Amegakure, the Village Hidden in the Rain, nestled within the Land of Rain.
In the eyes of the world, this hidden village was ruled by the man hailed as the "Demigod," Hanzo the Salamander. Although the Land of Rain was but a small nation, and Amegakure not counted among the Five Great Shinobi Villages, its leader, Hanzo, still commanded influence comparable to that of a Kage. He was known for his ruthless methods, yet also respected for upholding a sense of justice and reason.
This reputation naturally implied that Hanzo possessed strength on par with a Kage; after all, in the shinobi world, power is the foundation of all influence.
However, what the world didn't know was that Hanzo's nominal rule was now just that—nominal. It was hard to say if his grand reputation had simply become difficult to live up to, but Hanzo probably never anticipated encountering someone using cheats. In short, by now, the grass on Hanzo's grave was likely a meter tall.
Not that Hanzo would have much to regret, except perhaps his failure to eliminate his enemies completely—the folly of not cutting the grass and removing the roots. The Akatsuki had once been a ninja organization within the Land of Rain. Although they wore Ame headbands, they were not truly subordinate to Amegakure nor did they follow Hanzo's orders. Consequently, Hanzo had attempted to annihilate them, but failed…
Could one say he was wrong? After all, insurgents couldn't simply be ignored. Furthermore, Hanzo believed the Akatsuki's ideals were dangerously detached from reality; allowing them to flourish would only lead to Amegakure's destruction. Thus, he acted when he felt he had to.
The result? The combined power of Amegakure's Hanzo and Konoha's Root only managed to eliminate the Akatsuki's leader, Yahiko. The remaining members escaped. Some time later, facing Nagato—once a seemingly insignificant member of the Akatsuki—the "Demigod" Hanzo was forced to cooperate, only to promptly kick the bucket.
There was no helping it; Nagato was genuinely hacking the system.
By now, Amegakure had effectively changed hands. However, Pain, the figurehead standing in the spotlight, and Nagato, concealed behind him, continued to rule the village using Hanzo's name. Hanzo's reputation was simply too useful to discard. This demonstrated the pragmatism of shinobi: they valued substance over appearances. So what if they borrowed someone else's name?
Disagree? They'd scatter your ashes to the wind.
For at least another decade or so, the intelligence reports of the Five Great Shinobi Villages would incorrectly state that Hanzo the Salamander maintained stable control over Amegakure. But this didn't mean Pain's activities were entirely airtight secrets. In fact, among a very small circle of shinobi within Amegakure, rumors were already beginning to circulate about a change in leadership.
Since the new leader had defeated the former "Demigod," possessed an aura of deep mystery, operated with elusive unpredictability, and, most importantly, wielded power unprecedented in Amegakure's history, it wasn't surprising that he came to be called "God."
And if a "God" existed, then the one who constantly followed him, acting as his messenger and conveying his orders, naturally became known as the "Angel."
Outwardly, Amegakure appeared much the same as it had for the past decade. Compared to the Five Great Shinobi Villages, it was merely an easily overlooked corner of the shinobi world. No one would ever suspect that it had become the breeding ground for a catastrophe capable of engulfing the entire world.
In a hidden room deep within Amegakure, a single candlestick flickered faintly on the floor at the center. Arranged around it in a triangular formation were three high-backed, semi-enclosed chairs.
Sitting in these chairs felt less like sitting and more like half-reclining within an upright coffin—theoretically eerie, yet comfortable.
The secret room admitted no light, and the weak candlelight barely penetrated the oppressive darkness.
Currently, three individuals occupied the room—or more accurately, one normal human, one individual modified with White Zetsu cells, and one talking corpse.
Uchiha Obito and the Tendo Path, "Yahiko," occupied two of the chairs, while Konan stood slightly behind Yahiko's seat.
The leadership of Amegakure, or rather the Akatsuki, possessed a complex structure. The nominal leader, "Pain," was merely a corpse puppet. Behind Pain stood Nagato, paralyzed from the waist down. Behind Nagato lurked Uchiha Obito, his right side effectively paralyzed and replaced by Zetsu. And behind Obito lingered the influence of Uchiha Madara, who refused to rest even in death.
