"About the same as now," he said, recalling the inhuman figures in the village. At the very least, when poison needed to be tested, they could always find a non-human to do it.
"I've seen it once before," Tobi said. He was far less lively than usual, his voice carrying a rare heaviness. Though his mask hid his face, the sorrow in his tone was unmistakable. "There was a non-human infant, only a few months old, living in a ruined temple. Its crying woke a group of travelers who had stopped there to rest. Annoyed, one of them smashed the baby to death."
Deidara's mouth fell open. For a moment, no one spoke. Tobi shook the beer bottle in his hand, the expression beneath his mask tinged with bitter irony.
"The child's mother went mad and attacked the killer. In the end, she was beaten to death on the spot. Since lives had been lost, the authorities had to intervene. But once they learned the dead were non-human, they only fined the travelers and told them to dispose of the bodies. Case closed."
"That's a lie, right? Even if they were non-human, they were just children," Deidara said.
"Non-humans," Konan said flatly. "Below the four classes."
She glanced at Deidara's confused expression and added with clear exasperation, "Don't make me explain the four classes to you."
Kakuzu laughed, sighed, and added another piece of meat to Deidara's plate. "Don't ask. Just eat."
Deidara froze for a second. "Oh."
Itachi looked out at the unending rain and spoke softly. "That's rare. This village allows non-humans to become ninja?"
"Yes. During the Second War, when fighting Fire, Earth, and Wind, non-humans were used as cannon fodder," Konan said simply.
"This world is hell," Tobi said solemnly, tilting his head back and downing an entire bottle of beer.
Konan shrugged indifferently. "Killing someone is far easier than changing someone."
"Heh. That reminds me of Shusuke again."
"At least he makes decent dinner conversation," someone said with a laugh, clearly joking.
Konan did not laugh. She spoke in a casual, conversational tone. "Honestly, I still don't really understand why he hates Kita so much."
"Just like you said," Kakuzu replied as he placed a grilled fish on Konan's side of the table. "Changing a person is much harder than killing one."
"Did something happen?" Itachi asked cautiously, nodding slightly.
"Who was Shusuke partnered with again?"
"Gennosuke."
"The one worth fifteen million ryo?" Kakuzu asked.
"Yes," Konan nodded.
"Simply put, during one mission, Gennosuke died. Shusuke needed backup, and Kita was sent," Konan said, recalling the past.
"After the mission ended, Shusuke ambushed Kita but failed. That was when she got injured, right?" someone asked.
Konan nodded. "Yes. Three broken ribs."
She sighed, her thoughts drifting back to that moment. "I genuinely want to understand what Kita did to deserve that. She nearly died saving him and broke three ribs for it, only to almost be killed by him afterward. I really wanted to change his mindset."
Her voice carried a trace of grievance. Itachi looked at her seriously and asked, "And then?"
"And then I realized it was still easier to kill someone," a voice said from behind.
Itachi turned around to see Pain, who had appeared silently at some point unknown.
"L-Leader…"
Itachi's voice trembled. He had absolutely no idea when Pain had arrived.
"Haha, Pain, look at you, you scared him," Konan said with a smile.
Pain shrugged, his expression as cold as ever. "I thought it would be interesting."
As he spoke, he sat down beside Konan, in the spot where Zaraki Kita had just left.
"Beer?" someone asked. The crate was right beside him, easily within reach.
Pain shook his head. "No. I have other matters, so I won't stay long. Briefly speaking, mission efficiency has been low lately. Deidara, your team has been causing too much noise. For now, keep a low profile. We've received several complaints."
"I understand," Deidara said, nodding.
Satisfied, Pain turned toward Kisame and Itachi. "This group is a bit special. You're all newcomers. Originally, someone should have guided you, but Juzo died too early. Are you used to the mission pace?"
"It's been almost half a year. That's not short," Itachi replied.
Pain nodded. "Even so, some unfamiliarity is inevitable. I heard you both came from ANBU, correct?"
"Yes. As expected of the leader, you have all the intel," Kisame said politely.
Pain replied bluntly, "You're my subordinates. I'm not some heartless boss squeezing employees dry. Akatsuki is fairly loose outside of missions, and time is relatively flexible. We're not at the stage of executing the Tailed Beast plan yet, so you still have plenty of personal time. I've reviewed your missions. They've been handled well, and there haven't been many complaints. Keep it up."
"Not many complaints?" Itachi asked in surprise. "So there were some?"
Pain nodded. "Yes. Konan, you didn't tell them?"
"Didn't get around to it," Konan said with a shrug. She set down her chopsticks. "Two months ago, during the assassination of the Land of Earth tycoon, the client requested that none of the porcelain be damaged. But one bird-shaped vase was broken, right?"
Itachi remembered. One vase had shattered. The target threw it at us.
"We didn't break it. The target did," Kisame said defensively.
"Kakuzu," Pain called.
Without lifting his head, Kakuzu said, "Flowers, Birds, Wind, and Moon. A relic excavated from a temple dating back to the Warring States period. Three hundred years old. Market value starts at thirty-five million ryo."
He glanced over. "You should be grateful he picked the cheapest thing to throw. If he'd grabbed the porcelain sculpture next to it, that would have been three hundred fifty million ryo. The mission payout was only five million. Akatsuki's failure compensation is ten times the reward. Selling both of you wouldn't cover it."
