"Leader Yahiko, we've got a big one!"
Itaten Kyosuke burst into the office of Akatsuki's headquarters, excitement lighting up his face as he waved a piece of paper in his hand.
"Calm down. Have a seat and take a sip of water first," said Yahiko, smiling as he took the report handed over by Nagato. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.
"An assassination mission?! The target is the head of Iwagakure's Anbu—Shu! The reward is 80 million ryo!"
Yahiko fell silent, deep in thought.
At this point, Akatsuki had been established for over a year. Much like its portrayal in the original manga, the early Akatsuki was a left-leaning pacifist militant group. Initially, it consisted only of Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan, who upheld the ninja ideals instilled in them by Jiraiya. They worked tirelessly to change their war-torn country with their abilities.
Although the Second Shinobi World War had ended, localized conflicts and skirmishes persisted, especially in a crossroads nation like the Land of Rain. The remnants of Sunagakure's sand bandits, defeated Kirigakure ninjas, and rogue shinobi from Iwagakure and Konohagakure often came to the Land of Rain to "reap benefits."
Why? Because they could. Ever since the "Demi-God" Hanzō of the Salamander was gone, the military strength of Amegakure had plummeted. The "Dawn Uprising" nine years ago further exposed its vulnerability, revealing Nōshin Kinkō's incompetence as the Rain's leader.
A civilian uprising had not only looted the Rain's administrative building but nearly captured the Rain leader himself. This marked Amegakure as an easy target, turning it into a haven for failed rebels and opportunists. Almost anyone could come and take what they wanted.
Nōshin Kinkō had tried to resist. Initially, he sought to leverage the Hourglass Group's private militia to "restore order." However, his unwillingness to spend money or make concessions left Yura, the group's leader, unimpressed. As Yura rose in rank and Yashamaru became the Hourglass Group's general manager in the Land of Rain, their so-called "revolutionary friendship" dissolved. The private militia focused solely on protecting their own territory and refused to intervene elsewhere.
Rebels feared the Hourglass Group's power and avoided provoking them, but they wreaked havoc elsewhere in the Land of Rain, leaving the civilians in misery.
It was during this chaos that Akatsuki emerged as a beacon of hope for the people of Amegakure. These three young ninjas used their exceptional skills to fight off external threats and protect the villagers. As they saved more people, their followers grew, and Akatsuki gradually expanded, attracting righteous warriors who shared their dream of peace.
Nōshin Kinkō's attitude toward Akatsuki was complicated. On one hand, he appreciated having a group to do the work he should have been doing. On the other hand, he was wary of them. The "Dawn Uprising" had nearly driven him to despair, and he couldn't shake the fear that Akatsuki might spark another rebellion. To counter this, he secretly reached out to Danzō Shimura of Konohagakure, hoping to secure a new ally. Danzō, always eager to recruit willing subordinates, welcomed this partnership with open arms.
At this point, Yahiko was no longer the idealistic youth depicted in the original manga. As a devoted follower of Myōwa Tarō, he harbored a deep hatred for any foreign forces threatening his homeland. He dreamed of driving out all invaders and reclaiming the land and wealth that rightfully belonged to the people of Amegakure. However, the fall of the "Dawn Uprising" and the death of Myōwa Tarō had taught him a harsh lesson.
Seeing Myōwa Tarō's body hanging in the square, Yahiko finally understood one thing: the true danger wasn't external—it was within. The Rain's greatest enemy wasn't some foreign power; it was their own leader, Nōshin Kinkō.
Without overthrowing such a servile and incompetent government, any dream of independence and prosperity for Amegakure would be nothing more than a fantasy.
But now was not the time to reveal such ambitions. Akatsuki was still too weak. They needed to bide their time, gather strength, and expand their influence before they could hope to bring about real change. Under Yahiko's leadership, Akatsuki focused on winning the hearts of the Rain's downtrodden people, steadily growing its ranks.
However, a new problem soon arose: money. As Akatsuki expanded, financial constraints became a major hurdle. People could fight for their ideals, but they couldn't do so on empty stomachs. Even the most righteous warriors needed food, water, clothing, and weapons. They couldn't survive on air alone.
The three of them—Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan—were at a loss. Jiraiya had taught them ninjutsu and ideals, but not how to manage finances. Left with no other choice, they resorted to the same method as ordinary ninjas: taking on missions to earn money. But it was barely enough to keep them afloat. Akatsuki was constantly on the brink of bankruptcy.
"An assassination? Isn't that a bit too much?" Konan murmured.
Such assassination missions were typically handled by underground organizations like bounty exchanges. They were considered "dirty work," and most ninjas avoided them—especially when the target was a high-ranking official from one of the Five Great Shinobi Nations.
"We can't afford to be picky. We'll take it," Yahiko said firmly.
"Yahiko!" Nagato raised his voice, clearly opposed to the idea. Such actions went against the very principles upon which Akatsuki was founded.
But Yahiko remained calm and resolute. "Nagato, I know what you're thinking. But consider this: 80 million ryo. Do you know how many stray animals we'd have to catch, how many bodyguard missions we'd have to complete, or how many shipments we'd have to escort to earn that much? You know our financial situation. We're barely scraping by. Without adequate funding, our dream will remain just that—a dream."
"Then how are we any different from the criminals we fight against?" Nagato retorted, his voice filled with emotion.
Yahiko met his gaze steadily. "Akatsuki exists at the crossroads of light and darkness. Without the darkness before dawn, how can there be eternal light? I'm willing to walk through the night to bring about that light."
Nagato fell silent. He understood Akatsuki's dire circumstances and Yahiko's struggles. Though he detested the idea of assassination, he had no better solution and reluctantly conceded.
"Then... let me go with you. Shu is a renowned jonin from Iwagakure, known for his mastery of Explosion Release. We'll have a better chance if we face him together."
Yahiko smiled and patted Nagato on the shoulder. "There's no need. I'll handle this dirty work alone. I have a plan to deal with Shu. One person is enough. You and Konan stay here and hold down the fort."
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