nfamiliar feeling, leaving her unsure how to repay it. She picked up the sandwich and took a bite. This is, without a doubt, the best food in the world.
It was New Year's Eve. Every household would be busy decorating and preparing for the new year, but as a leader of sorts, work didn't stop for holidays. Konan alone could handle the village's affairs efficiently and even assist Nagato with managing Akatsuki in her spare time—"efficiency," as Konan would put it.
Zaraki Kita had intended to report on this trip's results before the new year, but she had slept too long. By the time she finished tidying and grabbed a bite, it was already past five. With Kakuzu and the others back preparing for the reunion dinner, calling Nagato and Konan for a report felt inappropriate. A day's delay wouldn't hurt, so she took her New Year gifts and headed to the rooftop terrace.
The terrace had been freshly decorated, with a few long tables, portable chairs, and sofas. There was still plenty of space for a large kadomatsu to welcome the deity of fortune.
All Akatsuki members were present except for Uchiha Madara. Only Itachi and Kisame wore Akatsuki robes; the others wore their preferred yukata, likely because it was their first New Year in Akatsuki and no one told them otherwise. Konan wore the yukata Zaraki Kita had bought for her during their trip to Konoha.
Konan sat on a sofa playing cards with Nagato, who appeared in his true form—a crimson-haired boy, small in stature. Kisame handled the ingredients, while Deidara and Itachi cleaned the dishes. Kakuzu organized kitchenware. As Zaraki Kita came through the terrace door, Konan laughed.
"You climbed the stairs?!"
Zaraki Kita smiled and gestured.
——Digestion.
Nagato chuckled, gentle as an innocent boy. The others greeted her briefly; Deidara cheerfully called out, "Sister Kita," and Itachi gave a quiet nod. Zaraki Kita returned the gesture with calm serenity, as usual.
She walked straight to the table with the kadomatsu, where stacks of gifts awaited. Following Akatsuki tradition, New Year gifts were exchanged with names labeled for clarity. She arranged each scroll and package carefully, even placing a few in Madara's pile.
Finished, she moved toward the sofa, showing no intention of helping with the dinner. Akatsuki's men always handled New Year's Eve meals, and Nagato, as the leader, didn't need to. In past years, the three had played cards while the others cooked; no one had ever objected.
The card game's purpose was to win money. Zaraki Kita wasn't particularly skilled. After losing six thousand ryo in one go, she gave up, letting the dishwashers take over. On the other side, Itachi placed fruits on the table.
"How much did you lose?"
——Six thousand.
Zaraki Kita gestured, grabbed a fruit, and began eating. Nagato, while shuffling cards, asked, "Give me one."
She tossed a plump fruit to him. Then Konan spoke:
"I want a tangerine."
"Me too." Zaraki Kita tossed her a small green-orange fruit, sat beside her, and began peeling. Konan, having won money, was delighted. She took a bite of the fruit Zaraki Kita held and added chips to the pile. After the round, Zaraki Kita finished peeling the tangerine, handing it to Konan while continuing to nibble the fruit Konan had partially eaten.
"I have a bad feeling I'm going to lose," Konan said, swallowing her tangerine. Zaraki Kita glanced at the cards and remained silent.
"You can't always win. Let me win a few times," Nagato said, arranging his cards. Konan had won more rounds; he had barely broken even in the last few games.
"Luck rotates, can't always be on your side," she said, playing the five of spades.
"Luck is a form of skill," Konan countered, tossing a seven of diamonds.
Itachi, having never played this in Konoha, stood nearby holding a fruit, watching with interest. Deidara, having finished his chores, asked, "What are you playing? I want in."
"Next round," Nagato said casually, letting Konan's seven of diamonds slide by, adding, "Black Ace."
"Oh, count me in the next round. Uncle, your cards are great!"
"Tch, Deidara, be quiet. Watch Itachi properly," Nagato scolded. Itachi looked bewildered. Kakuzu shouted from the side, "Finish your chores first. Where's the alcohol?"
"Not gotten yet, I ordered it," Konan replied.
"How much?"
"The usual amount. Go get it; the store closes at seven."
"What time is it now?" Zaraki Kita checked the sun.
——Six-fifteen.
"Then go, Kakuzu, Itachi, Deidara," Nagato said without looking. Konan protested: "No! Itachi's in uniform, and underage. Image matters!" She playfully hit Nagato.
Itachi stood frozen, unsure whether to go.
"Family, and you've beaten me this many times," Nagato laughed, playing a strong hand. "Good hand, but mine's not bad either." Konan feigned defeat, folding her hand, and said to Zaraki Kita, "I'll lose this round for sure."
