"You three boys, go wash your hands." Having finished cooking, Kanon scolded the three men sitting on the sofa chatting.
Tayuya was helping Kanon bring the dishes out from the kitchen. Seeing the three of them moving so slowly, she could only sigh in resignation. Just as the five of them sat down to start eating, there was a knock at the door.
Kanon had already sensed it was Konan and Pain, so she didn't delay and opened the door.
"Konan-nee! Senpai!" Kanon smiled as she welcomed the two inside.
And so, two more sets of bowls and chopsticks were added to the group of five.
"Though I don't know if the Deva Path needs to eat, I should at least add a pair of chopsticks since you're here," Kanon said with a light laugh, looking at the stoic Pain.
The members of the Team Hana were stunned by the sight of Pain's Rinnegan. This was their first time meeting Pain, though they had seen Konan a few times already.
"Is this the leader of the Akatsuki, Pain? The pressure he gives off is truly intense." Sakon and Ukon's bodies trembled as they stared at the Rinnegan.
Kanon, however, giggled as she picked up some food and offered it to Konan.
"Konan-nee, look at the new dish I learned!"
"Kanon, we've come to tell you that the organization is ready to make its move." Konan was interrupted by Kanon before she could finish.
"I know. But you've traveled a long way; eat first."
"We can talk while we eat."
Seeing Kanon's sweet smile, Konan and Pain exchanged a look and began to eat as well.
"The organization's plan to hunt the Tailed Beasts will begin in a few days. Kanon, your squad will go to Kumogakure to capture the Two-Tails. How does that sound?" Pain asked.
"The Two-Tails?" Kanon nodded slightly.
Seeing Pain look her way, Konan reached inside her Akatsuki robe and pulled out a stack of documents from a hidden fold. "This is the intel on the Two-Tails Jinchuriki, Yugito Nii."
After glancing at the documents, Kanon's expression turned slightly grave.
"A perfect Jinchuriki? She can already enter a Tailed Beast State at will."
"Yes. We originally intended to send Kakuzu and Hidan, but your Team Hana hasn't seen action yet. Use this as a trial," Pain stated.
He trusted Kanon's strength implicitly. Moreover, she was his fellow student; compared to others in the organization, Nagato preferred to entrust such important matters to Kanon. Since she had already captured the Five-Tails, her strength was proven.
Konan reached out her slender hand and firmly grasped Kanon's delicate palm, her voice filled with concern. "Don't push yourself, Kanon. If it proves too difficult, we will send Hidan and Kakuzu to handle it."
"It's fine. Leave it to me." Kanon looked at the four members of her squad. After Tayuya and the others gave her reassuring nods, the meal concluded with Pain explaining the Akatsuki's philosophy to the group.
After seeing Konan and Pain off, Kanon spoke softly to her team.
"We leave tomorrow for the Hidden Cloud Village."
"Alright! Team Hana's first battle is against the Two-Tails?!" Jirobo was somewhat excited.
"Your techniques are too flashy. If we run into trouble, try to keep your hands to yourself," Sakon joked.
The next day.
Outside Otagakure, the members of the Team Hana had all donned their Akatsuki robes. At their head stood the leader, the fourteen-year-old girl who was half a head shorter than the rest: Kanon Uchiha.
"The objective for this trip to Kumogakure is clear. Although Yugito Nii is a perfect Jinchuriki, the place she stays is barely guarded; the village has her stationed in a remote area."
"Our mission is to capture her alive and bring her back to the Akatsuki."
After Kanon restated the mission objective, the group began their journey toward Kumogakure.
…
"Pervy Sage, why do you look so grim?"
Having returned from training, Naruto had grown quite a bit taller. He looked at Jiraiya, who was sitting in the room with a heavy expression, and felt confused.
"Take a look at this." Jiraiya placed a newspaper on the table. Naruto looked at it, his expression also turning serious. The headline reported the disappearance of the Five-Tails Jinchuriki, seemingly captured by a masked woman with twin tails.
According to descriptions from witnesses Kurotsuchi and Akatsuchi, the opponent appeared to be around thirteen or fourteen years old.
"This description..." Jiraiya's tone was heavy.
"It was Kanon, wasn't it?" Naruto lowered his head.
"Yeah... it's very likely she joined the Akatsuki," Jiraiya said grimly.
"What do we do, Pervy Sage?"
"The information isn't fully confirmed yet, but I hope it isn't her." Jiraiya patted Naruto's shoulder.
Naruto's expression grew dim. "In the past, I always took Kanon's kindness for granted, like it was just something a good friend was supposed to do... I never really paid enough attention..."
"Pervy Sage... I regret it now."
Jiraiya sighed softly. "I regret it too, not stopping things before they happened."
"Naruto, it's time to train."
…
Orochimaru's Hideout.
"Sasuke, here is today's newspaper." Kabuto handed the paper to Sasuke.
"Why are you showing me this? Tell Orochimaru to come and practice new jutsu with me. I need to get stronger so I can kill Itachi!"
"Don't be in such a hurry, Sasuke. There's news about Kanon in here."
"What?!"
Sasuke immediately snatched the newspaper. Sure enough, there was news regarding Kanon inside.
"It's her, no doubt." Sasuke nodded slightly.
"Has Kanon joined the Akatsuki? Does she intend to take down Itachi before I do?" Sasuke frowned as he spoke. He understood that Kanon was stronger than him. If she beat him to it, while it wouldn't change the outcome, Sasuke would still feel unsettled.
"What is Kanon thinking?" Kabuto asked, puzzled.
"Her hatred is no less than mine. She's definitely preparing to kill Itachi. Kabuto, go tell Orochimaru to come and train me. I must keep getting stronger!"
Watching Kabuto's retreating back as he went to find Orochimaru, Sasuke sighed softly.
"The matter of revenge should just be left to your brother... Kanon, you didn't need to shoulder this..."
Looking at the description of Kanon in the newspaper, Sasuke's expression turned lonely. It was all because he wasn't strong enough that Kanon had to suffer such bitterness. He really was a failure as an older brother...
…
The Hidden Leaf Village.
Kakashi's hand trembled slightly as he held the newspaper. Although it hadn't been confirmed, it was truly possible that Kanon had joined the Akatsuki. If she had, then her words about "destroying Konoha" were definitely not just an angry outburst.
While Kakashi was lost in thought, Sakura walked over from a distance, also holding a newspaper. Her voice was trembling, and there were even tears in her eyes.
"Kakashi-sensei... is this true? We don't know if it's her yet, but... did Kanon really join the Akatsuki?"
"Sakura, nothing is set in stone yet. It could be someone else..."
"It shouldn't be Kanon, right? How could she join the Akatsuki..."
"Yeah... let's wait for more news."
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