Of course, it wasn't Zabuza.
Zabuza Momochi was just a missing-nin from Kirigakure, known as the Demon of the Hidden Mist. Skilled, yes—but still a mercenary. How much wealth could a rogue ninja like him possibly have?
Ryujin Kenichi's real target was Gato—the corrupt shipping magnate who had hired Zabuza to assassinate the bridge builder, Tazuna. At the time, Gato was one of the wealthiest and most influential businessmen in the world, with a vast underground network and access to illicit resources. If Kenichi could tap into that, it would be a significant asset to his cause.
But that was something to consider for later. Kenichi wasn't entirely sure if Gato's influence had reached its peak yet. If he ever found himself in need of quick funds, he could look into Gato's operations more closely.
Slipping on the empty ring, Ryujin Kenichi turned and left. Konan had said that his cloak and uniform would be issued later—they needed to take his measurements first. It was clear the Akatsuki were meticulous, even in their recruitment process.
After Kenichi left, Konan and Nagato made their way back to the Akatsuki hideout.
"Are you sure about letting two rogue Konoha ninjas join us?" Konan asked, her voice quiet but questioning. She glanced at the two remaining rings—symbols of the organization's core members. The Akatsuki operated on an elite, ten-member system. Each ring was more than just jewelry—it represented a role, a place in their inner circle.
"I'm sure," Nagato replied, coughing slightly before continuing. "They're strong, but they don't pose a threat to me. Besides, we need people. Right now, our numbers are too thin to carry out the long-term plans."
He paused, his Rinnegan eyes reflecting the flickering light of the hideout. "Running an organization is more difficult than I imagined. We need money, manpower, and reach. These missing-nin can help us carry out missions, bring in funds, and spread our influence."
"I've heard of a bounty hunter named Kakuzu," he added, looking at Konan. "He's with Takigakure originally, but now he's freelance. Ruthless, but effective. He's on my list."
Konan gave a slow nod. "Understood. Things are about to get a lot more active."
Ryujin Kenichi was already on the move. There wasn't much left to do in Amegakure, and his mission for now was complete. He sprinted through the rain-soaked terrain of the Land of Rain, making his way toward the border.
There was no time to waste.
By the time he reached the edge of the Land of Fire, the rainfall had thinned to a light mist. Kenichi paused, crouching low and scanning the area for any signs of Konoha patrols. Oddly enough, there were fewer guards than usual. That was something to report.
It had been just over two weeks since he had departed on his mission under his teacher's orders.
The shinobi world hadn't changed much in his absence. But something felt…off. And Kenichi had learned to trust his instincts.
This wasn't normal.
Patrolling the border was a critical duty—reassignments almost never happened without something truly urgent. For them to be pulled so suddenly... something had to be going on.
"Could the other hidden villages have noticed the death of the Fourth Hokage… and now they're testing Konoha's defenses?" Ryujin Kenichi narrowed his eyes as he sped through the dense forest. "And with my defection… and sensei's..."
It was a valid concern. The Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, had died during the Nine-Tails' attack on the village. In the aftermath, Konoha had been left battered, vulnerable—and losing shinobi of their caliber made it even worse.
"It's the perfect time for Iwa or Kumo to make a move."
He clenched his jaw. As someone once trusted within Konoha's ranks, Kenichi knew how fragile the balance of power was. Now, having awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, his mobility and perception had drastically improved.
"Maybe I can even start practicing the Flying Thunder God Technique..." He wasn't being arrogant; with his improved dynamic vision, his chances of understanding the technique's complexity had risen.
But for now, Kenichi's priority was to return to the lab and report to his sensei—Orochimaru—about what he had learned.
The Akatsuki had made moves in Amegakure.
Hanzo the Salamander—once the feared demigod of the Rain—was dead.
Killed by none other than a man calling himself "Pain." But what truly caught Kenichi's attention were the man's eyes—the Rinnegan.
"If I mention those eyes, sensei will definitely be intrigued. Those are the eyes of the Sage of Six Paths, after all."
He wasn't worried about Orochimaru's reaction. On the contrary, he knew that the prospect of studying the Rinnegan would lure him in—especially with Akatsuki offering a variety of forbidden knowledge, rare bloodlines, and strange cult-like ideologies like those followed by Hidan and his god, Jashin.
Still, Kenichi reminded himself not to get ahead of things. There was too much to study at once. For now, he would ask Orochimaru to teach him the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique—the perfect way to accelerate learning.
"Such a divine jutsu," he mused. "With multiple clones, I could learn several things at once. When the clones dispel, all that experience returns to me. It's like hacking time."
Kenichi briefly let his imagination wander. If he had this technique in his past life, with a few clever disguises, he could've juggled dozens of jobs at once. The only downside would've been fatigue and identity issues.
After a few more days of travel, Kenichi arrived at the hidden lab. It was buried beneath layers of brush and camouflage. Following the secret pattern Orochimaru had taught him, he activated the entry seal. The door slid open with a faint hiss.
"Did you complete the mission?" a soft voice asked from the shadows.
Kenichi blinked. That voice—he recognized it. Yugi?
He narrowed his eyes and touched his chin. Wait... he had teased Yugi before—wasn't this the same tone she used back then?
"...Teacher?" he asked cautiously.
A petite figure stepped into the pale light. It was a woman—blonde, with gentle features. She looked just like Yugi, a kunoichi they had experimented on for host compatibility.
But Kenichi wasn't fooled.
This was Orochimaru.
It seemed his master had finally completed the Impure World Reincarnation or perhaps a variant of the Living Corpse Reincarnation Technique, and had taken over Yugi's body.
"How was the investigation?" Orochimaru asked, her voice calm and inquisitive.
Kenichi tried not to react to the strange dissonance—Orochimaru's eerie tone coming from Yugi's innocent-looking face was unnerving.
"There's been movement in Amegakure. Hanzo is dead," he reported, his voice flat. "Someone named Pain killed him. He wields the Rinnegan."
That got Orochimaru's attention.
Kenichi could see the spark of excitement flare up behind those borrowed eyes.
"I figured that would interest you, sensei."
He paused, glancing again at the familiar-yet-unfamiliar face.
"You usually change your appearance to your own face… why not this time?"
But he didn't ask. There were more important things ahead. The Akatsuki were rising—and both he and Orochimaru had plans of their own.