Uehara Naraku looked on as Konan distributed the Red Cloud Black Robe, rings, and nail polish to Hoshigaki Kisame, Hozuki Mangetsu, and Momochi Zabuza, feeling a wave of envy.
He wanted it too!
Subplot mission: Wear the Akatsuki Red Cloud Black Robe and bear the name of Akatsuki (0/1), reward unknown.
How popular is Akatsuki?
It's known as the Ninja World's top group!
Such a high-reward mission laid right in front of him. As long as Konan gave him a uniform and agreed to let him become an Akatsuki member, Uehara would receive the reward.
Unable to contain himself, Uehara Naraku leaned over to Konan and said, "Teacher Konan, I've already recruited three new members for Akatsuki, can't I get a uniform?"
"Don't think about these messy things."
Konan tapped Uehara Naraku's forehead: "Pain told me you used explosive tags to fend off Uchiha Obito, and you used up all the explosive tags I gave you before, didn't you?"
Before Uehara Naraku could react, Konan pulled out several scrolls and stuffed them into his arms, ruffling his hair: "Inside are a billion explosive tags, consider it your reward for completing the task…"
Uehara Naraku: "..."
Subplot mission: Collect a billion explosive tags (1000000000/1000000000), task completed, reward 400 gold coins.
How could his teacher be like this…
She was trying to brush him off with explosive tags!
Hoshigaki Kisame and Hozuki Mangetsu, among others, stared in shock as Konan casually handed Uehara Naraku the scroll containing a billion explosive tags!
What a divine teacher!
Casually giving away explosive tags in units of billions!
Konan seemed unperturbed by her grand gesture; she usually didn't use many explosive tags in ordinary battles, only employing significant numbers when using Paper Person of God Jutsu to conceal the Paper Bomb Array in ambush.
Uehara Naraku took the scroll begrudgingly, unsealed it, pulled out a tall stack of explosive tags, and handed them to Hoshigaki Kisame: "Your debt is repaid."
"..."
Hoshigaki Kisame took the explosive tags from Uehara Naraku's hand in bewilderment and handed some over to Hozuki Mangetsu and Momochi Zabuza.
They really didn't care about the money issue.
If it were just money, it would be fine, but these were explosive tags!
Even in the cheapest countries, explosive tags sell for two thousand Ryo, and they're not easy to come by.
With a rich teacher, indeed!
Upon hearing Uehara's words, Konan couldn't help but frown, looking at Uehara: "Why do you owe them money?"
"…Well…"
Uehara Naraku began to ponder a suitable excuse.
Hoshigaki Kisame, perceptive as ever, immediately spoke up to aid him: "We ran into Konoha's Lady Tsunade, and Uehara-sama gambled with her twice, losing several million Ryo…"
"..."
Uehara Naraku's head slowly turned towards Hoshigaki Kisame, fixing him with a look of hopelessness. What's going on with Kisame?
He clearly told him not to disclose his losing money in Hidden Hot Water Village, and hadn't he already repaid him?
The next moment, Uehara felt a cold gaze settle on him.
Konan stretched out her hand, slowly turning Uehara's face towards her, her expression dark and unnerving him.
The woman's hand moved down slowly, touching the young ninja's cheek, her fingers stopping at Uehara's earlobe.
Konan's voice became icily cold, tinged with an anger of disappointment: "Naraku, have you learned to gamble?"
"I'm not—I didn't—don't overthink…"
Uehara Naraku shook his head repeatedly, explaining: "I just noticed Lady Tsunade was living in poverty; after all, she's Jiraiya-sensei's teammate, and my main purpose was to get Lady Tsunade to help treat Kimimaro…"
Actually, he was just completing a task!
Could he have any other motives?
Konan's death stare lingered for a long time before finally softening: "You can't go gambling again, understood? And Jiraiya…said…Lady Tsunade is beyond help. No matter how much money you give her, she'll become impoverished again due to gambling."
"…Yes, I understand."
