The quiet base hidden within the ruined building of the Land of Rain was unusually warm that night.
Outside, the storm raged endlessly. Rain hammered the cracked concrete walls, and cold wind swept through the empty streets of the ruined city. Anyone passing by would assume this building was abandoned long ago.
But inside, it was a completely different world.
The comforting smell of steak sizzling in oil filled the air, mixing with the crisp sound of cutlery clinking against porcelain plates. A soft golden light from the ceiling lamps reflected across the luxurious dining table.
For a moment, the violent rain outside seemed like a distant dream.
Yahiko sat at the table, staring intensely at the steak in front of him.
His expression looked as serious as if he were facing a dangerous enemy.
With somewhat clumsy movements, he tried cutting the steak with his knife and fork. Unfortunately, his technique was so unrefined that the steak kept sliding across the plate.
"This thing is harder to deal with than an enemy ninja," Yahiko muttered in frustration.
Across from him, Nagato sat quietly.
Unlike Yahiko, his movements were calm and refined. Every motion carried a strange elegance.
However, his Rinnegan occasionally drifted toward the broccoli sitting on his plate.
He stared at it with deep suspicion.
To Nagato, the strange green vegetable looked more like a poisonous plant than food.
Meanwhile, Konan sat peacefully beside Uchiha Tsukiko.
She had gradually gotten used to Tsukiko feeding her during meals. At the moment, she was carefully sipping the warm cream of mushroom soup.
A tiny spot of white cream had unknowingly landed at the corner of her lips.
Tsukiko noticed it immediately.
But instead of pointing it out, she simply smiled mischievously.
Just as the peaceful dinner continued—
A faint rustling sound suddenly came from the floor.
The thick wool carpet shifted slightly.
Tsukiko's hand froze.
Her sharp eyes immediately caught sight of something moving beneath the door.
A small white snake.
It was extremely thin—barely thicker than a chopstick—and it slowly squeezed itself through the narrow gap under the door.
The tiny creature seemed completely fearless.
It ignored Yahiko's large feet that could easily crush it and slithered directly toward Tsukiko's chair.
It climbed up the carved wooden table leg and coiled itself neatly beside Tsukiko's wine glass.
"Whoa!"
Yahiko nearly jumped out of his seat.
"A snake?!"
His fork clattered loudly onto the plate.
"Didn't we clear this place before using it as a base? Why are there still snakes inside?!"
Nagato's expression instantly became serious.
His hands began forming a hand sign.
But before he could activate any jutsu—
Tsukiko casually waved her hand.
"Relax, relax."
"It's not an enemy."
She gently tapped the little snake's head with her finger.
"This one is just… a courier."
The white snake flicked its tongue happily.
Then, it opened its mouth.
And smoothly spat out a small scroll.
It was covered in snake saliva.
But otherwise perfectly intact.
Tsukiko sighed dramatically while wiping the scroll with a napkin.
"Tsk… that guy is really impatient."
"It's only been a few days since we last met, and he's already checking up on me."
She slowly opened the scroll.
The handwriting on it was elegant but carried a chilling aura.
The sender signed it with only one letter.
"O".
Konan looked uneasy.
"Tsukiko… who sent that message?"
Tsukiko smiled lazily.
"Oh, just a friend."
"A very strange friend."
"You could call him… my scientific advisor."
Yahiko blinked.
"Our organization has a scientific advisor now?"
"Since when?"
Tsukiko stabbed a piece of steak and stuffed it into her mouth.
"Since just now."
"He's an external member."
"No salary."
Nagato remained silent.
His Rinnegan stared at the white snake.
"The chakra in that snake…"
"It feels extremely sinister."
Tsukiko shrugged casually.
"Don't worry."
"That guy may be a creepy weirdo obsessed with immortality and experiments…"
"But as long as you give him the right bait…"
"He's the most useful ally in the ninja world."
She picked up a napkin and scribbled a quick reply.
Then she rolled it up and shoved it into the snake's mouth.
"Alright."
"Message delivered."
"Off you go, Little White."
The snake looked extremely offended.
But after swallowing the napkin, it obediently slithered away.
The warm dinner atmosphere slowly returned.
Yet an invisible shadow seemed to linger in the air.
---
Meanwhile…
Inside the towering fortress of the Hidden Rain Village.
The residence of Hanzō the Salamander.
The atmosphere there was completely different.
Cold.
Heavy.
Oppressive.
Dim candlelight flickered inside the chamber.
Two old men sat facing each other across a table.
