Orochimaru's voice—
Was like a snake.
Hissing—
Then striking.
Straight for the throat.
Lethal.
…
"…."
Shenyue Yuan's lips twitched.
Not like this…
Seriously?
My undercover mission—
Hasn't even started—
And it's already over?
Orochimaru… you bastard.
…
Pain and Konan both turned toward Orochimaru.
He nodded.
Certain.
"Connect the events—"
"And the truth becomes obvious."
"This man…"
"…is a Konoha spy."
"An infiltrator."
Konan nodded faintly.
"…Too coincidental."
Pain's gaze shifted—
Back to Shenyue Yuan.
Those Rinnegan—
Cold.
Absolute.
As if silently asking—
Do you have anything to say?
…
One wrong step—
And everything ends.
From this moment—
His death was already decided.
Akatsuki could accept Itachi Uchiha—
Because he truly annihilated his clan.
He had no path back.
Even if he acted in secret—
He could never return to Konoha.
He was useful.
That was enough.
But—
A confirmed spy?
Unacceptable.
And Shenyue Yuan's biggest flaw—
The Root incident.
Unverified.
Unconfirmed.
A hole in his identity.
…
Facing Pain's overwhelming presence—
Like a collapsing mountain—
Shenyue Yuan suddenly laughed.
"HAHAHAHA…!"
Unrestrained.
Almost absurd.
…
"Heh…"
Orochimaru shook his head.
Mocking.
"That old man…"
"…really sent a fool to die."
…
Pain raised his hand.
Aimed directly at Yuan.
Konan lowered her gaze.
She didn't want to watch.
This—
Was already over.
…
But—
Shenyue Yuan had prepared for this.
Of course he had.
This wasn't a game.
This was infiltration.
A single mistake—
Meant death.
…
Facing the prelude to Shinra Tensei—
He didn't panic.
Not even slightly.
He planted his cane.
Then—
Pulled out two scrolls.
Unrolled them—
Like banners.
They spread across the ground.
His hands formed seals—
Then slammed down—
BOOM—!
Smoke erupted.
And then—
Bodies appeared.
One after another.
…
"…."
Orochimaru's expression changed instantly.
He recognized them.
At a glance.
At the front—
A familiar face.
Torune Aburame.
Danzo's right hand.
And behind him—
More.
Root elites.
High-ranking operatives.
All—
Dead.
…
Orochimaru's pupils shrank.
He scanned again.
Carefully.
Half.
Nearly half of Root's core forces—
Lay at Yuan's feet.
His throat tightened.
A cold sensation—
Crawled up his spine.
…
Shenyue Yuan shrugged slightly.
"These are Root's key members."
His tone—
Calm.
Casual.
"I have no ties to Konoha anymore."
"There is no place for me there."
…
This—
Was why he didn't fear retaliation.
Before attacking Danzo—
He had already gone to Root's base.
And erased it.
Completely.
…
Konoha hadn't lied.
He really did it.
Even Hiruzen—
Had sent ANBU to question him.
Why kill your own people?
Have you betrayed the village?
His answer—
Simple.
"If I want to join Akatsuki—"
"Konoha must pay a price."
"Itachi destroyed his clan."
"If I don't destroy something—"
"How can I qualify?"
…
Look at these bodies.
All brainwashed.
All loyal to Danzo.
None—
Loyal to Konoha.
…
Pain spoke.
Cold.
"Your purpose?"
Shenyue Yuan raised his head.
At a slight angle—
As if recalling something distant.
Something painful.
"I witnessed Root…"
"…kill civilians."
"A mother."
"And her child."
No resistance.
No mercy.
Only death.
…
Deep within the tower—
Nagato's eyes widened.
Even Pain—
Flickered.
…
Shenyue Yuan continued.
"If Root is already rotten—"
"Then what about Konoha's leadership?"
"To preserve Wood Release—"
"To control power—"
"They conducted human experiments."
"On anyone."
"Men."
"Women."
"Children."
He turned slightly—
Toward Orochimaru.
A faint smile appeared.
"You would know best… wouldn't you?"
"Lord Orochimaru."
…
Konan looked at him.
Orochimaru said nothing.
His golden pupils lowered—
Silent.
…
Shenyue Yuan's voice hardened.
"The great villages—"
"Spread suffering."
"In the name of protection."
"They do not understand pain."
"They create it."
"And then use it—"
"As justification for more war."
…
Silence.
Then—
Pain's raised hand—
Lowered.
Slowly.
…
CRACK—
Deep within the tower—
Nagato crushed the armrest.
His Rinnegan—
Burned.
Emotion surged.
…
Yes.
Good.
Very good.
Nagato looked at Shenyue Yuan—
Differently now.
Recognition.
Approval.
Because—
He understood.
Pain.
…
"I cannot return to darkness…"
"After seeing the light."
Shenyue Yuan spoke quietly.
"I heard of Akatsuki."
"I investigated."
"And I came here."
…
Pain glanced toward Orochimaru.
"Check the bodies."
Even now—
He wasn't careless.
Words meant nothing.
Proof—
Was everything.
"Understood."
Orochimaru stepped forward.
Stopping just in front of Yuan.
He studied him closely.
This boy—
Seemed ordinary.
But these bodies…
…
He crouched.
Examined them one by one.
Carefully.
Searching for flaws.
For deception.
Minutes passed.
…
Then—
He stood.
Exhaled slowly.
Looked at Yuan.
Then—
At Pain.
"…They're real."
…
Pain nodded.
Then—
His gaze returned to Shenyue Yuan.
Cold.
Absolute.
"You are… impressive."
A brief pause—
Before the verdict.
"You have earned—"