"…!"
Kamizuki Gen's expression froze.
In that instant, subtle changes rippled through his body, a faint itch spreading across his cerebral cortex.
The nature transformations of the five elemental chakra attributes awakened within him.
At the same time, Yin Release and Yang Release were etched into his mind like instinct.
An unexpected bonus.
A smile crept onto Gen's face.
With this—
all the jutsu he had previously "cut" could now be used freely.
In battle, he no longer had to fight like a brute relying solely on taijutsu.
"What's wrong?"
Konan noticed him stop and turned her head slightly.
Gen gave an awkward smile. "Just thought of something happy."
"…."
Konan said nothing and continued leading the way.
Gen suddenly spoke again, "By the way, Konan, I'll have to trouble you to bring Orochimaru back. I need to talk to him."
Konan stopped.
She turned, looked him up and down, thinking to herself—this guy really doesn't stand on ceremony, already ordering me around.
"Alright," she nodded. "But Orochimaru is still useful to the organization. If this is personal, I hope you'll spare his life."
She didn't think there was anything wrong with Gen calling him back now.
After all, Gen was already an official member of the Akatsuki. There would be plenty of chances for contact later—no need to rush anything suspicious.
"Of course," Gen smiled. "We're all family in the Akatsuki."
As if, he thought. My 'All Things Equal' is on cooldown for a week—what am I supposed to kill Orochimaru with?
"Family…"
Konan's expression turned slightly strange, but she said nothing more and continued walking.
"I'll take you down first."
"Alright!"
Gen suddenly thought of something and asked, "Konan, besides me, are there any new members joining the Akatsuki soon?"
He had caused such a huge commotion in Amegakure, yet Obito and Itachi hadn't shown up.
Were they not here yet?
"Our Akatsuki?"
Konan frowned inwardly. He hasn't even attended a meeting and doesn't know the members…
This was the first time she had dealt with someone this self-familiar. She decided she probably shouldn't judge him by normal standards.
Then again… no normal person would be this strong at such a young age.
"Not for now," she replied. "But there will be new members joining soon."
"Oh," Gen nodded. "Before I defected from Konoha, I had a friend who also defected. Shame he's a bit extreme—otherwise I'd recommend him to join us."
So Obito and Itachi really hadn't returned yet.
"…."
Konan fell silent again.
Everyone in Akatsuki is extreme.
She decided it was best not to continue this conversation—her thinking might get warped.
…
…
Amegakure — Statue Tower, Conference Room
Gen swept the area with his chakra perception.
All he felt was darkness, coldness, emptiness.
As expected of a villain organization's meeting room—peak gloomy aesthetic.
He chose the main seat at the head of the oval table and sat down without hesitation.
Knock knock knock—
A knock came from outside.
Konan's voice followed, "He's here."
"Come in," Gen leaned back lazily into the cold chair.
The door opened.
Konan and Orochimaru stepped in—and froze.
Both of them stared at Gen lounging comfortably in Pain's seat.
Orochimaru glanced sideways at Konan, expecting her to react.
But her expression didn't change at all.
She said nothing.
Orochimaru's face grew paler.
What kind of monster did Konoha send out… just take him back already!
He understood clearly—
with the strength Gen had just displayed, Pain would definitely try his best to keep him.
So what if Gen sat in Pain's seat?
If things went well, even if Gen declared himself the second leader of the Akatsuki, Pain might not refuse.
"You two talk."
Konan turned and left.
Bang— the door closed behind her.
She had no interest in their "reunion."
Orochimaru's heart skipped.
He stood stiffly, unsure how to break the silence.
Gen looked at him, still wearing that bright, harmless smile.
"Orochimaru-sama."
"Ah… hehe…" Orochimaru forced a laugh, then said with utmost sincerity:
"You don't need to be so polite. My apologies—I spoke too loudly earlier."
"Hahahaha!"
Gen burst out laughing.
Even in the anime, Orochimaru—early Shippuden's major villain—had never been this accommodating.
"Do you think…" Orochimaru lowered his voice, glancing at the door, "we can still reconcile?"
"I can leave the Akatsuki myself."
"No need."
Gen pulled out a sealing scroll.
"…?"
Orochimaru watched him, unable to read his intentions.
Gen placed the scroll on the table and asked calmly:
"How far has your research on Danzo's Sharingan arm progressed?"
Orochimaru's pupils trembled.
"How do you know about that?"
The arm was already complete—
but lacked Sharingan.
By agreement, Orochimaru would create the arm, and Danzo would collect Sharingan during the Uchiha massacre and share some for research.
But when Danzo arrived that night—
every awakened Uchiha had already lost their eyes.
Danzo believed Itachi had taken them all.
"I was there that night."
Gen opened the sealing scroll.
Poof—
Smoke cleared.
A glass container appeared—
filled to the brim with Sharingan, from one-tomoe to three-tomoe.
Gen continued:
"I didn't collect these personally."
"Root members did."
"They collected the eyes."
"I collected them."
"And learned what they were planning."
He hadn't lied to Kurenai.
He didn't massacre the Uchiha—
but he was there that night, hiding his presence, gathering Sharingan.
Orochimaru's golden snake pupils shrank.
Greed.
Desire.
Fear.
All flashed through his eyes.
He glanced at Gen and asked carefully:
"…What do you need me to do?"
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