Chapter 8: Heading to the Land of Fire, Secret Maneuvers!
When Pain's Deva Path handed the mission scroll to Konan, his gaze subtly flicked toward Oborotsuki standing a short distance away.
Oborotsuki caught the brief glance and felt a stir inside, but kept his expression neutral.
"Konan-senpai, where are we headed next?"
He strolled over with an easy smile.
"The target is in the Land of Fire—a bounty worth five million ryō on the black market."
Konan unfurled the scroll and explained casually.
"The Land of Fire, huh?"
Oborotsuki's pulse quickened.
That glance from Deva Path had been meaningful…
Considering the private talk Konan and Deva Path had before the meeting—likely with Uchiha Obito in his "Madara" persona—things started clicking.
Many of Akatsuki's moves were just Deva Path following Obito's orders from the shadows.
So this "bounty hunt" in the Land of Fire was probably a cover.
The real mission: laying groundwork for the Nine-Tails attack.
Konan wasn't telling him the full truth—was she protecting him, or suspicious?
Doesn't matter.
Konoha is exactly where I want to be.
A cold smirk formed in his mind.
The mission area gave him perfect cover to set up his own plans…
Plus one huge bonus: more alone time with Konan to deepen their bond.
He hadn't forgotten the Pregnancy Card sitting in his inventory.
Lock eyes with the target—boom, instant conception.
Just needed the right moment…
"We're on a tight schedule. Everyone prep now—we leave immediately."
Deva Path's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
…
The Land of Fire was vast and open—nothing like the constant rain of Amegakure.
Warm breeze, bright sunshine. Even Konan's mood lightened.
She and Oborotsuki chatted and laughed along the way.
"You look so pretty when you smile, Konan-senpai. You should do it more often."
"Always keeping that serious face will give you wrinkles."
Oborotsuki carried his massive blade over his shoulder like a stick, eyes drifting casually to her.
Konan immediately schooled her features into sternness.
"Don't joke around like that in front of the Leader."
"He'll think you're slacking…"
After Oborotsuki's display of power in the Land of Wind—and saving her from Sasori—she'd grown genuinely fond of him.
Her warning stirred something in him.
He glanced at the Pregnancy Card in his inventory.
Use it now?
Nah. Wait for the perfect chance.
Snapping back, he changed the subject.
"The Land of Fire is huge. Think we'll run into Konoha ninjas?"
He quietly watched her.
All along the route, she'd been discreetly noting landmarks.
Konan didn't answer—her attention fixed ahead where a figure approached on the road.
Oborotsuki spotted him too.
"This guy looks familiar…"
He muttered.
"That's him."
Konan checked the scroll, eyes turning icy. Killing intent rolled off her.
The burly, bearded man walking toward them sensed it immediately and stopped about thirty meters away.
He looked up, saw two young ninjas, and sneered dismissively.
"Every day, another batch comes for my head."
"But you kids aren't qualified."
"Konan-senpai, leave this one to me."
Oborotsuki lowered his Decapitation Greatsword from his shoulder.
Thud.
The near-hundred-pound blade hit the ground, kicking up dust.
The bounty's eyes sharpened.
"I'm in a good mood today. Scram while you can—you might live."
"This old guy sure talks a lot…"
Oborotsuki hefted the blade again and started walking forward.
"Looking to die? Fine—I'll oblige!"
Realizing words wouldn't scare them off, the man attacked first.
He stomped the ground hard, launching his massive frame like a cannonball straight at Oborotsuki.
Mid-air, one huge fist rocketed toward Oborotsuki's face.
With his other hand, he effortlessly drew an oversized shuriken from his back and hurled it to cut off any retreat.
Left and right attacks in perfect sync—fluid, seamless, sealing escape routes.
It looked like Oborotsuki was cornered.
"Careful!"
Konan shouted.
The next instant, Oborotsuki vanished into thick mist.
"Mist Concealment Technique…"
Konan stared in surprise as heavy fog suddenly blanketed the forest, blocking all sight.
Clangs of metal echoed from within.
Followed by a series of muffled grunts.
After a while, the mist cleared.
Oborotsuki strolled back, blade dripping blood.
"This guy wasn't much…"
"Five million ryō for him? Feels like easy money, Konan-senpai."
He rejoined her casually.
"He was a special jōnin when he defected from Kusagakure."
"Years on the run made him full jōnin level. Five million is actually low for him."
As she spoke, Konan activated her Paper Dance—sheets wrapping the corpse and lifting it into the air.
"Mission complete. Time to head back?"
Oborotsuki probed lightly.
"Not that simple."
She shook her head and kept walking. "Several more targets to handle."
That confirmed it for him: they weren't in the Land of Fire just for bounties.
But he didn't call her out—just followed silently.
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