Σ(⊙▽⊙)
At that moment, Sasori was utterly stunned. He knew Hidan was a new recruit brought into the Akatsuki by Kakuzu, but he had no idea what inhuman, depraved things Senshi had done to Hidan to turn him into this!
Judging by how Hidan was acting, Sasori clearly still lacked a thorough understanding of Senshi!
Seeing Hidan weeping and refusing to leave, Senshi felt a bit of a headache coming on.
"It's not that Hidan can't just go," he thought. But if Hidan kept clinging to him, how could he launch his grand "four-birds-with-one-stone" plan?
After a quick mental calculation, Senshi came up with a plan.
"Hidan, I have a difficult mission for you!"
Simultaneously, the 'divine oracle' once again whispered in Hidan's ear:
"Hidan, My believer, I am giving you a trial. You must complete it to prove you're worthy of remaining by My side."
Hearing this, Hidan instantly perked up, gazing reverently at Senshi and speaking in a humbled tone:
"Lord Jashin, no matter what orders You give, I'll do everything in my power to fulfill them!"
Wasting no time, Senshi said: "Hidan, you must return to Amegakure alone and handle missions solo. This is a mission you have no choice but to complete."
In perfect timing, the divine whisper came to Hidan's ear:
"Hidan, this is My trial for you. You are to go back to Amegakure, fulfill the doctrine of Jashinism on your own. Only once you've earned My approval may you again stand at My side and bask in My divine radiance."
Seeing Hidan in such a miserable state, Sasori couldn't help worrying about his own future. He was afraid that once he officially became Senshi's partner, he'd end up as wretched as Hidan.
But after recalling Kakuzu, Sasori felt slightly reassured. Kakuzu had been Senshi's first partner, and though the experience changed him somewhat, he never ended up as pitiful as Hidan. Hidan's situation might partly be because of Senshi, but it also had something to do with Hidan's own nature. Sasori could only comfort himself with that thought.
Meanwhile, Karin felt it was unfortunate Hidan was heading back to Amegakure. After all, he was an excellent taste-tester. She even believed part of the reason Hidan was crying so hard was that he wouldn't get to sample her exquisite cooking anymore!
With that in mind, she walked over to the weeping Hidan and patted him on the shoulder just as Senshi often did:
"Hidan, don't worry about never being able to eat my delicious cooking once you return to Amegakure. I know Space-Time Ninjutsu—whenever I learn a new recipe, I'll bring you a sample to taste."
Just as Karin finished, a voice filled with the authority of "Lord Jashin's Assistant Underworld Envoy" echoed in Hidan's ears:
"You foolish Hidan—don't think being out of My sight means you can slack off on missions! I can appear at any time and force you to consume poison as punishment!"
Hidan: (ΩДΩ)!!!
Karin's words immediately made Hidan recall the terror of being dominated by the Underworld Envoy. When Lord Jashin was angry, He would merely scold Hidan. But if His assistant, the Underworld Envoy, got mad, she'd force him to ingest poison!
Just thinking about it made Hidan's stomach ache. So even after returning to Amegakure, out of the Envoy's direct supervision, he absolutely dared not slack off. With that in mind, Hidan left Kumogakure, heartbroken, and headed back to Amegakure.
During this time, in Amegakure, Kakuzu had been taking Deidara out on missions. As Kakuzu led Deidara to the Uzumaki Clan settlement, Deidara frowned and asked, "We're going to that place with all the brats again? How does that help my artistic pursuits?"
Kakuzu didn't feel like dealing with him but knew that if he didn't offer some explanation, Deidara would probably refuse to work. So while they walked, Kakuzu gave a perfunctory reply:
"Deidara, it's not that complicated. Can't you figure it out on your own?"
Deidara: (O_O)???
He looked perplexed. How would helping a bunch of brats do anything for his art?
Seeing Deidara's confusion, Kakuzu remained silent. He couldn't swindle people as smoothly as Senshi—or even Orochimaru. He needed a moment to think of a suitable fib. Before he could come up with anything, however, Deidara's eyes lit up, as though he'd realized something, and he exclaimed:
"Oh! I get it! Kids have vivid imaginations and limitless energy. Spending time around them might inspire me with new artistic ideas!"
Kakuzu: (⊙_⊙)???
Kakuzu was taken aback that Deidara had that kind of insight. But it was definitely a good sign! He just nodded, silently endorsing Deidara's words.
