Akatsuki's Movements

On a deserted stretch of coastline in the eastern Land of Fire.

Shien opened his eyes inside a tent in a forest clearing not far from the shore.

[Ah, out of power again. But I don't need to recharge Naruto next time in such a hurry.]

[Ding! A minor alteration has been detected in the fate of the plot character "Naruto Uzumaki." The first stage of world feedback has been achieved!]

[Reward issued: Wind Release: Rasenshuriken x1 (Naruto Uzumaki's future state)]

[Holy crap, that's generous. The first stage gives me the Rasenshuriken?]

[As expected of the protagonist. The rewards really are different.]

Judging by the Fate Savior's progression, the rewards he received later would definitely be stronger than this ninjutsu. Shien began looking forward to them.

At the same time, he started thinking.

[I've gotten so much out of Hidden Mist. Now that my Chakra reserves are enormous, it's time to train in the Shadow Clone and Multiple Shadow Clone Techniques.]

[With this ninjutsu, doing things will be much more convenient in the future.]

However, he hadn't brought the Shadow Clone scroll with him, so he had to return to the clan first.

Shien stepped out of the tent. The setting sun had dyed the sea a magnificent orange-red, while the waves rhythmically lapped against the beach.

The campfire crackled, drawing Shien's attention back.

Akabane was skillfully turning a wild rabbit they'd hunted along the way. Fat dripped into the flames, releasing an enticing aroma.

Haku sat quietly beside the fire. The pallor caused by his seasickness had faded after he set foot on solid ground, and color had returned to his face.

He watched Akabane's movements curiously, occasionally helping pass over seasonings.

Kimimaro sat farther away on a tree root with his knees drawn up. His gaze occasionally swept over Haku and the dancing flames, and he seemed very quiet.

Akabane handed Shien a perfectly roasted rabbit leg and asked casually,

"Clan Head, where are we going next? Straight back to Konoha?"

Shien took the food and bit into it, savoring the tender meat, but his gaze was fixed westward.

He shook his head, swallowed his food, and said firmly,

"No, we're not returning to the village yet. Our next stop—the Land of Grass."

"The Land of Grass?" Akabane raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.

"What are we going there for? That backwater..."

"Of course, to save the next person."

Akabane nodded. Knowing Shien possessed precognitive abilities, he didn't ask any further questions.

As Shien's words fell, a brief silence settled around the campfire, broken only by the faint crackling of burning wood.

Haku's eyes lit up at the mention of saving someone new.

Kimimaro looked up at Shien, a trace of contemplation flashing through his pale green eyes.

[Could it be another new companion?]

Deep within a cold, damp cave, flickering candlelight cast several illusory projections onto the stone walls.

This was Pain's Demonic Illusion: Light Body Technique.

The first figure to solidify was Deva Path Pain. His expression was cold, and his Rinnegan emitted an indifferent violet glow in the darkness.

Konan stood quietly at his side. Zetsu's strange half-black, half-white body soon appeared as well.

Zetsu wasn't speaking in his usual hoarse voice today, but in a frivolous tone instead.

"Oh my, there's some bad news~ The funding channel in the Land of Water has been completely cut off due to the Fourth Mizukage waking up and the internal purge."

Then he switched to a deep voice and added,

"The organization's development is now severely restricted."

Pain's expression didn't change in the slightest. He merely replied calmly,

"I understand."

At that moment, the other projections appeared one after another.

Juzo Biwa, carrying the Kubikiribōchō over his shoulder with an irritated expression;

Kakuzu, clad in an aura of money and decay;

Sasori of the Red Sands, hidden within Hiruko;

And...

Fugaku Uchiha and Itachi Uchiha, the father and son who had joined not long ago, whose projections both carried an unapproachable air.

Kakuzu's eyes swept across those present. He was the first to speak, his voice heavy with dissatisfaction.

"The funding's gone? Hmph, without money, we can't do anything. Leader, you'd better find a solution quickly."

He was extremely sensitive to anything that affected his ability to make money.

Hidden inside his puppet, Sasori let out a hoarse, cold laugh. "Money is merely a necessary consumable for sustaining eternal art."

Juzo carried his blade and curled his lip without saying anything. He wasn't particularly interested in money, but he hated trouble.

However, everyone noticed that the projection representing the position of "Kūchin" remained completely empty.

—Orochimaru had not appeared.

Pain's gaze swept over the empty spot as he slowly spoke, his voice echoing through the cave.

"I summoned everyone today for two matters."

"First, Orochimaru has gone missing."

He paused, allowing the news to sink in.

"According to the latest intelligence, he was last seen within the Land of Fire. His target may be related to the Uchiha Clan."

"He knows some of the organization's hideouts, funding routes, and... information on certain members."

Kakuzu's gaze immediately turned dangerous.

"In other words, that disgusting bastard may have run off with our money and intelligence, or... fallen into Konoha's hands?"

"We can't rule out that possibility," Pain confirmed.

"Therefore, pursuing Orochimaru, eliminating potential threats, and recovering the organization's intelligence are now top-priority tasks."

The others fell silent, tacitly accepting the decision. Akatsuki had always dealt with traitors swiftly and decisively.

"Second,"

Pain turned his gaze toward Fugaku and Itachi, who had remained silent the entire time.

"With the two of you joining, the organization's strength has increased considerably. The original plan must be adjusted. We cannot come to a standstill because of a temporary shortage of funds."

He looked around at everyone and announced the new orders.

"Starting today, we will enter the underground black market and monopolize all high-paying A-rank and above missions."

"Kakuzu, you will assess the value of missions and take charge of recovering funds."

"Sasori, Juzo, you will handle some of the more difficult missions. Display the organization's military power and intimidate the other competitors."

"As for Fugaku and Itachi," Pain said, looking at the father and son,

"While traveling to or returning from mission sites, keep an eye out for promising prospects."

"If you encounter any, you may attempt contact and recruit them into the organization. We need more talent."

Fugaku's projection nodded slightly, his voice steady. "Understood."

Itachi merely nodded silently, his expression unreadable.

"Then begin your work."

"Before we make this world truly feel pain, we must first accumulate enough 'capital.'"

The light of the Demonic Illusion: Light Body Technique gradually dimmed, and everyone's projections vanished from the cave one after another.

After everyone else had left, only Zetsu remained.

"Orochimaru's disappearance is likely connected to the Uchiha. Zetsu, intensify the investigation."

"Understood~" Zetsu cackled strangely as his figure slowly disappeared.