Recruiting Kisame?

Land of Water, rocky coast.

Boom!

The waves exploded.

Kisame Hoshigaki's massive body flew backward. His feet slid across the slick rocks for more than a dozen steps before he barely managed to steady himself.

The greatsword in his hand lay across his chest, its blade still marked with traces of black-red Chakra.

That Chakra was like a living thing, trying to crawl up the blade toward his arm.

Kisame's gaze sharpened as he abruptly unleashed his Chakra.

Splash!

A torrent of water swept over the blade, washing away that strand of black-red Chakra.

Even so, his right arm went numb for an instant.

"What a troublesome ability."

Kisame grinned and looked toward Uchiha You in the distance.

Uchiha You held Kubikiribōchō in one hand. His black hair fluttered in the sea breeze, while the Mangekyō Sharingan in his eyes slowly turned.

Only a little over ten minutes had passed since their fight began.

Kisame had gone from excitement at the start to utter seriousness.

This guy was strong.

Kisame had originally thought that most of the Uchiha Clan excelled at genjutsu, Fire Release, and the Sharingan's perception.

They might not be weak in close combat, but it definitely would not be their specialty.

But Uchiha You was completely different.

The explosive power of his taijutsu was absurdly strong.

After being enhanced by that White Umbrella Mangekyō Sharingan, his speed, strength, and recovery had all increased dramatically.

The Black Umbrella ocular technique in his left eye was even stranger.

As long as someone came into contact with his Chakra, their body and chakra pathways would be affected.

Worse still, this was the Land of Water.

Water vapor and sea mist were everywhere.

For a Water Release ninja like Kisame, this was a natural battlefield.

But the same was true for Uchiha You.

His Pathogen Chakra could mix into the mist and spread like poison.

That was disgusting.

It was the first time Kisame had encountered an enemy like this.

You used Water Release against him.

He contaminated your Water Release.

You got close to slash at him.

His Chakra burrowed into your body through the wound.

You kept your distance and tried to wear him down.

His right eye could continuously repair his bodily injuries.

How was anyone supposed to fight that?

Kisame spat out a mouthful of bloody water, but his smile only grew more excited.

"Uchiha You."

"Your eyes are even more interesting than I imagined."

Uchiha You replied evenly,

"So, are we still fighting?"

Kisame tightened his grip on the greatsword.

His fighting spirit had not faded.

But he knew that if they continued, it would no longer be a spar.

He might still have trump cards.

But Uchiha You had clearly not gotten serious either.

At the very least, the legendary Susanoo, which only a Mangekyō Sharingan could awaken, had yet to be used.

What was more, Uchiha You held Juzo Biwa's Kubikiribōchō.

What did that mean?

It meant that this young Uchiha had killed one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist not long ago.

After killing Juzo, he had fought Kisame to this extent.

Yet his breathing was still so steady.

Kisame put away his greatsword and grinned.

"I'm done fighting."

"If we keep going, I'm afraid you'll really tear me apart."

The Mangekyō Sharingan in Uchiha You's eyes slowly faded.

"So?"

Kisame rested the greatsword on his shoulder, looking at Tobi before turning back to Uchiha You.

"I can join Akatsuki."

Tobi immediately clapped his hands.

"Oh my, that's wonderful!"

"That means the position Juzo-senpai left behind after dying has finally been filled."

Kisame glanced at him.

"I'm not joining because of you."

Tobi's clapping paused slightly.

Kisame pointed at Uchiha You.

"I'm joining because of him."

The single eye behind Tobi's mask narrowed slightly.

Those words were subtle.

Kisame had agreed to join Akatsuki, but the first person he acknowledged was neither Tobi nor Pain.

It was Uchiha You.

That meant Uchiha You had only just entered Akatsuki, yet he had already won the favor of a heavyweight fighter.

That was not a good thing.

Yet Uchiha You seemed not to catch the implication. He merely nodded calmly.

"A smart choice."

Kisame smiled.

"I'm starting to look forward to it."

"That organization you mentioned had better not be as disgusting as Hidden Mist."

Uchiha You replied flatly,

"Don't worry."

"If it becomes disgusting, I'll change it myself."

Tobi: "..."

Why did that sound more and more wrong?

Since when was Akatsuki his to change?

But Tobi did not say it aloud.

It was not yet time to turn hostile.

This Uchiha had to be brought back to Hidden Rain first.

Nagato needed to take a look at him.

If he could be controlled, then he would be used.

If he could not be controlled...

