Another day passed.
As usual, Kanon was busy preparing new jutsu and developing new variations of the Rasengan. Sasuke had already mastered the nature transformation of the Chidori to an exceptional degree, but the Rasengan remained a technique with untapped potential.
Kanon decided that if she wanted to use Chidori, she would simply learn her brother's versions or research them later; for now, her primary focus remained the Rasengan.
Just as Kanon was preparing to infuse the Rasengan with natural energy, Kidomaru called out to her from a distance.
"What is it?"
"Kanon, we have intel."
Kidomaru handed a newspaper to Kanon. A bold, striking headline at the very top made her eyes light up with joy:
"Sasuke Uchiha Kills Orochimaru."
Though the news was exactly what Kanon had expected, she couldn't help but feel a surge of pride for her brother.
"It seems it's time for me to set out as well."
"Set out for what?" Kidomaru asked, puzzled.
"The journey to claim revenge against Itachi Uchiha," answered Tayuya, who was slowly walking toward them.
"Yeah. But before that, I want to go see my brother," Kanon said with a sheepish grin.
"Go ahead. We'll see you off," Tayuya replied with a smile.
…
That afternoon, after packing her essentials into the Flower Realm storage, Kanon stood at the entrance of Otogakure. Jirobo, Sakon & Ukon, Kidomaru, and Tayuya had all gathered to say goodbye.
"Kanon, next time, please take us with you," Sakon (and Ukon) said softly.
"We've grown strong enough, Boss!" Jirobo added, raising a beefy fist.
"Alright, alright," Kanon nodded gently.
"Then it's a promise!"
"Yeah, it's a promise." Kanon looked at Jirobo and gave him a beautiful smile. To her, as long as these four were around, this place felt like home.
It was warm and comforting. Because she cherished this hard-won bond so deeply, she had grown reluctant to let the four of them take risks. Once everything was settled, her dream was to return to the Sound Village and live out her days with them.
But for now, she had a duty to fulfill.
Kanon departed, leaving the Sound Village once more. As her silhouette vanished into the horizon, Tayuya and the others wore relieved smiles.
"I hope the Boss succeeds."
"What do you mean 'hope'? Kanon will succeed," Tayuya said, punctuating her sentence with a punch to Jirobo's arm.
As the four turned back, they were unaware of a hawk circling high in the sky. Within those sharp avian eyes, the reflection of their farewell was captured perfectly.
Dozens of kilometers away, Torune Aburame asked softly, "Did you really see her?"
"No mistake. It's Kanon Uchiha. Just as Danzo-sama suspected."
"To think her base was in the Sound Village all along... Danzo-sama's intel was spot on." Fu Yamanaka nodded.
"Move! We must bring this news back to Danzo-sama immediately. It would be bad if we were discovered!" Torune finished, and both of them vanished in a flicker of movement.
A quiet crisis was slowly approaching, yet it was so faint that no one sensed the danger.
…
Three days later, outside one of Orochimaru's hideouts.
Sasuke stood before Karin, Suigetsu, and Jugo. Because she had learned that Sasuke was Kanon's brother, Karin was more than willing to help, she was even entertaining fantasies of becoming Kanon's sister-in-law.
Suigetsu and Jugo stepped forward as well.
"The members I wanted have gathered," Sasuke said calmly. "Now, I will state my objective."
Sasuke looked at the three of them with a steady gaze. "My goal is—"
Suddenly, a familiar, cute voice cut him off.
"—To kill Itachi Uchiha of the Akatsuki."
Everyone jumped in surprise and looked up. Even Sasuke cracked a smile. Perched on a massive boulder behind him was a young girl with twin tails, wearing an Akatsuki cloak with a fox mask tilted on her forehead. She sat with her legs crossed, looking down at them.
Karin's face flushed a deep crimson the moment she saw Kanon. An overwhelming surge of excitement washed over her. This girl... I want to get so close to her! was the only thought in Karin's head.
Seeing the look in Karin's eyes, Kanon nearly slipped off the rock.
"Kanon..." Karin squeaked, her legs twitching as she gazed at the girl with pure adoration.
Kanon chose to ignore that particular look.
