"Tsuki-kun, nothing really gets past you..."
"Yahiko... Yahiko's trading partner in Konoha is Shimura Danzō."
"Actually, without Konoha, our Akatsuki might... might not have been able to keep developing."
"So, Tsuki-kun, I hope you won't mind. For now, please forget about the matter between you and Konoha."
Hearing Uchiha Tsuki's question, Yahiko, who had always been quite shy, looked even more awkward now. Clearly, Nagato was simply too embarrassed to bring up Konoha in front of Uchiha Tsuki. After all, Nagato knew about the grudge between Uchiha Tsuki and Konoha, and he felt as though he had been the one who dragged Uchiha Tsuki into Akatsuki.
Now that it was clear Akatsuki was an organization supported by Shimura Danzō of Konoha—Uchiha Tsuki's enemy—Nagato was truly afraid that Uchiha Tsuki would leave Akatsuki outright. In fact, even Nagato himself was somewhat resistant to Yahiko's approach, because he felt that Konoha's shinobi could not be absolved of responsibility for his parents' deaths.
Yet, to Nagato's great surprise, after hearing him out, Uchiha Tsuki merely gave a soft "Mm" and said nothing more.
Then, when Nagato asked Uchiha Tsuki if anything was wrong, Uchiha Tsuki merely replied in an indifferent tone:
"Nagato, aren't we leaving?"
"Oh... oh! We're leaving now!"
The moment Uchiha Tsuki finished speaking, Nagato let out a breath and observed his expression. Unfortunately, aside from cold indifference, Nagato saw no other emotion in Uchiha Tsuki's face. Thus, he could only bury all his confusion in his heart and lead Uchiha Tsuki, Konan, and the other Akatsuki members toward Amegakure, preparing to begin their assassination operation.
However, how could Nagato have known that beneath Uchiha Tsuki's cold exterior, countless thoughts were churning in his heart?
Especially after Uchiha Tsuki learned that Shimura Danzō had actually been secretly supporting Akatsuki...
A massive