Chapter 12: Bonds of the Rain
[Divine Ability: Taotie's Gluttony. The host can accelerate chakra recovery through meditation and can absorb all outwardly-directed ninjutsu. The Three-Colored Divine Flame refines all matter and purges all negative status effects. Also serves as the host's supreme tool for posturing.]
Liumu glanced at the skill description the Taotie had left in his mind, then turned to Yahiko with a mischievous grin.
Watching Konan stagger back to her feet, before Yahiko could even ask a question, Liumu stepped forward with an innocent expression and buried his face in Konan's embrace. He looked up at her with childish eyes.
"How old are you, big sister?"
Yahiko: "???"
Nagato: "???"
Onlookers: "???"
The scene of Liumu single-handedly saving the day was still vivid in everyone's minds. Even though Konan, who had been unconscious at the time, hadn't witnessed it, she now understood that it was this boy with starlight in his eyes who had saved them all.
One punch had killed the legendary shinobi hailed as a Demigod.
Another punch had slain the dreaded salamander.
And as for why he emerged unscathed from the poisonous mist… no one knew.
"I'm eighteen," Konan replied, squatting down to meet his gaze with a gentle smile. "How about you?"
Eighteen?
Tsk. I'm only five. That's a bit of a gap…
But as the saying went, if your girlfriend is three years older, she's a treasure. If she's thirteen years older… well, that was nearly four and a half treasures worth!
Ah!
Jackpot!
"A shinobi from Konoha!"
Just then, Yahiko noticed the Konoha forehead protector tied around Liumu's arm.
Liumu smiled slightly upon hearing this. He took a step back, looking at the three figures before him. "My name is Liumu. A Konoha shinobi, and also a disciple of Master Jiraiya."
"Master Jiraiya!" Hearing the name from Liumu's lips, Yahiko immediately stepped forward, crouching to grip Liumu's shoulders. "Where is he? Is he here too?"
Liumu shook his head gently and truthfully recounted how he and Jiraiya had come looking for them.
By the end, a flicker of loneliness passed over the faces of Yahiko and the others. "If Master was here… why didn't he come to see us?"
Liumu didn't answer that question. Instead, he glanced at the small toad in his arms and offered a faint smile.
Jiraiya had given him Gamawu as a means of contact in a crisis, but Liumu knew the truth—it was also a way for the old pervert to keep an eye on him. That sly old man had probably already learned about him saving Yahiko and the others.
With the three-party meeting aborted and Danzo's conspiracy shattered by Liumu's fist, Hanzo was gone. Looking at the now-twisted form of the Demigod, a steely light shone in Yahiko's eyes.
With the obstacle of Hanzo removed, Yahiko was more confident than ever that he could win over the Land of Rain. The hope of changing the tragic fate of this country through their own efforts now felt tangible.
At that moment, Liumu casually glanced at Nagato, who had remained silent the whole time, his strange Rinnegan eyes hidden beneath his wine-red hair.
If it were possible, Liumu wanted to destroy those eyes right now, to fundamentally alter the future trajectory of events. But Nagato was his senior brother now, and above all, a victim of a cruel fate.
"Ah, forget it," Liumu muttered, clenching his fist. If Madara causes trouble in the future, I'll just punch him too.
...
...
The Akatsuki Gathering Place.
The four "siblings" sat around a small table as Yahiko recounted their experiences over the past few years.
Guided by Yahiko's charisma, their weak trio had gradually gathered many like-minded comrades. The Akatsuki organization, though still small, had grown. While controlling the entire Land of Rain with their current strength remained a distant dream, Yahiko's eyes burned with hope.
"Liumu…"
Finally, Yahiko and Nagato exchanged a look before turning back to Liumu, who was currently being hugged by Konan. Yahiko asked with a serious expression, "You… would you like to join us?"
"Join Akatsuki?" Liumu was surprised, then shook his head. "We're all disciples of Master Jiraiya. Joining or not doesn't make much difference." He leaned back, finding a more comfortable position for his head against Konan, his face slightly flushed. "But the situation in the Land of Rain isn't as simple as you think. As the junction of three great nations, the threats here extend far beyond just Hanzo."
Yahiko naturally understood what Liumu meant. But if Liumu could join their ranks, it would be an immeasurable boost to their cause.
"Won't you… reconsider?" Yahiko wasn't ready to give up so easily.
Yet, the answer remained a headshake.
"I'm still too young!"
Too young…
Yahiko's expression shifted, then he closed his eyes and chuckled softly. "Right. You're only five. How could I forget that."
...
Liumu planned to rest here for the night before following Gamawu's guidance to reunite with Jiraiya.
However, when bedtime arrived, a minor crisis unfolded.
Liumu cried and insisted he was too young to sleep alone, demanding a companion. When offered Yahiko or Nagato, he wrinkled his nose, complaining about their "boy smell" and stubbornly refused.
In the end, everyone relented. It was Konan who finally took him into her room.
...
...
...
A Peaceful Night.
"That little rascal…" Konan watched Liumu's retreating back the next morning, a complex feeling stirring in her heart. A faint, involuntary blush crept onto her usually serene cheeks.
Approaching the border of the Land of Rain, Liumu moved swiftly under Gamawu's guidance, his flickering form shaking raindrops from the branches.
The small white paper flower now tucked into his shirt was a symbol, perhaps, that the future of Akatsuki might unfold differently.
"Kid."
Gamawu, perched on Liumu's shoulder, pointed toward a village not far away. "We're here."
"Got it."
Liumu acknowledged, hopped down from the tree, and proceeded into the village on foot.
This was a small settlement in the neutral Land of Grass, situated between the Lands of Rain and Fire.
Arriving at his destination, Liumu let out an exasperated sigh, staring at the building before him with its curtain bearing the character for "Soup."
"Of course it would be here, Master Jiraiya."
Just then, as he stood in the middle of the street, Liumu felt an inexplicable, prickling sensation all over his skin.
His eyes darted around. Several shadowy figures lurking in the alleys immediately caught his attention.
"Kid, you're being watched."
Gamawu warned. "Six individuals. Exactly two squads. Do you want to grab one for questioning?"
Having witnessed Liumu's capabilities firsthand, Gamawu saw no reason for him not to investigate such blatant surveillance.
But…
"No need." Liumu smirked coldly and walked into a ramen shop, ordering a bowl.
He had single-handedly ruined Danzo's scheme and incidentally saved the Akatsuki organization, which Danzo undoubtedly saw as a major thorn in his side. If Danzo hadn't sent people to keep an eye on him, that would have been strange.
(End of Chapter)
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