"Just as I thought," Suigetsu chuckled.
"I remember you... you're Sasuke's younger sister," Jugo said, his eyes wide with shock.
Kanon's reputation had spread throughout the shinobi world. Almost every high-ranking official knew of this rogue ninja.
Wait... isn't Itachi Uchiha their actual brother? Karin thought, momentarily setting aside her fangirling to process Kanon's words.
"So you came." Once Kanon hopped down, Sasuke reached out and pinched her cheek.
"I'm here!" Kanon handed Sasuke a scroll containing Itachi's recent range of activity.
Sasuke nodded and led Kanon toward the other three. "Let me introduce you. This is my younger sister, Kanon Uchiha. I'm sure you've all heard of her."
"Of course we have," Suigetsu piped up. "The Akatsuki member who devastated the Hidden Stone's Kurotsuchi and Akatsuchi, captured Han, defeated the Kazekage Gaara, and raided the Fire Temple to kill Master Chiriku."
Suigetsu rattled off the recent newspaper headlines regarding Kanon.
"You're quite well-informed about me, aren't you?" Kanon laughed.
Sasuke, however, looked stunned. His little sister had done all that?!
THWACK!
Sasuke's fist came down on Kanon's head.
"Ow! What was that for, onii-chan?!"
"Next time you do something that dangerous, tell me first!" Sasuke scolded her in a tone that brooked no argument.
"Fine..." Kanon muttered helplessly.
"And let me introduce them to you," Sasuke continued. "These are the members I've recruited. This is Karin."
Karin immediately sidled up to Kanon, rubbing her cheek against Kanon's. The sudden contact made Kanon's skin crawl; she scrambled back several paces and pointed a shaking finger at Karin.
"Wh-what are you doing?!"
"Kanon..." Karin purred, reaching out to lick Kanon's fingers.
"NO!!!" Kanon used a Body Flicker to hide behind Sasuke.
Unfortunately, she couldn't escape Karin's reach. Karin lunged, pressing Kanon against Sasuke's back and wrapping her arms around both of them.
"Kanon... I know exactly what you smell like..." Karin whispered, leaning in to nuzzle Kanon's neck and licking her collarbone.
Kanon's entire face turned beet red.
"Here we go again," Suigetsu sighed, throwing up his hands.
A faint, sweet fragrance drifted into Karin's nose, Kanon's natural scent, sending her into a state of pure euphoria.
"Nii-chan! There's a pervert! Save me!" Kanon wailed, frantically drumming her fists against Sasuke's back.
"You can't escape me, Kanon! Hehehehe!!!"
"Knock it off, Karin," Sasuke said.
True to form, Karin let go of Kanon the moment Sasuke spoke, though her face remained locked in a dazed, lovestruck expression. Terrified, Kanon refused to come out from behind Sasuke's back.
"That was Karin. Next is Suigetsu."
"Yo," Suigetsu waved.
Kanon nodded tentatively, kept glancing nervously at Karin to make sure she wasn't going to pounce again.
"And this is Jugo."
"Hello," Kanon said politely.
With the introductions over, Sasuke addressed the group. "I need your strength to kill Itachi Uchiha. Of course, this isn't mandatory."
Sasuke turned his gaze to Karin. "Karin, didn't you say you had other things to do? What's your decision?"
Karin froze, then took a quick peek at Kanon.
"Karin, why don't you just be honest?" Suigetsu teased. "You clearly want to stay with Sasuke and Kanon forever."
"Wh-who says?!" Her secret exposed, Karin adjusted her glasses frantically, her tsundere side coming out in full force. "That's not it at all!"
"See? I hit the nail on the head. That's why you're stuttering. I've known for a long time that you felt this way about Sasuke—"
POW!
Karin's fist sent Suigetsu's head splashing into a puddle of water.
"Alright, Suigetsu, stop teasing her," Sasuke interceded. He reached back, grabbed Kanon like a scruffy kitten, and set her down beside him.
"Kanon, you'll be our witness. From this day forward, the four of us will move as one."
"Our team shall be known as Hebi (Snake)."
"Hebi has only one goal:"
"Itachi Uchiha!"