The corridor was silent.
Cold.
Empty.
Steel walls stretched along both sides—
Dark as night.
Only dim lights overhead—
Barely holding the darkness at bay.
…
Konan spoke first.
"I'll briefly explain the origin and development of the Akatsuki."
…
"No problem."
Yuan nodded casually.
Ah.
An onboarding session.
HR duties.
…
Even though—
He already knew everything.
…
Still—
He didn't mind.
Being alone with Konan?
Worth it.
…
They reached the mid-level of the tower.
No rain.
No sound.
Perfect insulation.
…
Konan spoke as they walked.
Yahiko…
Nagato…
The birth of Akatsuki.
Its ideals.
Its fall.
Its transformation.
…
Yuan listened.
Occasionally nodding.
…
But at the same time—
His chakra spread silently.
Expanding.
Mapping.
…
The structure—
A hollow square.
Rooms aligned along the inner walls.
Iron doors.
Empty.
…
Then—
He found it.
…
Konan's room.
…
Simple.
Clean.
Minimal.
…
Memorized.
…
"No locks."
Konan said calmly.
"I'll arrange supplies later."
…
"Thanks."
Yuan nodded.
Satisfied.
…
She stopped at a room—
Right beside hers.
Opened the door.
…
Empty.
But identical.
…
"I like it."
Yuan stepped inside—
Already claiming it.
…
Akatsuki perks:
✔ Free housing✔ No rules✔ Strategic neighbor
…
He walked toward the balcony.
Opened the door—
…
WHOOSH—
Cold wind rushed in.
The scent of rain—
Fresh.
Sharp.
Alive.
…
He stood there.
Breathing it in.
…
Konan stepped beside him.
…
Outside—
The storm raged.
Steel towers blurred beneath sheets of rain.
Like a dying world—
Struggling to breathe.
…
"What do you want to know?"
She asked.
…
"Nothing for now."
"If I have questions…"
"I'll ask you privately."
…
Then—
He added, more quietly:
"…I'm sorry."
"For Yahiko."
…
Konan froze.
Just for a moment.
…
Her eyes dimmed.
Pain surfaced—
Quiet.
Deep.
…
"…Thank you."
…
Silence settled between them.
Rain.
Wind.
Distance.
…
Then Yuan spoke again.
"The other members… don't live here?"
…
"They don't need to."
…
In her mind—
You won't stay long either.
…
But she was wrong.
…
"I want to understand the core of the organization."
Yuan said calmly.
…
Konan nodded.
…
"At the beginning—"
"Akatsuki was an anti-war group."
"Dialogue. Cooperation."
"Peace for small nations."
…
"After Yahiko died—"
"It changed."
…
Her voice hardened slightly.
…
"Now—"
"The goal is to capture the Tailed Beasts."
"Create a weapon."
"And enforce peace… through fear."
…
"You know what Tailed Beasts are?"
…
"Of course."
"Walking disasters."
…
Yuan nodded.
"Both ideas… make sense."
…
Outwardly—agreement.
Inwardly—
This is all just Obito's setup.
…
Konan noticed.
His acceptance.
…
Her expression softened further.
…
Then—
She hesitated.
Before continuing.
…
"This plan…"
"Wasn't created by the Leader alone."
…
"Oh?"
…
"A mysterious man approached us."
"He helped us."
"Brought powerful members."
…
"But—"
"He also changed everything."
…
Yuan smiled faintly.
"I see."
…
Then—
Casually—
He added:
"You mean that… plant guy underground watching us earlier?"
…
Konan: "…."
…
She paused.
Processing.
…
"…Yes."
"He's one of them."
…
Then she continued—
Her tone more serious now.
"That man is as strong as the Leader."
"Because of him—"
"Akatsuki has divided."
…
Factions.
Tension.
Instability.
…
She explained everything.
Internal conflict.
External pressure.
A fragile balance—
On the verge of collapse.
…
Yuan listened quietly.
…
So they've already noticed Obito…
…
But—
They lacked allies.
…
Konan turned toward him.
…
No longer cold.
No longer distant.
…
Her voice softened.
But carried weight.
…
"If you truly agree with Yahiko's ideals…"
…
She looked directly at him.
…
"Then—"
…
"Join the original Akatsuki."