Kou looked into Pain's purple Rinnegan eyes, alarm bells ringing in his head. Outwardly, though, he kept his usual easygoing expression and laughed it off.
"Boss, since when did you start joking around? I'm an Akatsuki veteran with two Kun-years of experience under my belt."
"What do you mean, join Akatsuki? Haven't I been a member all along?"
His eyes shone with such guileless stupidity that he seemed genuinely not to understand what Pain meant.
Is he... trying to poach me?
Kou had caught the implication in Pain's words.
While maintaining his act, he swiftly worked through it in his head.
No, Nagato isn't that stupid.
Is he trying to drive a wedge between Obito and me? What a dirty trick. Effective, though...
He knew Nagato was too calculating to believe a few words could sway him to their side.
Nagato only wanted to test, with a few provocative remarks, just how close Kou and Obito really were.
After all, given their current partnership, there was no way a little thing like this would make them fall out openly.
Rumors cost nothing to spread. If it failed, Nagato lost nothing; if it worked, he stood to gain plenty.
Nagato, you sly bastard.
Kou poked fun at him in his head, but his smile only grew brighter.
He scratched his head with an innocent look and ventured, "Boss, if there's nothing else, I'll be heading out."
Pain gave him a long, meaningful look.
After a moment, he nodded slowly.
Kou breathed a long sigh of relief. Then he waved goodbye to Pain and Konan in turn.
He raised his hands and formed the Hand Seals, and his projection vanished completely.
Only Pain's and Konan's projections remained in the silent space.
They exchanged a knowing glance and released the Lantern Body Technique together.
Land of Rain, Amegakure.
Rain shrouded the city of towers and pipes all year round.
Its patter came from every direction, an ever-present sound that seemed as though it would never stop.
The sky was gray, the clouds so low they seemed ready to press down on the rooftops. Now and then, lightning flashed, illuminating the grimacing stone statues hidden in the rain.
Pain stood atop a high building and slowly opened his eyes.
Outside the window lay a sight he knew all too well: a leaden sky, endless curtains of rain, and the occasional umbrella-carrying pedestrian hurrying along the wet streets.
Rain dripped from the eaves, striking the windowsill with crisp little splashes.
His Rinnegan glimmered faintly purple in the dim light.
Konan stood quietly behind him.
She opened her eyes at almost the same moment he did. Nothing showed on her cool face.
Her gaze settled on Pain's back, and she was silent for a moment.
"Looks like it failed, Nagato."
Her voice was soft, with little regret in it. Clearly, she had expected this result.
Pain did not turn around. He kept looking out at the rain, the gray sky reflected in his Rinnegan.
"No."
His voice was low and deep, as though he were thinking something through.
"I wouldn't call it a failure."
He slowly turned to face Konan. His face, that of the Deva Path, usually showed almost no expression, but now it held a hint of something deeper.
"Uchiha Kou and 'Madara' are closer than we imagined. All we needed was to confirm that."
Even as he spoke, his brows drew together slightly.
It was barely noticeable, but Konan saw it.
She knew him too well. He was worried.
Pain... no, Nagato.
He was Akatsuki's leader in name, but the true power behind it was the "Teacher" who had taught him to use the Rinnegan: Madara.
A mysterious man who called himself Uchiha Madara, wore a Spiral Mask, and never showed his real face.
That man knew nearly everything about Nagato's side, while Nagato knew precious little about his "Teacher."
He did not know where he came from, who he really was, or what he ultimately wanted.
He only knew the man was strong—strong enough that even he, a "god" who possessed the Rinnegan, had to be wary of him.
Uchiha Madara alone was trouble enough. Then, five years ago, Uchiha Kou had appeared at his side, another formidable fighter.
Even Nagato, confident as he was in his own strength, could not help growing wary of Madara and his companion. He was beginning to feel the pressure.
"Still, it really is surprising..."
A trace of puzzlement colored Konan's voice.
She took two steps forward and stood beside Pain, her cool eyes joining his on the endless rain outside.
"That Madara trusts Uchiha Kou so much...
"Even though Uchiha Kou is nothing like him."
"...That doesn't matter."
Pain's voice was cold.
"Uchiha Kou is Madara's man. We need to guard against him... That's all we need to know."
Konan fell silent for a moment.
She looked at Pain's profile and slowly nodded.
Pain watched her fall quiet and sighed inwardly.
He knew what she was thinking.
He understood her as well as she understood him.
Uchiha Kou belonged to Uchiha Madara, and he was undeniably loud and theatrical at times. But... he was a good man.
That judgment came from what little Nagato had seen of him over the past five years, and from his own instincts.
After all... both Konan and Nagato knew the feeling Kou gave off all too well.
Teacher Jiraiya, Yahiko...
Kou had the same quality as the people they loved.
It was a goodness that no amount of suffering, not even this cruel Ninja World, could erase.
Even Nagato as he was now could not help being moved by someone like that. How could Konan feel otherwise?
She must have seen something of Teacher Jiraiya and Yahiko in Uchiha Kou too...
A rare sadness surfaced in Pain's eyes.
It was faint, gone almost as soon as it appeared.
In an instant, resolve took its place.
For a world truly at peace, without war, he would do whatever it took.
Even if it meant hurting good people. Even if it meant... becoming the kind of person he had once despised most.
The kind of damned person who hurt others and upended their lives for the sake of his own goals...
"In three days, I'll send the Animal Path to Mist Harbor."
Pain's sudden words broke Konan's train of thought.
Surprise crossed her face.
Her brows drew together, and concern flickered in her cool eyes.
She quickly steadied herself, though her voice carried a note of warning.
"Isn't it too soon to make a move against Uchiha Kou, Nagato?
"You might provoke Madara. We're not ready to break with him yet."
Pain shook his head.
"I'll only observe him from behind the scenes and gather information. I won't attack him under the present circumstances."
He paused, a sharp gleam flashing in his Rinnegan.
"I just want to take this opportunity to see how strong he is now.
"It's been three years since I last saw him fight."
His voice dropped, his words heavy with implication.
"Besides, an old acquaintance of ours happens to be gathering intelligence around Mist Village.
"We can use him to test the limits of Uchiha Kou's strength."
"An old acquaintance..."
Something occurred to Konan, and her heart jolted.
Someone she and Nagato knew, with enough strength to force Uchiha Kou to fight with everything he had... She could think of only one person!
Pain nodded, confirming her thought.
"Uchiha Kou won't be a match for him, but with his skill in the Body Flicker Technique, escaping shouldn't be difficult."
"And with the Animal Path following him, nothing will go wrong."
Konan listened and gave a small nod.
From beginning to end, they had deliberately avoided saying that "old acquaintance's" name.
And, by unspoken agreement, neither spoke further of the person they cherished so deeply, yet knew they would one day have to face as an enemy.
Outside, the rain kept falling.
It pattered on, as though it would never end.
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