"No… not quite. I still have questions."
Nagato's mind really did seem upgraded. After being briefly carried along by Yorin's momentum, he shook his head and said:
"A world where everyone has power isn't likely to be peaceful. It might actually spawn more wars. Equality would be achieved, sure—but the chaos that follows would run directly counter to our goal."
Yorin didn't answer directly—he countered with a question:
"What is war tied to? What triggers it?"
"Hatred." Nagato thought a moment. Then Yorin pushed:
"And hatred arises from…?"
"Poverty. Scarce resources. And unjust distribution."
He thought again; this time it was the new thinking Yorin had sparked in him.
"Exactly," Yorin said. "So we attack the root. Scarcity is solved by technology; unjust distribution is checked by power overseeing it."
Nagato considered, then slowly nodded. "I still have many doubts about execution… but for now, your plan doesn't sound wrong."
"I'll keep supporting you," he said. "For the coming conflict with Kumo—do you want Akatsuki in play?"
Yorin shook his head. "Konoha is Konoha; Akatsuki is Akatsuki. Never mix them."
In his design, Akatsuki would become the shinobi world's Root. A lightning-rod outfit like that—if people ever learned it tied back to Konoha? It'd be like publicly revealing that every grotesque stunt Root pulled had been greenlit by the Third.
You saw how many kunai Sarutobi Hiruzen ate on Danzō's behalf.
…
Once again, Yorin convinced Nagato.
Nagato still held to his own plan and doubted Yorin's would succeed—but for now, they remained aligned allies. Akatsuki would take orders from its "second leader," Rinyō (Yorin), when needed.
"Alright—business done; let's talk something lighter." Yorin relaxed; Nagato did too. If Konoha vs. Kumo (and maybe Iwa) didn't involve Akatsuki, there was less to fret about. With Yorin around, even the A–B duo of Kumo would get flattened; even if the Hokage fell, Yorin wouldn't.
"So… talk about what?" Nagato wondered. He had plenty of policy to hash out—or philosophy: strolling the shore, debating like Zeno and Zhuangzi. Beyond that… what did he and this menace even have to talk about?
He mulled it over, then asked:
"Fine—I do have a question. What's going on with you and Konan?"
"…"
"Huh?"
The question earned him a what kind of idiot are you stare. Nagato bristled.
"What's with the look?! Like I'm picking a fight—I'm asking seriously here!"
Then a thought struck; his gaze cooled. "You're not planning to ghost her after flirting, are you?"
"Huh?"
Yorin almost got dogpiled by the Six Paths on principle. Thirty-two points in Handsome had its downsides. He'd only bantered lightly with Konan to raise favor; no serious route intended. Yet from Nagato's tone, Konan had caught feelings?
Sometimes the charm was a curse. He sighed inwardly. "Damn this charisma."
Nagato backpedaled a little. "N-no, not that bad. It's just… she brings you up more lately, zones out sometimes. We talked; she denied liking you—just 'pays attention.' If there's 'liking' at all, it's more admiration than… that."
And even then, he muttered, "When it comes to saving the world, she's… more optimistic about you." He didn't like admitting it.
Yorin answered without hesitation. "That's called liking."
Nagato: "…"
Once again, daily conversation with Yorin proved a mistake; this madman could drop a take that either gave you a headache—or killed you with anger.
…
Konan topic closed.
Next: Akatsuki would open a branch in Water Country, grow off Mist's networks, and—quietly—accept New Mist's commissions for deniable jobs. Don't forget: Mizukage Mei was also Akatsuki—secretly. Just days ago she'd followed Rinyō to "hit the rich and divide the fields."
Nagato and Konan had work; Orochimaru had collected Yuki Haku, Kaguya Kimimaro, and other "complicated" children from Mist—one step from becoming kindergarten principal. Maybe in this line, the Konoha Orphanage director wouldn't be Kabuto but Orochimaru?
At least when they discussed "raising kids," Orochimaru seemed genuinely pleased. That settled Yorin. They also covered Kabuto; Orochimaru praised him to the skies—high IQ, high EQ, sharp eyes, never oversteps—peak apprentice.
"He's likeliest to inherit my mantle," Orochimaru said. "When there's time, I'll take him to Ryūchi Cave. Whether he gets the serpents' arts is up to him."
(You say that—Anko will cry.)
But he wasn't wrong. Compared to the snack-fiend, Kabuto's odds were… well, Six Paths vs. Genin.
…
Catching up done, plans set, Akatsuki slipped out of Mist. At the end, Yorin watched Konan a beat—she looked like she had words she couldn't speak. He was convinced his read was right: she did like him.
Don't worry. I'll do right by you, he thought. Would Tsunade feel "greened" again if she knew?
…
Then Konoha army sailed home.
They'd swum in silently; now they boarded at the docks like a proper force. Summer of Konoha Year 51—the route between Water and Fire grew ever busier. Not just troopships—also the interest-bound partners: bankers, engineers, industrialists—like sharks scenting blood, swarming toward Mist.
Their zeal for "rebuilding" Mist outstripped even Yorin's. As for why—he knew.
If Daimyō with armies become tyrants, capitalists with armies won't turn soft. Back home, they kept thousands of private elites, mowed down strikers with heavy guns, invited rivals on "plane rides," burned competitors in locked factories. Shinobi-world businessmen weren't saints. This wasn't that certain country's "watering the money tree" ridiculousness—but don't expect mercy.
Their pores oozed sin. Not time for that reckoning yet.
With their help, New Mist would rocket—rich, richer, richest. As Yorin had said, in the shinobi world the only three necessities were money, money, and more money. A rich army doesn't guarantee victory; a broke army almost guarantees defeat. Who doesn't love keying a radio and summoning ten thousand CAS birds to turn a line into fire?
As New Mist's power grew, so would Yorin's—and Konoha's. But that raised the odds Iwa and Kumo would strike first.
Obvious logic.
One Konoha was bad enough; add a stronger Mist, and life for the other four got ugly.
"Let them come." Yorin grinned. "I want a good fight with real opponents. Heh… heh-heh-ha-ha-ha…"
"Ōnoki the 'strongest below super-Kage'—and Kumo with two perfect jinchūriki. Hard to find better foes!"
…
Back in the Hokage's office, Yorin laid his read before Minato and amped him up in his own way. Watching Yorin "peak," Minato—the weight of war heavy—felt oddly relieved.
If conflict was inevitable, they'd fight it hard.
He had little interest in Yorin's empire-building, ninja empire, rebuilt Ninshū—conquer-the-world ambitions. But "protect Konoha" was his core—his line, his foundation. If Kumo or Iwa—or anyone—harmed his village, let them come.
He would fight to the last breath. And he wasn't alone.
Behind him was everyone in Konoha—and Uchiha Yorin.