Uehara Naraku nodded seriously.
Who would have thought, Jiraiya secretly criticized his old teammate over a decade ago, and it's true.
What good is it for that woman Tsunade to win so much money from him?
In the end, she loses it all!
Hoshigaki Kisame had already donned the Red Cloud Black Robe, glancing at Uehara's embarrassing situation, chuckling lightly: "Uehara-sama, then I'll go meet my teammates."
"…Go!"
Uehara Naraku spat out the words with gritted teeth.
Clearly, this fellow Hoshigaki Kisame was supposed to be his planted spy, but the first thing Kisame did upon joining Akatsuki was to 'unintentionally' disclose his situation to Konan.
This guy wasn't as honest as he seemed!
Does he understand the concept of keeping a secret?
If not for Uehara's own cleverness in coming up with a barely credible excuse, Konan wouldn't show him a good face for days!
"Don't blame me, Uehara-sama."
Hoshigaki Kisame shrugged, his smile growing wider: "I just believe Uehara-sama shouldn't be doing things unsuitable for his age, so Teacher Konan should properly educate her disciple!"
"I understand, thank you for your advice."
Konan nodded, then raised her gaze to look at Hoshigaki Kisame, her eyes instantly filled with friendliness and trust.
After leaving the logistics base.
Momochi Zabuza couldn't help but chuckle at Hoshigaki Kisame: "Ha! You really offended that brat Uehara this time!"
"Did I?"
Hoshigaki Kisame's smile didn't falter; he glanced at Momochi Zabuza as if looking at an imbecile: "I didn't notice that at all!"
Hozuki Mangetsu thoughtfully glanced at Hoshigaki Kisame, softly saying: "Doesn't the-sama greatly respect his teacher? While we were returning, he seemed to often casually mention his teacher."
"Looks like we didn't end up with too many fools among us!"
Hoshigaki Kisame chuckled lightly, subtly mocking Momochi Zabuza before separating from them to meet his new partner.
By the lake.
Uchiha Itachi was once again contemplating life.
Currently, Uchiha Itachi felt somewhat regretful yet intrigued; the Ninja World seemed to have someone like Hozuki Mangetsu?
If given a chance, should he find a way to understand how Hozuki Mangetsu operates on his younger brother?
The sound of the Shark Skin Greatsword embedding into the ground disrupted Uchiha Itachi's thoughts, with Hoshigaki Kisame standing behind him, speaking softly: "What are you thinking about, the infamous Itachi the Clan Annihilator…"
"..."
Uchiha Itachi closed his eyes, refusing to answer.
Hoshigaki Kisame gradually approached Uchiha Itachi and whispered by his side: "Should I speculate how not to let others realize… you, like that brat Hozuki Mangetsu, want to protect your younger brother?"
Uchiha Itachi's expression remained unchanged; he merely reached out to slowly straighten his wind-tousled hair, speaking softly: "If you are only here to say meaningless words…"
"They have meaning."
Hoshigaki Kisame's smile grew kinder: "I just need to confirm, if you truly don't care about your brother, I can plan to kill him now and gain myself a pair of Sharingan. My chakra is plentiful, and the Sharingan's consumption should be insignificant to me."
"..."
Uchiha Itachi's fingers involuntarily twitched.
Perhaps this new teammate with a shark-like face was his most difficult challenge since joining Akatsuki.
As all members of Akatsuki are extreme psychopaths, listening to Hoshigaki Kisame, Uchiha Itachi can't determine whether he's serious or not.
Hoshigaki Kisame subtly noticed Uchiha Itachi's finger twitching, his smile becoming more intense, as though Uehara Naraku's judgment once again proved to be accurate!
Finally, when Uchiha Itachi couldn't hold back any longer and wanted to say something, Hoshigaki Kisame stopped him before he could speak.
The smile on the shark-like face became somewhat ferocious: "Well, I'm just joking… Instead of a mere pair of Sharingan, I would rather witness a fight between brothers."
————
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