now just a ninja organization. Grievances and disputes were inevitable.
"Yahiko, do you want to be healed?"
"Well, of course I still want to be, haha." Yahiko scratched the back of his head and laughed.
Saying he didn't want to would be a lie. Before his meridian system was damaged, he could use chakra to run along walls and strengthen his body at will. Now, due to the injury, his chakra had become chaotic, and even refining chakra was affected.
"Mn."
Konan closed her eyes. Yahiko's somewhat forced smile echoed in her mind.
Yahiko had always been like this, shouldering the heavy burdens on the front line for her and Nagato. He was the most mature of the three. She had received far too much kindness from Yahiko.
Recently, the Akatsuki had been maintaining a superficial harmony. Internally, factions were faintly dividing into the moderate faction supporting Yahiko and the radical faction supporting Nagato. This was a scene Konan did not want to see.
But Yahiko didn't have the energy to manage these things now; he spent most of the day sleeping and resting. The inevitable result of this would be... a schism.
The next day, Konan arrived at Shimizu's door again.
The rain was exceptionally heavy today, the drops drumming densely against the ground and eaves, creating a gray, hazy scene. The rain was much heavier than usual, seeming to foreshadow something.
The heavy rain blurred Konan's vision and masked her mood. She stood outside the door, rainwater sliding down her hair and the corners of her clothes, her hand suspended in mid-air. She didn't knock immediately, as if a ferocious beast lay inside.
One second, two seconds, three seconds...
Konan took a deep breath and finally summoned her courage.
Bang...
A soft knock sounded.
Squeak...
The door was pushed open. In her nervousness, Konan almost fell inside. She barely steadied herself, surprised that the door hadn't been locked.
"Did Shimizu Uchiha know I would come?"
Harboring doubts, Konan walked inside. The soft sound of her footsteps on the floor seemed exceptionally clear in the quiet house.
"Come in."
Shimizu's voice carried a trace of imperceptible mockery.
Konan looked up at him, bit her lip tightly, and finally stepped forward. The air was filled with a faint woody fragrance, the scent of expensive wooden furniture. Konan took another deep breath, trying to calm herself, but found she was becoming increasingly nervous.
"Sit."
Shimizu gestured for her to sit. Konan knelt at the low table in front of him.
Shimizu looked Konan over. Her attire was almost unchanged. She still wore the heavy black robe with a wide layer of grey armor tied around her waist.
What was different was her expression. From the unfamiliarity of their first meeting to the overbearing arrogance of holding the winning hand later... after being suppressed by him, her expression had improved. And now, following his hint yesterday, Konan's cheeks were slightly pale, faintly revealing a sense of exhaustion.
"Miss Konan, you can see it too, right? The peace Yahiko insists on is different from the peace Nagato insists on. With Yahiko lacking the energy to bring Nagato back to the correct path, things will only become more extreme."
Shimizu took out a packet of tea leaves and placed them in a teacup. He condensed a stream of water from the air. A flash of fire flickered, boiling the stream in mid-air before it rushed into the teacup.
The aroma of tea wafted out gently as he pushed it in front of Konan.
Konan pursed her lips, gaining a new appreciation for Shimizu's strength. To draw moisture from the air with chakra and then use Fire Release to boil it—this demonstrated Shimizu's extremely strong chakra control. If she tried it herself, she would either create too much water or the fire would evaporate it entirely.
"Mm, thank you."
Konan was somewhat constrained as she accepted the tea. She then buried her head low.
"So, what brings Miss Konan to see me?" Shimizu asked, pretending to be puzzled, as he adjusted his position to sit next to her.
Konan's hand gripped the teacup tightly, her knuckles turning white, appearing somewhat stiff.
"I... I just came to talk about Yahiko." Konan's voice trembled slightly.
What kind of person Shimizu was had become blatantly obvious over the past few days. He was an insatiable wolf. Every contact with him required a sacrifice of flesh.
"Is it to ask me to treat Yahiko?"
Shimizu smiled and leaned in a little closer. Konan could feel his aggressive gaze wandering over her body, making her feel as if she were sitting on pins and needles.
"Yes." Konan nodded.
"Miss Konan hasn't forgotten what I said yesterday, right? I need sincerity."
Shimizu's hand climbed onto Konan's wrist and slowly moved upward. Konan's body trembled, her breathing became rapid, and her fingers shook slightly, causing the liquid in the teacup to ripple continuously.
Suppressing the urge to flee, she turned her head toward the window. She watched the hazy, drizzling rain outside. Shimizu would be returning to his country soon; there wouldn't be many opportunities left. She needed to seize this one.
Was there anyone else in the Land of Rain with medical skills as brilliant as Shimizu's? Konan didn't know.
