Land of Rain.
Three days had passed since the Akatsuki's rebirth.
Inside the former base of the Akatsuki, Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan stood silently, their hearts heavy with sorrow as they gazed at the corpses laid before them.
These people had once been their closest comrades. Especially Kyūsuke and Daibutsu, they weren't just friends; they were like family. And now, they had become nothing more than cold, lifeless bodies.
Yet at this moment, Yahiko no longer asked why.
The newly reborn Yahiko had lost the naïve gleam once present in his eyes. Now, they reflected only grim determination. Even his voice had turned cold.
"Let's lay them to rest."
"Yeah."
The three of them worked together to bury every fallen comrade, erecting gravestones one by one.
As they looked at the familiar faces on each grave marker, their expressions darkened again.
"Kyūsuke, Daibutsu, everyone… We'll return one day. And when we do, it'll be for revenge."
With one final glance, the three turned away from the cave, where a figure was already waiting at the entrance, cloaked in a raincoat, it was Rasa.
They didn't ask why Rasa hadn't saved their comrades. For them, the fact that he'd arrived in time to save Yahiko was already a monumental favor.
"Is everything settled?"
"Yeah. Rasa‑san, where are we headed next?"
Rasa had long been prepared. Looking out toward the dim world beyond the cave, he smiled.
"Next, I'll take you to Sunagakure. As for the reason… you'll understand when we get there."
The three nodded.
And so, the four of them disappeared into the torrential rain...
---
One day later.
Under Rasa's lead, the three members of Akatsuki arrived at Sunagakure, in the Land of Wind. But Rasa didn't stop there. Instead, with the trio following in confusion, he brought them deep into the Dragon's Oasis.
"What is this place?"
It was their first time here, and all three were stunned by the vast forest stretching before them.
Rasa finally halted and pointed toward the dense greenery.
"This place is one of Sunagakure's forbidden zones: the Dragon's Oasis. Only those with my permission may enter. The reason I brought you here is for one purpose."
He turned to Yahiko and slowly asked:
"Do you want the power to take revenge?"
"!!!"
Konan and Nagato were startled, but Yahiko, after a brief pause, nodded firmly.
"Good. Let me be direct, then. Yahiko, while I called you naïve, that isn't necessarily a flaw. The real problem is that you lack the corresponding power."
"Power…"
"That's right. Among the three of you, Nagato is the one most suited to lead the Akatsuki. His Rinnegan and his Uzumaki lineage grant him overwhelming strength. Konan might not be as strong, but she has her own unique secret techniques. Only you, Yahiko... I don't need to spell it out, do I? I once believed hard work could make up for poor talent. But over the years, I've come to understand, cruel as it is, this world belongs to bloodlines. Only those with strong blood can seize their destiny."
Yahiko's face darkened.
He knew all too well how lacking he was. While everyone's trust helped him become Akatsuki's leader, it was Nagato's unwavering support that truly held the organization together.
Still, Rasa wouldn't say all this unless he had another path.
And indeed...
"Now, there's an opportunity before you. A way for you to obtain a powerful bloodline. It's dangerous… but are you willing to try?"
Without hesitation, Yahiko nodded.
"I'm willing."
"Good. A year ago, during my battle with Danzō from Konoha, I acquired several Sharingan... and cells from the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama. I assume you've heard of this."
The pupils of all three contracted sharply.
They instantly understood what Rasa meant.
"After more than a year of research, I've finally made some progress. It's now possible to transplant the Sharingan and Hashirama cells into an ordinary person, allowing them to acquire both Wood Release and the Sharingan. However, the entire experiment is still in its testing phase; there hasn't been a single successful case on a living human subject."
Hearing that, Yahiko understood immediately and spoke without hesitation.
"I'm willing. My life belongs to you, Rasa‑san, after all."
"Good. That's what I wanted to hear."
Rasa nodded.
"There's no need to be overly worried. Based on cellular tests, the safety margin is fairly high. One more thing, my ability to revive the dead must not be leaked. So from now on, you'll remain in Sunagakure. I'll assign you a new identity, and you'll be in charge of matters between Sunagakure and the Land of Rain."
Yahiko had no objections.
"Alright. Then let's go see Elder Chiyo. She'll be responsible for this entire transplant experiment."
---
"So this is the brat?"
Inside Elder Chiyo's laboratory, she stared at Yahiko with sharp, assessing eyes.
"Yes. His name is Yahiko. He used to be the leader of Akatsuki. But from now on, he belongs to Sunagakure."
"I see. Then leave the rest to me."
Chiyo was already well-informed about what had happened in Amegakure. She looked over at Yahiko with a sharp tongue but a soft heart and said,
"Kid, the Sharingan's power is relatively easy to control, but Hashirama's cells are a different matter. You'll need to endure. Don't go dying on me."
"Don't worry, Chiyo‑sama. Whether it's for the comrades we lost, for Konan and Nagato, or because I owe my life to Rasa‑san, I'll hold on no matter what."
"Good. Then the experiment will begin tomorrow."
At that moment, Honoka, standing behind Chiyo, turned to Nagato and asked,
"You're from the Uzumaki clan too? Who's your mother?"
In truth, ever since Nagato arrived, his vibrant red hair had caught the attention of both Hana and Honoka. Hana was shy and hadn't dared to approach this stranger, but Honoka was much more direct.
Nagato was thrilled to meet members of his clan here.
"My mother's name was Fusō."
"So it really was her?"
Clearly, Honoka knew that name, though she didn't want to go into detail. After joining Sunagakure, the Uzumaki clan had become a thing of the past. Still, that didn't mean she didn't care for her kin.
"What happened to your body?"
Although Rasa had healed Nagato's legs in time, the chakra that had been drained by the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path had left his body severely weakened.
"It's nothing... I just used a few forbidden techniques."
Honoka didn't press the matter further.
Seeing this, Rasa issued his instructions.
"From now on, the three of them will live here. Until Yahiko's transplant experiment is completed successfully, Honoka, you and the others as fellow clansmen will take care of their daily needs."
"Understood."
"Then I won't stay any longer. There are still matters in the village that require my attention."
Because just now, he had received a message from Baki, Minato Namikaze actually wanted to meet with him in the Land of Rivers.