The masked man slowly emerged from the base. Behind him, Zetsu materialized from the wall.
"You're finally heading out."
"There have been some changes to the plan, and Kanon's mission is complete."
The masked man's voice was flat. Behind him, the white snake trailing Kabuto flickered its tongue incessantly.
"Don't make it sound like I've caused you trouble."
"It's because of your inclusion that we had to alter our combat strategy!" Black Zetsu said coldly.
"But your combat strength has significantly increased because of it."
"Even without you, Kanon would have performed Reanimation," Black Zetsu countered.
"But the precision of her technique is certainly not equal to mine," Kabuto sneered.
"Ugh, give it a rest." Standing behind the two with her head lowered, Kanon looked exasperated. She truly disliked this jutsu; though she had mastered it, she remained averse to using it.
"Hehe, at least we have far more tactical options now," Kabuto noted smoothly.
"Don't do anything reckless while I'm away." The masked man shot a cold glare at Kabuto.
"We're comrades, aren't we? Can't you trust me a little more?" Kabuto's lips curled into a slight smirk.
"At most, you are a collaborator whose interests happen to align with mine. The moment Kanon turns against me, you will betray me without hesitation."
With that, the masked man walked toward the exit, with Kanon following close behind.
"Don't you plan on telling me where you're going?"
"Amegakure," Kanon whispered to Kabuto.
"Amegakure? Even the Great Ninja Wars haven't had a direct link to them recently."
"What are you going there for now?!"
"That is none of your business." The masked man's Akatsuki cloak fluttered in the wind as he spoke to Kabuto with total indifference.
"Alright, Kabuto-senpai, don't ask so much. I'll tell you when I get back," Kanon said softly.
"Fine. I'll be waiting for the good news then."
…
Amegakure.
Lightning flashed across the sky, and a drizzling rain fell incessantly. High atop a tower in the Hidden Rain Village, Konan stood feeling the rain, a small smile playing on her lips.
Memories of her past with Nagato, Yahiko, and Jiraiya flooded her mind, the days when the three of them and Jiraiya wore those frog suits. Looking up at the sky, it felt like only yesterday. Such beautiful memories warmed her heart.
She turned around with a smile as two figures emerged from a swirling distortion in space.
"Is Kanon-chan here?" Konan asked, nodding with a smile.
Sure enough, as the space stabilized, Kanon lunged out like a kitten and threw herself into Konan's arms.
"Konan-nee, I missed you so much!"
"Hmph! You've only come to see me once in all this time. You didn't miss me at all!" Konan teased, pinching Kanon's nose.
"Nonsense! I just had things to take care of!"
"I heard about what you did. Do you really intend to go through with this?" Konan looked at Kanon with concern. She now viewed the Akatsuki as her home and Kanon as her own younger sister. How could she not worry when her sister was personally instigating a war?
Then, seeing the masked man appear, Konan's expression instantly soured.
"Looking for something?" Konan asked.
"Yes. Let's start the meeting."
…
In the Amegakure Conference Room...
Kakuzu arrived, pushing a wheelchair with one hand while holding Hidan's head, whose neck had already regrown some flesh, with the other.
"Hidan-nii, your recovery speed is actually pretty good!" Kanon looked at Hidan's head in surprise.
"Of course! I am a devout follower of Lord Jashin!"
"This is just physical regeneration; it's nothing compared to the blessings bestowed by Lord Jashin."
"Shut up, Hidan!" Kakuzu barked in annoyance. These two had now become part of Amegakure's high command, working alongside Konan to strategize for the village's development.
"Kakuzu! You have some nerve shouting, you old man in a wheelchair!"
"You bastard, you don't even have a body and you have the gall to talk about me?"
"By the way, Deidara-nii, how are you doing?" Kanon turned to Deidara.
"Art was a success! But Tobi... you've certainly changed a lot."
"Naturally," the masked man sneered.
"Yeah, you've become kind of cool. Not like before. You've become a 'cool' man," Deidara said appreciatively, looking at the masked man with the pride of a parent watching their child finally grow up.
"Just how successful was the 'art'?" Kanon asked curiously.
"I've prepared plenty. I can start the war at any time. Art like this belongs on the battlefield."
"Sigh, Kisame-nii is still out on a mission, so he couldn't attend the meeting."
Kanon sighed, then cut straight to the chase.
