In a land drowned in blood and fear, monsters are not born—they are made.
The Akatsuki's current official members were: Pain, Konan, Zetsu, Kakuzu, Orochimaru, Sasori, Itachi, Jūzō Biwa, and Kamizuki Gen.
Nine in total.
In the future, Pain and Konan would not participate in the organization's two-man squads.
As the core of Akatsuki, Pain remained stationed in Amegakure, acting alone whenever he moved.
Konan oversaw all affairs within the Hidden Rain, effectively ruling the village. Unless a major operation arose, she rarely left.
That meant Akatsuki still needed three more members to form five complete two-man teams.
Once their ranks were filled—and their funding secured—the tailed beast capture plan could begin.
In Nagato's vision, money was just as important as manpower.
At present, no one in the shinobi world knew that Akatsuki's base was hidden within Amegakure.
Even if they captured several tailed beasts early on, the Five Great Nations would be like headless flies—unable to locate them.
But once those nations reacted—
If Akatsuki's headquarters were exposed, Amegakure would be forced into war against the entire shinobi world.
That was the worst-case scenario.
Which was why—
they needed sufficient funds to sustain large-scale conflict.
According to the original plan, once their numbers were complete, they would incite localized wars across the shinobi world, forcing the great nations into mutual attrition.
Amid chaos—
Akatsuki could move freely and achieve its goals.
Konan looked at Nagato, curiosity flickering in her eyes.
"Do you have anyone in mind?"
Nagato shook his head.
In recent years, there had been few rogue ninja worthy of his attention.
After a moment, Konan asked,
"Aren't you worried he'll build his own faction?"
Nagato fell silent, then let out a faint, cold chuckle.
"Someone won't be pleased with that."
As he used Kamizuki Gen to balance "Madara,"
Madara, in turn, was also restraining Gen.
Besides—
delegating authority to Gen was inevitable.
…
Land of Water.
Hidden Mist Village.
One of the Five Great Shinobi Villages.
Built upon an island, it was shrouded in dense fog year-round.
Harbors lined the outskirts, ships clustered within the mist.
Inside the village, most buildings were cylindrical, made from thick stone bricks—designed to withstand constant moisture.
Stone-paved streets stretched in all directions.
In both scale and infrastructure—
it far surpassed any minor village.
And yet—
It was daytime.
But the streets were empty.
Scattered across walls and corners were signs of battle. Dark, dried blood had seeped into the cracks of the pavement.
From alleyways came faint, eerie sobbing.
Even the fog itself seemed stained with red.
"That one's here!!"
A squad of Mist ANBU flickered through the haze, their figures blurring as they cornered a ragged woman in a dead-end alley.
"No—no! You've got the wrong person! I don't have a kekkei genkai! I don't have it! I don't have that cursed power!"
The woman screamed, flailing wildly.
Like a madwoman on the brink of collapse.
Three ANBU stepped forward, forming hand seals in unison.
"Water Release: Water Whip!"
In the next instant—
Moisture in the air condensed.
Ice spread rapidly, blocking the incoming attacks—
And in that same moment—
A bone-chilling cold froze the three ANBU solid.
Her eyes burned with fury.
Boom—
The ice shattered.
Blood that hadn't yet frozen burst into mist, further staining the air crimson.
But before she could escape—
Another ANBU squad appeared behind her.
A flash of steel.
The squad leader stood in front of her, already sheathing his blade.
Blood dripped from its edge.
Thud—
Her eyes widened.
She clutched her throat—
and collapsed silently.
The ANBU dragged her body away without emotion.
Then—
they moved on.
Searching for the next target.
From afar—
this entire scene was being watched.
Inside the Mizukage's office, high within the tower—
Uchiha Obito observed everything.
This—
was his revenge.
A white terror now loomed over every citizen of the Hidden Mist.
Behind his tiger-striped mask, Obito's lips curled into a smile.
He turned and sat upon the Mizukage's seat.
Beside him stood the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi.
Expressionless.
A puppet.
At regular intervals, Obito returned to reinforce the genjutsu controlling him.
This time—
he had another purpose.
To scout potential recruits for Akatsuki.
"So, Nagato…"
Obito flipped through a dossier of Mist ninja.
"You want to divide the organization into factions?"
"Then I'll play along."
The double agent he had brought in—Itachi—
was already a lost cause in his eyes.
If the chance arose—
he would eliminate both Itachi and Kamizuki Gen.
With the Hidden Mist under his control, Obito intended to strengthen his influence within Akatsuki.
And the method—
was simple.
Make more members recognize him.
His gaze shifted to the remaining members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
What irritated him—
was that during the Third Great Ninja War, these elites had invaded Konoha…
Only to be defeated by a single genin.
One of them—
Jūzō Biwa—
was already in Akatsuki.
The other two—
Raiga Kurosuki and Fuguki Suikazan—
remained in the village.
But according to recent intel, Raiga was considering defection.
"Recruit them?"
Obito thought for a moment.
Then dismissed the idea.
They lacked both strength and reliability.
Bringing them into Akatsuki…
would only be a nuisance.
"If I can't recruit them…"
A new idea surfaced.
A slow smile spread across his face.
"Then I'll use them… to test Kamizuki Gen."
His Mangekyō Sharingan glowed faintly red.
Yagura moved.
…
Two days after returning to Amegakure—
Kamizuki Gen handed the Star to Orochimaru for research.
As expected—
after relocating all of Hoshigakure to Amegakure, Konan was clearly pleased.
Though she maintained her calm, angelic demeanor—
her softened attitude and increased willingness to speak made it obvious.
She was happy.
After lunch, Gen picked up the Salamander Summoning Scroll.
Using a walk as an excuse—
he headed toward the forest at the edge of Amegakure.
Rain fell steadily.
The further he went—
the quieter the world became.
And somewhere in that silence—
something was waiting.
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