"But in the end, not a single person died!"
"All the world knows is that Pain invaded Konoha. That Nagato acted alone."
"I never imagined... that your Veil Organization was behind that battle too!"
Kisame spoke with a grave expression.
Chou added calmly, "Pain was merely Nagato's puppet shell."
"The one truly directing everything was Nagato, an orphan of the Uzumaki Clan. We discovered his existence by chance back then. Ah, it's a shame he left no descendants."
Kisame let out a long breath, his gaze changing completely.
"I see. It seems your Veil Organization wasn't lying."
Chou stared at Kisame, dumbfounded and speechless.
"So all this time... you were still doubting me?"
"We've given you resources and supplies for years, supporting you without asking for anything in return, and you never trusted us from the start?"
Kisame merely smiled faintly at that, offering no explanation.
How could Kisame trust anyone so easily? No one knew whether he believed Chou even now.
Chou did not dwell on Kisame's wariness, turning instead to Sarada and speaking earnestly.
"I only hope that you, as the Third Akatsuki Leader, won't betray your allies the way Nagato did."
"Still, although Nagato ruined our organization's chance to wipe out Konoha in one stroke, I don't resent him."
"After all, my parents had already died fighting in Konoha's ruins. Nagato used a secret jutsu to bring them back."
"Otherwise, I might never have existed!"
Sarada smiled gently and replied with complete sincerity, "Rest assured, I will never sell out my allies."
"Besides, my goal has never been to go out of my way to confront Konoha head-on. What happens to Konoha has nothing to do with me."
"I only want to stabilize the Land of Rain and let its people live in peace, with enough food