Chapter 54: The Convergence of World Lines?
"The main reason I called you here this time is to explain Akatsuki's next mission."
Nagato took a slow breath. A moment earlier, he had almost lost his composure and really wanted to kick the jade ring bearer out of the meeting.
Fortunately, that guy had finally stopped provoking everyone.
Kenichi Amamiya only shrugged. He more or less understood what Nagato meant.
Right now, Akatsuki was not yet the overwhelming super organization that would one day force the entire ninja world to cooperate. At this stage, they barely even counted as a proper group.
They needed people.
They needed money.
They needed supplies and channels.
In short, Akatsuki was still in the rebuilding phase, barely past the starting line.
There were far too many tasks ahead of them:
Scout and recruit suitable targets.
Raise operating funds for the organization.
Stockpile equipment, jutsu scrolls, and perhaps even explosive tags for Konan.
Kenichi glanced sideways at Konan standing next to Nagato.
Explosive tags were extremely expensive, and the amount she used in the future was absurd.
She had to have some kind of special method, otherwise no matter how hard Kakuzu worked, he would never be able to keep up.
"Ku, I want you to raise a sum of money in a short period of time," Nagato said, looking toward Orochimaru. "Your methods are not restricted, but you are not allowed to harm civilians."
He had already noticed that there was something off about Orochimaru's current appearance.
This Orochimaru seemed a little shorter than before.
Even so, he had no intention of pursuing it. As long as the missions given to him were completed, Nagato had no interest in prying too deeply into the members' personal secrets.
"You do not want civilians harmed? Fine," Orochimaru replied, eyes narrowing with interest. "But in exchange, I want to research your Rinnegan."
His tongue slid briefly across his lips as he stared at Nagato, the same predatory gleam he always showed when a rare specimen appeared in front of him.
Kenichi covered his face.
Here it comes.
Even after he had personally helped his teacher join Akatsuki and get a ring, Orochimaru still could not suppress that instinctive urge to provoke the man with the Sage's Eyes.
Kenichi vaguely remembered that in the anime, Orochimaru had first attacked Nagato and only joined Akatsuki after being defeated.
He had originally thought that, thanks to his interference, that particular plot point had been avoided.
Apparently not.
"You can try," Nagato said evenly. His tone did not waver at all, as if Orochimaru's provocation had not affected him in the slightest.
Konan, however, could not hide her anger.
Her expression went cold, paper like wings of chakra twitching slightly as she glared at Orochimaru.
But after a single look from Nagato, she swallowed back her words, folded her arms, and simply stared, all her displeasure showing in her eyes instead.
"I will try," Orochimaru replied, that familiar serpentine smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
His long tongue and snake like mannerisms were enough to make Kenichi's skin crawl.
Teacher really does like playing with snakes.
It was reckless, yes, but thinking back to his own urge the first time he saw Nagato's Rinnegan up close, Kenichi found he could understand it.
He too had wanted to take those eyes apart and study them.
"I am the same kind of person," Kenichi clicked his tongue inwardly.
"Now then, your mission."
Nagato ignored Orochimaru after that, mentally filing him away as a problem to be dealt with later. He turned his gaze toward Kenichi instead.
He had already decided that he needed to get this troublesome jade ring bearer out of his sight for a while.
Otherwise, he really would go mad dealing with him.
"Fundraising, right?" Kenichi gave a thumbs up and flashed a grin as bright as Might Guy's.
For some reason, Nagato felt that smile physically hurt his eyes. It was like sunlight reflecting directly off metal.
"Yes."
Still, he was satisfied that Kenichi had at least listened and accepted the mission without arguing.
That alone proved that his authority as leader was firmly in place.
Yahiko, it really is you who has the qualifications to be Akatsuki's leader.
"I will get it done as soon as possible," Kenichi said seriously.
He did not step forward to chat with Nagato again. After all, he had only just joined Akatsuki. Completing the first mission properly was the best way to pay his entry fee.
"Good. Then it is decided."
Nagato lifted a hand in a brief wave.
"There may be other members joining later. When the time comes, I will notify you."
The next second, Kenichi's vision blurred, and he found himself back in the underground laboratory.
He glanced around, then clicked his tongue softly.
This ability really was convenient. It was extremely covert too.
No wonder Akatsuki could remain the most deeply hidden organization in the ninja world for so long.
Of course, they were not the ones hiding the deepest.
That title still belonged to Black Zetsu.
And somewhere in the shadows of the ninja world, there was another member of the Otsutsuki clan lurking as well, an old fox who had been watching the world far longer than anyone realized.
"Kenichi, complete my mission while you are at it. I am going to Amegakure."
Orochimaru suddenly appeared in front of him, his tongue briefly touching his lips again as he spoke.
Kenichi looked at his teacher, who had already reverted to his usual appearance, and scratched his head.
He knew very well what his teacher really looked like, but he still had to admit that the previous host body's face had been much easier on the eyes and far less unsettling to deal with.
Even so, a teacher was still a teacher, regardless of appearance.
Kenichi also understood that the way Orochimaru had shown up in that female body earlier had been nothing more than a test.
"If I touch his head again…"
Kenichi caught himself staring at his teacher's head and drifted into deep thought.
He had conducted a Pavlov style experiment on Yuki before.
At the time, every time he placed his hand on Yuki's head, the girl would tremble from head to toe in fear.
He wondered if she would still react that way now.
But when he imagined the possible consequences of casually patting his teacher's head, Kenichi decisively abandoned the idea.
Orochimaru frowned slightly when he noticed that Kenichi had not responded for quite some time, snapping him out of his thoughts and forcing him to focus again.
"Okay, teacher," Kenichi replied, scratching his hair.
It was a pity his thermobaric research had barely begun.
The chakra based thermobaric explosive was still stuck at the most basic formulation stage. For now, he would have to temporarily set it aside.
Fortunately, he had already decided where to get his money.
Gato was a perfect target.
Although Gato was just an ordinary person, judging from everything he had done in the Land of Waves, Kenichi felt that even if he killed the man outright, Nagato would have no objections.
Akatsuki's goal was to bring peace to the ninja world, and they were generally more inclined to protect civilians.
But necessary sacrifices were still permitted inside the organization.
For someone like Gato, Kenichi did not believe Nagato would feel even a trace of sympathy.
"Teacher, are you planning to test Pain's strength?" Kenichi could not help asking.
"Yes. I want to see exactly what kind of abilities the Rinnegan possesses."
Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with barely restrained excitement.
Kenichi felt his own heartbeat quicken as well.
That was the Rinnegan.
An eye that stood at the very top of the ninja world.
If the Mangekyou Sharingan was a fully awakened version of the Uchiha's power, then the Rinnegan was the complete, transcendent form beyond that, an entirely different realm.
"Wait for me, Obito."
Kenichi's hand slid to the sealing scroll at his waist. Inside, a Mangekyou Sharingan quietly rested.
Obito's Mangekyou Sharingan.
"Once I complete the Chakra Thermobaric Bomb, you will not mind helping me test its power, right?"
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