It's normal to get a kaleidoscope as a first deposit of six yuan, right?

The next morning, the sky above Amegakure was still shrouded in darkness. Because of the constant rain, no light fell on the earth. Nagato, the leader of Akatsuki, often said that this was a weeping city.

As the apparent leader acting in place of Nagato, Pain stood alone, drenched in the raindrops falling from the sky, glancing at the swirling vortex that had appeared beside him.

"You've already found a new member so quickly?" Pain asked Obito expressionlessly.

Obito nodded in response to Pain's question.

“She’s a new member. Although she’s not famous, she’s strong enough to be one of our members. And most importantly…” Obito paused for a moment, looking towards a corner in the distance. Clearly, this secret was very important, and he didn’t want anyone else to know.

Pain also looked in the direction Obito was looking. Konan was leaning against the wall in the corner, folding a few origami cranes in her hand.

“Konan is not an outsider. If you have any secrets, just tell me. In my sensory ninjutsu, there are no outsiders here.” Pain said to Obito with apparent certainty.

However, Obito shook his head regretfully.

What he cared about wasn't that, but rather that Konan, as a woman, might soften her heart if she spent too much time with this little girl, Zhixue. A crucial premise of the Eye of the Moon Plan was the nine tailed beasts, but the Nine-Tails, the most important of the nine tailed beasts, had already been transferred from Konoha to Zhixue. For the implementation of the plan, Zhixue was also an important pawn, a fact that couldn't be denied.

The Eye of the Moon Project has absolute authority and cannot afford any mistakes, so it's best if Konan doesn't know anything about it. As for information and news about Shizuru, it's best if only he and Nagato know...

Chapter 91, Amegakure (Hidden Rain Village)

After experiencing another attack by the Nine-Tails, Konoha gradually recovered, but Hiruzen Sarutobi, who held the position of Hokage, discovered a very important problem.

Where did Danzo go?!

This old guy was hit by a Tailed Beast Ball on the night of the Nine-Tails and then disappeared without a trace. However, the ninja who had gathered intelligence said that Danzo was not fatally injured. But where could he have gone?

"Lord Hokage, we have not been able to find Elder Danzo in Konoha or even in the area of ​​the previous battlefield. However, according to the descriptions of the Root members who survived, Elder Danzo seems to have been ambushed by a mysterious masked man."

"What?!" Upon hearing the report from the Anbu, Hiruzen Sarutobi's old face changed, followed by a wave of helpless sorrow.

Danzo and he had fought side by side on the battlefield of the ninja world for so many years. As disciples of the Second Hokage, they had experienced countless life-or-death situations together, but no one expected that they would die at this time. It was truly a cruel twist of fate.

"By the way, how is the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki?"

"Um... The seal on the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki seems to have remained unchanged after the sealing team's inspection. His previous disappearance seems to have been due to him going on a picnic in an area a dozen kilometers away from Konoha. We are not quite sure how the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki escaped Konoha's surveillance. In addition, the Jonin Might Guy who accompanied him also submitted a report."

The ANBU member took a piece of paper out of his pocket and handed it to Hiruzen Sarutobi. After seeing the messy, scribbled handwriting, a black line appeared on Hiruzen Sarutobi's forehead.

Could you please write your handwriting neater? It's making translation very difficult.

Hiruzen Sarutobi took out his glasses from the drawer and put them on. He looked down somewhat awkwardly, and after ignoring a lot of nonsense like "tight-fitting training class" and "youthful trend of physical techniques," Hiruzen Sarutobi finally found a useful word.

Uchiha Shiyuki also participated in this outing, but suddenly disappeared when she was about to return to Konoha.

After reading the report, Hiruzen Sarutobi placed the paper on the table and took a couple of puffs from his pipe.

It's Uchiha Shisui again. She's been incredibly mysterious these past few months, her presence is everywhere, and she probably has many secrets that no one knows. But he can't investigate any further, since Shisui is now a hero of Konoha. He can only use her disappearance as an excuse to secretly search for some clues.

