The weather was bright and clear, not a cloud in sight.
Thanks to Uchiha Itachi's outstanding performance, his squad had finally received a C-rank mission this time—escorting a merchant caravan.
Normally, such missions carried little risk. Without ninja involvement, ordinary bandits could be handled easily.
Unfortunately—
This time, they ran into the mysterious masked man—Tobi.
After a fierce battle, the caravan was nearly wiped out.
Their Jonin instructor, Mizunashi, was sucked into the Kamui dimension. Itachi's two Genin teammates, Tenma and Shinko, were mercilessly killed.
In fury, Itachi awakened his two-tomoe Sharingan.
Tobi, momentarily struck by admiration for talent, spared his life.
When the news returned to the village, the Third Hokage only ordered a brief investigation before suppressing the matter.
According to the findings, the masked man's strength was unfathomable.
Konoha was already in turbulent times—Hiruzen had no desire to stir further trouble.
Uchiha Akihito, however, also received the report.
Unlike the Third Hokage, he took the matter of the masked man very seriously.
According to the original storyline, Tobi would soon assist Itachi in carrying out the Night of the Uchiha Massacre.
Though Danzo's threat had been eliminated, the Obito operating in the shadows could not be ignored.
Kamui's space-manipulating ability allowed him to come and go without a trace.
If he wanted to cause trouble, it would be effortless.
If Tobi targeted others, Akihito might turn a blind eye.
But if he dared to provoke him—
There would be consequences.
If no one offends me, I offend no one.
If someone offends me, even across a thousand miles—I will strike them down.
That was Akihito's creed.
You won't let me live in peace?
Then I won't let you live at all.
Kamui was troublesome—but not unsolvable to someone who wielded time-based ocular powers.
As long as Obito wasn't single-mindedly fleeing, Akihito had ways to make him stumble.
So what if he inherited Madara's legacy?
At the end of the day, he was merely a pitiful pawn manipulated by others.
Obito's life had been tragic.
Tormented by fate for most of it, only to ultimately fall to Naruto's strongest "genjutsu"—Talk-no-Jutsu.
Akihito had considered saving his former classmate.
But Rin was long gone, Naruto was still growing, and nothing else seemed effective against Obito.
Even facing his teacher Minato or his best friend Kakashi, Obito had turned his back without hesitation.
Relying solely on clan ties and old school bonds? Akihito had no confidence in persuading him.
While Konoha remained calm on the surface, the Akatsuki was far from idle.
During Tobi's absence stirring trouble, Nagato and Konan had already made contact with several recruitment targets.
Border of the Land of Waterfalls
The rogue ninja Kakuzu had just completed a bounty mission.
After failing to assassinate the First Hokage, he had stolen the forbidden technique Earth Grudge Fear and fled his village, becoming a bounty hunter in remote lands.
Money. Money. More money.
He devoted himself tirelessly to amassing wealth.
After casually killing his target, Kakuzu sneered.
"Trash. Finished in seconds."
"Not worth much, I'm afraid."
As he prepared to move on to his next bounty, two figures in black cloaks adorned with red clouds approached.
They were Deva Path Pain and Zetsu.
The moment they appeared, Zetsu commented dryly,
"You really do enjoy causing chaos."
Kakuzu flipped backward gracefully, landing before them.
"You saw my strength and still dare to speak so casually?"
"Who are you?"
The ever-arrogant Deva Path stepped forward.
"Immortal ninja Kakuzu. We've come to invite you to join the Akatsuki."
Kakuzu blinked.
"Akatsuki? What's that?"
Zetsu patiently explained.
"An organization formed to create true peace."
Kakuzu burst into laughter.
"Hah! I'm not interested in that sort of thing."
"The only thing that interests me is money."
Pain didn't indulge him.
"Interest or not—you will join."
Kakuzu's expression darkened.
"How arrogant."
"Another fool who doesn't know his limits."
"Though you don't look worth much…"
"I'll reluctantly collect you."
He lunged forward.
Pain calmly extended his hand.
"Shinra Tensei."
