"Do we really need to drag up the past right now?" Kakuzu grumbled, frowning. He knew perfectly well that the Akatsuki's origins traced back to Emiya Shirou, but that was the first generation.
The idea of this motley crew of psychopaths and fanatics acting under Shirou's banner was... distasteful.
Let's be honest, the current Akatsuki was a rogue's gallery of dangerous lunatics, himself included. He didn't see how they could possibly be associated with a figure like Shirou.
"No," Tendo Pain's voice was flat, emotionless. "The Akatsuki has never changed. We are still carrying out that Lord's will."
"Stop with the ridiculous stories," Kakuzu shot back, his voice turning cold. "I'll grant you that the three of you might have been following his will back in the day, but you can't possibly say the current Akatsuki has anything to do with him!"
"Senior Kakuzu," Nagato quickly interjected, trying to smooth things over. His mind was doing a bizarre split-screen routine: one part of him was here, placating his grumpy subordinate, while the other was piloting Tendo Pain, who was still diligently playing the role of the aloof, all-powerful leader.
"There are some secrets you are not privy to," Tendo Pain continued, his voice as cold as a grave. "In order to bring true, eternal peace to this world, that Lord left behind another path. This is the meaning of the Akatsuki's revival. And long before we were born, another person walked this second path, assisting that Lord in quelling the First Great Ninja War."
"Madara Uchiha?" Kakuzu remembered the humiliating defeat he'd suffered at Madara's hands all those years ago. The memory was still annoyingly vivid.
"Correct," Pain nodded. "Madara Uchiha also received guidance from that Lord. Before his death, he extended the second path of peace to us, giving us a second choice. We are still carrying out that Lord's will."
Pain's gaze shifted to Orochimaru. "And, because a certain Konoha ninja used an evil forbidden jutsu to revive that Lord, we have had the opportunity to contact him again. We have already received his official approval."
Orochimaru's heart skipped a beat.
They know.
They know I revived him!
But when? How?
Did Shirou really have a second path? If the Akatsuki had been following his will all along...
He noticed Nagato and Konan had subtly repositioned themselves, ready to strike at a moment's notice. This wasn't just a takeover; it was a pre-planned ambush, aimed squarely at him. He was in trouble.
"Has someone desecrated his soul's peace again?" Kakuzu asked, still not quite grasping the immediate danger. A flicker of pity crossed his face. "So, where is Lord Emiya now?"
"What do you mean?" Sasori's puppet head tilted mechanically. "Pain, are you saying... Emiya Shirou is resurrected again?"
"That is correct," Pain's body shifted, making way. "From this day forward, Lord Emiya Shirou will officially take command of the Akatsuki. I trust no one has any objections."
A figure calmly walked forward, slowly opening his eyes. A pair of Rinnegan stared down at the members gathered below the Demonic Statue. "Long time no see, Kakuzu."
"Lord Emiya," Kakuzu's hands clenched into fists, but the tension in his heart immediately eased. It was because of this man's words that he had found a new purpose in life all those years ago. He never expected to see him again. "The Akatsuki's plan..."
"The plan did indeed originate from me," Shirou nodded calmly. "Although, when I first heard the story of this new Akatsuki, I admit I was a bit surprised that there were still people following that second path."
"But now, all this proves that the second path is the correct one. The medical ninjutsu I created could not stop the Warring States period, nor could my will for peace prevent the Great Ninja Wars."
Kakuzu fell silent. He knew Shirou was right. He had witnessed the chaos of the wars firsthand. If the world was always such a mess, it wasn't so strange that Shirou would guide Madara and the Akatsuki down a different, darker path.
But still... it was a shock.
The greatest medical ninja in history, a man who once stood in the sunlight, adored by the masses, was now choosing to walk in the shadows. A path destined to be misunderstood.
Kakuzu found it hard to stomach, yet it all made a terrible kind of sense. He lowered his head, hiding the storm of emotions in his heart.
This kind of life is painful... it shouldn't be his choice.
"It doesn't matter," Shirou's voice was placid, as if discussing a change in the weather. "Someone has to do it. In the living world, I have seen the unending strife. In the underworld, I have seen the countless vengeful souls who died in that strife."
"That is when I made up my mind. I learned a great deal during my last resurrection. One of those things was that to achieve eternal peace, one can use any means necessary, even if it means not being understood by the world. I know I'm doing the right thing."
Kakuzu could only remain silent. He had only ever seen Shirou as a beacon of light. He'd never considered the pain the man must have felt, staring into the darkness.
Shirou's eyes shifted, landing on Orochimaru. "We meet again. I suppose I should apologize first. I'm afraid I can't use my power to help Konoha destroy the Akatsuki."
Orochimaru's spirit had long since tensed up. The lie he'd spun had come back to bite him like a boomerang shuriken. He'd revived the true master of the Akatsuki, and had even pitched the idea of using him to destroy the very organization he now commanded.
He'd played the part of the loyal Konoha spy, hoping to gain Shirou's trust. But Shirou had changed. The wars had hardened him. He was no longer the unconditionally kind medical ninja.
He was now a terrifyingly strong figure who would stop at nothing for peace. And Orochimaru's situation was... not good.
He could feel the chakra of Nagato and Konan, ready to erupt. They were going to eliminate him, the "spy," right here, right now.
And to make matters worse, there were three pairs of Rinnegan in the room.
"Orochimaru is a Konoha spy?" Sasori asked, a scroll already appearing in his palm.
Kakuzu's figure tensed. If there was one village he had no love for, it was Konoha.
"Orochimaru, did Danzo send you?" Konan's voice was laced with ice, origami tags faintly visible between her fingers.
Nagato remained silent, simply raising a finger.
A slow, wry smile spread across Orochimaru's face. He looked up at Shirou. "If I were to say... that I'm not a Konoha spy at all, just a simple rogue ninja who defected... would you believe me?"
The moment the words left his mouth, his figure shot towards the cave entrance.
To be honest, in this situation, even he wouldn't believe himself. If he hadn't truly defected, he'd be suspecting he was a spy sent by Danzo. After all, he'd told Shirou as much with his own mouth.