[Tier 1 Authority Activated]
A cold mechanical voice abruptly jolted Asahi out of his daze.
"Asahi!"
The surrounding noise and commotion buzzed in his ears, light gradually piercing through his closed eyelids. Slowly, the weight of reality sharpened his senses.
"Asahi, what's there to be sad about? Konan clearly likes Brother Yahiko. I've told you before to let go of these unrealistic thoughts. We and brother Yahiko are not the same. Stop indulging in this hopeless dream of pursuing Konan."
Outside, the sky was a dull grey, and heavy rain poured relentlessly, making the room feel eerily quiet. The voice in front of him, though, seemed muffled, as though it came through a dense fog.
Asahi stood there, stunned and silent.
"Hey, I'm talking to you, Asahi!"
It wasn't until the voice raised a few notches, accompanied by a hand patting his shoulder, that Asahi wandering thoughts came crashing back.
"...I'm fine."
"You'd better let it go. Konan's rejection was already considerate enough."
Reaching behind his head, Asahi untied the headband fastened there and removed the metal forehead protector. It was engraved with four neat vertical lines, resembling rain streaks.
Konan, Brother Yahiko, Akatsuki…
Asahi felt a profound sense of absurdity welling up within him.
"Asahi."
He slowly turned his head to see Kyūsuke looking at him with concern.
Various memories about this man flooded Asahi's mind. They had a close relationship and came from the same village. Even the love letter Asahi had written was entrusted to Kyūsuke to deliver. But due to his timid nature, he hadn't even dared to confess in person, leaving everything to Kyūsuke instead.
The outcome, of course, was predictable.
"Are you really okay?"
"Yeah."
Kyūsuke didn't seem convinced, but seeing how calm Asahi appeared, he reluctantly let it go. Asahi sat quietly, staring out at the rain outside.
"What a heavy rain."
Kyūsuke glanced out the window and propped his chin up. "It's always like this, isn't it?"
After a pause, Kyūsuke added, "Asahi."
"Hm?"
"I think Konan's response is something we need to reflect on. We still have unfinished business, and love is a luxury we can't afford right now."
As he spoke, Kyūsuke's expression grew solemn. "Brother Yahiko's words—you remember them, don't you? This country is crying. We need to save it."
Asahi didn't respond. He simply felt that this life, this identity he had been thrust into, was one he had no desire to keep. He had no interest in saving anything, nor in carrying the weight of these ideals.
The rain outside poured on, a mournful dirge that seemed to shake the very world. Towering, cold structures loomed in the distance, their silhouettes blurred by the downpour.
Suddenly, a burly figure barged into the room, looking flustered.
"Daibutsu?"
"Kyūsuke, Asahi, someone from the village is here!" Daibutsu's tone was urgent, his expression excited.
The village?
Kyūsuke froze for a moment, then immediately sprang to his feet and rushed out. Asahi hesitated briefly before following.
The visitor was a middle-aged man dressed in formal attire, wearing a Rain Village headband. A black eyepatch covered his right eye, with scars faintly visible beneath it, adding an intimidating air to his appearance.
Asahi recognized him instantly from his inherited memories.
At this point, Hanzo of the Salamander had already met with Danzo Shimura, and the two had agreed to destroy Akatsuki.
Yahiko's downfall was imminent, with Obito and Zetsu lurking in the shadows. Akatsuki was heading toward both its destruction and rebirth.
'I need to get out of here…'
Asahi lowered his gaze, deep in thought.
"My name is Genma. I represent Lord Hanzo of the Salamander and have come to meet with your leader, Yahiko. I bring a letter for him."
Hearing this, Kyūsuke clenched his fists, barely containing his excitement. With forced composure, he said, "Please, follow me."
Kyūsuke knew very well what it meant for Hanzo to send an emissary here. After quickly instructing Asahi and Daibutsu to escort Genma, he rushed to inform Yahiko of the news.