Before long, they arrived at the Uzumaki Clan settlement. The living conditions there changed day by day. Many of the young Uzumaki were now wearing the Akatsuki's black robe with red clouds. Not everyone wore one, though, because there were conditions to qualify for the attire, namely talent (the ability to mold chakra), diligence (putting effort into simple tasks), and character (how the villagers judged them). Because of that, only certain standouts among the young Uzumaki had joined the organization.
As soon as Kakuzu and Deidara showed up, they were greeted with a warm welcome:
"Kakuzu-san, you're back again!"
"Kakuzu-san, can you tell us more about your mission experiences?"
"Kakuzu-san, do you have any easy tasks for us?"
Surrounded by a swarm of chattering Uzumaki kids, Kakuzu said offhandedly, "In a bit, I'll share some mission tips. As for easy work, yes, I have one job available for each of you."
The kids all cheered. Kakuzu then took out a scroll, laid it on the ground, and tapped it.
"Hah!"
A puff of white smoke appeared, followed by a large quantity of basic supplies. Kakuzu addressed the group:
"I'll pay each of you 120 ryō. You're all hired to distribute these supplies to the villagers here."
Delighted, the kids rushed to respond:
"No problem, Kakuzu-san!"
"Don't worry, we'll get it done!"
As the young Uzumaki cheered excitedly, Kakuzu suddenly noticed someone in the distance. He froze, then burst into joy. The person he saw was Hidan—who, as Senshi's partner, shouldn't have been alone. Yet there he was, looking completely lost and dejected, reminiscent of how Kakuzu himself had been after Senshi abandoned him. Overjoyed, Kakuzu guessed that Senshi must have kicked Hidan to the curb!
Without delay, he walked over to Hidan and, wasting no time, asked:
"Hidan, why aren't you with Senshi?"
Hidan, still heartbroken, replied, "I lack the ability to stay by Lord Jashin's side. He sent me back to Amegakure, telling me to do missions on my own to improve myself and, hopefully, rejoin Him soon."
Kakuzu didn't even wait for the explanation to end. He got downright excited. He had no idea why Hidan was calling Senshi "Lord Jashin," but he was certain of one thing: Senshi had no partner right now!
Kakuzu quickly confirmed his suspicions:
"Hidan, does that mean Senshi has no partner anymore?"
Hidan snorted: "Wrong. Lord Jashin already has a new devotee by His side!"
With that, Kakuzu was dumbfounded. He had assumed that by kicking Hidan out, Senshi would be open to partnering again—but he never imagined Senshi would find a new partner so quickly.
Incensed, Kakuzu cursed under his breath, "Dammit! Do they have no self-awareness at all? I'm the only one who truly deserves to stand at Senshi's side and be his perfect partner!"
Hidan couldn't read Kakuzu's thoughts, of course. He was channeling his sorrow into renewed determination, clenching his fists:
"I'll do missions harder than ever, fully embracing Jashin's doctrine, so that I can become Lord Jashin's most faithful, reliable servant and stand at His side again!"
Kakuzu sneered. "Hidan, do you really think your mission performance can beat mine? Get real. Only I am Senshi's perfect partner!"
Hidan was furious: "You heretic! How could you be worthy to stand by Lord Jashin's side? As for hard work and absolute devotion to His cause, you don't scare me!"
Kakuzu just laughed: "Oh, really? Looks like being dumped by Senshi messed you up. Tell me, exactly why do you think your immortal body is better for missions than my Earth Grudge Fear?"
Hidan brandished the massive scythe on his back, speaking menacingly: "You bastard! Stop looking down on the power Lord Jashin bestowed upon me!"
Kakuzu replied, "I'm only stating facts. When it comes to mission work, Earth Grudge Fear is the best."
Hidan insisted, "Lord Jashin's gift of immortality is the best!"
Kakuzu: "Earth Grudge Fear!"
Hidan: "Immortality!"
They glared at each other, hostility mounting, when suddenly Deidara tossed out a clay ant.
"Hah!"
With that shout, the clay ant exploded. But Kakuzu and Hidan both used the Body Flicker Technique to dodge it before detonation. Once the dust cleared, they both turned to Deidara with grim looks.
Kakuzu said in a dark tone, "Deidara, are you trying to get yourself killed?"
Deidara snorted. "Shut up. I'm trying to think! You two yelling at each other is killing my artistic inspiration!"
He then looked over at Hidan, speaking dismissively: "So you're also with Akatsuki? You used to be Senshi's partner, which means you know him well?"
