oSometimes the most dangerous move… looks like a mistake.
Konan found Gen's calm reaction puzzling.
To her, the name Uchiha Madara should strike fear into any shinobi from Konoha. So why did he react as if he had never even heard it?
Madara wasn't a man of this era. In everyone's understanding, he had long been dead. And yet—
here he stood in the flesh.
Aside from those who already knew the truth, how could anyone remain unmoved?
"Uchiha Madara…" Gen tilted his head toward Itachi. "That name sounds kind of familiar. One of your clan? A classmate or something? I don't recall hearing about him."
Itachi quickly explained, "He's the ancestor of the Uchiha clan—the one who founded Konoha alongside the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju."
Obito snapped angrily, "Don't compare me to that man who stole the fruits of victory!"
Watching his clumsy performance, Gen's acting instincts kicked in. He thought for a moment, then shook his head seriously.
"Sorry. Never studied that period. Don't know him."
"…."
Obito's gaze turned even colder.
Where had Nagato found this freak?
A Konoha ninja who didn't know Madara?
Could he even be called a Konoha ninja?
Both Itachi and Konan frowned slightly, but neither spoke.
Then—
Gen turned toward Obito and Zetsu and delivered the killing blow:
"Besides… no matter how I look at it, this guy doesn't seem that strong."
"You—!"
Obito flared up.
But with the Deva Path present, he couldn't act.
Forcing himself to calm down, he flicked his sleeve and glared at Gen. "Brat. I look forward to your performance in this organization. Don't disappoint me."
With that, he turned to Zetsu.
"We're leaving."
Pain watched them go, then turned to Gen.
"…You really don't know Uchiha Madara?"
Gen shook his head.
"Of course I know the name. I'm not that ignorant."
He paused.
"But… is he really Madara?"
Pain's eyes widened slightly.
Konan and Itachi were both stunned.
Itachi spoke thoughtfully, "He does possess the Mangekyō Sharingan… but that alone doesn't prove he's truly Madara."
"Hahaha!" Gen laughed. "Either way, he didn't like me the moment he walked in. Since I've already offended him… might as well go all the way."
Konan sighed inwardly.
Only someone with his strength could afford such arrogance.
If it were any other Konoha ninja, not trembling at the sight of Madara would already be impressive—let alone speaking to him like that.
…
…
A dark corridor.
Space twisted.
Only after putting distance between himself and Gen's quarters did Obito attempt to use Kamui again.
This time—
it worked.
The tension in his chest eased slightly.
White Zetsu asked curiously, "Obito, why did you suddenly stop earlier?"
Obito stepped into the Kamui dimension.
Zetsu followed.
Both vanished into the darkness.
Inside the Kamui space, stone slabs floated in disarray.
Obito spoke in a low voice, "I couldn't use Kamui just now."
White Zetsu froze.
"…What? That's impossible."
"Exactly. I don't understand it either."
Obito stared into the void.
"There's something wrong with that guy."
White Zetsu asked, "So what are you going to do about him?"
Obito smirked.
"We don't have to deal with him ourselves."
"He uses Itachi and Nagato as shields…"
"…we can use the other villages against him."
White Zetsu lit up.
"Brilliant! Obito, you're a genius!"
Obito fell silent.
Akatsuki's roster was nearly complete, and at such a critical moment, a variable like Kamizuki Gen had appeared.
He couldn't tell—
if it was a blessing or a curse.
White Zetsu added, "Do you think he might be a spy sent by Konoha?"
Obito let out a cold laugh.
"Isn't Itachi already Konoha's spy?"
"No need for them to send two geniuses."
White Zetsu considered it.
"Maybe Konoha's higher-ups didn't value him, so they pushed him out?"
"…."
Obito went quiet.
Then he couldn't help but mutter,
"…If that's the case, Konoha's move is ruthless."
After a moment, he shook his head.
"From Pain's attitude, Nagato intends to protect him."
"We can't fall out with Nagato yet."
"Let him run free for now. The main plan comes first."
White Zetsu nodded eagerly.
"You're right!"
Obito's voice turned cold again.
"Even if he really is as strong as you say…"
"…someone will deal with him eventually."
He let out a low chuckle.
"Do you really think he could surpass Madara?"
…
…
Gen's quarters.
A brief silence settled.
Konan looked at Itachi, still drenched.
"Uchiha Itachi, welcome to Akatsuki. I'll have someone arrange your lodging."
Itachi paused, then nodded.
"Thank you."
At Konan's signal, two attendants arrived and led him away—though he clearly wanted to speak with Gen longer.
As the leader, Pain said nothing more.
He simply glanced at Gen, confirming he was unharmed—
then vanished.
"Finally, some peace," Gen said, his smile returning.
He looked at Konan.
"Any missions coming up?"
Konan shook her head.
"Before the tailed beast plan begins, we don't assign fixed missions. However, members must regularly take high-paying bounties from black markets across various nations. The organization provides access and support."
"Each member must complete at least one S-rank mission per month."
"You can also team up with others."
"The organization takes a cut of the reward."
Gen nodded.
"Fair enough. I'll visit one of the black market channels before the end of the month."
"Alright."
Konan turned to leave.
But Gen stopped her.
"One more thing—does the organization have something like a jutsu archive? A place with scrolls available for members to study?"
Konan almost asked—
With your strength, you still need to study?
But then she paused.
Perhaps—
that was exactly why he was so strong.
After a moment of thought, she replied, "Yes. There's a storage facility from when Hanzō of the Salamander controlled Amegakure. It holds collected scrolls."
"I'll take you there tomorrow morning."
"Perfect."
Gen smiled.
"That's all. Get some rest, Konan."
"…."
Her body dissolved into countless sheets of paper—
and scattered into the air.
Gen stood up, surveying the luxurious room.
The furniture.
The paintings.
All priceless.
He chuckled.
"Hanzō of the Salamander… we really are connected."
Everything here had once been part of Hanzō's personal collection.
When the maids first arranged the room, it had been too plain for his taste. So he asked Konan for something more… extravagant.
And she—
had simply handed over what remained of Hanzō's legacy.
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