Yumi didn't know what to make of the sudden turn of events. One moment, they were traveling free and untethered, heading toward some remote corner far from the major Ninja Villages, and the next, they were surrounded by humanoid creatures and being escorted to a minor village ravaged by war.
Amegakure was a dissonance of metal, progress, and stagnation. A heavily industrialized village, yet poor. A land rich in water, but miserable in everything else.
Inhabitants who endured eternal rain, a depressing climate, yet did so with a mix of calm, fear, and adoration.
It was a strange place. And for some reason, the young man who saved her from her horrible fate seemed fascinated by it. In fact, this whole situation seemed to fascinate him, like almost everything else in this world.
Dangerous Shinobi? He got excited. War, Ninja villages? He got excited. Being forced to join an unknown organization with dangerous people he didn't know? Shit, that fascinated him.
Added to the twisted mother/son relationship, Yumi started to question her new Master's sanity.
—Shit, that's got style— Yumi heard Takeshi mumble. The Uzumaki looked up, searching for whatever had fascinated him now. Her eyelids twitched at what she saw.
A strange building, with a sinister metal statue and plates sticking out from the top, its headdress intimidating, its eyes hypnotic. It was an ugly thing, but for some reason Takeshi loved it.
For an instant, she thought she saw a figure sitting on the tip of the structure's tongue, but after blinking, it was gone.
—Hm, Master Takeshi... Is that where we have to report in?— Yumi asked with a trembling smile, perhaps due to the cold, perhaps due to the bad feeling the statue gave her.
—That's right. Konan-Senpai told me to look for the coolest building in Ame to find the organization's base— the young man nodded, though Yumi suspected the words had been distorted.
The rain kept falling, dense and constant, drumming against the rooftops, the streets, and the umbrellas the group carried.
Karin was wrapped in a rather flashy bright yellow raincoat, and Takeshi even gave her boots of the same color that he pulled from who knows where, suggesting she jump in the mud puddles for some reason.
The girl was the only one, aside from Takeshi himself, who seemed to enjoy the journey, running around him and splashing in every puddle she found.
After a while, Takeshi joined her, and they went on like that all the way to the sinister tower, drawing the attention of everyone they encountered. That made the Uzumaki feel embarrassed.
She glanced sideways at the other adult in the group, whose usually serious expression now looked empty, lost, defeated.
Kimiko had not fully recovered after what happened in the Land of Birds. Guilt and disdain for her own weakness were gnawing at her.
But that wasn't what worried Yumi. What occupied her mind was what was going to happen to her and to Karin...
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—What is it?— Konan asked the Deva Path, noticing a slight and almost imperceptible twitch in his face.
—It's nothing. Yuki Takeshi is approaching the tower. Prepare his gear and send him to Kakuzu. He will be his new partner for now— Pain replied, deciding to keep what he had witnessed to himself.
There was no need to report on how Takeshi jumping in water puddles with a little girl had caught him off guard.
He waited patiently, never losing track of the young man and his group thanks to the rain.
Finally, Takeshi entered the building, but instead of going straight up, he wandered around the facility like a tourist, admiring the surroundings and bombarding the staff with questions about the mechanism used to take them to the top.
—Konan, bring him here immediately— Pain said after about ten minutes passed without Takeshi leaving the ground floor.
After a few more minutes, a small commotion filled the gloomy and austere room.
—B-but Konan-Senpai! Is it wrong to want to know who developed that elevator!? I'm a country boy, I've never seen anything like that in my life!— whined a masculine but young voice.
—Shut your mouth!— hissed Konan with a tone slightly higher than she probably intended.
—T-T-Takeshi, why are you letting another woman manhandle you like that!?— questioned a female voice, more mature than the young man's.
—Big Sister, do you want to marry Big Brother Takeshi too?— asked a little girl innocently.
Pain's eyes lost their luster while on the other end of the connection Nagato rubbed his temples, wondering why the hell Konan invited a group that obviously didn't know how to read the room.
This was the fucking Akatsuki base; a little solemnity and seriousness would be nice.
Finally, the group entered the room, with Konan trying to suppress a sudden fit of coughing, a black-haired woman pouting, a small, red-headed whirlwind wrapped in a bright yellow slicker looking in all directions with curiosity, followed closely by a brat of about 14 years old doing the same, and a red-headed woman lowering her head in resignation.
None of them paid attention to the God of Amegakure for several quite uncomfortable seconds.
—Yuki Takeshi, Akatsuki welcomes you— Pain said after a moment, his tone grave and deep, loaded with implications as mysterious as they were dangerous. His eyes flashed with power, emanating a slightly oppressive aura.
—Oji-San, do you have the Evil Eye?— asked the Uzumaki girl in a worried tone, but everyone decided to ignore her for the sake of the atmosphere. The mother scolded her under her breath and covered her mouth.
—You certainly have the coolest building in the Ninja World here— Takeshi began with a solemn nod despite the frivolity of his words. —First of all, Leader, I made a deal with the Onee-San over there, but I want to confirm that the agreement will be respected... And I can only do that with you in person.
His words caused Konan to tense up while Pain released a little more of his presence, making the women accompanying Takeshi begin to sweat.
However, Takeshi seemed to ignore the increasing tension and casually pulled out a scroll, walking toward the nearby table while unrolling it.
—I am a man of my word, Akatsuki Leader. If you help me, I will help you. If you take in my beloved Uzumaki ladies and my dear Mother, I will fight for your cause wholeheartedly. But I also want your word that nothing bad will happen to them while they are under your care— the young man continued, spreading the scroll on the table and pulling out a quill.
—You will protect them from the other members, from the enemy villages, from the spies. In exchange, I will protect your back. Even if the entire Ninja World comes crashing down on you, I will be there— he concluded with a serious expression, signing his part of the agreement that he had established with Konan.
He turned toward Pain, who was looking at him without saying a word, and extended the quill, inviting him to sign as well.
—Can I believe your word, Akatsuki Leader?— he asked.