Chapter 12: A New Home in the Rain
Poof!
The Uchiha Naoki who had been hiding in the air suddenly dissolved into a puff of white smoke—a Shadow Clone. The real Naoki, who had just destroyed the Third Kazekage, suddenly coughed violently, his knees buckling as he dropped to the ground, breathing in ragged, heavy gasps. His lips had taken on a distinct purple hue.
He was poisoned.
"Tch. So this is how it ends?" he wheezed, looking up at Sasori, who had landed nearby with an expression darker than a storm cloud. Naoki wiped the sweat from his brow, his vision already starting to blur at the edges. "I admit defeat, Lord Sasori. The human puppet you lost… I will provide you with high-quality materials to repair it."
Hearing this, Sasori—who had been on the verge of unleashing his final, still-imperfect trump card—snorted, the anger seeming to drain from him slightly. "Unnecessary! I know you still have fight left in you. Don't pretend otherwise. It just so happens my ultimate techniques are not yet fully perfected. In a true battle to the death, the outcome would likely be a draw." He flicked a small vial of green liquid toward Naoki. "This is the antidote. We can continue our… discussion another time."
Naoki caught the vial, a weary grin spreading across his face. "I'll be sure to trouble you again then, Lord Sasori."
Konan descended to the ground, her paper wings folding away. "Aside from 'Zero,' you are the second shinobi I have seen capable of destroying the Third Kazekage puppet," she said, her voice carrying a note of genuine praise. "No wonder Sasori acknowledges you so readily, even inviting further sparring."
Her expression then turned more serious as she studied Naoki. "But you agreed to join us so simply. Aren't you the least bit curious about the Akatsuki's origins? Our purpose? Aren't you afraid we are recruiting you for some nefarious end?"
Uchiha Naoki managed a weak chuckle. "If my end comes at the hands of a beautiful woman like you, then I'd say it's a fate worth having."
Konan's eyebrows shot up, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "Shameless! You're just a boy whose feathers aren't even fully grown!" She quickly composed herself, her face becoming stern again. "Before I set out, a masked man in our organization warned me: 'Uchiha Naoki is not simple. Be cautious.' Judging by his tone, it seems he has fought you himself, and it didn't go entirely his way?"
A sharp glint flashed deep within Naoki's eyes, though his expression remained neutral. "So that masked man is one of yours. I only escaped from him by a stroke of luck; it hardly counts as besting him." He paused, feigning concern. "Now that I'm joining, that masked senior won't hold a grudge and make things difficult for me, will he?"
Internally, his guard went up. Uchiha Obito was humiliated by a clone of mine. He should want me dead. Why wouldn't he block me from joining unless he's planning something bigger? I need to be very careful.
Konan offered a faint, reassuring smile. "Of course not. I believe the masked man understands the greater good." She didn't believe his humble account for a second. If Naoki hadn't truly inconvenienced 'Madara,' why would the man have been so insistent on caution?
Sasori looked back and forth between them, confused. "Masked man?" Who was this? Were there still mysterious members in the organization he didn't know about?
"Let's go," Konan said, not answering his unspoken question. Instead, she prepared to escort Uchiha Naoki back to Amegakure to meet the leader, 'Zero.'
As they began their journey, a line of text materialized in front of Naoki's eyes, visible only to him.
[The traveling frog has returned from its journey, bringing you a rare mineral from the Land of Craftsmen: High-Purity Chakra Metal.]
"Collect," he thought.
He was aware of the Land of Craftsmen, a small ninja village renowned for its exquisite ninja tools. A master blacksmith named "Seimei" had once forged several legendary weapons there, said to rival the Seven Ninja Swords of the Mist.
Immediately, a fist-sized piece of oil-slick-black metal, shimmering with a deep green undertone, appeared in his hand.
Both Konan and Sasori, noticing the object, couldn't help but exclaim in surprise. "How do you possess Chakra Metal of such high purity?!" Konan asked, her voice laced with astonishment.
Sasori's gaze was especially fiery. "Sell that metal to me! Price is no object!" Whether for repairing his puppets or creating new ones, incorporating such high-purity metal would drastically enhance their performance. The temptation was irresistible.
Hearing this, Uchiha Naoki smiled and casually handed the metal to Sasori. "Lord Sasori, you are too kind. Please, take this as an apology for destroying your two puppets."
Sasori was taken aback. "This… is your apology?" Naoki had mentioned providing materials, but he never expected something as precious as this. Even he was shocked by the generosity. "You would just give away such a treasure?"
Uchiha Naoki simply nodded. "Why not?"
Seeing his sincerity, Sasori no longer held back, accepting the metal with a solemn nod. "I will not refuse any future request you might have." The last remnants of his frustration from being pushed so hard in their battle evaporated entirely.
Witnessing this, Konan couldn't help but marvel. "You give away a treasure like this without a second thought. Could it be that such things are beneath your notice?"
Uchiha Naoki smiled enigmatically. "What is a treasure, if not a tool? In the hands of a mediocrity like me, it's just a pretty rock. Only in the hands of a capable master like Lord Sasori can it realize its true value. Since that is the case, why let it go to waste?"
A look of smug satisfaction flashed in Sasori's eyes. Konan, however, studied Naoki with renewed intensity. "It's hard to imagine such eloquent and insightful words coming from you. Are you truly only thirteen years old?" she mused aloud. His actions—first praising Sasori, then using the Chakra Metal to earn his favor—were executed with a social grace that felt unnatural for a teenager. This, combined with his formidable power, made him seem all the more mysterious.
"Heh. Let's just call it a sudden change of heart," Naoki said, his playful smile suggesting he knew exactly what she was thinking.
Konan simply replied, "Perhaps."
Half a Day Later - Akatsuki Headquarters
The members of the Akatsuki were assembled, their shadowy forms projected via the Phantom Magic Lantern Body Technique.
"Welcome, Uchiha Naoki."
The voice of Pain's Deva Path boomed, his projection materializing directly before Naoki. Those cold, ringed eyes of the Rinnegan held a terrifying, oppressive weight. "It seems fitting. Sasori currently lacks a partner. You shall be paired with him. Do you accept?"
Uchiha Naoki nodded, feeling the immense pressure bearing down on him. "I accept."
Internally, he was in awe. So this is the power of the final boss of the original story's first part. It's on a completely different level. I feel like a small boat in a typhoon.
"Heh. Can a brat this young really handle such responsibility?" An old, deep voice rasped from another projection. It came from a body with a distinctive shark-like features and emerald green eyes. "This old man has his doubts."
Before Naoki could respond, Sasori, standing beside him, spoke up, his voice cold and sharp. "Kakuzu. Are you questioning my judgment? He is the one I have approved. If you have any objections, why don't we settle them directly?"