[Amegakure, Where it Rains All Year Round]
[Akatsuki Base]
Nagato and Yahiko stood in the stairway corridor, watching the rain outside.
Nagato asked, "Where is Konan?"
Yahiko thought for a moment, "Her? She went to patrol District Seven."
Nagato's voice was a bit heavy, "Everyone is starting to feel tired of fighting."
Yahiko sighed, "Yeah… Even if we win battles, Akatsuki doesn't get any rewards…"
"We only have ideals."
"One day, years of accumulated exhaustion will grind down our ideals."
Nagato felt both anger and sorrow. He wanted to ask, "You mean everyone will forget why they are fighting?"
But just as he was about to speak, Akatsuki's fourth-in-command, Kyujo, walked over.
"Leader, Lady Konan has returned, and she brought back a child. He should be a refugee from Amegakure. He says he wants to join Akatsuki."
Yahiko was immediately interested. Forgetting about the serious conversation with Nagato, he grabbed Nagato's hand and walked into the base.
"Let's go check it out."
So, they headed inside Akatsuki's base.
Konan put down her umbrella, holding a boy's hand.
The boy was about ten years old, dressed in coarse linen clothes, his face covered in dust.
Yahiko asked, "Konan, who is this child?"
Konan smiled, "I met him while patrolling. He should be a homeless refugee from Amegakure, just like we were when we were kids."
"I gave him a steamed bun, but he recognized me. Or rather, the cloak I was wearing."
"He said he greatly admires Akatsuki and wants to join us."
"At first, I didn't agree. But then, he demonstrated a small ninjutsu in front of everyone. I think he has some ninja talent and can be trained, so I brought him back."
Yahiko immediately became curious. He looked at the boy and asked, "Kid, what's your name?"
Konan answered, "He already told me. His name is Obito."
Then, Konan pointed at Yahiko and Nagato, introducing them to Obito.
"Obito, this is Yahiko, and this is Nagato. We are the founders of Akatsuki. Yahiko is our leader. From now on, we are comrades."
"Obito?"
Yahiko found the name a bit odd. Names like this were rare in Amegakure. It didn't sound local.
He considered for a moment, "Obito, do you really want to join Akatsuki? Do you know what kind of organization Akatsuki is?"
At this moment, Obito's previously somewhat naive expression suddenly changed, becoming much more mature.
He looked at Yahiko and slowly spoke, "Akatsuki is an organization dedicated to peace, believing that people can understand each other and that conflicts can be resolved through negotiation to prevent war and eliminate hatred in people's hearts."
Yahiko was shocked.
He hadn't expected this child to have such clear thoughts, accurately describing Akatsuki's ideals without a single mistake.
Just as he was about to ask more, Obito spoke first, "Leader Yahiko, Akatsuki's ideals are noble, but there is a major problem."
Yahiko was startled and intrigued, "Tell me."
Obito smiled, "No matter how great ideals are, they can't fill an empty stomach."
"This is a world where the strong prey on the weak. The strong don't actually need help, do they?"
"Akatsuki often stands on the side of the weak to negotiate with the strong."
"This requires paying a huge price, but the rewards are almost nonexistent. Because the weak are weak precisely because they have been exploited by the strong for a long time. They are poor and unable to pay Akatsuki."
Yahiko was stunned.
What this child said was exactly the predicament he had just discussed with Nagato.
Akatsuki was indeed poor.
Around them, some Akatsuki members were already displeased.
"We don't need money! We fight for ideals!"
"That's right! How can we measure ideals with money? Some things are above all else, even life itself!"
"Kid, if you don't understand, don't talk nonsense. We won't be defeated just because we're poor!"
Obito shook his head and mockingly said, "But after running around, even risking your lives, suffering so much pain, only to get a few words of thanks in return. Are you really satisfied?"
"Heh… In the same situation, if it were a regular ninja mission, you'd at least be living comfortably."
For a moment, the Akatsuki members fell silent.
Deep down, hadn't they complained about this?
Of course, they had. They just hadn't said it out loud.
At this moment, Yahiko was certain, Obito was no ordinary child.
He slowly said, "You're right. This is indeed Akatsuki's dilemma, and we need to find a solution."
"But first, I need to know. Who are you? I don't believe a mere refugee child could have such insight."
Konan also realized Obito's change.
Before they arrived, he was just a shy, adorable boy. But now, he had suddenly become mature and wise.
She couldn't help but ask, "Obito… what exactly is going on?"
Obito glanced at Konan with a hint of apology, "Actually, I'm not a refugee from Amegakure. Sorry, Konan. The reason I disguised myself earlier was to avoid unnecessary trouble while coming here."
"My goal was to meet Leader Yahiko and have a proper conversation with you. But I also assure you, when I said I wanted to join Akatsuki, I was sincere. I truly agree with your ideals."
Konan immediately became a little angry, "Obito, how could you lie to me?"
"And, you should learn to use honorifics! You were just calling me 'Sister' earlier, but now you're addressing me by name. I'm older than you, so you should call me 'Sister'."
Obito suddenly felt awkward.
In his past life, he had always called Konan a "little girl." It had become a habit.
But now, calling her "Sister" felt extremely embarrassing.
Maybe when he was still pretending, he could have said it. But now…
Obito looked into Konan's eyes and saw a hopeful expression. He found it hard to refuse.
This girl, as beautiful as her folded paper flowers, was someone he had strangled to death with his own hands in his past life.
Even now, he couldn't forget her gaze before death—struggling, stubborn, and strong.
But now?
He had deceived Konan, yet she didn't hold it against him. Instead, she was more concerned about him using honorifics.
She already treated him like a younger brother, caring for him.
Sigh…
At this time, Konan was far more innocent than she would be later. Her heart was as pure as paper.
Indeed, suffering makes people grow. And he, too, had played a part in the suffering that shaped her.
'Forget it. Consider it my way of making amends. It won't kill me to say it once.'
Obito awkwardly and softly muttered, "Sister Konan…"
Konan immediately smiled radiantly, "That's more like it! Since you lied to me, you should apologize properly."
'Ahhh!'
'Konan, you little girl—why are you being so nice to me?'
Obito's sense of shame soared to the heavens.
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