…
"I saw Yahiko in him…"
Konan's voice softened—
A distant warmth surfacing in her eyes.
…
Behind her—
Nagato's expression shifted slightly.
Just a trace.
…
"That's… a good thing."
…
Konan nodded.
"I think…"
"He'll stand on our side."
…
Nagato remained calm.
"Then we'll see how he performs."
…
A brief pause.
…
"He should be back soon."
…
Konan's gaze flickered.
She understood immediately.
That person.
…
With Shenyue Yuan's arrival—
The pressure from Obito Uchiha—
The so-called "Madara"—
Had already lessened.
…
No matter how many members he brought into Akatsuki—
That suffocating imbalance—
Was gone.
…
Nagato continued:
"With Yuan here…"
"We can advance the Tailed Beast plan."
"Earlier than expected."
…
Evening — Border of the Land of Rain
Rain poured endlessly.
Mud swallowed the ground.
…
On a tree branch—
Obito Uchiha stood silently beneath an umbrella.
Below him—
Itachi Uchiha walked through the rain.
…
No umbrella.
No resistance.
…
Just letting the cold rain soak him completely.
…
His face—
Blank.
Empty.
…
Like a corpse still moving forward.
…
They walked slowly.
Very slowly.
…
Because Obito understood—
This wasn't about distance.
…
Itachi—
Was punishing himself.
Using pain…
To suppress something far deeper.
…
"We're close to Amegakure."
Obito spoke coldly.
…
"Mm."
Itachi responded.
Brief.
Distant.
…
Rain slid down his face—
Tracing faint remnants of dried tears.
…
Obito said nothing more.
…
Beneath his mask—
His Sharingan flickered.
Kamui—
Ready.
…
Then—
The ground shifted.
…
A twisted figure rose from the earth.
…
Zetsu.
…
"Ta—"
It stopped mid-sentence.
Glancing at Itachi.
"…Something big happened."
…
Obito frowned.
"Speak clearly."
…
Zetsu gave a subtle signal.
Not here.
…
Itachi understood instantly.
He walked forward—
Leaving them behind.
…
Once he was far enough—
Zetsu sank underground.
Then reappeared beside Obito.
…
White Zetsu spoke rapidly:
"Bad news—Nagato recruited someone!"
"A Konoha rogue ninja… as strong as him!"
…
Silence.
…
Obito's expression darkened.
"Someone… equal to Nagato?"
…
His mind raced.
Calculating.
…
Jiraiya?
Tsunade?
…
No.
Even the Sannin—
Could not match the Six Paths of Pain.
…
"Who?"
Obito demanded.
…
White Zetsu hesitated.
…
"Just say the name."
Obito's voice turned cold.
…
"A young ninja…"
"I saw him fight Pain myself!"
…
Obito's gaze sharpened.
"Name."
…
"…Shenyue Yuan."
…
Silence.
…
Obito searched his memory.
Nothing.
…
"Never heard of him."
…
Then—
Black Zetsu spoke.
Calm.
Measured.
…
"It's true."
"He matched the Deva Path."
"And shattered Chibaku Tensei…"
"With one punch."
…
Obito's pupil shrank.
"…Impossible."
…
Then—
Another detail struck.
…
"He also destroyed Root."
"And severely injured Danzo Shimura."
…
Obito froze.
…
This time—
He didn't deny it.
…
He went silent.
…
Then—
Cold.
Controlled.
…
"Why wasn't I informed?"
…
Black Zetsu replied:
"The information couldn't be verified."
"It happened right after the Uchiha massacre."
…
A long pause.
…
Then—
Obito spoke.
Decisive.
…
"We return."
"Immediately."
"I want to meet him."
…
White Zetsu hesitated.
"…Kill him?"
…
Obito's jaw tightened beneath the mask.
…
"If what you said is true—"
"Do you think I can kill him?"
…
Silence.
…
He released the umbrella.
…
Space twisted.
Kamui activated.
…
And he vanished.
…
Zetsu sank back into the earth.
…
Night — Akatsuki Tower
…
Yuan had just finished dinner.
A hot bath.
A fresh robe.
…
Standing before a mirror—
Even if he couldn't see.
…
Ritual still mattered.
…
High collar.
Half-covered face.
…
The Akatsuki cloak—
Settled perfectly over his shoulders.
…
"Heh…"
…
A thought surfaced.
From his previous life.
…
"I'm probably only half as handsome as the readers watching this."
…
He chuckled.
…
"Seriously…"
"Who even reads fanfiction?"
…
…
Family—
We made it.
…
Akatsuki member.
…
But then—
…
The smile faded.
…
His senses sharpened instantly.
…
In the living room—
…
Three presences.
…
Appeared.
…
Without a sound.
…
Uninvited.
…
Yuan tilted his head slightly.
…
And smiled.
…
"…So you finally came."