After the banquet, Yahiko and the others left the chief's mansion. The Akatsuki members still had personal items and affairs to settle, so Hanzo granted them a week to organize themselves before officially joining Amegakure's battle order.
Meanwhile, in the shadows of Yuyin Village, a low, ominous voice whispered from the darkness.
"Now that Yuyin Village is secure internally, shall we proceed with our arrangement?"
"Patience," Hanzo replied coldly. "I'll uphold my end of the deal, but you're better off keeping your schemes away from Yuyin Village. Cross me, and you'll regret it."
The figure gave a faint chuckle, then vanished. Soon after, more shadowy figures slipped out of Yuyin Village.
---
**At Konoha Village**
In Tsunade's courtyard, she sat across from Reiki, a stern look on her face.
"So, tell me," she said, crossing her arms. "What were you really thinking?"
Reiki fidgeted under her piercing gaze. Venturing to Yuyin Village alone had been a high-risk move. He knew it—and so did she. Facing Hanzo, the man reputed as a demigod, could have ended badly if not for Hatake Sakumo's timely intervention. But there was more on her mind.
"And those things you and Jiraiya were discussing on the way back," Tsunade continued. "What's going on?"
"Uh… I went there to avenge you, teacher," Reiki began, trying his best to sound earnest. "No one should harm my teacher like that…"
Tsunade gave a dry smile. "Nice try. Are you done buttering me up? Now, tell me something I don't know."
Reiki sighed, sensing that his attempt to flatter her had failed. "Alright, I did notice a few things while I was with Yahiko and the others. Have you ever noticed Nagato's eyes, teacher?"
"His eyes?" Tsunade looked thoughtful. Nagato's eyes had always seemed unique, but she'd never heard of him possessing any special eye techniques or bloodline abilities.
"When I treated him, I sensed an unstable aura in his eyes. It could be tied to a unique constitution," Reiki explained. "Also, about Amegakure's alliance with Konoha… who was the liaison on our side?"
Tsunade frowned. Although she had been the one to initially sign the alliance, she wasn't responsible for its ongoing maintenance. Sarutobi Hiruzen had assigned someone else to oversee it—Danzo.
"Are you saying this was orchestrated by Danzo?" Tsunade asked, her brows knitting together in concern. Why would Danzo interfere in Amegakure's internal affairs? What could he possibly gain from it?
"I don't know for sure," Reiki replied. "But if trouble stirs within Amegakure, it could impact us in Konoha, especially considering you were the one who signed the alliance initially."
Tsunade fell silent, her mind turning over Reiki's words. If he was right, there were far-reaching implications. But then a thought struck her.
"Wait—are these your reasons for going off on such a dangerous mission?"
Reiki quickly stood up straight. "Yes, teacher, and… I was also determined to protect you. I misjudged my own strength and took an unnecessary risk."
Tsunade studied him for a long moment before nodding. "Alright. As long as you understand the risks, that's enough for now. Go get some rest."
Reiki bowed, relieved, and left the courtyard. Tsunade watched him go, deep in thought. She couldn't shake the feeling that Reiki and Jiraiya were keeping something from her, but she decided not to press the issue further.
---
**Back in the Hidden Rain Village**
Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan met with Hanzo in the leader's mansion.
"Now that Akatsuki has joined Amegakure's battle order, all your actions must be reported to me," Hanzo commanded. "There will be no more unsanctioned operations."
The three nodded, though inwardly, their minds were racing with questions. But they kept their doubts to themselves for the moment.
"To celebrate Akatsuki's integration, I've arranged for a banquet tonight," Hanzo added, assigning them a guest room until the festivities began.
---
In the guest room, Nagato voiced his concerns. "Yahiko, are you really planning to let Akatsuki be absorbed by Amegakure? If we go down this path, our original goals will be compromised."
Yahiko met Nagato's gaze calmly. "The core mission of Akatsuki hasn't changed. Right now, we're just doing what's necessary to survive. Trust me, Nagato."
Nagato hesitated but saw the conviction in Yahiko's eyes. Finally, he nodded. "I trust you."
"Yahiko, what's our plan from here?" Konan asked, her loyalty to him unwavering.
"Right now, we'll work with Hanzo to stabilize Amegakure and shield it from external threats," Yahiko said, his eyes burning with determination. "If we want the world to see the dawn, it must start here."
Konan and Nagato nodded, reassured by Yahiko's determination. They could see that his resolve to protect their ideals was as strong as ever.
As he planned their next steps, Yahiko thought back to Reiki, the audacious young Konoha medic. A small smile crossed his face—Reiki's daring and loyalty had left a lasting impression.
---
**Meanwhile, at the Hokage's Office**
"There's no need for Konoha to intervene in Amegakure's problems," Sarutobi Hiruzen said, a hint of frustration in his voice. "This entire situation was triggered by their perception that we were meddling in their internal affairs."
Jiraiya stood firmly before the Hokage. "If you want to punish someone, punish me. I made the call to go, and I'd do it again."
Sarutobi sighed, facing his determined former student. Jiraiya's resolve was well-known, and he could hardly expect him to stay away if his students were in danger.
At that moment, Hyuga Omo stepped forward. "Hokage-sama, we all chose to act. If you intend to impose consequences, we should all bear them equally."
Sarutobi Hiruzen relaxed, nodding at the show of solidarity. "Very well. The matter will be dealt with privately. But let this serve as a warning—any future incidents will have severe repercussions."
With that, he dismissed them, though a glimmer of pride flashed in his eyes at their dedication.
>>>>>
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