"Our Akatsuki must begin preparations for the Fourth Great Ninja War. Although Tobi and I jointly declared it, Nagato-senpai has passed away."
"So, I want to make this clear to everyone: this is not mandatory! You don't have to participate; I won't force anyone."
Kanon looked at everyone and bowed her head sincerely, her dark hair swaying against her ears. Seeing her so earnest, Deidara immediately slammed his hand on the table.
"Of course! How could I not help with Kanon-chan's request? This is the ultimate artistic feeling!"
Kakuzu, however, hesitated. He was down to his last half-life of a heart, and his cells had taken a horrific hit; he needed at least six months to recover.
"I... I might not be able to participate. My physical condition won't allow it."
"I know, of course," Kanon nodded.
Beside him, Hidan wanted to slam the table to show his resolve, but unfortunately, he had no hands.
"What are you saying, Kanon-chan? We're definitely helping you! Those bastards are all probably atheists anyway. The Infinite Tsukuyomi sounds great, maybe everyone will finally see Lord Jashin!"
"I want to create a world where Lord Jashin exists! Hahahaha!" Hidan laughed so hard spit flew everywhere. The sight of a lone head cackling left the room in a state of awkward amusement.
"Well... I appreciate the sentiment, Hidan-nii. You and Kakuzu-nii can stay and command Amegakure."
Kanon then turned to Konan.
"Konan-nee, the key to the Infinite Tsukuyomi is the Rinnegan. I need Nagato-senpai's eyes."
"I understand... I'll take you and Tobi to where Nagato is resting in a moment."
"Kanon... though Nagato placed his faith in Naruto, he also believed in you. And I trust you even more than I trust Naruto."
"So... please, stay safe..."
"Don't worry, Konan-nee. Once the war starts, just wait in Amegakure for the result."
Looking at Kanon's beautiful smile, Konan once again thought of Nagato and Yahiko. Their will was perhaps linked to both Kanon and Naruto.
"You're gaining the same charisma Yahiko and Nagato once had..."
"Fifteen-year-old Kanon is finally starting to look like a leader."
Hearing Konan's praise, Kanon blushed and scratched her head.
"Not at all! It's just that everyone treats me so well."
"That's why the Eye of the Moon Plan must be launched. The Five Great Nations have realized the problem."
"Hey, hey, hey! They only realized the problem because you went and killed their Daimyō!" Hidan chimed in with a perfect rebuttal.
"Hidan-nii! That was a show of force, don't you get it?"
"Once I get my body back, I'm going to make those people feel true pain!" Hidan shouted, but before he could say more, Kakuzu pulled his head into his chest.
"What are you doing, Kakuzu! Don't cover my mouth! You bastard!"
"Shut up, Hidan! This is a meeting, not a social hour," Kakuzu reminded him.
The masked man spoke up: "Konan, I want to ask you, why did Nagato's mind change back then?"
"Because he believed in his junior brother and sister."
"It made me very conflicted. In the end, Nagato gave me a choice."
"What choice?" the masked man asked.
"He told me to choose between following Kanon or believing in Naruto."
"Oh? So you chose to follow Kanon?"
Konan nodded.
"That's right. She is the light, enabling all to hold the flowers of hope!" With those words, Konan folded a paper flower and handed it to Kanon.
"Kanon, you must remember."
"Akatsuki is the organization Yahiko founded. The red clouds on these cloaks symbolize the war that brought a rain of blood to Amegakure."
"This uniform represents our justice. It does not belong to that man."
Hearing this, a slight smirk played on the masked man's lips. "I am the one who prompted Yahiko to found the Akatsuki."
Seeing the sharp exchange between Konan and the masked man, Kanon was exasperated.
"The war hasn't even started and we're already bickering? What gives!" Kanon slammed the table, then took Konan's hand.
"Alright, we're all in the same organization. Stop fighting."
Kanon leaned in close to Konan's ear.
"After the war... I will kill that man with my own hands..."
Kanon's voice was barely a whisper, unheard by the masked man, but Konan gave a subtle nod. She stood up and looked at the group.
"Let's go. It's time to retrieve the Rinnegan."
The masked man rose, satisfied. Konan was a formidable opponent, and he didn't want to waste his strength fighting her. Obtaining the Rinnegan this way was the best possible outcome, and it was all thanks to Kanon. He felt a sense of gratification regarding this fifteen-year-old girl who had tasted every flavor of pain; she was, as she had said, a being capable of upending the world.
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