Akatsuki Makes Its Entrance

Two years later.

Under the sunlight of Konoha Dawn.

Two familiar figures appeared at the entrance to Konoha.

"After two years!"

"I, Uzumaki Naruto, am finally back!"

"Just thinking about Teuchi's ramen makes my mouth water!"

A black high-collared shoulder guard, an orange tracksuit, and a gray mesh undershirt.

After two years apart, Naruto had even grown taller than Jiraiya.

"Now that you mention it, I'm hungry too."

Jiraiya rubbed his stomach.

They entered Konoha.

The busy streets still had that familiar feel.

"Sakura!"

Naruto suddenly spotted a familiar figure in the distance.

Pink hair, very short denim shorts.

She turned and looked at Naruto.

Sakura froze.

After two years apart, Naruto seemed even stronger now.

"Naruto, long time no see. You've changed so much."

Sakura said happily.

At the same time, she hoped Naruto would compliment her, too.

"You haven't changed at all!"

Sakura froze.

"Sexy Jutsu!"

Konohamaru's voice suddenly came from behind them.

The next second, Jiraiya's nose spurted blood.

But Naruto only smiled faintly and shook his head helplessly.

"Konohamaru, I'm not a kid anymore."

"You should stop using that kind of jutsu, too."

Sakura looked at Naruto with a relieved smile.

Naruto really had grown so much. He must have been through a lot. He wasn't that immature kid anymore.

He must have come back with some amazing new jutsu this time. She couldn't wait to see it.

"Your jutsu still needs a lot of work!"

"Let me show you my newly developed New! Sexy Jutsu!"

Naruto clenched his fists excitedly.

"Yeah... something like the New Sexy Jutsu..."

Sakura suddenly realized what he meant.

"Here I go!"

"Naruto!!!"

One punch sent Naruto rolling three blocks down the street.

The Hokage Building.

Naruto saw Shikamaru and Temari again.

So this guy Shikamaru was already involved with Temari at this point.

Sand and Konoha had joined forces by now.

Their relationship was even stronger than he'd imagined.

He'd also heard that Gaara was about to become the Fifth Kazekage.

Naruto was thrilled to hear it.

But if he wanted to return to Konoha and start taking missions again,

he had to pass Kakashi's test.

The bell test again.

But this time, Sasuke wasn't involved.

Their strategy worked perfectly, and Naruto and Sakura passed.

Soon, Fifth Hokage Tsunade welcomed Naruto back to Konoha's ranks.

An unknown future awaited him.

Akatsuki.

Two years had passed.

Chuan Yu had grown into a strapping young man.

His taut skin made him look especially robust.

Behind him, Itachi was using a pair of scissors to trim Chuan Yu's long hair.

"I have to admit, it's been two years."

"I kind of miss Mother."

Chuan Yu sighed deeply.

"All right, go look by the pond."

Chuan Yu stood and walked over to the pond.

As he lowered his head, he seemed to see his former self.

Back when he'd first arrived at Fugaku's home, Mikoto had trimmed his hair for him.

Itachi's skills weren't bad. He was almost as good as Mikoto.

"Sorry to interrupt you two brothers."

"I'm here to assign your missions."

A cold voice suddenly came from the cave entrance.

They both turned to look.

It was Yahiko, controlled by Nagato through the Deva Path Pain.

Itachi and Chuan Yu exchanged a glance, then nodded.

The members Akatsuki currently had were:

Deidara (Blue) and Sasori (Jade).

Kakuzu (North) and Hidan (Three).

Itachi Uchiha (Vermilion) and Kisame (South).

Uchiha Chuanyu (Heaven) and Karin Uzumaki (Earth).

Konan (White) was responsible for relaying missions.

Zetsu (Black) handled all kinds of intelligence.

Pain (Zero), also known as Nagato, was the leader of Akatsuki.

The ring for (Void) was unclaimed, since it had previously been reserved for Orochimaru.

But Orochimaru had already defected from Akatsuki.

"We have almost enough people in our organization now."

"Then it's time to begin the new plan."

"Our first target is Gaara of the Sand."

"He's the One-Tail Jinchuriki. The Tailed Beast inside him is called Shukaku."

"But I've already chosen the right people for this mission."

Pain spoke slowly, then looked at Sasori and Deidara.

"Bring Gaara back yourselves."

Chuan Yu looked at Sasori.

The guy usually hid inside Hiruko. His left arm was a double-mechanism device, and there was a demon face on his back.

A tail made of iron, shaped like a scorpion's, jutted from the mouth of the demon face.

His true form was a handsome boy with red hair.

Chuan Yu knew that Sasori would die on this mission.

In Nagato's hands, Akatsuki was just a tool for capturing Tailed Beasts, and its members were nothing but sacrifices.

But in Chuan Yu's eyes, there were no villains in the world of Naruto.

Just a group of people chasing after their ideals.

Their stubborn convictions had clouded their judgment, and that was why they'd met such tragic ends.

If he could recruit them, he'd be doing right by them.

"This time, I can finally do what I've been wanting to..."

"I'll make them all appreciate my art!"

Deidara and Sasori had been ready for a while.

They were just waiting for Pain to give the order.

"Itachi, Kisame, the two of you will continue to Konoha. Leave the Nine-Tails to you."

"Hidan and Kakuzu will support Itachi's team."

"Chuan Yu and Karin will support Sasori's team."

As soon as Pain finished speaking, Chuan Yu raised an objection.

"I think..."

"Akatsuki is now strong enough to match an entire country."

"We should focus on one target at a time."

"Everyone should attack together."

"Wouldn't that make the missions easier? And risk-free?"

Everyone stared at Chuan Yu in surprise.

Was he suggesting that Akatsuki should all go fight as a team?

"Shut up, kid! Who here are you looking down on? Say it to their faces!"

Deidara pointed angrily at Chuan Yu.

"You."

Chuan Yu replied calmly.

"Bastard! Are you insulting my art?!"

"I'll make you pay for that!"

Sure enough, Chuan Yu shook his head helplessly.

Akatsuki had never been united.

Its members respected no one but themselves, and that was one of the reasons.

Everyone carried the shadows of their past, and tragedy could strike in an instant.

They entered every battle prepared to die.

Their hearts were already dead. What was there to fear in the destruction of their bodies?

Getting them to work together would be difficult.

Konan, however, thought Chuan Yu made a lot of sense.

At first, Konan hadn't trusted Chuan Yu or Itachi.

But fortunately, Chuan Yu and Itachi were convincing enough in their disguises.

That made Konan admire Chuan Yu more and more.

She thought he had great potential.

"Go on,"

Konan said calmly, hoping Chuan Yu would offer more useful suggestions.

"How about we set a rule?"

Chuan Yu took a sheet of white paper from his pocket.

"What rule?"

Zetsu asked in an eerie voice.

"The first clause of this agreement is..."

"During battle, no one is allowed to take off their Akatsuki robes!"