Beyond even Madara were Black Zetsu and the Otsutsuki, weaving layer upon layer of conspiracies.
"Orochimaru hasn't returned," Konan stated. "We've lost contact."
"Orochimaru dealt with the Third Hokage; that much is certain," Obito replied. "He undoubtedly paid a heavy price for it. And being the cunning snake he is, he wouldn't let himself be seen by us in a weakened state."
Konan had intended to criticize the "Masked Man" before her for failing in his responsibility to keep an eye on Orochimaru, but Obito chose to be stubborn. Taking out the Third Hokage is accomplishment enough, he seemed to imply. Who can guarantee they could defeat a Hokage without injury? You think he was just some common field mob?
The saying goes, "Confession brings leniency, resistance means seeing the prison floor," but Konan's accusation and Obito's deflection were entirely different matters. Yet, Obito's self-righteous tone was so strong that Konan opened her mouth, then found herself unable to press the issue further.
The real question was, what had Uchiha Obito been doing while Orochimaru fought the Third Hokage? The answer: engaging in some "five-finger discount" activities. And, in a way, he hadn't even succeeded initially, only managing to scavenge some subpar items later thanks to White Zetsu's efforts.
Konan could only press on, "I still believe Orochimaru is too dangerous. He cannot be trusted."
"Trust?" Obito scoffed. "Why waste time on such luxuries? This is merely mutual exploitation."
"Mutual exploitation"—those two words said it all. It wasn't just about the Akatsuki and Orochimaru using each other; the two men present in this very room were doing the same. As for Konan's warning about Orochimaru's danger, both men radiated supreme confidence. They dismissed Orochimaru's actions, viewing them almost condescendingly as mere minor squabbles.
Pain—or rather, Nagato—was truly wary of the "Masked Man" before him. Likewise, Uchiha Obito kept a constant watch on Nagato, guarding against any potential hidden betrayal.
At that moment, the Tendo "Yahiko" spoke, his voice calm and certain. "Rest assured. Orochimaru will not betray us for now. He will return to the organization. These eyes see it clearly."
As he spoke, he gestured towards the Rinnegan swirling in his eye sockets.
It wasn't that the Rinnegan could see through Orochimaru's intentions, but rather that Orochimaru was a ninja driven mad by overwhelming curiosity and a relentless research spirit. For the sake of these eyes, he would inevitably return to the Akatsuki.
"Very well. Orochimaru is your responsibility then," Obito smoothly passed the problem to Nagato. He personally wasn't very interested in Orochimaru, merely unwilling to easily discard such a potent combatant.
After a moment's thought, he offered his ally an explanation:
"At this stage, we still need to accumulate power, so we cannot easily abandon Orochimaru. Despite his inscrutable motives, they don't concern us, do they…? Simultaneously, we also need to continue recruiting new blood."
"On the night of the Uchiha rebellion in Konoha, I encountered Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi. As expected of the Uchiha clan's young prodigies, both possess formidable strength. Unfortunately, Shisui died, and I failed to obtain his eyes. However, Uchiha Itachi, now a Konoha missing-nin, is worth further contact and recruitment efforts."
Obito conveniently omitted any mention of his own conflict with the two Uchiha, nor the fact that he was nearly incinerated by Amaterasu. To maintain his mystique and image of power, how could he possibly complain about hardship or fatigue? True strength wasn't about constant victory; it was about swallowing your broken teeth and carrying on.
Besides, injuries to Obito didn't require healing, just reassembly. He recovered quickly—just replace the broken parts. SO EASY.
Therefore, Obito himself didn't get injured; it was always White Zetsu who took the damage. This biological discrimination prompted every conscientious observer to ask: White Zetsu loves Obito, but who the hell loves White Zetsu?
"The Uchiha Itachi rumored to have played a major role in the Uchiha clan massacre? Can we truly recruit him?" Konan couldn't help but ask.
