It was a promise of sorts-an ambiguously worded promise from the "Konoha Black Crow."
Yahiko nodded solemnly. "I'll remember that. Cheng, please take care of yourself, too. The Land of Rain isn't safe."
With that, he turned and strode into the curtain of rain. His back remained straight, yet he seemed to carry more weight than when he had arrived.
"What an interesting fellow. A shame he was born in the wrong era-or rather, chose the hardest road of all."
Cheng shook his head and brought his thoughts back to the present.
After his conversation with Uchiha Makoto about ideals and reality, Yahiko returned to the Akatsuki's Secret Base with his mind far from settled.
Uchiha Makoto's seemingly scathing, even somewhat cold words were like fine needles, piercing the weak points in the bubble of his idealism and forcing him to consider more practical, more brutal questions.
But Yahiko was still Yahiko. His brief uncertainty did not make him retreat. Instead, it stirred an even stronger urge to act.
"We can't just wait for peace to arrive. We have to spread our ideals ourselves, help more people, and get more people to understand us and join us!"
At the gathering the following day, Yahiko passionately presented a new plan to the young ninja who followed him.
They would operate in separate squads.
They would venture into villages throughout the Land of Rain, helping the villagers solve their practical problems.
They would drive off rogue ninja and bandits and mediate disputes, while spreading the Akatsuki's ideals of peace and expanding its influence, all while honing the members' abilities.
Most of the members supported the proposal.
Passion and idealism burned brightly within this small organization.
After some basic training and assignments, several squads were quickly formed.
Yahiko personally led an elite squad,