This state of being unaware of the truth and confused is really worrying. However, there is some good news as well. For example, the Uchiha clan seems to have become much more stable, and the friction with the village has greatly decreased. With Shisui around, returning to normal shouldn't be too difficult.

……

After experiencing a disaster, the atmosphere of the Uchiha clan seems quite different from usual. The grim atmosphere of the past has disappeared. Several Konoha ninjas and Uchiha ninjas are working in the clan's territory to repair the long trenches caused by the Tailed Beast Ball. Occasionally, their laughter can be heard.

With his hands behind his back, Fugaku Uchiha stood with Shisui around the plaza within the Uchiha clan compound. Looking at the clan's recovery, he smiled.

"It seems that Konoha has stopped its suppression tactics. The Uchiha clan has been saved, and you have become a well-known hero. But why are you still so gloomy? Is it because of the loss of your Mangekyou Sharingan?"

When asked by the clan leader, Shisui shook his head, and Fugaku realized what was happening and patted Shisui on the shoulder.

"Shisui is just missing, she'll be alright," Fugaku comforted Shisui, completely unaware of the situation, but Shisui still couldn't cheer up.

Even with the most glorious honors, he felt an emptiness in his heart after Zhi Xue left his side. Moreover, the so-called hero title he carried was nothing more than a byproduct of Zhi Xue's passing.

……

Amegakure is a complex of buildings filled with pipes and steel structures, with towering buildings exceeding 30 meters in height being commonplace. Cool raindrops fall from the sky, landing on the straw hat worn by Shiki.

Pain, who was atop the tallest tower in Amegakure, opened his eyes and looked at the vortex that had appeared beside him.

"Is this the new person you found?"

"Hmm, what do you think? Although she looks a bit young, her strength is truly formidable. And don't forget, the Nine-Tailed Fox, which symbolizes calamity, is also on her."

Pain nodded, then flashed to summon Sasori, who was still making puppets, and Orochimaru, who was hiding in a cave, to welcome Shiki's arrival. Obito also used Kamui to teleport to Shiki's side and guided her to the place where the organization held a welcome party.

After bypassing the peaceful residential area, Zhixue saw a tin tower in the distance with a barrier in place. It was covered with pipes of various sizes, and raindrops slid down from the building and flowed into the ground through the dug pipes and trenches.

"Oh, is there a newcomer? It seems quite interesting, hehehe..." A half-white, half-black pitcher plant-shaped, unidentified humanoid life form crawled out from the ground and said with a laugh.

Orochimaru's eyes seemed to flash with interest as he watched Zetsu appear.

This guy's body seems a bit strange, unlike that of an ordinary human. If he weren't so rarely seen, he would definitely tie up this "hermaphrodite" and study him carefully.

“A new member has joined. Remember not to scare her, especially you two.” Pain’s merciless eyes turned towards Sasori and Orochimaru.

Previously, the Akatsuki organization originally had two members, but one was turned into a puppet and the other into an experimental specimen because one was too noisy and the other had some special abilities. The previous two were fine, but this time it is the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki who has come. We have to keep a close eye on him. Although he is here, it is still very difficult for him to be disturbed by the rampaging Nine-Tails.

“As long as she keeps quiet and doesn’t cause trouble, let him do whatever he wants,” Sasori said, repairing the intricate puppet parts in his hands. Orochimaru simply smiled and remained silent.

After giving instructions to the two men, Payne looked towards the stone path in the distance. A figure wearing a straw hat and a black robe appeared there. He looked very short, not even as tall as the puppet that Sasori had made—the crow.

After entering the barrier, Zhi Xue used her Sharingan to observe several early Akatsuki members waiting for her in the distance.

As Zhixue lifted her straw hat and exchanged a glance with Pain's Rinnegan from afar, she also felt a pang of fear in her heart.