Uchiha Obito nodded. "It's not a rumor. Itachi made significant sacrifices to help Konoha resolve the Uchiha problem. And what did he receive in return? When ideals shatter, one either becomes dead inside or… needs a new ideal. Despite his strength, Uchiha Itachi is merely a young ninja. He is too young."
Although Obito had previously shown hostility towards Shisui and Itachi, he now felt Itachi was approachable. There was no harm in trying. He had already witnessed those black flames; with preparation and the advantage of intelligence, Itachi's threat was limited.
Truthfully, Obito might indeed be able to "persuade" Uchiha Itachi. However, his constant emphasis on Itachi being a "young ninja," as if implying he was easily manipulated, demonstrated a fundamental lack of understanding of Itachi's character. Obito likely had no idea why Itachi might actually be persuaded by him.
"Alright. Then we shall proceed separately," Nagato finally approved the plan to recruit Uchiha Itachi.
On the other side of the Land of Rain, the fine drizzle continued, ceaseless. The country truly lived up to its name; it felt as though it rained every single day.
Near the southern border of the Land of Rain, Amegakure maintained a mission assignment point, aiming to poach business from the major hidden villages to the east and west. To the south lay the Land of Rivers, a nation without its own hidden village. Although post-war agreements technically forbade Sunagakure from accepting missions in the Land of Rivers, that was a treaty between Konoha and Suna. What did it have to do with Amegakure?
For the average client, assigning a mission was just assigning a mission. Amegakure was closer, cheaper, and offered attentive service.
At that moment, a figure holding a massive black umbrella, clad in black attire with a black mask covering their face, approached the few Amegakure shinobi stationed at the mission point. Their appearance immediately put the ninja on alert.
Someone dressed so abnormally was either trying to hide from the light or planning some "five-finger discount" shopping.
The mysterious figure reached the counter and spoke straightforwardly, their voice disguised and hoarse, "I wish to commission a mission. I wonder if Amegakure can accept it."
Huh. Despite the suspicious attire, the person was surprisingly polite, their voice even hinting at a trace of nervousness.
"What mission do you wish to assign?" an Ame ninja inquired.
The figure placed a sturdy case on the counter before them and opened it, revealing stacks upon stacks of banknotes. "A very simple task, depending on whether you have the nerve to accept. The payment is one hundred million ryo, payable in full, right now."
They even offered the entire sum upfront, seemingly unconcerned about the possibility of mission failure.
However, seeing such a vast amount of money didn't make the Amegakure ninja lose their heads. They understood that the larger the sum, the higher the mission's complexity and danger.
After displaying the payment, the mysterious figure handed over a mission scroll. An Ame ninja took it, opened it, and immediately shot up from his chair.
"This… You… We…"
Ignoring the reaction, the mysterious figure began adding their own dramatic backstory, "Not long ago, our stronghold in the Land of Fire was attacked by unidentified shinobi. We suspect this was sanctioned by high-ranking officials within the Land of Fire. Therefore, we are compelled to enact proportional retaliation."
He was impersonating someone from a Bounty Station. Some people truly lacked scruples—not only robbing the Bounty Station but now posing as its representative… Hmm, then again, isn't the person holding the Bounty Station's money effectively a representative of the Bounty Station? Perhaps there's no flaw in that logic.
"But Konoha…"
"Konoha is preoccupied with its own affairs right now; they can't spare the forces."
"This mission carries immense consequences. We have decided not to—"
"Hold on."
Before the ninja could finish, he was interrupted by a man who emerged from the back of the mission post.
This man was tall but otherwise seemed unremarkable. If he had any distinguishing feature, it was perhaps his pair of grass-green eyes. This was none other than Kakuzu, the former Takigakure missing-nin, now a member of the Akatsuki.
His current role within the organization was primarily fundraising for its continued development, and collecting money happened to be his personal hobby. Thus, there was no way he would let one hundred million ryo slip through his fingers right before his eyes.
He glanced at the mission scroll, pausing only for a fraction of a second—clearly, such requests were rare, but rarity didn't mean impossibility. After looking back at the cash on the table, he reached out and closed the case for the mysterious figure.
