"…."
Shenyue Yuan froze for a brief moment.
A strange sensation spread through his body—
His mind tingled.
Something—
Awakened.
…
Five elemental chakra natures—
Fire. Wind. Lightning. Earth. Water.
All unlocked.
At the same time—
Yin Release.
Yang Release.
Both engraved deeply into his instincts.
…
"…Nice."
A smile spread slowly across his face.
This—
Was enormous.
…
Now—
All the jutsu he had copied—
Could finally be used.
No more relying purely on brute force.
…
"Something wrong?"
Konan noticed his pause.
Yuan scratched his head lightly, smiling.
"Just thought of something… good."
"…."
She didn't press further.
…
Then—
Yuan spoke again.
"By the way… Konan."
"I need a favor."
"Call Orochimaru back."
"I want to talk to him."
…
Konan stopped.
Turned.
Looked at him.
…
Already giving orders?
…
"…Alright."
She nodded.
"But if this is personal—"
"I hope you'll spare his life."
"He's still useful to the organization."
…
Yuan waved casually.
"Of course."
"We're all family here."
…
"…Family."
Konan's expression turned faintly strange.
But she said nothing.
…
They continued walking.
Yuan suddenly asked—
"Any new members joining soon?"
…
He was thinking about Itachi Uchiha.
And that masked man—
"Madara."
Strange.
Neither had appeared—
Despite all the chaos.
…
Konan frowned slightly.
"You've just joined…"
"And already saying 'our Akatsuki'…"
…
But she answered anyway.
"Not yet."
"But soon."
…
"Oh."
Yuan nodded.
"I had a friend who also defected from Konoha."
"Too extreme though…"
"Otherwise, I'd recommend him."
…
Konan: "…"
Too extreme?
Everyone here is extreme.
…
She chose—
Not to continue that line of conversation.
…
Akatsuki Headquarters — Meeting Room
Cold.
Dark.
Silent.
…
Yuan glanced around.
Yes—
Definitely villain territory.
…
Without hesitation—
He walked to the main seat.
Pain's seat.
…
And sat down.
…
Leaning back.
Comfortable.
…
Knock. Knock.
"I brought him back."
Konan's voice came from outside.
"Come in."
Yuan replied lazily.
…
The door opened.
Konan and Orochimaru stepped inside—
And froze.
…
Yuan—
Sitting on the leader's chair.
Relaxed.
At ease.
…
Orochimaru shot Konan a glance.
Say something…
…
She didn't.
…
His expression paled slightly.
…
What kind of monster—
Did Konoha send here?
…
He understood one thing clearly now—
This man—
Was already someone Pain would value highly.
…
Sitting in that chair?
That meant nothing.
…
If Yuan wanted—
He could very well become second-in-command.
…
"I'll leave you two."
Konan turned.
And left.
The door closed softly behind her.
…
Silence.
…
Orochimaru stood there—
Rigid.
Unsure how to begin.
…
Yuan smiled warmly.
"Orochimaru-sama."
…
"Ah… hehe…"
An awkward laugh escaped him.
Then—
He gave up.
…
"Sorry."
"I may have… spoken too directly earlier."
…
"…HAHAHAHA!"
Yuan burst into laughter.
…
The Snake Sannin—
Acting this cautious?
A rare sight.
…
"Can we… reconcile?"
Orochimaru asked carefully.
"I can even leave Akatsuki if necessary."
…
"Not needed."
Yuan waved dismissively.
Then—
Pulled out a scroll.
…
"…?"
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed.
…
The scroll was placed gently on the table.
…
"I have a question."
Yuan's tone turned calm.
Controlled.
"The Sharingan arm you're developing for Danzo Shimura—"
"How far along is it?"
…
Orochimaru's pupils contracted.
"You… know about that?"
…
That project—
Was nearly complete.
Only one component was missing—
Sharingan.
…
Because during the massacre—
Every eye—
Had vanished.
…
Danzo believed—
Itachi had taken them.
…
"I was there that night."
Yuan said simply.
Then—
Opened the scroll.
…
Poof—
Smoke spread.
…
A glass container appeared.
…
Filled—
With eyes.
…
Sharingan.
One-tomoe.
Two-tomoe.
Three-tomoe.
…
Stored.
Neatly.
Like trophies.
…
"I didn't collect them personally."
Yuan shrugged lightly.
"Root did."
"I just… collected them afterward."
…
Silence.
…
Orochimaru stared.
His golden, snake-like pupils—
Shrank violently.
…
Greed.
Desire.
Obsession.
…
Then—
Fear.
…
He slowly raised his head.
Looking at Yuan.
Voice low.
Measured.
"What… do you want from me?"
…
Because he understood one thing perfectly—
This was not a gift.
…
This—
Was a transaction.