"Well said! It seems we're kindred spirits. I've been observing you for a long time, and I believe the Akatsuki you founded, along with your ideals, will be an important force in leading the Land of Rain toward peace!" Hanzō suddenly burst into laughter as he praised them.
"Really? Receiving your approval is a tremendous honor for the Akatsuki, Lord Hanzō. We've always aspired to follow your example!" Yahiko looked at Hanzō with admiration.
Hanzō nodded. "In the future, I intend to entrust the peaceful exchanges between the three nations to your Akatsuki!"
"Really, Lord Hanzō? Rest assured, we'll do everything we can for peace in the Land of Rain!" Yahiko said happily.
"Mm." Hanzō nodded coldly. "Since you're familiar with the Holy Church, make another trip to Corona City while you're at it! Ask them about the situation!"
"Yes, Lord Hanzō."
Once they left the Rain Shadow's building, Nagato could no longer contain himself. "Yahiko, this is wonderful! We've finally gained official recognition. Now we can accept missions openly!"
"Exactly! I never imagined Lord Hanzō would give us such an important mission the very first time he met us. Maintaining peace between three nations-just thinking about it is amazing!" Konan said excitedly.
"It looks like we chose the right path!" Hanzō's approval had restored the confidence of Yahiko, who had been feeling somewhat lost.
Back at the Akatsuki's meeting place, the three told their companions in the organization, and everyone was beside themselves with excitement.
"Boss, you're incredible!"
"We're another step closer to our dream!"
Qingyu, however, was utterly puzzled. As the only senior figure from Amegakure recruited into the Akatsuki, Qingyu was naturally not as naive as Yahiko and the others. From Lord Hanzō's remarks that day, it was clear that he was deeply dissatisfied with the Akatsuki.
Perhaps in his youth, Lord Hanzō would have welcomed any organization that yearned for peace, such as the Akatsuki. But as he aged, he had lost his former generosity of spirit and grown increasingly suspicious. That was also why Qingyu had joined the Akatsuki.
"Yahiko, could there be something wrong here?" After considering it for a moment, Qingyu could not help voicing a warning.
"What could possibly be wrong? Qingyu, Lord Hanzō is admired throughout the Land of Rain. His words carry weight," an Akatsuki member nearby said irritably.
"Exactly! Qingyu, you're overthinking things. We have to make something of this important opportunity. Only then can we live up to Lord Hanzō's approval!" The other members chimed in.
Seeing his companions arguing before him, Yahiko immediately spoke up. "All right, everyone. Qingyu only has the organization's best interests at heart. The mission is probably so important that it's hard to believe, that's all. Even I wondered at first whether something was wrong!"
"Hahaha!"
At Yahiko's words, everyone below burst into laughter.
Qingyu watched it all with a touch of helplessness. I hope I'm just overthinking it! With that, Qingyu said no more and joined the others in celebrating.
The next day, Yahiko set off for the Holy Church's headquarters with Nagato, Konan, and five other members. "This time, we have to find out exactly why the Holy Church is arresting nobles on such a large scale!" Yahiko said.
"Yes. According to the information sent by the Daimyo, more than fifty nobles have already been arrested, including a duke! Supposedly, he's the Daimyo's younger brother," Nagato said with a frown.
"Boss, seriously? A duke! This evil cult just arrested him like that, and we're supposed to go ask them about it?" one member said incredulously.
"Yihu, remember this: once we enter the Holy Church's territory, you must follow their rules. They don't have a good impression of us ninja, and you absolutely must not call them an evil cult," Yahiko told the members sternly.
"Got it, boss!" Yihu said rather casually, but out of respect for Yahiko, he still took the warning to heart.
They traveled swiftly, and before long, one member exclaimed excitedly, "Wow! It's actually sunny here! I haven't been out in the sun in ages!"
Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan shook their heads in amusement.
"It's been a few years since we came here. This place really has changed!" Konan marveled.
With trains speeding past now and then, farmers operating strange machines that rapidly sowed their fields, and bustling crowds and traffic filling the roads, it felt as though they had crossed from their own world into another.
"Hey, you lot! What are you doing standing on the tracks? Don't you know that's dangerous?" someone suddenly shouted.
Still at a loss, they exchanged bewildered looks.
A middle-aged man in plain but clean, presentable clothes came running over, panting. "What are you looking around for? I'm talking to you!" he snapped.
"Sir, I don't sense any danger!" Yahiko said, looking baffled.
Hearing that, the man immediately pushed them off the tracks. "This is your first time in the Holy Church's territory, isn't it?"
They promptly nodded. Yahiko had wanted to say it was not his first visit, but remembering that several years had passed since he last came, he simply nodded along.
"Hmph, no wonder you don't even know what a railcar is. Wait a few minutes and you'll see what danger looks like!" the man said proudly.
Yahiko and the others also wanted to see what this danger was, since even their keen ninja senses had failed to detect it.
They stared at the tracks, exchanging blank looks. A few minutes later, a long whistle sounded. "Isn't that the snake-like monster we saw earlier?" Konan said in surprise.
The train sped past them, bringing a fierce gust of wind. "Now you know what danger looks like, don't you?" the man said, watching them in amusement.
"Sir, what is that?" Yahiko asked curiously.
"Hmph, that's a railcar. Ride one, and you can get anywhere in the Holy Church's territory quickly, without wearing yourself out. So don't stand on the tracks next time."
They hastily nodded.
"By the way, where are you headed?" the man asked curiously.
"Corona City!" Yahiko answered at once.
"Perfect. There's a train this afternoon that passes through our town. I'll take you to the station! That'll save you some walking, and next time you'll know how to travel by train!"
"Sir, is it expensive to ride that?" one member asked.
"Not at all. Only fifty ryō!"
"What? Only fifty ryō? That's so cheap!" the member exclaimed.
The man merely smiled and led them straight toward town. As they passed through the gate, he took out a card and handed it to one of the Holy Light Clerics on duty. The cleric inspected it carefully. "Sir, who are the people behind you?"
"Oh, they're probably newcomers to the Holy Church's territory!" the man replied.
"They're not ordinary people, sir. Judging by your clothes, you're ninja from the Land of Rain, aren't you?" the cleric said sternly.
"What? They're ninja?" the man said in surprise.
"Yes." The cleric nodded. "May I ask what brings you to the Holy Church's territory?"
"Brother, there's no need for alarm. Lord Hanzō sent us to hold discussions with the Holy Church. Here are my credentials!" With that, Yahiko handed a scroll to the cleric guarding the gate.
The cleric opened it and examined it. It did indeed bear the Rain Shadow's seal. "Please wait a moment while I report this to my superiors." The cleric then switched on the communicator on his arm and made his report.
After switching off the communicator, the cleric asked gently, "Are you going to take the train?"
"Yes, that's right!" They all nodded.
"Perfect, then. A group of our warriors will also be returning to Corona City this afternoon. You can go with them!"
The cleric then turned to the man. "Sir, I'll take them to the station. Thank you for going to the trouble of bringing them here!"
The man quickly shook his head. "They didn't seem to understand anything, and I was worried they might cause some kind of trouble. That's why I brought them."
The cleric promptly gave the man a Holy Light Salute. "May the Holy Light be with you."
"Praise the Holy Light," the man replied, returning the salute.
Before you continue