The ritual for the Sealing Technique: Nine Phantom Dragons lasted three days and three nights. Once it concluded, the spectral projections of the members flickered and vanished.
As Pain, Konan, Kakuzu, and Hidan emerged from the sealing chamber, Kanon stepped forward to meet them.
"Do I have a new assignment?" Kanon asked, looking toward Pain.
"Yes. I've already dispatched Tobi and Deidara as a team to capture the wild Three-Tails." Pain shifted his gaze to her. "Kanon, for the time being, you will be teamed up with Kakuzu and Hidan."
"Eh?! Me with Kakuzu-nii and Hidan-nii?" Kanon looked at the two men and Pain in surprise.
"I'm the one who requested it," Kakuzu said, a faint, predatory glint of satisfaction in his eyes. "Kanon, I think highly of your potential."
"Oh?!" Kanon felt a bit flattered. It wasn't every day that Kakuzu, of all people, offered such blunt praise.
"Indeed," Pain added. "You haven't been with the organization long. Spend this time operating with Kakuzu and Hidan."
"I understand," Kanon nodded softly.
Kakuzu walked over with a slight smirk and handed her a bounty ledger.
"This is..." Kanon took it, scratching her head in confusion.
"The organization's expenses are high, so the burden of funding falls to us," Kakuzu explained. "Kanon-chan, take a look. Which of these marks catch your eye?"
Under Kakuzu's expectant gaze, Kanon flipped open the latest bounty manual.
"Hmm, this is the most recent update."
Her eyes quickly locked onto several targets. "Kakuzu-nii, these few are nearby, and they're the type who kill indiscriminately. Let's go take them out," Kanon murmured.
"These? The pay is average, but since they're close and there are several of them... I suppose they'll do." Kakuzu nodded. It seemed Kanon's criteria for selection prioritized efficiency and distance over the individual size of the bounty.
Though not particularly ambitious, it was a valid strategy; speed was its own form of profit. Moreover, the targets she had grouped together made for an excellent circuit.
"I think we can refine the plan further," Kakuzu said, leaning down beside Kanon. The two of them began analyzing the bounty targets side-by-side.
Pain and Konan watched the scene, shaking their heads with faint smiles. After all, it was for the good of the organization's coffers—what could they say? Seeing Kanon getting along so well with the others brought a small smile to Konan's face.
"Come inside to finish. The rain is about to get heavier."
"True. Let's head in," Kanon said, continuing her discussion with Kakuzu.
The two chatted animatedly. Simply put, both shared a keen interest in money, though Kanon wasn't quite as obsessed as Kakuzu.
Feeling a bit left out, Hidan could only follow behind them with a sigh, feeling like the "new guy" for once. However, he genuinely liked Kanon. She was like the little sister of the group; every time they met, she would check on his well-being, a level of warmth that was otherwise non-existent within the Akatsuki.
Kanon's presence had brought a touch of humanity to the organization, making her a favorite among the members.
"Hidan-nii, look. This guy here apparently doesn't believe in Lord Jashin."
"What?! Which bastard dares to disrespect Lord Jashin?!"
Kanon pointed to a photo in the ledger where the man was clearly wearing an amulet specifically meant to ward off "evil gods."
"That piece of trash!"
"Let's go kill him first!" Kanon suggested.
"Right! He has to go!"
"Then you'll take the lead on that one, Hidan-nii! After all, Lord Jashin is your faith. I truly admire that devotion!" Kanon coaxed him like a child, leaving Hidan grinning from ear to ear.
"Of course! Even if you haven't joined yet, you must maintain your respect for Lord Jashin!"
"Yes, yes, I know!" Kanon gave a helpless shrug and shared a knowing look with Kakuzu.
"Kakuzu-nii, do you have a pen?"
"Here." Kakuzu pulled a pen from the folds of his Akatsuki cloak and handed it to her.
Kanon began mapping out an optimized route based on the targets' locations. She even noted which counters to use against specific ninjas and who should deliver the final blow.
It was meticulous. Kakuzu found himself increasingly impressed with Kanon; she was the best partner he had ever chosen. She was truly committed to the grind.
"Alright, let's move out! Kakuzu-nii, for the first one, your Earth Grudge Fear fire-style abilities are a perfect counter. I'll use my Sharingan to pin him down, and then you..."
Kanon and Kakuzu both shared a sly, conniving grin. While Kanon's smile remained cute, Kakuzu's was decidedly more sinister.
Watching the two of them hit it off, Pain and Konan finally turned to leave.
"Nagato... our junior disciple is..."
"That girl... she truly is a student of Jiraiya-sensei," Pain said with a shake of his head as he and Konan departed.
A short while later, the trio of Kanon, Hidan, and Kakuzu set off.
…
Three days later. The Hidden Leaf Village. The Hokage's Office.
"Next file!" Tsunade shouted.
"Here!" Shizune quickly handed over a document.
Tsunade didn't even look at it before slamming down the Hokage's seal. She was flying through the paperwork, stamping one after another without a second glance.
In record time, the entire stack was processed.
"That's... quite rare," Shizune noted, looking down with a helpless expression. "Tsunade-sama is actually working so diligently."
"I suppose so."
As Tsunade stared at her tea, she flashed back to the day Naruto's mission failed. Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane, the advisors to the Third Hokage, had cornered her to deliver a lecture.
"We heard the commotion was caused by only a few dangerous elements?"
"How embarrassing, Tsunade-hime."
"If the surrounding nations—no, if even the Daimyo hears of this, Konoha will become a laughingstock!"
"This is the direct result of the orders you issued!"
Homura and Koharu had piled on the pressure while Tsunade sat with her legs crossed, ignoring them.
"Why haven't you sent anyone to assassinate Kanon Uchiha?!"
"A lack of decisiveness will put the village in danger. Bear that in mind."
"Since Kanon and Sasuke Uchiha have become rogue ninja, the Anbu should have been dispatched to hunt them down. Why are you staying your hand?"
Recalling those two ancient, withered faces, Tsunade gritted her teeth so hard the tea in her cup trembled.
"Those old geezers... they sure know how to talk big!"
"If I don't finish this work, I'll never hear the end of it!" Tsunade thought, slamming her cup down in frustration. "Damn it!"
Seeing Tsunade's fury, Shizune quickly tried to change the subject. "Oh, right! The report from the individual in contact with Jiraiya-sama has been submitted."
She handed the file to Tsunade.
…
Konoha Hospital.
Sakura was peeling an apple for Naruto and Sai.
Naruto, however, was talking in his sleep.
"Kanon... thank you... but... not here."
"Ah... if you insist on feeding me... then... I guess I have no choice..."
Naruto squirmed under the covers. Sai, who was already awake, watched him with a look of pure confusion.
"It seems Kanon is very important to Naruto," Sai remarked.
"Yeah. Before, he never looked at her properly. He took her kindness for granted, but I think he understands now," Sakura said sadly.
"I see. So humans only learn to cherish something once they've lost it?" Sai mused.
"Yeah... isn't that the truth?" Sakura's expression darkened. She remembered that day, the scene of Sasuke leaving the village alone while she stood there, powerless to do anything.
If I had been able to stop Sasuke that day, would things be different now?
Suddenly, the door swung open. Kakashi walked in, hands in his pockets.
Seeing Sakura with her head down and Naruto lost in a romantic dream, seemingly agonized by a choice between Sakura and Kanon, Kakashi could only stare in speechless disbelief.