"Though their ideas are naïve… their intentions are good."
Hanzo seemed somewhat reflective as he spoke.
"Their leader is Yahiko, correct?"
Ameyu nodded.
"Yes—but aside from Yahiko, Nagato and Konan are also core members of Akatsuki."
Hanzo fell silent for a moment before saying,
"Send them a message. I want to meet those three."
Ameyu was taken aback.
This decision puzzled him.
By all logic, Hanzo shouldn't waste time on a small, almost childlike organization like Akatsuki.
So why the sudden change?
Sensing his confusion, Hanzo actually explained—
a rare occurrence.
"Ameyu… I may not like admitting it, but I'm already over sixty."
"How much longer can this village rely on me?"
"Yahiko and the others may be naïve… but they have ideas. And more importantly, they act on them."
"That alone is rare."
"It's time Amegakure had some fresh blood."
Ameyu trembled.
For so long, Hanzo's strength had made him forget the man's age.
But now—
He could feel it.
Hanzo had carried this village for decades.
"…Hanzo-sama…"
His voice caught in his throat.
"Go."
Hanzo waved him off.
"…Yes!"
Ameyu turned and left, eyes reddened.
But what he didn't see—
Was that after he turned away, Hanzo's eyes silently shifted—
Into a pair of three-tomoe Sharingan.
The next day, inside Akatsuki's hideout.
Yahiko and Konan stood beside a bed, both wrapped in bloodstained bandages.
They had clearly just gone through a fierce battle.
But neither paid attention to their own injuries.
Their focus was entirely on Nagato, who lay unconscious.
They had tried to rescue injured Iwagakure shinobi—
Only to be ambushed.
They had nearly died.
At the critical moment, Nagato had unleashed a mysterious summon, saving them—
But at the cost of collapsing unconscious.
"…Damn it!"
Yahiko clenched his teeth, filled with regret.
Anger at his own weakness.
Guilt for failing to protect his comrades.
If only he had been stronger—
More careful—
Maybe this wouldn't have happened.
"Yahiko… don't blame yourself."
Konan spoke gently.
"Nagato likely just overexerted himself. He'll be fine."
Yahiko said nothing.
Her words couldn't ease his guilt.
After a pause, Konan changed the subject.
"…Why do you think those Iwagakure ninja attacked us?"
They had been helping wounded shinobi for a long time.
Though often rejected or mistrusted—
They had never been attacked.
But this time—
The attackers had shown clear killing intent.
And looking back—
They didn't seem like survivors of battle.
More like they had been lying in wait.
Yahiko understood her meaning—
But refused to think ill of others.
"Maybe… they were preparing to ambush Konoha shinobi."
"We interfered with their plan, so they attacked us."
Konan fell silent.
She wasn't as naïve—
But she wouldn't contradict him.
Some truths didn't need to be spoken.
She tried again.
"…Don't you think the conflict between Konoha and Iwagakure has intensified recently?"
"Could something be changing?"
Yahiko frowned.
"There must be a new factor influencing the war."
"We need to find it—and deal with it."
He wasn't foolish—
He could sense the worsening situation.
If left unchecked—
A larger war would erupt.
Konan sighed.
"…That kind of intelligence is beyond us."
"Maybe not for us—but for Hanzo-sama."
Yahiko's tone was firm.
"We can ask him for help."
His parents had died during the Second Great Ninja War—
A war Hanzo himself had initiated.
For a long time, Yahiko hated him.
But as he grew older and understood the Land of Rain's situation—
That hatred faded.
Hanzo had not brought peace—
But he had made the world acknowledge their existence.
Yahiko respected him.
"…Will he even meet us?"
Konan asked.
"He will."
Yahiko was certain.
"Because he also seeks peace."
Konan didn't respond—
Only silently hoped he wouldn't be disappointed.
"Yahiko! Konan! Quick—quick—!"
A figure rushed in excitedly.
"Jūzō, calm down. What happened?"
Yahiko asked.
"A Rain shinobi just came—Hanzo-sama wants to meet you!"
He shoved a letter into Yahiko's hands.
"This is from him!"
Yahiko froze.
This was completely unexpected.
They had just been discussing seeking him out—
And now he had come to them.
"Read it first," Konan reminded him.
"Right!"
Yahiko quickly opened the letter.
It was simple.
Praise for Akatsuki's ideals.
Recognition of their actions.
And an invitation—
For Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan to visit and discuss the organization's future.
"I knew it… I knew it…"
Yahiko reread it several times, trembling.
Recognition from the Demigod of the Shinobi World—
This validated everything.
His path—
Was right.
Konan, however, hesitated.
"…The invitation is for all three of us. But Nagato is still…"
Yahiko looked at Nagato, conflicted.
Amegakure had proper medical facilities—
They might help.
But Nagato's eyes—
The Rennegan—
Could never be exposed.
Just as he struggled—
Nagato groaned softly.
"…Mm…"
His eyes slowly opened.
The next morning, Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan set out early.
By noon, they arrived outside Amegakure.
"Hello, I'm Yahiko of Akatsuki. We've come at Hanzo-sama's invitation."
At the gates, he introduced himself.
The guards, already informed, responded warmly.
"Hanzo-sama has prepared a banquet. Please follow me."
They verified their identities and led them inside.
The trio was both surprised and honored.
They hadn't expected such treatment.
Nervous yet hopeful, they followed the guards through the village—
Soon arriving at Hanzo's residence.
Ameyu was already waiting.
"I am Ameyu, Hanzo-sama's assistant. You must be the founders of Akatsuki."
"I'm Yahiko."
"Konan."
"Nagato."
After introductions, Ameyu led them inside.
Along the way—
They noticed the heavy security.
Guards everywhere.
Tension filled the air.
Yahiko hesitated before asking,
"Ameyu-senpai… has something happened recently? Why is security so tight?"
Ameyu smiled.
"No need to worry—it has nothing to do with you."
"Hanzo-sama was targeted in an assassination attempt two days ago. We've increased security since."
"An assassination?!"
Yahiko was shocked.
"Is he alright? Do you know who was behind it?"
His concern was genuine.
Hanzo's safety directly affected the entire Land of Rain.
"He's unharmed."
Ameyu paused, then added,
"The situation is complicated. Hanzo-sama suspects someone is trying to reignite war."
"We've already begun pulling back our forces."
He glanced at them.
"You should also be careful. Don't be too active—you might fall into a trap."
The three exchanged serious looks.
This aligned perfectly with their recent ambush.
If even Hanzo had been targeted—
Then the situation was far worse than they thought.
"Thank you for the warning," Yahiko said.
But he chose not to mention their own encounter—
Not yet.
He would wait—
Until he met Hanzo himself.