Even if they might clash in the future—or even go to war—right now, working with Akatsuki is all upside for Uchiha Yorin.
"One man against the whole damn world" sounds glorious, but doing it is another matter. Without Six Paths–tier power, forget it.
Yorin figured with his brains (and a nudge from the system), he could marry a million girls and reach Six Paths level. No problem.
But that takes time to grow.
Until then, "slip into the village quietly; don't fire a shot" remains the smart play.
Need to rally other villages? Unleash Akatsuki to stir the pot.
Need to whack daimyo and nobles? Put the Akatsuki jersey on.
Akatsuki takes the blame; Akatsuki dies on the hill; Yorin eats the fruit of victory. What a beautiful tune.
"Hee-hee-hee… hee-hee-hee-hee…"
Watching Yorin giggle for no reason, Nagato couldn't help some regret.
Yorin: "What are you looking at? I just thought of something fun."
Nagato: "…"
Yorin: "Anyway—next, we swing by Akatsuki's base, then head to Amegakure. I'm going to twist off that bastard Hanzo Danzō's head and use it for soccer!
"From now on, the Land of Rain is ours. This rainy country will be Akatsuki's launching pad to conquer the ninja world—hee-hee-hee!"
Nagato: "…"
The Sannin: "…"
Jiraiya: "You went too far, Nagato."
He sounded reproachful.
Since everyone had reached an accord, relations naturally thawed.
Especially after Jiraiya hugged Nagato, begging him not to die—and Nagato was moved. A true master, concerned for his student.
Why Jiraiya was hugging him and begging—don't ask.
Nagato: "But…"
He wanted to explain that his double Shinra Tensei targeted Yorin's arms and chest—he didn't smash the man's head.
So Yorin's mental state was probably just the "standard-issue Uchiha" mode, not "beaten dumb" by him.
Before he could say it, Yorin turned back to him:
"Oh, right—Nagato," he said. "We get cool black cloaks with red clouds too, right? Right, right?"
Nagato: "Uh… yes."
Yorin: "Yay!"
Jiraiya: "Uh, but—um—"
That line made Jiraiya crack. He hadn't heard he was joining Akatsuki.
Yorin: "If we don't join, how do we show good faith? No need to stress, Master Jiraiya—think of it as going undercover to gather intel. Better?"
Jiraiya: "…A bit better."
Nagato: "I'm still here. Are we really discussing this in front of me?"
Yorin: "Sure. In return, if you want, we'll vouch for you—get you a Konoha forehead protector. How about it?"
Nagato: "…"
…
And so, Yorin cheerfully headed for Akatsuki's secret base—with Nagato in tow.
Under Yahiko, Akatsuki once grew to the size of a small village. After Yahiko's suicide, only Konan and Nagato remained.
With Rain Tiger at Will, Nagato sensed their approach and thought he'd show off for Konan:
"I'm going to buy some tangerines—be right back. Don't move."
Then he took the Pain corps to face Yorin.
Konan trusted Pain and Nagato's strength—she didn't think he'd wipe.
But he did.
So when Konan sensed someone approaching, she assumed it was Nagato and went to meet him:
"Nagato, the tange—huh?"
And there was Yorin, sauntering in—Nagato and the three Sannin in tow—like he'd come home.
"Yo—isn't this Konan-nee? Nagato's told me about you. Nice to meet you. So this is our base? A bit rough, but plenty of space—two coats of paint and it'll shine."
Yorin waved, quietly noting not bad, then started looking around—already planning a remodel.
Konan frowned—wanted to act—but held back and looked to Nagato, then to Jiraiya.
"Master Jiraiya?!"
Seeing him there, she startled—but this wasn't the time for a reunion. "Nagato, what's going on—who is that?"
"Oh—I'm Uchiha Yorin."
Before Nagato could answer, Yorin introduced himself: "Relax—I'm not here to break up Akatsuki. I'm here to join.
"From today, I'm Akatsuki's leader. That's the result of a friendly chat between Nagato and me. Please accept it with a smile."
Konan: "…Huh??"
"Hold up."
"Nagato—is that true?!" For once the ice queen cracked—she grabbed him for confirmation.
Nagato: "Ah… how to say…"
He wanted to quip—but under Yorin's half-smile, he could only sigh.
"More or less… yes."
"Nagato?!?! You went out for tangerines and came back having sold Akatsuki?!"
Konan's voice spiked past 220 decibels—Nagato's eardrums rang.
"Even the legendary Big Fat Sheep isn't this good at losing!!!"
Tsunade: "Ah… mm…" She raised a hand—wanted to speak—thought better of it.
Yorin: "Don't be so hard on him, Konan-nee—Nagato really tried."
He set a hand on her slim shoulder, voice heavy with "earnestness." "Don't be too strict. He's fulfilled his historical mission—he can retire in glory. Now it's my era. I promise—I'll make Akatsuki bigger, stronger, and glorious again!!"
~~~
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