Is that the Rinnegan?

Chapter 92, Orochimaru's Obsession with the Sharingan

"You're the new member?" In Amegakure, Pain asked in surprise, looking at the little girl who was just up to his shoulder.

Zhi Xue nodded, then took off her straw hat, revealing her youthful face and the three tomoe in her eyes that shone with an eerie light.

Upon seeing Zhixue's appearance, Orochimaru, who had been standing behind her without any reaction, suddenly had his pupils dilate.

Isn't this the little guy he bumped into with the Ibuki clan before? He was seriously injured back then, and the pressure from the Kage level scared him quite a bit, but he's not so scared now. Besides, he happens to be lacking a body from the Uchiha clan as experimental material, so he can observe him.

After Zhixue arrived, there wasn't much complicated process. She was simply given a black robe with red clouds from the Akatsuki organization and a map of Amegakure, which marked several places she couldn't go. She was also given a ring that represented Suzaku.

Looking at the ring that Payne was offering her, Zhixue shook her head, then reached out and flicked the virtual ring on her middle finger.

"How come this is exactly the same as our ring?" Payne stared blankly at Zhixue's ring, then a strange feeling made Nagato puzzled.

Zhi Xue clashed her virtual ring against the ring Pain had offered, and a special chakra connection formed between her and Pain, who acted as a mid-level processor. However, compared to Pain's one-way dialogue and meeting functions with other Akatsuki members, this seemed to be bidirectional. (The dialogue refers to the Illusion Body Technique, which Pain usually initiates with other members, but Zhi Xue could also initiate the Illusion Body Technique with Pain independently.)

"This should work too, right?" Zhixue said, pointing to the ring on her hand.

“Okay.” Payne nodded. He wouldn’t need Suzaku of Dawn anymore, but what should Xue Zhi’s codename be? There was a character for “illusion” on the ring. Could it be called “Illusory Woman of Dawn” or “Illusory Face of Dawn”? That seemed a bit impolite.

Pain temporarily set aside this issue and introduced the remaining Akatsuki members to Zhixue: Orochimaru (Kūchen of Akatsuki), Zetsu (Genbu of Akatsuki), Sasori (Tamamo of Akatsuki), and Konan (Byakko of Akatsuki), who was still on his way.

"Now that everyone has introduced themselves, let me introduce myself as well. You can call me Xue or Luo, but that's just a code name. My real name isn't very well-known, so I won't reveal it. My special skills are Water Release, Fire Release, and swordsmanship," Zhi Xue said, introducing herself in a very tactful way.

Sasori listened to Shiki's introduction without any reaction. As long as it didn't bother him and wasn't a white-haired ninja from Konoha, he was fine. Orochimaru, on the other hand, seemed quite eager, making Pain wonder if Orochimaru was very familiar with this new member, since they were from the same village and introduced by the same person. Or perhaps Konoha ninjas are just attracted to each other?

"Leader, doesn't the Akatsuki usually operate in pairs? Why don't you let me and Xue be in the same team? After all, we're from the same hometown in a way." Orochimaru suppressed the desire in his eyes and looked at Xue's delicate body gently as he spoke.

Pain looked in Sasori's direction. After all, Sasori and Orochimaru were still on the same team. Whether or not to make this change would depend on his opinion.

“I think it’s a good idea. I don’t really get along with this guy who likes to play with snakes,” Sasori said in agreement. After all, although he and Orochimaru both pursued eternity, one was focused on mechanical technology and the other on biotechnology. Their philosophies clashed, so naturally they didn’t like each other.

"What do you think?" Payne asked, finally turning to look at Zhixue.

"Well, I'm fine with anything. If Mr. Orochimaru really wants to be on our team, he certainly won't refuse." Zhi Xue smiled, seemingly unconcerned.

Since Snake himself offered to be beaten up, she naturally wouldn't refuse such a kind offer.