Aside from the potential for severe political upheaval, the mission itself wasn't particularly difficult. Kakuzu knew that following the recent turmoil in Konoha, the Guardian Shinobi Twelve, responsible for protecting the core of the Fire Capital, had been disbanded. The new Hokage hadn't yet had time to implement new defense policies… This was a perfect opportunity to strike while the enemy was vulnerable.
"We accept the mission," Kakuzu stated flatly.
This reaction brought secret relief to the mysterious figure. He had thought Kakuzu closing the case signified rejection, but instead, the man simply picked it up… Seriously, this was Kakuzu. As if he'd let money get away.
The formal commission handover was completed swiftly. The mysterious figure paid one hundred million ryo in cash and received only a receipt with absolutely no binding power.
Frankly, if the other party simply pocketed the money and didn't execute the mission, the mysterious figure would have no recourse. At this point, one could only rely on the contractor's reputation… And as luck would have it, when it came to money, Kakuzu was a man of his word.
It was difficult to fathom: Kakuzu, ancient enough to have been active since the First Hokage's era, possessing immense combat strength, yet utterly obsessed with money. It defied belief. Logically, after living for so long, one should have gained perspective on such matters, such worldly possessions.
Was it simply his personality? Or had he suffered some past trauma related to finances?
Kakuzu's situation made one wonder: Could it be that he was once so terrified by a glare from the First Hokage that it left him partially paralyzed, forcing him to beg on the streets for a year, thus leaving him with this lasting psychological scar?
The mysterious figure raised their umbrella and departed. Not long after, they sensed someone tailing them… Well, that was standard procedure. If someone proposed a similar mission to Konoha, firstly, Konoha would refuse, and secondly, they would dispatch personnel to track the client and ascertain their origins.
The mysterious figure rounded a street corner, then vanished with a soft puff, leaving only the umbrella behind. The client, carrying that enormous sum of money, had merely been a clone.
Far away, Kinoshita Tadashi received the information feedback as his clone dispersed. He promptly raised a larger umbrella and quickly left the area. Habara had specifically warned him: do not let the rain of the Land of Rain touch you.
Tracking me?
Hmph. These local gangs are utterly impolite.
Subsequently, Kakuzu received the report that the target had been lost. This didn't surprise him. A person operating in the shadows, assigning a mission meant for the shadows, would naturally maintain a high degree of caution.
He remained silent, which terrified the surrounding Amegakure ninja into stillness. They didn't actually know this man's origins or identity, only that he had been sent by their superiors to oversee this mission post. They had no choice but to obey and cooperate… especially since Kakuzu had already demonstrated his power to them.
"Continue working."
Kakuzu finally spoke. Seeing that he wasn't making an issue of losing the tail, the Ame ninja collectively breathed a sigh of relief.
Kakuzu picked up the commission scroll. A single line was written very simply upon it: Eliminate the Fire Daimyo and his lineage. He folded the scroll, tucked it into a pocket inside his cloak, then hefted the case full of money and departed the mission post, heading east.
Only after he was gone did the tense atmosphere at the mission post finally dissipate.
Meanwhile, Kinoshita Tadashi, having commissioned a mission tantamount to treason, traveled south. He left the Land of Rain, entered the Land of Rivers, and then turned east.
Once back inside the Land of Fire, he located a "TP" point not far from the border. Utilizing the Flying Raijin Formula Network Space Transfer, he instantly shifted to another "TP" point. A distinct beam of light flashed and faded. Only then did Kinoshita Tadashi feel he was truly safe.
He could receive Daigo's signal here. He immediately reported back to Habara.
Habara praised his actions and instructed him to return to the stronghold. However, Tadashi sensed a hint of trouble or distraction in Habara's tone and inquired about it.
Habara replied, "It's unrelated to your mission. But Kinoshita, have you ever heard the phrase 'the cuckoo occupying the magpie's nest'? A magpie is a bird, known for building nests. A cuckoo is also a bird, quite old, but rather… shapely…"
Kinoshita Tadashi: "..."
It seemed something had happened, but perhaps it wasn't anything major.