A hand of cards—no leader, all straights—and he plays first!
Dried Persimmon Kisame clenched his fists, practically trembling with suppressed excitement. He was still processing what had just happened.
He had abruptly watched Matekai—yes, that unstoppable beast of taijutsu—get sealed without even throwing a punch!
This is sour!
That was the only way he could describe it. Like the tang of an overripe persimmon... but in a good way.
No—better than good. This was vindication.
He couldn't stop the smirk crawling up his face. His heart screamed in giddy euphoria.
So cool!
So cool, Nima!!
The ghost of his humiliating defeat, forced to commit suicide by Matekai's terrifying power, had finally dissipated.
His destiny had changed.
He turned toward the tall, quiet figure beside him—Nagato—and asked with childlike eagerness, "Boss, is he dead?"
"No," Nagato replied calmly. "Not even injured. I just sealed him. I'm taking him to Konoha."
"…Konoha?"
The other members of the Akatsuki blinked in unison, taken aback by the sudden development.
He's moving already?
Don't tell me… is he planning to eliminate Naruto Uzumaki before the kid has time to grow?
A wicked grin sliced across Hidan's face.
He glanced from Kakuzu to Itachi and back again, his voice laced with bloodlust. "Leader, take me with you. I'll send the entire Nara Clan to meet Lord Jashin."
Then he added with venomous mirth, "And their deer too."
"No."
Nagato's rejection was immediate and firm.
The truth was, the Akatsuki's thought process had fallen far behind. Too obsessed with slaughter and rituals. Too short-sighted.
Unlike his classmates back in the exam space—those kids who could easily score above 90 on every test—these guys needed a serious upgrade in mental software.
Nagato made a mental note:
After Konoha, ideological education must begin immediately.
This was the dawn of a new Akatsuki.
"This isn't just me. Everyone in the Akatsuki... we're all going to Konoha."
"WHAT?"
The collective gasp echoed across the hideout.
Was this really happening?
Was their leader finally acknowledging that the failure of Akatsuki had always been its internal divisions?
A real mission—together?
The idea hit them like lightning.
Marching on Konoha together...
Just imagining the stunned look on the Third Hokage's wrinkled face gave them goosebumps.
But before they could dive into fantasies of burning monuments and razing forests, Nagato spoke again.
"Konan, re-screen the genin candidates going to the Chunin Exams this year. Let every qualified genin from our allied villages join."
He then turned to the others—his gaze lingering on Orochimaru, who just smirked with interest.
"The rest of you... begin infiltration of Konoha. Locate Uzumaki Naruto and Hyūga Hinata. If the opportunity arises, bring them out—unharmed."
"…???"
The room fell into stunned silence. Blank stares. Raised eyebrows. A long, awkward pause.
Did they hear that right?
Hinata Hyūga??
Sure, Naruto made sense—he was the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki. But Hinata?
She was strong, yes—but no major threat.
They exchanged glances. Silent questions passed between them.
Was this whole mission... just to steal some kids?
They turned to Konan. If anyone could knock some sense into Nagato, it was her.
But even she looked conflicted.
Konan narrowed her eyes. Something was wrong. Very wrong.
Nagato's entire demeanor had shifted.
Could it be the rewards from the Exam Space?
What kind of reward could warp a man like this?
"What about you, Nagato?" she asked finally.
"Me?" Nagato blinked as if surprised. "Isn't it obvious?"
He gestured toward the sealed Matekai.
"I'm going to Konoha to negotiate. First words, then fists. I'll ask them to hand over my junior brother and future sister-in-law. If they refuse… I have Matekai as a bargaining chip."
"And if they still refuse…"
He paused, letting the implication sink in.
"…Then I have backup plans."
Nagato raised his hand solemnly.
"The Akatsuki was born for the sake of peace. And now, I possess the method of true peace. I ask you all to walk with me—toward a better world."
"Ehhhh…"
"Ehhhhhh…"
The members looked at him in disbelief.
Was this really the same cold, godlike leader who once stood atop the tower of Pain?
"Boss is getting more and more chuuni," Deidara muttered under his breath, flipping his hair as he turned to leave.
This wasn't the kind of mission he could do with bombs alone. Time to prep.
The others followed, trickling out one by one, until only Nagato and Konan remained.
"Education," Nagato said softly. "We must start with the children."
---
Two Days Later — A Rain-Soaked Entrance
A tall figure and a smaller shadow walked calmly through the drizzle, each step sending ripples through shallow puddles.
They made no effort to hide.
They welcomed the downpour as it hit their skin and soaked their cloaks.
Momochi Zabuza and Haku had arrived at Amegakure.
Zabuza squinted up at the endless curtain of rain—then smirked.
"This is chakra-based. A surveillance jutsu."
He was right. He'd followed the trail of Samehada, and now, the rain confirmed it—Akatsuki was here.
Swish!
Suddenly, a flurry of white paper filled the air, swirling into the shape of a person.
Konan.
"Who are you?"
Zabuza's gravelly voice rumbled like distant thunder.
"I'm Momochi Zabuza, S-rank missing-nin from Kirigakure. I want to join Akatsuki."
Konan studied him in silence, then turned.
"Follow me."
Nagato had sensed him the moment he stepped inside the village. Within minutes, Zabuza was led into the chamber where Payne sat cross-legged in waiting.
Nagato—through Payne—observed him.
"You want to join Akatsuki?"
"Yes."
Payne's chakra surged. The pressure began to mount slowly—testing him.
Zabuza gritted his teeth, sweat beading on his brow. But he didn't fall.
Finally, the pressure eased. A ring floated before him, etched with the character "玄" (Xuan).
"From now on, you are Genbu of the Akatsuki."
Payne spoke solemnly:
"We are dedicated to true peace in the ninja world…"
He explained Akatsuki's current mission, the infiltration of Konoha, and the gathering of Naruto and Hinata.
Zabuza listened in stunned silence.
This wasn't the same cold leader from the Exam Space. His tone, his ideas... they were almost hopeful.
Konan handed Zabuza a red cloud cloak.
It was freshly tailored—one of several new sets made after a certain "clothing strike" led by Kakuzu (with Orochimaru, of all people, chiming in).
She was exhausted from running admin work, recruitment, tailoring, and infiltration strategy all at once.
When her gaze landed on Haku, she brightened.
Perfect.
With Haku, the Genin count in Amegakure would be enough to form a new team for the Chunin Exams.
Just in time for Konoha.