It wasn't until Reiki begged for mercy and promised never to act on his own again that Tsunade finally relented. Given her strength, a few of those punches could have seriously injured an average chunin.
"Tsunade, do you think they'll be alright?" Jiraiya asked, watching Reiki lie exhausted on the ground. "Your students are gifted and driven. If we just took them away, they could flourish elsewhere."
Tsunade shook her head. "If you had taken them out of Amegakure, we wouldn't be in this mess. They're still under Hanzo's thumb, and I can't imagine you'll be able to stand by if something goes wrong."
Jiraiya let out a long sigh. "It's not that I didn't want to, but Konoha… it isn't any safer than Amegakure," he replied, his expression troubled.
The group exchanged glances, sharing a mutual understanding. As Konoha ninjas, they knew its unique strengths and resources. But for those who saw its inner workings, it wasn't always the safe haven it seemed to outsiders.
"I managed to neutralize most of the poison in Yahiko's system," Reiki said, standing up as he completed his self-treatment. "He should be strong enough to guide Akatsuki on the right path. But Jiraiya-sama, you should keep an eye on Nagato—there's something unusual about his body and eyes."
Jiraiya looked puzzled. "Nagato? Isn't Yahiko the core of the three? Why should we be concerned about Nagato?"
"Teacher, I examined Nagato," Reiki explained before Tsunade could scold him again. "His constitution is strong, but something seems to be draining his life force. It's as if something is constantly sapping his energy."
Jiraiya's face grew serious. "Thank you, Reiki. I'll make sure Nagato is aware."
With that, Jiraiya signaled for the group to head back toward Konoha. Tsunade glanced at Reiki with a mixture of suspicion and curiosity, sensing that both he and Jiraiya were hiding something, but she chose not to press the matter.
---
**In Amegakure**
Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan stood before Hanzo in the leader's mansion.
"Now that Akatsuki has joined Amegakure's battle order, all your future actions must be reported to me. There will be no more independent operations," Hanzo announced, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Hanzo was well aware of their potential, and he admired their rapid development of the Akatsuki organization. If not for their ties to Jiraiya, Hanzo wouldn't have taken action against them. But their connection to Konoha made him uneasy, so he was determined to bring Akatsuki firmly under his control.
"I understand, Lord Hanzo," Yahiko replied without resistance. Seeing Yahiko's compliance, Nagato and Konan nodded as well. They decided to hold off on any questions for now.
"To celebrate Akatsuki's integration into Amegakure, you're invited to stay for a banquet tonight," Hanzo said, arranging for them to rest in the guest quarters until the festivities began.
---
In the guest room, Nagato broke the silence. "Yahiko, what's going on? Do you really want Akatsuki to be absorbed into Amegakure's forces? This will prevent us from pursuing the goals we had for Akatsuki."
Yahiko, the driving force behind Akatsuki's vision, was giving up the organization's autonomy—handing it over to Hanzo.
"Our path hasn't changed," Yahiko reassured him. "This is only a way to ensure Akatsuki's survival. Trust me, Nagato."
Nagato faltered, seeing Yahiko's determined smile. Finally, he nodded, though he felt drained. "I believe you."
"Yahiko, what's our next step?" Konan asked, fully trusting him but uncertain about Akatsuki's future under Hanzo.
"Our goal remains the same, but now we'll work with Hanzo to manage Amegakure and protect it from external threats," Yahiko said. "If we want the world to see the dawn, it must begin here in the Land of Rain."
Konan and Nagato nodded, reassured by the fire in Yahiko's eyes. They knew his spirit hadn't wavered.
As he spoke, Yahiko thought back to the young face of Reiki, the bold Konoha medic who'd risked so much to help them. A small smile crossed his face as he remembered Reiki's words and actions.
That kid…
>>>>>
Up to Chapter 330 available on Patreon.com/c/GGFanfiction :)
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