"That's enough," Pain said, cutting him off.
He looked back at Itachi and Kisame. "You haven't been here long, and without senior guidance, mistakes are understandable. Let it go this time. Just be more careful next time."
Itachi felt deeply ashamed. Since becoming a ninja, he had never failed a mission. This time, a single vase meant thirty-five million ryo, plus eighty-five million in penalties. Even splitting the cost with Kisame, they could never repay it.
He lowered his head immediately. "I'm sorry. I'll be more careful next time."
"It's fine. The organization can afford it," Pain said calmly.
He then turned to Tobi. "Tobi, you've made too many mistakes lately. Two months in a row without a single perfect mission. All B-rank missions, and you still mess them up."
"But I completed them all," Tobi protested, clearly unconvinced.
"You completed them," Pain said evenly. "But every single one had issues. Tobi, small steps lead to great distances, small streams form mighty rivers. You always fall just short of perfection. You even managed to lose someone during a basic escort mission. I honestly don't understand. When you conquer the world someday, will you leave out a village or two as well?"
Pain spoke with extreme patience, so different from his gloomy appearance that Itachi almost felt they were two different people.
"I-I'm sorry," Tobi said in deep embarrassment.
Pain waved his hand. "It's fine. You're not official staff anyway. Your missions are suspended for now. Adjust your state, then come back."
"Monthly stipend suspended too?" Kakuzu asked.
Pain thought for a moment, then nodded. "Yes."
"I'm ready now. I won't fail again," Tobi said immediately.
Konan smiled. "Say that again in two months."
Pain did not smile. "That's all. Everyone, work harder on future missions. Try not to receive any more complaints. Itachi, Kisame, if you have questions, ask me or Konan. Kita works too. She's technically unofficial, but she's a veteran. You were an elite ninja in your villages, but Akatsuki is different. How missions are done and what to watch out for, you need to learn. And you know Kita's identity. Akatsuki respects strength. Right now, Itachi, Kisame, Deidara, all of you would be completely overwhelmed if you fought her. Show respect to the strong. She worked harder than any of you to reach where she is today. You village geniuses should have some dignity. We are rogue ninjas, not scum. Understood?"
"Understood," Kakuzu and Deidara replied together.
Itachi nodded sheepishly, without resistance.
Kisame asked, "Is she really that strong?"
"No problem beating you," Konan said with a smile. "Want to try?"
"Sure."
"Call her," Konan nudged Pain.
Pain nodded, formed a hand seal, and said, "Let's go. I'll have her wait by the sea."
"Five hundred ryo. Five seconds," Kakuzu said, wiping his hands.
He sized Kisame up. "Fifteen seconds."
"Three seconds," Konan said with a smile.
"You're overestimating her. He's one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen," someone said as they stood up.
Pain scratched his head. "Then I'll bet three seconds too."
"Three seconds for her to lose to me?" Kisame said disdainfully.
Konan smiled without answering.
Everyone headed for the shore. When they arrived, Zaraki Kita was already waiting. Seeing them approach, she bowed slightly, then deeply.
Konan stepped forward, pulled her up, and laughed. "Three seconds. I bet money."
Zaraki Kita froze, then signed.
Three seconds? Are you insane?
"I bet too, Kita," Pain said, holding up three fingers.
She sighed and gave an OK gesture.
Kisame stood across from her, determined to last three seconds. No, wait, why was he going along with their pace? He needed to teach her a lesson.
"Three, two, one. Start."
At Pain's command, Kisame moved first. The moment he grabbed Samehada, a massive wave surged toward Zaraki Kita. In the blink of an eye, her figure vanished.
"Won," Konan said, clapping her hands.
By the shore, Zaraki Kita's long blade crackled with lightning chakra, its blunt edge already pressed against Kisame's neck. He had not even had the chance to use a substitution.
A Lightning Release master. Her mastery of lightning techniques was absolutely no inferior to Konoha's Copy Ninja, Hatake Kakashi.
"Pay up," Konan said, holding out her hand to Kakuzu.
Kakuzu clicked his tongue and placed two five-hundred ryo bills in her palm.
Konan handed two bills to Pain. "Thanks for letting me win a thousand."
Pain nodded helplessly. "Thank you, Sister Konan."
Konan laughed and patted Pain's shoulder, even though he was much taller. Zaraki Kita sheathed her blade and walked over.
Konan shook the money proudly.
Zaraki Kita smiled, but stepped back slightly before Konan could hug her. She signed.
Don't mess around, Angel. There are people here.
True enough. Even with the light drizzle, the seaside was still a popular spot for village couples.
She knelt on one knee, bowed deeply. From afar, she looked perfectly respectful.
Konan sighed. "Aren't you tired of this?"
It was clearly loaded with meaning.
Zaraki Kita stood and shook her head with a smile.
It wouldn't look good. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave.
"Kita, hot springs later. Come with us," Pain said, more command than invitation.
She shook her head and bowed again.
Sorry. I still have an unfinished report. This subordinate will take her leave.
Humble and respectful, she backed away several steps before turning to leave.
Pain sighed and shrugged at Konan. "I tried."
Konan crossed her arms and looked away. "And still failed."
Pain said, "Is that my fault? You're the one who annoyed her."
Konan replied, "Then who else am I supposed to blame?"
━━━━ ❖ ━━━
Every 100 Power Stones = 1 Extra Chapter
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