Hearing that both sides had agreed, Orochimaru was overjoyed. The test subject had come to him of his own accord, so how could he refuse? Moreover, having awakened the three-tomoe Sharingan at such a young age, he would undoubtedly be excellent material for future reincarnations.

After Orochimaru and Shiyuki formed a team, a string of white paper floated over from a distance and gradually formed a human figure beside Pain. With a cool and beautiful face, white paper flowers on her head, light blue long hair, and a slender figure, isn't this the richest woman in the Akatsuki organization?

Zhi Xue's eyes lit up when she saw Xiao Nan.

Perhaps it was because she saw that the new member was a little girl that Konan frowned.

Are they now recruiting even such young children?

"Hello, my name is Xue. Please take care of me from now on," Zhi Xue said, extending her hand to Xiao Nan.

Xiao Nan hesitated for two seconds, then reached out and took Zhi Xue's warm little hand in hers.

"Hello, my name is Xiao Nan, you can also call me Sister Xiao Nan. If you encounter any trouble here, you can come to me." Xiao Nan smiled gently and patted Zhi Xue's head as she spoke.

Although recruiting a little girl as a member seems absurd, Nagato must have had his reasons for doing so, right?

Seeing Xiao Nan's appearance, Zhi Xue seemed to see a bright future. If she learned Xiao Nan's Paper Release technique, even if she couldn't make and sell explosive tags herself, she could probably make a lot of money from them at a low cost, right?

After introducing the new members, the rest of the members went off to do their own things. The organization was still in the recruitment phase. Although they would occasionally take on some missions and earn some rewards, they were generally quite free and idle. Nagato hoped that the Akatsuki members could develop the same kind of genuine feelings as the First Akatsuki during this time.

After the introduction session ended, the members dispersed one after another, leaving only Orochimaru, Konan, and Shiki in the empty space.

As one of only two girls, Zhixue was taken to her lodgings by Xiaonan. Orochimaru watched Zhixue's departing figure and excitedly licked his lips.

The fun has begun.

"I advise you not to make a move on her now, or you'll be in big trouble," Obito suddenly appeared behind Orochimaru and said coldly.

"What, do you think I would be interested in a little girl? Don't worry, I'm very kind to children. I won't do anything to her, hehehehe..." Orochimaru's hoarse voice seemed to be full of sincerity, but Obito didn't quite believe in the snake's nature.

Sometimes being too curious isn't a good thing, and that's all he could say to Orochimaru. Whether he does something reckless or not is up to him.

Obito remained silent in the face of Orochimaru's perfunctory response, then turned and disappeared into the vortex.

After Obito left, Orochimaru's smile also disappeared.

"The Mangekyou Sharingan, the Rinnegan... this organization really has a lot worth exploring. But before that, getting a perfect and promising body wouldn't be bad..."

Chapter 93, A Visit with Malicious Intent

"I should call you Xiaoxue, right? How did you get into this organization?" In a corridor of Amegakure, Konan asked Shiyu in a low voice.

Perhaps it was because of our family title, our approachable nature, and our incredibly deceptively cute appearance, but seeing that Zhixue looked quite young, Xiaonan asked with great concern.

Although the Akatsuki organization is still in the process of rebuilding, all those who enter it are dangerous rogue ninjas, and most of the missions they carry out are quite dangerous. It is too much of a stretch for a child like Zhixue to join at such a young age.

"Mr. Ban brought me here, but don't worry, I'm very strong and won't cause you any trouble." Zhi Xue smiled gently, holding Xiao Nan's hand. Her warm smile, like a little sun, made Xiao Nan pause in surprise.

What an adorable child! But was he introduced by that guy? What is his purpose...? Is it to increase his influence within the Akatsuki? Shouldn't he have chosen someone with both fame and strength...?

Konan remained wary of Uchiha Madara, who was hiding within the organization. This guy had strange abilities and knew many secrets, so bringing "Yuki" along must be for some special purpose.