Kakuzu called Deidara down from the terrace. Itachi realized he didn't need to go.
Zaraki Kita smiled, glanced at the cards, and handed them back to Konan without comment.
Near the end of the game, Konan thought she had a chance, but Nagato blocked her again.
"Tch, you blocked me again."
"Can my card block yours?"
The game ended with Konan holding the Ace of Spades—Nagato and the others lost.
"You said family! You tricked me! How many times have I let you win!" Nagato protested. Konan laughed while shuffling.
"Family or not, you can't guard against your own." She placed the lost chips with Konan, who continued shuffling and said, "Don't worry, I'll win back your losses."
"You win the most," Nagato remarked. Zaraki Kita smiled and nodded. Konan glanced at Itachi, who was quietly watching. She gave him a spot to sit.
"I'm not good at this," he admitted.
"It's easy. Play two rounds and you'll get it," Nagato said kindly to the thirteen-year-old.
Even as a beginner among experienced players, Itachi lost badly—even using his Sharingan, he lost three thousand ryo. Bad luck struck in the first round with the Ace of Spades.
As dusk fell, Kakuzu and Deidara returned. Zaraki Kita turned on the lights, illuminating the entire floor.
Itachi initially lost, but as he learned, he began winning—ending with a thousand ryo. His joy shifted to anxiety when he saw the beer and sake delivered.
Four cases of 24-bottle beer and six dozen 12-bottle sake—he had never drunk alcohol before.
"Um, can we even finish all this?" he asked timidly. No one had time to answer. Zaraki Kita glanced at the fourteen-year-old—still a child despite his murderous history.
——Enough to drink is fine. Ninjas can use chakra to counter alcohol. Didn't you know?
Itachi was stunned. Chakra to neutralize alcohol? First he'd heard of it. Sheepishly, he shook his head.
——Try it tonight.
Kakuzu began preparing cold dishes according to dietary preferences. By eight o'clock, eight servings were ready. The card players—Nagato, Deidara, Kisame, Zaraki Kita, and Itachi—sat to play shogi while Konan observed. From the current board, her lover had the advantage.
By eight-thirty, Kakuzu started cooking, filling the air with enticing aromas. Even Itachi was distracted.
"So fragrant! Kakuzu is amazing," Konan sighed, leaning against Zaraki Kita. She nodded, watching the board. This fourteen-year-old's skill exceeded his years, though compared to Konan, still slightly lacking.
Just then, the call of an eagle rang out. Everyone turned as a large brown eagle landed on Zaraki Kita.
"What is it?" Nagato asked casually, then returned to his game. Zaraki Kita unrolled the scroll tied to the eagle's leg and released the bird, revealing a small note alongside it. Konan removed the seal from the scroll, releasing a puff of white smoke to reveal a bottle of crimson wine.
——Thanks to your reminder, I came up with an interesting technique. This is a gift.
Orochimaru, definitely on purpose, Zaraki Kita thought, fuming.
Konan picked up the bottle, recognizing the handwriting on the note.
"You met Orochimaru?"
Itachi froze for half a second, then relaxed. Zaraki Kita explained.
——Half a year ago.
Half a year ago, it made sense that she visited Orochimaru while investigating Itachi.
"You mean he remembered to send a gift for New Year? From the bottle's label, it's old and high quality. Orochimaru loves fine wine. This must be a top-tier bottle in his collection."
——Not sure. Chatted a bit; he drew 500 ml of my blood. Probably that's it.
Konan gently smacked Zaraki Kita in mock scolding.
"Are you crazy? Why let him draw your blood?"
——Sorry, sorry. Won't happen again.
"Tch, you annoy me so much," Konan teased, poking Zaraki Kita's waist, clearly upset she allowed Orochimaru to draw blood. Zaraki Kita dodged, laughed, and inspected the bottle.
——Worth it for 500 ml of blood.
Konan's grip tightened on her waist, making Zaraki Kita gasp.
Itachi watched the domestic "violence," unsure what to do.
Zaraki Kita stood to evade the pain; Konan wasn't done. "Come here and explain! What's worth it? I told you to hunt Orochimaru—why did you let him take your blood? Were you trying to annoy me?"
Zaraki Kita shook her head, laughing and rubbing the sore spot while evading Konan's playful chase.
Kakuzu glanced at the messy table. "Stop playing. Clean up the table." Itachi saw Zaraki Kita and Konan roughhousing in the distance and decided the game could wait. He rose to follow Kakuzu's instructions.
━━━━ ❖ ━━━
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