Amegakure.
Amidst the relentless downpour, two shinobi clad in black cloaks adorned with red clouds dashed swiftly across the waterlogged ground. After nearly half an hour, they arrived at a concealed cave nestled within a mountain valley.
The flickering light of a blazing campfire inside finally revealed their figures.
At the forefront stood Nagato, the current leader of the Akatsuki organization, his crimson hair damp from the rain. Beside him was Konan, her expression equally weary.
Lately, life had not been easy for Akatsuki.
Although the war between Konohagakure, Iwagakure, and Kumogakure had temporarily ceased, that didn't mean the shinobi of these villages had stopped moving. With rumors that Iwagakure and Kumogakure were preparing to attack Sunagakure, both villages had begun mobilizing their forces once again.
War consumed not only military funds but also vast amounts of resources, far more than what the daimyo's allocations and the villages' reserves could sustain. As a result, plundering the wealth of civilians in smaller nations and occupied territories had become a common tactic among these shinobi.
This wasn't exclusive to Iwagakure and Kumogakure, even Konoha frequently engaged in such acts. And this was precisely why Akatsuki exists: to protect the minor nations caught in the crossfire of the great villages' conflicts.
Because of this, Akatsuki had recently clashed repeatedly with Iwagakure, Kumogakure, and even Konoha.
With only around a thousand shinobi in their ranks, protecting so many small nations was an overwhelming task. Yet, Nagato did his utmost to deploy Akatsuki's forces wherever they were needed. Their efforts had earned Akatsuki considerable fame across the shinobi world.
However, earlier today, Konan, who handled intelligence operations, had urgently contacted them through a secret technique, summoning them back to the village for a critical decision.
"Konan, what's so important that you needed both me and Nagato to return?"
Konan's expression was grave as her gaze shifted toward the depths of the cave.
To Nagato and Yahiko's surprise, a masked ANBU operative emerged from the shadows.
"I am a shinobi of Sunagakure's ANBU. Codename: White Thorn. I come under the orders of the Kazekage-sama to meet with the leader of Akatsuki."
"Sunagakure… the Kazekage?!"
Both Nagato and Yahiko were stunned.
It had been nearly half a year since their last encounter with the Kazekage of Sunagakure. Neither of them had expected the Kazekage to seek them out personally this time.
Though their previous meeting with the young Kazekage, only slightly older than them, had left a positive impression, all three present knew this sudden visit couldn't be for something trivial.
Yahiko steadied himself, adopting the composed demeanor befitting a leader.
"So… what business does Sunagakure have with us?"
The ANBU operative didn't answer immediately. Instead, he retrieved a scroll from his pouch and presented it with both hands.
Nagato stepped forward, took the scroll, and passed it to Yahiko.
Only then did the ANBU speak again.
"My mission is complete. I shall take my leave."
With that, the shinobi vanished into the raging storm outside.
Watching the Sunagakure shinobi depart, the three of them exchanged bewildered glances.
After a moment of silence, Konan turned to Yahiko and spoke.
"Shouldn't we first see what the Kazekage-sama wrote in that letter?"
"Right."
Yahiko unfurled the scroll, but his brows furrowed almost immediately.
"What's wrong?"
Handing the scroll to Konan and Nagato, Yahiko hesitated before speaking.
"The Kazekage of Sunagakure… wants to hire Akatsuki to fight against Iwagakure and Kumogakure's shinobi?"
"!!!"
Nagato, who hadn't yet read the contents, stiffened in shock. Meanwhile, Konan's expression darkened as she scanned the scroll, now understanding Yahiko's hesitation.
In principle, Akatsuki's stance was to avoid direct involvement in the conflicts of the great nations. But the Kazekage's letter dangled an offer that was difficult to refuse: official recognition of Akatsuki's existence by Sunagakure, along with multiple cooperative agreements between them.
Having struggled alone in Amegakure for so long, the three of them knew exactly how tempting this bait was.
On the surface, Akatsuki appeared to be thriving, its numbers had swelled to over a thousand shinobi, surpassing even some minor hidden villages. But as its leaders, they were painfully aware of the organization's precarious position.
First, Akatsuki was an illegal entity in Amegakure. The only recognized shinobi force in the Land of Rain was Hanzo of the Salamander's Amegakure. This created an unavoidable problem: funding.
Without the Land of Rain's support, Akatsuki lacked stable financial backing. In truth, the organization ran purely on the shared convictions of its members. Most of its shinobi survived through self-sufficiency.
Moreover, Akatsuki's ideals ensured that none of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, the true rulers of the ninja world, would ever accept them. This forced Akatsuki to operate in the shadows, surviving in the margins between the great nations.
Had this been the Akatsuki led by Pain (Nagato's post-Yahiko persona), such concerns might not have mattered. But Yahiko, who still dreamed of achieving peace through understanding, yearned for Akatsuki to gain broader recognition and legitimacy.
Yet, this offer, while alluring, was also poisoned honey.
Accepting it would shatter the unspoken balance between Akatsuki and Amegakure's official forces. A single nation could never tolerate two rival shinobi organizations.
Worse, it would provoke the wrath of Iwagakure and Kumogakure.
Konan, understanding the dilemma, spoke softly.
"Yahiko… whatever you decide, we'll stand with you."
Nagato, still reading the scroll, nodded in agreement.
Yahiko massaged his temples.
'Maybe I'm just not cut out to lead…'
He recognized the benefits of aligning with Sunagakure, but one misstep could shatter Akatsuki's unity. After all, as one of the Five Great Villages, Sunagakure itself had inflicted suffering on neighboring minor nations. Many within Akatsuki harbored deep resentment toward them.
Yet one thing was clear:
"Akatsuki doesn't belong to me alone, it belongs to all of us. I'll seek everyone's opinion before deciding…"
"Mm."
---
As leader, Yahiko swiftly gathered Akatsuki's high-ranking members.
He had expected fierce debate, but to his surprise, when he revealed Sunagakure's proposal, most agreed without hesitation, some even began discussing what demands they should make in return. Only a handful voiced opposition.
Yahiko found the reaction… unsettling.
'Did I overcomplicate this?Or have I failed to truly understand my comrades all along?'