A cold gleam flashed through Tobi's eye.

Then they would find a way to destroy him.

Several days later.

Land of Rain.

The rain fell without end.

The sky seemed pressed down beneath a gray-black iron curtain. Rain poured endlessly from the clouds, washing over this land covered in the scars of war.

Towers rose everywhere.

Steel pipelines crisscrossed the city.

The entire village of Hidden Rain resembled a cold prison.

Uchiha You stood beneath the rain and looked up at the tallest black tower in the distance.

That was where Nagato was.

It was also the true core of Akatsuki now.

Kisame stood beside him, his face showing a trace of interest.

"So this is Akatsuki's base?"

"It looks even gloomier than Hidden Mist."

Tobi said with a cheerful laugh,

"Hidden Rain has always been like this."

"But you'll get used to it."

Uchiha You said nothing.

He watched the rain filling the sky, and his eyes narrowed slightly.

This rain was not ordinary rain.

It was mixed with Chakra.

This was Nagato's Rain Tiger at Will Technique.

The entire village of Hidden Rain lay within his perception.

Nagato had likely known about them from the moment they entered the Land of Rain.

The corner of Uchiha You's mouth lifted slightly.

Monitoring an entire village?

Not bad.

But compared to Konoha's ANBU, always hiding in the shadows, Nagato's surveillance was at least more direct.

After the group entered Hidden Rain, there were hardly any ordinary people to be seen along the streets.

The occasional passerby kept their head lowered, their expressions numb, as if they had long grown accustomed to the rain and oppression.

Kisame swept his gaze around and said quietly,

"The people here have the same look in their eyes as the people of Hidden Mist."

Uchiha You replied evenly,

"Places scarred by war are mostly like this."

Kisame looked at him.

"You don't seem like an ordinary Uchiha."

Uchiha You asked,

"What is an ordinary Uchiha like?"

Kisame thought for a moment.

"Arrogant, obsessive, convinced they see through everything."

Uchiha You smiled.

"Then you may have misunderstood."

"The Uchiha Clan does not merely think it sees through everything."

"Most of the time, other people are simply too stupid."

Kisame froze for a moment, then burst out laughing.

"Ha ha ha ha!"

"That really does sound like an Uchiha."

Tobi walked ahead of them. Listening to their conversation, his expression behind the mask grew darker and darker.

Kisame and Uchiha You were becoming familiar far too quickly.

That was not a good sign.

Before long, the three arrived beneath the tower.

The tower doors slowly opened.

A figure stood behind them.

Blue-purple hair.

A black cloak patterned with red clouds.

Konan.

She silently watched Uchiha You and Kisame. Her gaze first fell on Kisame, then on the Kubikiribōchō resting on Uchiha You's shoulder.

At last, she looked at Tobi.

"Where's Juzo Biwa?"

Tobi spread his hands.

"Senior Juzo was unfortunately killed."

Konan's gaze turned slightly cold.

"Who killed him?"

Tobi raised a hand and pointed at Uchiha You.

"Him."

The sound of rain seemed to fall silent for a moment.

Konan's gaze finally settled fully on Uchiha You.

"You killed an Akatsuki member, and you still dare come here?"

Uchiha You said calmly,

"He attacked me first."

"Killing him was perfectly reasonable."

Konan's voice was cold.

"Akatsuki isn't a place where people can run wild as they please."

Uchiha You looked at her.

"That's why I came."

"If you're dissatisfied, you can make your move now."

The air instantly grew taut.

Countless sheets of paper slowly rose behind Konan like white wings, or blades ready to slice through flesh at any moment.

Kisame grinned and gripped his greatsword.

"A fight as soon as we arrive?"

"This organization is certainly welcoming."

Tobi hurriedly waved his hands.

"Don't be so tense."

"Although Senior Juzo is dead, You passed my test and successfully recruited Mr. Kisame."

"According to Akatsuki's rules, he can take Juzo's place."

Konan did not answer immediately.

She merely stared into Uchiha You's eyes.

Those eyes had not activated the Mangekyo Sharingan.

Yet she could still sense danger.

This Uchiha was unlike an ordinary rogue ninja.

He was too calm.

He had killed an Akatsuki member, come to the Akatsuki base, and faced her and Tobi without showing the slightest panic.

People like him were either madmen.

Or they truly had something to rely on.

A moment later, Konan turned around.

"Pain wants to see you."

Uchiha You said blandly,

"Perfect."

"I wanted to meet him too."