"Miss Konan, we can talk slowly. There's no rush," Shimizu said with a smile, acting very understanding. He told her not to worry, that he would take his time.
Then, he performed a Summoning Jutsu and brought out a One-Horned Behemoth.
"It's very well-behaved, isn't it?"
Shimizu introduced his pet to Konan.
Konan's hand touched the single horn of the One-Horned Behemoth. Her hand, cold from the rain outside, felt a sensation of warmth.
A trace of confusion flashed in Konan's eyes. A pet? She hadn't seen any pets when she entered.
Then, she lowered her head and finally saw what the "One-Horned Behemoth" was.
"!"
Konan's eyes nearly popped out in shock. Her gaze shifted back and forth between Shimizu and that One-Horned Behemoth, as if doubting her own eyes.
Several cracks suddenly appeared on the teacup in her hand. If Konan used a little more force, she would crush the cup completely.
What is the meaning of this? How can there be such a person?
Konan was utterly baffled. In her nearly twenty years of life, she had never met anyone like Shimizu. One moment they were talking, and the next he summons a One-Horned Behemoth.
Konan exhaled, trying to suppress her wildly beating heart.
"W-what... what is the meaning of this?"
She tried to make her voice sound steady, but her heart continued to pound furiously in her chest.
Shimizu smiled faintly, seemingly satisfied with Konan's reaction. This was a symbol of strength. He patted the One-Horned Behemoth's head, signaling it to stay obediently by the side.
Shimizu said with a straight face, "I just wanted you to relax a bit, Miss Konan. Don't be too nervous. I simply felt that our conversation needed a lighter atmosphere. Your expression now doesn't look as bitter and hateful as it did just a moment ago."
Konan's brows furrowed tightly, her heart filled with confusion and doubt. What kind of logic is this? Is his brain really not normal?
For the first time, Konan suspected that Shimizu was not a sane person.
The Uchiha Clan was known in the outside world not only for their omnipotent Sharingan but also by another title: The Cursed Clan. Rumors said their hatred was stronger than others, causing many disputes, leading them to migrate from the Land of Lightning to the Land of Fire many years ago. They were generally more paranoid, extreme, and self-centered than ordinary people—an arrogant clan.
Arrogant? Does Shimizu's current behavior demonstrate his high-and-mighty arrogance?
Konan truly didn't understand what Shimizu was trying to do. Was he not afraid she would suddenly attack?
"What exactly do you want?" Konan's voice carried a trace of anxiety, wanting to clarify Shimizu's true intentions.
Shimizu's gaze wandered over Konan, as if admiring the custom Akatsuki uniform. He spoke slowly:
"Miss Konan, you know that I need sincerity. And your sincerity is obviously not enough."
Shimizu paused, then continued.
"The rain is quite heavy today. It's very cold, isn't it? Do you think there's a need to huddle together for warmth? My constitution is weak; I am merely a doctor. Could you help me get through this?"
Konan clenched her silver teeth and glared at Shimizu.
A few days ago when it rained heavily, Shimizu said it was hot and asked her to take off her cloak. Today, with the same heavy rain, he was saying it was cold.
"Oh? You don't think it's necessary?"
Konan didn't speak for a long time, and Shimizu's expression turned cold.
"Then, does Miss Konan no longer care about the future of the Akatsuki? Yesterday, the leader of the Akatsuki and Nagato had a conflict because of whether I stayed or left. This shows that differences are gradually forming between them. When the time comes, perhaps Hanzō of the Salamander won't even need to lift a finger—the Akatsuki will perish from internal strife."
Shimizu's voice was magnetic, exaggerating the facts with a bewitching tone. The three tomoe in his Sharingan spun slowly, his pupil power surging.
"It is... it is very cold."
Konan's body trembled again as she thought of Yahiko. She had seen the conflict between Yahiko and Nagato with her own eyes. Her gaze swept over the One-Horned Behemoth again, and she couldn't help but feel desolate.
Shimizu's behavior was simply like a madman, just as crazy as his summoning beast. But for the sake of Yahiko and Nagato, she had no choice but to trust this madman.
Finally, Konan made her move.
"It is still a bit cold."
Shimizu's smile became more pronounced. His eyes scanned Konan's full, vibrant lips; even the lines upon them possessed a certain beauty.
A trace of pain and hesitation flashed in Konan's eyes, and she slowly lowered her head.
Sharing takeout with the One-Horned Behemoth.
The takeout was very warm. In this freezing weather, Konan was actually the one comforted by the temperature of the food. But in her heart, a layer of frost was gradually forming.
Deadly silent, ice-cold.
Silent tears flowed down her beautiful face, adding a unique charm to Konan. In this moment, the labret piercing on her chin became a bonus point.
"Miss Konan has great talent," Shimizu praised.
Different people enjoy delicacies in different ways.
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