Some nights don't end in rest—they begin a storm.
The two girls wore simple gray cloaks.
Fuyō had short black hair, her bangs covering one eye, dressed in a purple off-shoulder outfit with mesh stockings. Her visible eye always seemed half-lidded—as if she were perpetually sleepy.
Suiren, on the other hand, looked more mysterious. Two strands of hair framed her face, while a black mask covered everything below her nose. Slim. Quiet.
Honestly—
Their names felt swapped.
Fuyō looked more like the one associated with "sleep."
The three of them were close. All newly graduated genin.
Fuyō yawned lazily. "I smell… the stench of romance."
"W-what? No!"
Ajisai waved her hands frantically.
"I just passed the tower maid selection!"
Suiren laughed. "If I were a man, I wouldn't choose someone like you."
"…Why?" Fuyō asked.
Suiren slung an arm around Ajisai's shoulders, sizing her up. "I don't want to date my bro."
"You're too much!"
Ajisai flushed, struggling free.
"But…" Suiren added more quietly, "you'll have less time to train, right?"
"And staying close to important figures… that's pressure," Fuyō said softly.
Ajisai paused—
Then smiled.
"It won't be easy."
"But trust me."
"When I make it big—I won't forget you!"
"Hah. Small body, big dreams," Suiren scoffed.
"You're bullying me again!"
"Enough," Fuyō sighed. "We just came from your house. Your mother's condition… isn't good."
Reality hit.
Hard.
Ajisai's smile faded instantly. She rushed off without another word.
Suiren and Fuyō watched her leave.
Then sighed.
They were war orphans too.
Without Ajisai—
They might've already lost hope.
But they both knew—
Once her mother passed…
These carefree days—
Would end.
…
Gen slept until nightfall.
When he woke, the room was pitch black.
Living in the tower had its downsides.
No sunlight. No sense of time.
But soon—
He'd be leaving for Iwagakure.
A break, of sorts.
"Oi, Snake-san—awake? Good. Get to my room. We've got a mission."
"Oi, Itachi-san—still sleeping? You're young, how are you sleeping this much? Get over here. Now."
Using his mental "radio," Gen contacted both of them.
Ignoring whatever reactions they had—
He turned on a warm bedside lamp.
Opened his wardrobe—
Filled entirely with Akatsuki cloaks—
And put on a fresh one.
Akatsuki rule:
Lose the cloak—
Lose your life.
Better to stay prepared.
Yawning, he adjusted his sunglasses and sat on the leather sofa.
Waiting.
Boom—!
Two puffs of smoke.
Orochimaru.
Itachi.
They appeared simultaneously.
Itachi maintained his usual cold expression—
For about half a second.
Then—
He froze.
Glancing between Gen's sunglasses—
And Orochimaru's current form—
Perfumed. Feminine.
"…Am I in a genjutsu?"
"Gen-kun~"
Orochimaru smiled charmingly.
She had taken his advice seriously.
No reverting.
Fully adapted.
Even wearing thigh-high stockings beneath the cloak.
…
Gen frowned.
He was starting to regret this choice.
It was…
Unsettling.
A beautiful woman—
Named Orochimaru.
Itachi subtly stepped away.
Then focused on Gen.
Even through the glasses—
He could feel it.
That familiar Yin chakra.
"…You…"
His pupils shrank.
Despite being warned—
Seeing it himself—
Was different.
Gen stepped forward—
Pulled Itachi into a brief embrace—
Patting his back.
"Thanks to the Uchiha… I can see again."
"If you get the chance—thank them for me."
…
Itachi's jaw tightened.
But—
He suppressed it.
For Konoha.
Gen stepped back.
Then briefly explained the recruitment mission.
"Iwagakure… tonight?" Orochimaru licked her lips, smiling. "I wonder if anyone will recognize me now."
Internally, Gen thought—
Even if your teacher stripped you naked, he wouldn't recognize you.
"And you, Itachi-san?"
Gen asked lightly.
"Can you still sleep?"
"…No."
Itachi's voice was cold.
"Let's go."
"Good."
Gen nodded.
"Then we move."
"Iwagakure."
…
Iwagakure.
A dark night.
Far from the village—
Inside a stone house built into the mountains—
By the window—
A blond boy grinned.
"Heh… these go to blow up the Tsuchikage's office…"
"These for the academy…"
"And these—hehe—for the old man's bathroom. Boom! That's art!!"
"Ah-choo!"
Deidara suddenly sneezed.
A chill ran down his spine.
Like something—
Was watching him.
He slowly turned his head.
"…AHH—!!!"
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