After confirming that their mission target, Ando, had indeed betrayed them, Shinra allowed his investigation to progress quickly and openly.
That afternoon, he and Konan tracked the merchant to a hidden base deep within a forested mountain.
The hideout was buried inside the dense trees, its location remote and well concealed. A squad of rogue shinobi patrolled the area, posted as guards. It was, at least, a commendable attempt at secrecy.
But such defenses posed no obstacle for two elite members of the Akatsuki.
As the two prepared to move, Konan suddenly clutched Shinra's arm, her voice low and urgent.
"Shinra, they're all local rogues from the Land of Rain. Don't be reckless. You promised me you wouldn't use extreme methods this time!"
She wasn't even concerned about the enemy's strength.
Shinra felt both exasperation and amusement.
Should he thank Konan for her faith in his ability, or despair that his reputation had sunk so low she now judged him before the battle even began?
As for how she could tell at a glance that these lookouts were Rain Country rogues, it was obvious.
They wore no standard shinobi vests, only drab, rain-colored clothing to blend with the forest. Half carried no proper tool pouches, only battered swords at their sides. Straw rain-hats drooped low over their heads, and a few lazily chewed on blades of grass.
Poor, ragged, and utterly local every bit the product of the Land of Rain.
Shinra decided not to argue the point.
"Alright, Sister Konan. We'll bypass them and slip inside quietly."
Konan blinked in surprise, clearly not expecting him to agree so easily.
Shinra offered no explanation.
Because the true revelation lay deeper inside.
The two of them circled past the amateur sentries and infiltrated Ando's hideout.
And soon, they found themselves standing in front of a warehouse filled wall-to-wall with supplies.
Konan gasped as she examined the crates and sacks.
"It's mostly medicine and food… and even some meat. Oh my how could he hoard so much? People in the surrounding villages are starving because of the war!"
Shinra didn't answer.
He too was startled but for a different reason. He had already suspected Ando was hoarding. What surprised him was the sheer volume of the goods.
"We need to find Ando right away," Konan urged. "He has more than enough to share! If he just distributed some of this, Akatsuki, Yahiko, everyone we wouldn't have to work ourselves to the bone helping all those villages."
She moved as if to storm ahead.
But Shinra reached out, pulling her back.
"Don't be hasty, Sister Konan. Calm yourself. Are you just going to march in and demand answers? And what then? If he refuses to listen to you, what will you do? Weren't you the one telling me not to use extreme methods?"
Konan froze, as though struck by cold water. Slowly, her emotions settled, and she turned to look at him.
Her eyes carried layers of feeling surprise, gratitude, and even admiration.
"Thank you, Shinra. You're right. I was too impulsive. You're always so composed… it feels like nothing can ever shake you."
Because this is the gift I've prepared for you, Shinra thought darkly.
Aloud, he said softly, "Sister Konan, I understand how you feel. But maybe… it's time for these naïve dreams to wake up."
"What do you mean, Shinra?"
"Whether people can truly understand one another, I don't know. But at the very least, you should first open your eyes and see the truth of this world."
Konan was caught off guard, not expecting Shinra to suddenly raise their ideals at a moment like this.
But Shinra didn't press further. He simply planted the thought like a seed, then reached out and took Konan's hand.
"Come with me. If Ando has hoarded this many supplies, he's almost certainly hired more than just the guards outside. We need to move carefully."
It was the first time Konan had ever had her hand held by Shinra. In her daze, she completely forgot to pull away.
Hand in hand, the two of them slipped deeper into the hideout, until they reached a concealed chamber behind the warehouse.
Pressing themselves flat against the ceiling beams, they peered through a narrow gap.
At last, they spotted their target: the merchant Ando.
And he was not alone. Several Iwagakure shinobi sat in the room with him.
Even here, deep in the Land of Rain, they wore their village headbands boldly across their foreheads, making no attempt to hide. The arrogance of a Great Village was written all over them.
Seeing this, Konan who had only just regained her composure erupted in fury again.
This man not only hoarded food while villagers starved, he was colluding with Iwagakure shinobi!
Fortunately, Shinra still held her hand, giving her palm a gentle squeeze, grounding her, steadying her.
Inside the chamber, Ando sat puffing a pipe, his face twisted with indignation as he spat his complaints.
"So you understand my request, don't you? I want you to get rid of that troublesome Akatsuki group. Kill them all if you can or at least drive them out of my town. Let them go find members somewhere else!"
The Iwagakure leader frowned.
As shinobi, they weren't supposed to question a client's motives. But this request was strange, so he felt compelled to clarify.
"According to our intelligence, the Akatsuki recently saved your town. So why would you hire us to drive out your benefactors?"
Even the hardened shinobi found Ando's logic revolting, to the point where he wondered if this was some elaborate ruse by Akatsuki to lure them out.
But Ando was too shallow for such schemes. His hatred for Akatsuki was real, raw, and stupidly simple.
"Who asked them to save us? I already had shinobi I paid for. We would've been fine without them! I never asked for their help!
And another thing those idealistic fools actually dared to meddle in my business! Price gouging is my right!
If I don't take advantage of the war to raise prices and make a fortune, how else am I supposed to profit? Once the war ends, I won't be able to sell at high prices anymore!
What do the lives of common villagers have to do with me? Even Hanzō doesn't care! And yet they act like merciful saints pathetic! If the Land of Rain ever falls under the control of people like that, how am I supposed to get rich?!"
At those words, Konan's body trembled.
Though it was a warm season, her hands and feet turned ice cold. Only the hand Shinra held retained any warmth.
Before today, she had never once imagined someone like this could exist in their homeland.
Slowly, she turned to Shinra. Her violet eyes swirled with confusion, anger, disbelief, and sorrow.
Is this… the truth of the world you meant?