"Konan, Uehara is all grown up now."
After persuading Konan on the other side, Nagato said, "Don't worry, Uehara, you can do whatever you want. The Six Paths Pain will be your backing. If you encounter danger, immediately summon the Six Paths Pain. I will prepare sufficient chakra within the Deva Path."
"Nagato, don't spoil him too much."
After Konan coldly reprimanded Nagato, her voice suddenly turned a bit chilly: "I heard that Konoha's Hatake Kakashi gave you a few books?"
Uehara Naraku: "..."
Why is that guy Haku such a big mouth?
Is this something that should be reported to Konan?
"Be mindful of the three ninja prohibitions."
Konan warned coldly and continued, "Be careful about making friends in the future. As for that Hatake Kakashi who tried to corrupt you, when we go to Konoha to capture the Nine/Tails, I won't spare him."
Uehara Naraku: "..."
What else could he say?
Of course, just let Hatake Kakashi fend for himself!
"Okay, I've got it."
After nodding seriously, Uehara Naraku softly promised, "I've found a kid suited to become an intern. In a few days, I'll bring him back after I find him."
"Watch your safety."
After Nagato warned him, he suddenly said in a low voice, "Uehara, thank you for helping me find my clan members."
After saying that, Nagato severed the chakra connection.
In the tower within the Hidden Rain Village, Konan frowned, her face cold as ice, looking somewhat dissatisfied with Nagato: "I have a lot more to admonish him..."
Nagato shook his head and softly advised, "Uehara is at an age where too much advice might cause a rebellious mindset."
Seeing Konan's doubtful glance, Nagato continued to explain, "Actually, Uehara's willingness to actively do things is a form of training for him. At least we won't have to worry about the future of the Hidden Rain Village and Akatsuki."
Konan pondered for a moment, then suddenly looked up, "Once Naraku returns, let's appoint him as the leader of the Hidden Rain Village to govern the entire Hidden Rain Village and Land of Rain, preventing him from always leaving our side."
"..."
Nagato didn't want to communicate with Konan anymore.
Konan always wanted to tie Uehara Naraku to herself as if he were a child, constantly worried about any problem he might encounter. However, without experiencing hardships, how would a man know life's struggles, or that home is the warmest harbor?
Of course, Nagato wouldn't actually let Uehara Naraku fall into danger.
After Konan left, Nagato immediately instructed the Deva Path of Pain using the Illusionary Body Jutsu to order Hoshigaki Kisame and Uchiha Itachi to assist Uehara Naraku in recruiting a new member, while actually protecting Uehara's safety.
This was simply ridiculous.
Unfortunately, this order couldn't be refused.
After a few days.
Uehara Naraku saw Hoshigaki Kisame and Uchiha Itachi arriving beside him, and the three of them sat in this small cave, staring at each other.
Uchiha Itachi began with an attempt to gather intel, "Is the new member we're recruiting a Konoha ninja? Is it that Konoha traitor code-named Orphan?"
The past few days, that Konoha traitor named Orphan caused quite a stir, even Uchiha Itachi and Hoshigaki Kisame heard about him, and many people in the ninja world were paying attention to this.
"No."
Uehara Naraku shook his head, softly explaining, "But it's almost the same. This time, the ninja we're recruiting is also an orphan whose parents died when he was a child..."
Besides, with those big, earnest eyes, you are the very culprit who made him an orphan!
Uchiha Itachi nodded, starting to calculate who exactly was being recruited since Akatsuki always prioritized strength, and there weren't many in Konoha who met the criteria.
"Could it be Mr. Guy? Or Mr. Kakashi?"
Konoha had quite a few orphans, and Uchiha Itachi came up with these two at once since only these two had strength that met Akatsuki's standards.
This is not looking good.
If it were Might Guy, that'd be fine, but if Hatake Kakashi betrayed Konoha, it would be devastating for Konoha.
Unfortunately, Uehara Naraku kept insisting on secrecy, refusing to reveal this information, which left Uchiha Itachi feeling uneasy.
"Don't worry."
Uehara Naraku chuckled, "Mr. Itachi, if you have any conflicts with the new member, I'll help you."
"Thank you."
Uchiha Itachi started pondering again.
If this traitor poses enough threat to Konoha, he'll just use the 'conflict' excuse to kill him!
Uehara Naraku discreetly activated his Destiny Skills, curling his lip slightly, "Alright, let's head to the Valley of the End! That's where our new member awaits!"
Valley of the End.
Everything unfolded as expected.
When Uehara Naraku arrived at the Valley of the End with Uchiha Itachi and Hoshigaki Kisame, the canyon remained peaceful, the enormous statues of Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama standing solemnly within, regal in appearance.
As soon as they arrived here, Uehara Naraku earned five hundred gold coins. Indeed, starting in the Land of Fire or Konoha was the right way to go!
"What's the point of coming to the Valley of the End?"
"Because this is where old friends turned against each other!"
Uehara Naraku pointed to a figure rushing over in the distance, with someone chasing him from behind, and chuckled, "See that? That's our new member."
Up ahead, the person fleeing was Uchiha Sasuke.
The one chasing behind was Uzumaki Naruto.
History was forcibly steered onto a predetermined track. Tsunade, that woman, just returned to Konoha to assume the position of Fifth Hokage not long ago when the Sound Four appeared in the dead of night to take Uchiha Sasuke, causing a group of Konoha Genin to give chase.
The Sound Four, covering Sasuke's escape, were fiercely battling Konoha's Genin, as Uzumaki Naruto chased down Sasuke under his friends' cover.
Inside the Valley of the End, a drama of fallen comrades was unfolding.
Uchiha Itachi watched the battle between the two boys below the Valley of the End, his face suddenly becoming unsightly. Whether it was his brother Uchiha Sasuke or the Nine-tailed Jinchuriki of Konoha, it would be bad news for either to be captured by Akatsuki!
"How about it?"
Uehara Naraku, overlooking the battle on the lake between Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke, chuckled, "Mr. Itachi, why don't you pick one! Should we take away your brother, or should we take Konoha's Nine-tailed Jinchuriki?"
Hoshigaki Kisame grinned, offering a different opinion, "Oh? Little intern, does the leader have any special orders? Can't we take both kids?"
"Of course, we can."
Uehara Naraku laughed happily, "That way, your team's mission to capture the Nine-tailed Jinchuriki would also be complete!"
Uehara Naraku and Hoshigaki Kisame back and forth, disturbing Uchiha Itachi's peace of mind. He felt he was facing the greatest test since joining Akatsuki.
Uchiha Itachi gritted his teeth, his eyes suddenly turning crimson, and he said in a deep voice, "Uchiha Sasuke is too weak, and he harbors immense hatred towards me..."
"Then let's kill him."
Uehara Naraku glanced at Uchiha Itachi with a sinister smile and continued softly, "Kisame-senpai, kill Sasuke, and capture Konoha's Nine-tailed Jinchuriki… There shouldn't be any problem with this for you, right?"
"I'm happy to do it."
Hoshigaki Kisame lifted his Shark Skin Greatsword, laughing freely, realistically saying, "This kid was disrespectful to Mr. Itachi earlier, let me use his head to vent some anger for Mr. Itachi!"
Uchiha Itachi: "..."
Damn, do I need this shark face interfering?
Are Uehara Naraku and Hoshigaki Kisame trying to force me to death right here?