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Shindai heard Qianyu call Nagato a pawn yet again and couldn't stop himself. "When can I go see Nagato and Konan?"
Qianyu didn't answer. He just watched Shindai in silence.
The seconds ticked by. Shindai's head gradually lowered. "I won't ask again."
"Shindai." Qianyu's voice was a soft reprimand. "You made a promise. You keep it. That's the deal between us. And I told you from the start. If you rush to see Nagato, you're signing his death warrant. And Konan's. You know how much you mean to them. Nagato only went down this dark path because you died. And he wants Nagato exactly like that—broken, easier to control. If you show up and Nagato breaks free of that control? You will die. I couldn't stop it. And Nagato and Konan would die right after you. The moment they're no longer useful puppets, they're trash to be disposed of. I told you. Nagato's value lies in his eyes. The Rinnegan was given to him. It can be taken and given to someone else for the plan to continue."
Shindai let out a sigh laced with guilt. "I know. It's just… I miss them. So much. Sometimes I can't help it. I just want to know how they are. If they're okay."
"I know you feel things deeply," Qianyu said, his own tone softening. "That's why I saved you. But as the deputy leader of my organization, you need to remember this. If you lose your head, maybe I can save you. But I can't save them. And it's not just Nagato and Konan anymore. Pakura and Raiga joined the Owl Organization because of you. We're responsible for them now. Nagato and Konan are watched, every moment of every day. To pull them out, we need a moment when those eyes are looking away. And saving them means declaring war on him. We need to be ready. Truly ready. We're not. Not even close." Qianyu locked eyes with him. "Let me be blunt with you. To save Nagato and Konan? Fifteen years. That's the minimum we have to wait."
"Fifteen years?" Shindai stared, stunned. "That long?"
Qianyu gave a faint smile. "Long? If I told you there's a being out there who's been scheming for a single goal for over a thousand years, would fifteen still seem long?"
Shindai managed a weak laugh. "No one lives that long, Qianyu. Don't joke."
Qianyu just kept smiling at him.
Shindai's expression slowly shifted from disbelief to horrified realization. "You're… serious? Someone can live that long?"
Qianyu leaned against the wall, tilting his head back to look at the moon. "Shindai, the waters of this shinobi world are deep. Strange, impossible things lurk beneath. One wrong step, and it's over. You've tasted that already. Your old Akatsuki was a mistake. Hanzo couldn't tolerate it. He joined forces with Danzō and slaughtered every last one of you. Right now, we're all prey. To turn from prey to hunter, we prepare. We gather every scrap of strength we can."
Shindai took a deep, steadying breath. "I understand, Qianyu. I won't bring this up again. I'll… I'll be rational. In everything."
"Good. You get it." Qianyu nodded. "Alright. Let's go meet our two new companions."
They regrouped with Pakura and Raiga.
"Gathering you here," Qianyu addressed the three of them, "was just to meet. Objective achieved. I need to get back to Konoha. Welcome, officially, to the Owl Organization. Until next time." He turned to leave.
"Qianyu! Wait!"
Qianyu looked back. "Shindai? Something else?"
Shindai opened his mouth, then closed it. The words seemed stuck.
Pakura and Raiga glanced at each other, curious. Something so hard to say? Must be important.
Qianyu sighed. "Shindai. You're a deputy leader. Spit it out."
Shindai's face flushed. "You… you said you'd give some funds for the organization. I'm down to just enough for a few cheap meals for the three of us!"
Pakura and Raiga stumbled, imaginary black lines appearing on their foreheads. That was it?
Then again… they were broke too. Shindai had been paying for everything lately. The food had been terrible.
Qianyu facepalmed and walked back over. "Something like that, just say it." He reached into his pocket. His expression instantly turned awkward.
He hadn't brought much money when he left home.
He pulled out everything he had.
8,470 ryo. Exactly.
He shoved the crumpled notes into Shindai's hand.
Shindai, Pakura, and Raiga stared at the pile of odd change, dumbfounded.
Their organization… seemed pretty poor.
Was the 'organizational funding' Qianyu mentioned also going to come with odd change?
Qianyu cleared his throat. "Didn't bring much. This should last you three, four days if you don't eat fancy. Stay in Tanzaku Town. Once I'm back in Konoha, I'll send my summon with the first proper funds. Should be around two million ryo."
At the words 'two million ryo,' three pairs of eyes instantly transformed into gleaming money symbols.
All three were elite Jonin. Back in their villages, doing missions, a couple million ryo was easy money. Shindai had run an organization, and they'd had a financial wizard in Konan managing things—never rich, but never tight either.
But now? They were rogue-nin. No village. No one was hiring them for missions. Zero income. They'd been living rough.
Hearing 'two million ryo' was like rain in a desert.
Qianyu pressed his lips together, watching the trio's utterly avaricious expressions. "Spend it wisely," he warned. "And try to find some freelance work. I have some savings, but I've got a wife to support. Don't blow it all."
"We know, we know!" The three of them nodded like pecking chickens, eager and fast.
A bad feeling settled in Qianyu's gut. "I'm serious. Be frugal."
"We got it, no need to remind us! Just go back to Konoha and send the money, Boss!"
The more eager they were, the less confident Qianyu felt.
But what could he do? The money had to be given.
"Fine. I'm off."
He gave a half-hearted wave and vanished into the night.
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