After that, most of the Akatsuki Organization's ordinary members went back to rest, satisfied. Only a few core members remained to discuss what to do next.
Nagato spoke first. "Are we really going to carry out this mission Hanzo gave us?"
Shiba Seika thought it over, then nodded. "Looking at the map, the Sunagakure squad has been operating very close to our base. Even if we weren't doing Hanzo a favor, we'd still have to deal with these Sunagakure ninja for the sake of our own base's safety."
He also took the opportunity to criticize the Akatsuki's current structure.
"This incident also exposed just how terrible our intelligence work is!
"Sunagakure ninja showed up this close to our base, and even Hanzo heard about it, but we knew nothing! That's a serious failure!"
As he said "failure," his gaze pointedly settled on Yahiko.
He had always been like that. His rebellious streak was never hidden.
Yet Yahiko, as the leader, could only take the criticism without being able to do a thing about it.
Because at this point in time, the Akatsuki really was falling short in many areas.
Seika wasn't wrong to call it a makeshift outfit.
Then Seika went on to suggest, "Konan and I will lead the team handling this mission. Nagato, while we're gone, pick a group of sensory ninja from the organization to take charge of gathering intelligence. We can't keep stumbling around blind, knowing nothing about what's going on around us!"
This was extremely important!
He still planned to have Danzo's minions, sent into the Land of Rain, assassinated in advance. With the organization this clueless, how could they even talk about countering Danzo?
But Nagato, whose name had just been called, jolted and let out a socially anxious squeak. "Huh? Y-you're actually putting me in charge of that?"
He looked at his friend Yahiko, then at Seika, his expression troubled.
He might have been quiet, but he wasn't stupid. Wasn't this obviously taking power away from Big Brother Yahiko?
Seeing this, Seika smiled gently, though the sight of that smile only made Nagato feel more overwhelmed.
"Nagato, you know what your Uzumaki Clan is up against in the Shinobi World right now, don't you? You saw what happened to Aunt Kayo. Across the entire Shinobi World, Kusagakure isn't the only village that wants to capture and imprison Uzumaki survivors.
"If we don't keep track of what's happening, what if ninja from another village set their sights on the Uzumaki Clan's bloodline and legacy next time? Would you really stand by and watch your aunt fall into the depths of despair again?
"Nagato, without power, you can't protect anything. Your Aunt Kayo has already suffered so much. You don't want anything else to happen to her, do you?"
At that moment, Nagato was thoroughly shaken.
Yahiko had always held an unrivaled place in Nagato's heart. Seika alone could never have changed that.
But during their recent trip to Kusagakure, Seika had forcibly given Nagato a new weakness!
Their blood ties, the family bond he'd missed for so long, her gentle, maternal warmth, and her tragic background and experiences—all of it had easily drawn Uzumaki Kayo into Nagato's guarded heart!
In that moment, even the childhood friend who'd grown up alongside him could only lose completely.
From another angle, did this count as a case of the childhood friend losing to the newcomer? Seika wondered for no particular reason.
It had nothing to do with romance, but Yahiko had still lost this round. He was done for, defeated, unable to win. No choice...
After struggling for several seconds, Nagato finally nodded. "All right. I'll take charge of intelligence. Big Brother Yahiko, I won't take too many people away from the others."
Given Yahiko's personality, even if this hurt, he couldn't bring himself to refuse.
He managed a strained smile and instead encouraged him. "Don't worry about it, Nagato. Take as many people as you need. I'll handle everything else in the organization."
He couldn't blame Nagato for this, but he still couldn't help sighing to himself.
Why did it have to be like this? I knew you first...
Konan, Nagato—I knew you both first...
Once everything was arranged, the gathering came to an end for the night.
Seika believed Nagato could handle the intelligence work. In the original story, after turning evil, Nagato had single-handedly taken charge of the entire Akatsuki's intelligence and security.
That had been thanks to the support of the Rain Tiger at Will Technique, an ability that practically broke the rules, but it still showed that Nagato could sort through and filter large amounts of complicated information.
Seika had high hopes for him.
Early the next morning, Seika and Konan chose three teammates to accompany them and set off for the location Hanzo the Salamander had provided, where they would deal with the Sunagakure ninja who had crossed into the country.
At the same time, a hundred kilometers away, the Sunagakure squad Hanzo had marked had just finished resting for the night and was packing up their campsite.
The Jonin at the head of the group spread out a map. After checking it carefully, he waved everyone over.
"After several days of scouting, we can be fairly certain that the target those bandits called a big fat sheep is the organization in the southern part of the Land of Rain called 'Akatsuki.'"
The Sunagakure Captain pointed to a spot on the map. "They have a good reputation around here and often help the poor. They recently acquired a large stock of supplies from somewhere, which drew the attention of the surrounding bandits. According to reliable intelligence, their base should be somewhere around here."
One of the Sunagakure ninja chuckled. "So when we wiped out those bandits a few days ago, we were actually helping the Akatsuki? Then it's only fair that we ask them for a reward, isn't it?"
Another Sunagakure ninja, a Puppet Master, said cruelly, "You're satisfied with just a little reward? Canaan, you're too kindhearted. Organizations this insignificant are wiped out every day in the Shinobi World. Why not just kill them all?"
The Sunagakure Captain nodded. He didn't seem to mind his teammate's coldness; in fact, he agreed. "The village is deadlocked in its war with Konoha. Our reserves are far inferior to theirs, and even our advantage in launching a surprise attack can't make up for the gap.
"At a time like this, every bit of supplies can help the village regain some ground on the front lines. So we have to take everything the Akatsuki has and bring it back to the village!
"If they resist, we'll let these Rain ninja from a small country see the difference between them and a major village!"
At that, every Sunagakure ninja around him seemed to be fired up!
Everyone, that is, except for one kunoichi who hadn't gathered around the captain from the start. She remained some distance away, quietly resting with her back against a tree.
The captain frowned and looked up at her.
"Did you hear what I just said, Pakura?"
Pakura glanced at him impatiently and gave a cold, detached "Mm," as if that were answer enough.
The Sunagakure Captain was furious, but there was nothing he could do about her.
When it came to strength, Pakura was far above him!
She had only been sent to a backwater like the Land of Rain because the newly appointed Fourth Kazekage didn't favor her.
The captain could only fall back on the one thing he had that gave him leverage over Pakura: his position!
"Pakura, I'm the captain now!"
Pakura lazily replied, "Oh," then added, "Fine, it's your call. I hope you don't regret it."
Not only was the phrasing all wrong for the situation, but the one getting angry was the wrong person, too.
After saying that, Pakura walked away as though nothing had happened.
Meanwhile, the Sunagakure Captain was so angry he could have slammed a door.
Before you continue