Each hiding dangerous ambitions behind calm expressions.
Danzo Shimura sat quietly in the shadows.
His cane rested beside him.
His single exposed eye glowed with a cold, calculating light.
Rainwater dripped from the edge of his cloak.
Across from him sat the legendary war hero.
Hanzō the Salamander.
Even in old age, the aura of slaughter surrounding him remained terrifying.
"Danzo."
Hanzō spoke through his respirator mask.
"You claim that the organization known as Akatsuki is secretly building power?"
"That they intend to overthrow my rule in the Land of Rain?"
Danzo nodded slowly.
"Yes."
"Those children speak of peace."
"But extreme ideals are the most dangerous poison."
"If we allow them to grow stronger…"
"They will become a threat to both our nations."
Hanzō remained silent.
His sharp eyes carefully studied Danzo.
He didn't trust the man from Konoha.
But Danzo's words were not entirely wrong.
Recently…
Akatsuki's reputation had grown dangerously fast.
Rumors spread that the organization possessed mysterious new weapons of terrifying power.
Even Hanzō had begun to feel uneasy.
Finally, he spoke.
"Cooperation… may be possible."
"But Danzo…"
"I've heard some interesting rumors about you."
Danzo's heart skipped a beat.
"What rumors?"
Hanzō's eyes narrowed.
"I heard that your hatred toward the Third Hokage…"
"…might actually be a strange form of affection."
For a moment—
The room fell silent.
Then—
Danzo choked violently.
"WHAT?!"
His face turned red with rage.
"ABSOLUTE NONSENSE!"
"That is slander!"
"Defamation!"
"Hiruzen and I merely have political disagreements!"
"Which idiot spread such a ridiculous rumor?!"
Hanzō laughed deeply.
"Calm down."
"It's just a rumor."
"They say you constantly provoke him because you want his attention."
Danzo's fury exploded.
He slammed his cane onto the floor.
BOOM!
The stone cracked under the impact.
"Enough!"
"If you intend to insult me, Lord Hanzō, then this meeting is over!"
Hanzō stopped laughing.
His expression turned cold again.
"Very well."
"Let us return to business."
He leaned forward slightly.
"How do you plan to deal with Akatsuki?"
Danzo's voice became icy.
"We invite them for peace negotiations."
"Then we ambush them."
"Capture the woman named Konan."
"And force the others to surrender."
Hanzō frowned slightly.
"Using a hostage?"
"That seems… dishonorable."
Danzo snorted.
"Those who seek great achievements cannot worry about honor."
"As long as the mission succeeds, the method doesn't matter."
"And while we're at it…"
"There is also a new girl in their group."
"We eliminate her as well."
Hanzō considered this quietly.
Then finally nodded.
"Very well."
"Tomorrow I will send the invitation."
Thus, the deadly trap for Akatsuki was quietly set into motion.
---
Back at the Akatsuki base…
Uchiha Tsukiko lay comfortably on the sofa.
Konan sat beside her.
Tsukiko had her head resting in Konan's lap.
The blue-haired woman absentmindedly stroked her hair.
Completely unaware that a massive conspiracy was forming.
Tsukiko burped lazily.
"Sister Konan…"
"When we get rich someday…"
"Should we buy everyone those chakra-powered massage chairs?"
Konan blinked.
"What?"
Tsukiko continued talking.
"Yahiko complains about back pain every day."
"That's not illness."
"That's poverty."
"The only cure is robbing Hanzō's treasury."
Konan sighed softly.
"Don't speak nonsense."
"Lord Hanzō is still the leader of this village."
"And we need money to buy food for the orphans."
Tsukiko pouted.
"Food will be easy once we take down those corrupt nobles."
Then she grabbed Konan's finger playfully.
"But seriously…"
"If someday someone tries to hurt you…"
"You must hide behind me."
Konan looked surprised.
"Why?"
Tsukiko grinned.
"Because I'm a genius."
"And I'm thick-skinned."
"I can take a beating."
"But if you got hurt…"
"I'd be really sad."
Konan stared silently at the girl resting in her lap.
Something warm stirred in her heart.
After a long moment—
She gently stroked Tsukiko's back.
"…Okay."
"You too."
Tsukiko immediately brightened.
"Oh, by the way—"
"Tomorrow morning I want egg rolls."
"With double sugar."
Konan sighed.
"…You glutton."
Outside…
The rain continued to fall endlessly.
And neither of them realized that the storm about to arrive would change everything.
A deadly trap had already begun to close around Akatsuki.
--------------------------------
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