Confronted by anyone other than Senshi or Karin, Hidan reverted to his bold, overbearing personality. He couldn't be bothered to answer Deidara's questions.
"Don't have time to stand around yapping—I've got missions to do!"
He hadn't forgotten what that meddling Underworld Envoy Assistant told him before he left Kumogakure. If he slacked off, she'd show up to punish him with poison. That thought alone was enough to make his stomach ache again. Not daring to waste another second, Hidan darted off to the black market to grind missions.
On the way to the black market, he marveled at how fast Amegakure was changing. Each time he left for a while and returned, he found the place drastically transformed.
Simultaneously, in the tallest tower of Amegakure, inside Nagato's chamber, the door once again creaked open as Konan stepped inside. The moment Nagato saw her, he felt a headache coming on. Previously, she'd only report matters directly related to Akatsuki for him to decide on, and she could handle many of the lesser issues herself. But now his workload had grown significantly.
As expected, Konan came bearing another issue that had little to do with Akatsuki's ultimate goal:
Konan's flawless face held a faint smile. "Nagato, I haven't let all the children in the village join Akatsuki. I set certain requirements. They have to show talent for chakra molding, be diligent in completing minor tasks, and display good character, according to how the villagers rate them. Only then can they join as external members of Akatsuki. What do you think of that policy? Should we modify or add anything?"
Nagato already felt his temples throbbing when he saw Konan appear. Hearing her question made his headache worsen. These trivial details had nothing to do with Akatsuki's final objective. He was the leader of Akatsuki, not the Land of Rain!
With a long sigh, Nagato told her, "Konan, if it doesn't directly involve Akatsuki's ultimate plan, just handle it yourself. My body isn't in the best condition, and I don't have the energy to make so many decisions."
Konan didn't seem to mind. "Nagato, you needn't worry so much. I believe it won't be long before Senshi finds a complete cure for you. Akatsuki and the village are both growing rapidly, so as the leader, you'll need to get used to making a lot of decisions. Until Senshi fixes your health, I can take care of some of these village affairs so you can get some rest. I'm off to process the outstanding applications."
With that, she opened the door and left. She had hoped Nagato would weigh in, but it was clear his health was lacking, so she decided to handle things herself. Staring at Konan's receding figure, Nagato suddenly found himself not wanting his health to improve. Lately, he had to handle dozens of village-related matters every day, and Konan had hinted there were even more piling up. He could only give a weary sigh. How had Akatsuki and Amegakure grown into this state so quickly?
As for the villagers, they had no idea how stressed Nagato was. They were all deeply grateful to Lord Senshi, Angel-sama, and their leader, "God," who was regarded privately by some as the "Kage" of Amegakure. Generally, only those who earn the respect of a Great Shinobi Village are called Kage. Although Amegakure was just a mid-sized village, it was developing at breakneck speed—thanks to Lord Senshi, Angel-sama, and their leader all working together. The villagers gladly referred to their leader as the "Amekage." Nagato knew this but felt no joy, only headaches.
Yes, Akatsuki and Amegakure were moving in the direction he, Yahiko, and Konan had once envisioned—yet Yahiko's death had shown him that the current peace and prosperity were fleeting, a wrong path. Only by letting everyone truly feel pain and detest war, then remaking the world, would there be real, lasting peace.
…
Amegakure—At the Ninja Academy
Many parents were waiting at the gates for school to let out. Among them was Mayumi. Her husband had been a struggling merchant. Because Amegakure had been closed off for so long, the economy had been severely depressed. Even though Mayumi and her husband worked hard and were relatively well-off, they were far from rich. Still, they could spare a little food or clothing for those on the verge of starvation or freezing, and many impoverished neighbors were both grateful and envious of them. Some families, not as well-off as Mayumi's, envied and resented them.
But after Amegakure opened up, Mayumi's household, along with many others, caught the wave of rapid economic growth spurred by Senshi's reforms. Their trading business bounced back, getting better by the day. Indeed, Senshi's blessings extended to all villagers. While her family thrived, everyone else's lives were improving too.
In the old days, plenty of people came begging for just a little food, to avoid starvation. They would flatter Mayumi in every way possible. Now it was different—those compliments and admiring looks were fewer. Mayumi had a strong sense of vanity; it felt strange and unsettling that life had changed so much. Yes, her family was wealthier than ever and able to help more people in need.
