Looking at Kakashi in front of him, Yahiko's lips twitched.
So that's what they call white hair...
Yujiro, are you stupid? These little guys in front of you look like a bunch of children, and you actually believe he's our uncle?!
Gritting his teeth, Yahiko glared at Kazashiro standing at the front, suppressing his urge to retort and forcing an awkward smile, "You're my uncle?"
"Yes."
Kazashiro nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Puff."
Upon hearing Kazashiro's admission, Konan couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Upon hearing the voice, Yahiko turned around and glared fiercely at the other person, which made Konan regain her serious expression.
What are you laughing at? Didn't you hear him say he's also your uncle?
"Um, what's your name? Where are you from?"
Yahiko, who was convinced from the bottom of his heart that the other party was there to cause trouble, looked at Kazashiro again, intending to find out exactly what the other party wanted to do.
"I really am your uncle, or more accurately, your senior uncle-master."
Seeing that Yahiko didn't believe him, Kazashiro solemnly explained, "Your teacher is Jiraiya, Jiraiya's teacher is the Third Hokage. I am also a disciple of the Third Hokage, so I am Jiraiya's junior brother, which means I am your senior uncle."
"I came here because of Jiraiya's request."
Finding the Akatsuki Organization's stronghold is not difficult.
Before leaving Danzo, Kazashiro received a new map from him that was far more detailed than the one he had.
According to this map, Kazashiro even knew the direction of the Akatsuki Organization's public toilets.
"Jiraiya- sensei, did Jiraiya- sensei really send you here?"
Nagato was somewhat excited when he heard that Jiraiya had sent Kazashiro.
"Yes, before the war broke out, Jiraiya tried many times to find your whereabouts, but all he got were reports of your deaths in battle. He had great confidence in your strength and was unwilling to believe it was true, which is why he sent me out."
Kazashiro glanced at Nagato's eyes, which were hidden by his red hair, but he didn't see the Rinnegan hidden within.
"Really? So, Master, you came from Konoha?"
Yahiko's lips twitched as he called out "Uncle-Master".
"Eh."
Kazashiro quickly agreed. He had no choice but to accept, since this was someone Chao Ge had personally addressed as his "Uncle-Master."
You're so quick to agree, kid!
On the other side, Yahiko was speechless. He was beginning to believe that the other person was Jiraiya's junior brother. After all, their terrible personalities were too similar, making it hard not to believe it.
"I came from the front lines. Jiraiya is currently fighting against the Stone Ninja at the border."
After finishing his statement, Kazashiro paused, his expression turning serious. "I, Shimura Kazashiro, extend an invitation for cooperation to you on behalf of Konoha."
Although he did not receive authorization from his teacher Hiruzen Sarutobi, Kazashiro had Danzo's tacit approval and could temporarily represent Konoha in negotiations with the Akatsuki Organization.
Seeing Kakashi and the others leave the room on their own, Yahiko wanted to ask Konan and Nagato to leave for a while, but was stopped by Kazashiro.
"These two junior disciples don't need to leave. After all, I have something to tell you all later."
[You call me "junior disciple" quite naturally.]
Konan and Nagato also understood the sense of powerlessness that Yahiko had just experienced.
"Shimura Kazashiro, I've heard of you. You are indeed a disciple of the Third Hokage, a ninja known in Kumogakure as the 'White Death God'."
Looking at the handsome young man in front of her, Konan recited his resume and put away her contempt.
"Jiraiya- sensei should know that our Akatsuki Organization acts to change this Shinobi World and achieve peace; we would never help you attack Stone Ninja."
Yahiko was not swayed by Kazashiro's title and achievements. He immediately stated his position: it was absolutely impossible for him to form an alliance with Konoha to fight against Stone Ninja.
"Don't worry, I know that."
Kazashiro smiled and put on an innocent expression, "I haven't even offered any conditions, how do you know I'm here to invite you to fight against the Stone Ninja? You seem to have very little faith in Jiraiya and me."
"So, the cooperation you're talking about is...?"
Yahiko was somewhat curious. He didn't understand why the other party would talk about cooperation with his small Akatsuki Organization if they weren't planning to involve him in the fight against the Stone Ninja.
"This is the area you control."
Looking around, Kazashiro spotted a map of the Land of Rain on the wall of the room.
Standing on tiptoe, Kazashiro pointed to the area where the Akatsuki Organization were located, his fingertip finally landing on one particular area. "Konoha is willing to provide you with a loan. You can use this money to purchase living supplies, develop the local area, and even buy weapons to arm yourself. Of course, the premise is that you can only use this money to purchase Konoha's supplies, and the collateral is the Silver Mine hidden beneath this area."
How did you know there was Silver Mine here?
Yahiko blurted it out, then instantly regretted it. He was so stupid. The fact that the other party could find this place proved that they had thoroughly investigated the Land of Rain. Knowing where the minerals were was a simple matter for them.
"I know everything, including his eyes." Kazashiro narrowed his eyes and smiled as he pointed to Nagato not far away.
Eye--
Yahiko glanced at Nagato instinctively.
Nagato himself was somewhat surprised, but also somewhat relieved. Since Jiraiya had even told him about the Rinnegan, he must trust this kid a lot.
No matter how hard he racked his brains, Jiraiya couldn't figure it out. Jiraiya had never mentioned the Rinnegan to Kazashiro. The reason Kazashiro knew about it was entirely due to other reasons.
"Since it's a loan, there should be interest, right?"
Yahiko coughed lightly and continued the previous topic.
"If you agree to Konoha mine this Silver Mine and use the extracted resources to repay the loan, the interest can be waived."
"Isn't this offer far too generous? Aren't there any other conditions attached?" After hearing Kazashiro's conditions, Yahiko had a vague guess:
"You should know that the true ruler of Amegakure is Lord Hanzo, not us—"
Before Yahiko could finish speaking, Kazashiro interrupted him, "You should know what Amegakure was like under Hanzo's rule. With that kind of dark rule, even if you invest more in them, they'll probably just pocket it all to use as military funds."
Looking directly into Yahiko's eyes, Kazashiro once again recalled what he had seen and heard when he first stepped into Amegakure: "That backward and corrupt regime should be buried in the dust of history. The conflict between ninjas should not involve civilians. Don't you agree, Yahiko?"