Lying silently amidst the gray ashes at Kisame Hoshigaki's feet was a golden eye-shaped badge. Gato had clutched it until the very end, and it had emerged completely unscathed, even under the ultimate incinerating power of Amaterasu's black flames.
"As expected, the secret was discovered." Shen Mo, observing remotely, narrowed his eyes.
After multiple system upgrades, his current Membership Badge was a high-value item, granting it certain features, including an inherent pseudo-reality status that prevented its total erasure.
Shen Mo hesitated, considering whether to initiate direct contact with Uchiha Itachi.
Unlike a "rookie player" like Gato, Itachi Uchiha was a top-tier candidate. If armed with powers from other worlds, he would undoubtedly find optimal synergistic combinations with his Ninjutsu. For example, Tsunade's improvised Holy Light Palm Healing Technique—a custom-developed skill that surpassed current system listings—demonstrated the value of combining external power with existing mastery.
And then there was Itachi's unique motivation: his unwavering, self-sacrificial devotion to Sasuke.
I must proceed cautiously. Shen Mo decided to wait, allowing Itachi's current path to reach a logical breaking point before offering a new way out. Contact with Akatsuki now was premature; the geopolitical situation needed more time to ripen.
Just as Itachi approached, his Mangekyō Sharingan fixed on the badge, Kisame Hoshigaki crouched down, cautiously reaching for the gold item.
Before his fingers could make contact, the badge suddenly began to emit a faint, gentle golden light.
Swish—
Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki instantly vaulted backward, establishing a safe perimeter. They were acutely aware of the unconventional, deadly nature of Gato's power.
The rosette slowly ascended, floating a few feet above the ashes. The light emanating from the center, shaped like an eye, began to slowly rotate, as if meticulously scanning the two ninja.
"Well, now—"
A long, drawn-out sigh echoed from the badge. Itachi and Kisame both narrowed their eyes and braced for combat. The voice, calm and utterly detached, confirmed their fears: Someone was behind this item!
"The complete demise of the first member occurred rather swiftly," the voice continued, tinged with a note of mild regret.
The edges of the badge began to dissolve, the physical object fading into nothingness.
Itachi Uchiha immediately pressed the attack. "Who exactly are you?"
"Uchiha Itachi," the voice chuckled softly. "We shall meet again soon. I trust that by then, you will have resolved your inner turmoil and acknowledged your errors. Perhaps then I can offer you a fundamentally different path..."
The gold badge vanished entirely, and the voice disappeared with it.
Itachi Uchiha's gaze dropped. His Sharingan detected no traces of Ninjutsu—no residual Chakra, no Genjutsu remnants. The entity knew him, knew his internal conflicts, and offered an inexplicable "different path." This discovery amplified his deep-seated anxiety.
Itachi realized he needed to return to Konoha immediately.
"Kisame, we must relay this information right away," Itachi commanded.
"What about the permanent assets Gato liquidated?" Kisame Hoshigaki asked, surprised. Their mission included securing the vast wealth Gato had accumulated.
"It will take time to track and secure that wealth," Itachi shook his head. "I will use Genjutsu to control certain individuals to manage the order, but the information regarding the person behind Gato is of paramount importance now."
"Very well, Itachi-san." Kisame Hoshigaki nodded, taking one last look at the empty space where the badge had been. He felt a deep unease, but the pain in his chest stoked his warrior's spirit rather than crippling him.
The duo abandoned their original plans, prioritizing their return to the Akatsuki hideout.
Elsewhere, Shen Mo watched their departure, gently stroking the warm, purring Fei Ju. He had spent a few processing points to subtly enhance his mental capacity, allowing him to briefly read Itachi Uchiha's surface thoughts.
Itachi remained deeply conflicted, still seemingly resigned to his self-destructive path for Sasuke's sake.
Shen Mo decided his initial instinct was right: Wait. He needed to let the situation—and Itachi's internal narrative—develop further.
"The established world order seems to be collapsing from every direction," Shen Mo murmured, looking in the direction of the Land of Fire, a harmless, knowing smile playing on his lips. He continued to enjoy his delicious lunch, unconcerned by the chaos he had sown.
In the ensuing days, Shen Mo monitored the developments, particularly within Konoha.
News of Gato's demise reached Konoha surprisingly fast. Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had been keeping close tabs on the wealthy merchant due to his significant Jar purchases, became visibly more tense.
Then, Tsunade burst into the Hokage's office. She aggressively brushed past the surprised security ninja and slammed her hand onto Sarutobi's desk with a resounding thwack!
The desk crackled, the documents flying slightly.
"Hokage-sama..." The two security ninja looked embarrassed.
"It's quite all right," Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a gentle, strained smile. "And please, close the door."
"Yes, sir!" The ninja quickly secured the door, leaving the two Sannin alone.
"Old Man!" Tsunade's eyes flashed with anger. "Why did you instruct the heads of the Ino-Shika-Cho clans to pool their wealth and distribute the funds equally among the Jonin?"
Her frustration was political. The Ino-Shika-Cho clans were renowned, but financially, they were dwarfed by the Hyuga clan, a family whose immense wealth and power stemmed from their superior Byakugan bloodline.
The proposal to centralize and equalize the buying power was a transparent maneuver, strategically aimed at neutralizing the financial advantage of the Hyuga clan—and, by extension, targeting Tsunade herself.
Everyone in Konoha knew the Hyuga clan was fully committed to supporting Tsunade, a fact cemented by Hiashi Hyuga's subservient attitude during Sarutobi's last Jar opening. This move was a clear act of internal political maneuvering.