But in the new Amegakure, "charity" like handing out food had little value. Under Lord Senshi's shining guidance, even the truly destitute could come to Amegakure and get the basics to survive—food, warm clothes, and simple lodging. So while Mayumi, like everyone else, was grateful to Lord Senshi, Angel-sama, and the "God" they considered their leader, she certainly heard fewer flattering compliments.
That said, Mayumi felt especially happy these days for one reason: her beloved daughter, Mikiko, had made her proud!
Mikiko was quite talented at molding chakra, and at the ninja academy, she successfully completed several basic tasks, getting a favorable evaluation from her teacher. As a result, Mikiko's application to join Akatsuki had been accepted. She even got a set of the Akatsuki black robes with red clouds.
At that same moment, two women Mayumi knew—Madam Kaori and Madam Shūto—arrived at the academy gates. Seeing them, Mayumi's lips curved slightly in a smile. Like Mayumi, both Kaori and Shūto were wives from well-off merchant families.
All three had benefited from Senshi's reforms. Their businesses flourished more each day. However, Mayumi's husband had been rather unlucky in having multiple convoys robbed by bandits, costing them huge sums. This meant, for a while, she'd felt inferior to Kaori and Shūto. But not today—her chance to shine had come at last.
The three elegant ladies, in their gorgeous outfits, drew quite a few looks as they gathered. Kaori was a golden-haired beauty in a light chestnut suit and a hip-hugging skirt, with gold-rimmed glasses perched on her nose that gave her the vibe of a teacher. Madam Shūto wore a burgundy formal dress, covered in jewelry; apparently, she loved the color burgundy so much that even her necklace had a burgundy gemstone. Kaori greeted Mayumi, who wore a stunning blue gown, and Shūto:
"Mayumi, Shūto, what a coincidence. Are you both here to pick up your kids too? Oh? Shūto, is that a red gemstone on your necklace? It seems even brighter than before!"
Shūto smiled smugly. It was a brand-new necklace with a red gemstone that cost twice as much as the old one. But before she could properly boast, Mayumi locked on to a particular keyword—"red gemstone." A flash of light flickered in her eyes as she spoke with a sweet smile:
"My, that red gemstone is nice, but personally, I prefer the crimson on my daughter's red clouds. It's such a true, vibrant red, don't you think?"
At this, both Kaori and Shūto froze:
Kaori: (O_O)???
Shūto: (O_O)???
Recovering from their surprise, Kaori asked, "Wait, did Mikiko's application to join Akatsuki get approved?"
Mayumi sighed, feigning nonchalance: "Yes, she just got accepted. But honestly, Mikiko's so scatterbrained—I'm worried she won't do well."
Kaori said, "Mayumi, congratulations!"
Shūto added, "Mayumi, that's incredible news for Mikiko!"
Outwardly, they were showering her with well-wishes, but inside, they were cursing. Their own children had also applied but hadn't been approved. Once upon a time, money might have paved the way, but at Senshi's Academy, money had no power. So Kaori and Shūto hastily changed the subject, wanting to avoid gemstones or anything red or black.
Shūto's eyes lit up, and she ventured, "I heard that Senshi-sama started out as a solo mercenary. That means maybe not joining an organization right away isn't so bad—you can still be amazing like him."
"An organization?" Mayumi picked up on that word immediately and responded with a sweet laugh:
"Yes, Senshi-sama and Akatsuki are both the pride of this village. It's thanks to them that all the villagers live so happily. Now that Mikiko's in Akatsuki, even though she's always messing things up, she can still contribute to the village's growth and everyone's wellbeing. I'm sure she'll keep getting better from here on out. You have no idea how shocked I was when she brought home that black robe with the red clouds. I couldn't believe she'd really been accepted!"
Kaori: (⌐■_■)!!! ("Ugh!")
Shūto: (⌐■_■)!!! ("Gah!")
After exchanging a few more words, Kaori and Shūto were basically on the verge of mental collapse. They decided it might be safest to just keep quiet. But even their silence didn't help.
Mayumi said cheerfully, "The red cloud design of the Akatsuki robe is pretty nice, isn't it? My husband and I plan to incorporate that red cloud pattern into our Hattori family crest."
At this, Kaori and Shūto felt like they were about to explode. Why hadn't their own children gotten accepted? They'd had enough of Mayumi's smugness!
And right at that moment, both Kaori and Shūto suddenly showed expressions of utter disbelief…
~~~
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