When Yahiko and the Akatsuki members arrived, Genma introduced himself as Hanzo's deputy and handed over the letter.
After reading its contents, Yahiko was astonished. "Is this true?"
Genma smiled. "Lord Hanzo recognizes Akatsuki and wishes to meet you in person. He hopes to entrust Akatsuki with peace negotiations for the Rain Country and the surrounding three nations."
Kyūsuke, overwhelmed with excitement, exclaimed, "Peace negotiations for three nations? This is incredible, Brother Yahiko!"
The members of Akatsuki were equally ecstatic. In the Rain Country, Hanzo of the Salamander had always been an untouchable figure. For Akatsuki, receiving his recognition was the culmination of their efforts.
Yahiko composed himself and replied, "Please convey our gratitude to Lord Hanzo. We understand."
After Genma left, the Akatsuki members remained in high spirits. Some hugged each other, while others wept with joy.
Born into this war-torn country, each of them had endured unimaginable suffering. It was their shared desire to help others that brought them together under Yahiko's leadership.
Kyūsuke threw an arm around Asahi's neck, shouting with joy, "Now we can finally help people openly!"
Yahiko, deeply moved, said, "So many have sacrificed for this moment. We won't let them down."
Beside him, Nagato added, "Yahiko, it's your resolve to understand others' pain that moved Hanzo. That's why we all follow you."
Yahiko nodded firmly. "We made the right choice!"
Amid the celebration, Asahi felt out of place. While Kyūsuke enthusiastically recounted their struggles, Asahi's heart drifted further away.
These hardships and ideals were things he no longer wanted.
He made up his mind.
I need to leave this place!
"Tomorrow, I'll meet with Hanzo along with Nagato. Everyone, enjoy yourselves tonight!" Yahiko announced.
The night was filled with revelry. Some drank until they were drunk. A tipsy Yahiko even grabbed Kyūsuke by the collar, asking, "You little punk, you confessed to Konan before me?"
Kyūsuke, also drunk, blurted, "It wasn't me, Brother Yahiko! I just delivered the love letter. Konan even said she's not considering romance right now!"
"Then who was it?!"
Asahi, having excused himself to use the restroom, had already slipped away.
The rain that had been falling all day still showed no sign of stopping. The night was thick with darkness, like a black cloth swallowing the earth, blocking out the true sky.
He stood in the corridor, glancing back at the room filled with warm, inviting light.
Yahiko was a warm and cheerful person, with a magnetic personality that allowed him to connect with everyone. Nagato, though quiet, sat quietly beside him, watching the others in their revelry with a gentle smile.
Asahi extended his hand into the corridor, letting the raindrops fall into his palm, shattering and splashing across his skin, cold and numbing.
"What are you doing here?"
Suddenly, a soft call made Asahi turn his head. He saw a strikingly beautiful woman wearing the same uniform as him—her short blue-violet hair framed her face, and a paper flower was tucked into her hair.
[Detected Tier 2 Authority Bearer]
The icy mechanical voice suddenly echoed in Asahi mind, freezing him in place.
[Automatically Binding The Target]
[Current Tier 2 Authority Bearer: 1/1]
[Tier 2 Authority Activated]
Konan who was about to head out for a patrol in the seventh district, planned to greet Yahiko and the others first. As she approached, she saw Asahi, the one who had entrusted someone else to confess for him, standing alone in the corridor.
This guy was usually quite introverted and hardly stood out, but he was one of the earliest members of Akatsuki. He had joined along with Kyūsuke, Daibutsu, and the others, all of whom were reliable companions.
Konan thought for a moment, realizing that, after all, he was a companion and they would need to get along in the future. She decided to greet him first.
[Tier 2 Authority Activated]
A cold, mechanical voice suddenly rang in her mind, causing Konan to freeze in place.
[Name: Asahi]
[Available Rewards: First Level, Second Level, Third Levels]
[First Level Reward Unlock Condition: First Kiss]