Pain issued his orders calmly.
"The teams have been assigned. Carry out your missions."
Itachi & Kisame
By the edge of a mirror-like lake, Uchiha Itachi stared into the still water.
Since leaving Konoha to serve as a spy, his life had no longer been his own.
A voice interrupted his thoughts.
"From today on, I'm your partner."
"Former member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist—Kisame Hoshigaki. Nice to meet you."
"Itachi Uchiha," Itachi replied coolly.
Kisame grinned.
"I've heard about you. They say your hands are stained with your own clan's blood."
"I think I understand you pretty well."
Itachi shot him a sidelong glance but remained silent.
"Taking a comrade's life… hard to describe, right?" Kisame continued.
"You talk too much," Itachi said flatly.
"You think you understand me. But do you understand yourself?"
"Wandering in the mist… ending up here."
"You're nothing more than a failure who couldn't even choose his own path."
Kisame's shark-like eyes widened.
Samehada slid into his hand.
"Some sharks are ovoviviparous," he said slowly.
"The pups hatch inside the mother."
"But not all survive."
"Why?"
He answered himself.
"They kill each other."
"From birth, it's survival of the fittest."
"We're partners now."
"So watch yourself."
Itachi's Sharingan spun—three tomoe shifting into a Mangekyō.
"Likewise."
Kisame laughed and sheathed his blade.
"Let's hope we don't end up killing each other."
"Those who harm their own kind rarely die well," Itachi said quietly.
"We're beyond saving anyway," Kisame replied.
Itachi shook his head.
"No. We're human—not fish."
"And only at the brink of death does one truly see oneself."
Thus, Suzaku and Nanju departed together to expand Akatsuki's influence.
Kakuzu & Hidan — The "Zombie Duo"
At the same time, Kakuzu and Hidan were paired.
Kisame jokingly called them the "Zombie Duo."
Kakuzu despised the arrangement.
"Of all people… they assign me an idiot."
Hidan shot back, "I didn't ask for you either!"
"Annoy me and I'll kill you," Kakuzu threatened.
"Try it," Hidan grinned.
Kakuzu paused.
"On second thought… your heart's worthless."
"Money's the only thing that interests me."
Hidan blinked.
"So that's why you love bounty boards?"
Kakuzu glared.
Three days out of five, he hunted for extra bounty money.
The other two days, Hidan prayed loudly to Jashin.
Unprofessional?
Maybe.
But Akatsuki needed funding.
With Kakuzu around, Pain and Konan didn't have to worry about finances.
Sasori & Deidara — The Art Duo
Meanwhile, the "Art Duo" rampaged through missions while tracking Orochimaru.
"Art is an explosion, hmm!"
Another luxurious estate vanished in a blast.
"I'll never understand your art," Sasori muttered.
"Art is fleeting beauty!" Deidara insisted.
"For me," Sasori replied coldly, "art is eternal."
Before they could argue further, Pain's voice echoed remotely.
"A new village has emerged in the Land of Rice Fields."
"Orochimaru may be involved."
"Investigate quietly."
"Quietly?" Deidara groaned.
"Your jutsu is too conspicuous," Sasori said flatly.
Meanwhile — Konoha
Akatsuki moved in the shadows.
Uchiha Akihito did not interfere.
The balance of the ninja world had stabilized—for now.
His priority:
Grow stronger before the next upheaval.
Uchiha District
Akihito gathered Fugaku Uchiha, Shisui Uchiha, and Kakashi Hatake.
"I'll step back from daily affairs," Akihito said calmly.
The three exchanged glances.
He was already unmatched in the ninja world.
And he still wanted to train?
Were they even allowed to live?
Despite their silent complaints, they were inspired.
If a genius worked this hard—
How could they slack off?
Akihito delegated his authority as Hokage's Assistant to Fugaku and Kakashi.
Shisui, now co-leading the ANBU with Tsunade, would monitor high-level movements.
With that safeguard in place, Akihito had no worries.
For the next few years, peace would hold.
The perfect window for cultivation.
Konoha's Political Climate
The village now stood in a three-way balance:
Old Guard: Hiruzen Sarutobi and the two elders.New Faction: Akihito, Fugaku, Hiashi Hyuga.Middle Ground: Tsunade and Shisui.
Shisui was Akihito's hidden piece.
Tsunade, increasingly disillusioned with Hiruzen, began leaning subtly toward Akihito.
Public opinion?
Firmly behind Akihito.
Villagers praised him constantly.
"If not for Lord Akihito, Konoha wouldn't enjoy this peace!"
Hiruzen could only sigh.
His earlier attempt to sideline Akihito had backfired spectacularly.
Now, Akihito's prestige overshadowed even the Hokage.
Three Years Later
Training grounds.
Shisui vs. Kurenai.
Kakashi vs. Might Guy.
"Leaf Strong Whirlwind!"
Guy kicked without making eye contact—having mastered fighting Sharingan users.
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"
Kakashi blocked.
"Eight Gates—Sixth Gate: Gate of View—Open!"
"Morning Peacock!"
Flames roared.
Kakashi activated his Mangekyō.
Elsewhere—
"Demonic Illusion: Binding Tree!"
Kurenai's genjutsu had nearly perfected.
Shisui countered with:
"Demonic Illusion: Mirror Heaven and Earth Change!"
Both were caught in backlash—
Blood trickled from their lips.
They broke free simultaneously.
Three-tomoe to three-tomoe—
Evenly matched.
They smiled in mutual respect.
Personal Matters
After training, Kurenai prepared a delicate meal and delivered it to Akihito.
Over three years, their relationship had quietly blossomed.
Not public—
But undeniable.
Akihito liked her elegance and grace.
However—
Tsunade.
And Terumi Mei of Kirigakure.
Tsunade no longer clashed openly with him—but they bickered constantly.
As for Mei—
Their rivalry dated back to the Third Great Ninja War.
Two bloodline limits had once pushed Akihito to the brink.
Forced to use unconventional methods, he had left an impression.
Since then—
Mei wrote letters frequently.
Insisting he marry her.
Akihito could only rub his temples.
The strongest man in the ninja world—
Apparently had more than battlefields to worry about.
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