Kakuzu was slammed into the ground instantly.
"You've lost."
Shock flickered in Kakuzu's eyes.
"What is this power…?"
Pain spoke solemnly,
"I am a god who guides this world."
"Come, immortal one. I can give you a place to belong."
Zetsu added fuel to the persuasion.
Kakuzu quickly reconsidered.
"With someone like you around, I suppose high-value targets won't be rare."
"Akatsuki… might have gold-digging potential after all."
Zetsu beamed.
"Then it's settled!"
Pain turned away coolly.
"Mission complete. Let's return."
The Deserted Sea of Sand
Sasori of the Red Sand had just wiped out a small hidden village using his puppets.
"How desolate," he murmured.
"Not even decent materials to collect."
A breeze swept through.
Konan appeared before him, hovering.
"A hidden village scattered by the wind, slaughtered overnight. That was your work, wasn't it?"
Sasori looked at her calmly.
"What do you want?"
"I've come to invite you to join the Akatsuki."
"Never heard of it."
"Our future plans require your strength."
Sasori's lips curved dangerously.
"Sounds condescending."
Konan smiled serenely.
"You can think of Akatsuki as a refuge for those who've betrayed their villages."
"Complete missions, and no one will restrict you."
Sasori considered.
"Interesting. But I prefer working alone."
"What do you intend?"
He unsealed the Third Kazekage puppet.
"Seems my luck isn't so bad. Top-tier material delivered to my doorstep."
"I'll turn you into a masterpiece equal to the Third Kazekage."
He attacked immediately—only for Konan to dissolve into paper and reform unharmed.
"Your attacks are ineffective."
Even the Iron Sand techniques failed.
Konan's paper-based abilities countered him.
After an intense battle, Sasori found himself at a disadvantage.
Eventually, through persuasion—and a demonstration of overwhelming resilience—Konan convinced him.
Akatsuki Base
Pain bestowed rings upon the new members.
Kakuzu received the codename Hokuto.
Sasori received Gyokunyo.
With two powerful additions, Akatsuki next set its sights on a Konoha rogue ninja—
Orochimaru.
Unlike the others, Orochimaru had already been observing the Akatsuki from the shadows.
Tobi, preoccupied with Itachi, had only given Pain brief instructions.
"Orochimaru is a dangerous double-edged sword. Recruit or kill him—you decide."
After deliberation, Pain chose recruitment.
He and Sasori soon confronted Orochimaru.
The moment Sasori saw him, hostility flared.
"Orochimaru. You've been investigating us."
Orochimaru shrugged.
"And if I have?"
"Planning to silence me?"
Sasori bristled, but Orochimaru remained calm.
"I know quite a bit about you. Your true trump card is the Third Kazekage puppet, isn't it?"
Sasori narrowed his eyes.
"I never revealed that."
Orochimaru licked his lips.
"I simply pursue truth. I trace what interests me to its roots."
His gaze shifted to Pain.
"I never imagined those eyes would be hidden within Akatsuki."
"I failed to obtain the Sharingan—but the Rinnegan has come to me instead."
Killing intent surged.
Pain's Rinnegan ignited his deepest curiosity.
Sasori moved to attack.
"Today, you die."
Orochimaru chuckled.
"That's hard to say."
"Capture you, and I'll get everything I want."
They fought fiercely.
Sasori eventually knocked Orochimaru down.
"Finished."
But Orochimaru shed his body like a snake shedding skin and lunged toward Pain.
"The Rinnegan—I'll take it!"
"Shinra Tensei."
He was blasted away instantly.
"What was that?!"
Pain's voice was cold.
"Orochimaru. Enough games."
"State your true intent."
Orochimaru sighed.
"I thought I was lucky."
"The Rinnegan isn't so simple."
"Let me be direct."
"How about letting me join the Akatsuki?"
"I've grown quite interested."
"My combat ability should qualify, yes?"
Sasori scoffed.
"He lost to me and still boasts?"
Orochimaru waved casually.
"I wasn't fighting seriously."
"Letting me join won't harm you."
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