Konoha cat breeder

Chapter 200: Akatsuki

No matter where one was, taverns were always the best places for gathering information.

Upon entering, Tonari chose a solitary table in the darkest corner, quietly blending into the crowd.

Despite the outward atmosphere of Amegakure—where strangers crossed paths without acknowledgment—the tavern bustled with life. Unlike the cold, silent streets, the establishment was filled with the sound of clinking glasses and boisterous chatter.

The Land of Rain, plagued by endless rainfall, suffered from perpetual humidity. In colder seasons, this dampness transformed into an unbearable chill, making alcohol a necessity for warmth.

As a result, most residents had developed a fondness for drinking, turning the city's taverns into lively hubs of activity.

Tonari, clad in his raincoat, fit seamlessly into the scene. Many others similarly huddled alone, nursing a drink to ward off the cold. His presence drew no particular attention.

"Did you hear? Konoha and the Sand clashed again a few days ago. I wonder how many died this time."

A burly man's booming voice cut through the noise, standing out amid the chaos.

Alcohol had loosened his tongue, and like many, he had grown bolder as his cup emptied.

A fellow drinker responded without hesitation, "Who cares how many die? The more, the better for us!"

"You two idiots! Stop talking about this kind of thing in public! What if a ninja overhears and decides to kill you both on the spot?"

The tavern owner, wary of hosting such reckless discussions, quickly intervened.

He wanted no trouble. Whatever people said in the privacy of their homes was their own business, but in his establishment, dangerous topics were off-limits.

The burly man clicked his tongue in annoyance, clearly displeased with the owner's caution. However, despite his outward defiance, he took the warning to heart and begrudgingly shifted the conversation.

"I heard there's a new group forming outside. Some so-called 'peace' movement."

The abrupt change in topic elicited laughter, easing the tension.

"A new group? Oh yeah, I've heard of them," another drinker chimed in. "They've been active in another part of Amegakure. Supposedly led by three young ninjas, and they're actually pretty strong. People say they're preaching about 'peace' and attracting followers."

"I also heard they hand out food to the starving. Even Hanzo has taken notice."

Tonari, having filtered through the noise for useful information, perked up at this revelation.

Tipping back his cup, he downed his drink and casually asked, "What's this group called?"

No one cared who asked, as long as the conversation flowed.

"I think it's called… 'Morning'? No, wait—'Akatsuki'? Something to do with dawn."

Tonari's fingers stiffened for a fraction of a second before he set his cup down.

Pulling the hood of his raincoat lower, he rose from his seat and quietly exited the tavern, vanishing into the rainy night.

For now, his original plan could wait.

If there was anyone in the shinobi world more concerned about Akatsuki's formation, it was undoubtedly him.

The newly formed group was still in its infancy. But what drew Tonari's attention most was the existence of its key figure—Nagato, the man once believed by Jiraiya to be the prophesied child.

And more importantly, the bearer of the Rinnegan.

A burning curiosity stirred within Tonari's heart.

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In truth, Tonari had long instructed Kakuzu to monitor Amegakure's various factions, particularly the emergence of Akatsuki.

Yet, the last report from Kakuzu had stated that either Akatsuki had not yet formed or was too insignificant to warrant attention.

Tonari's intelligence network was weak in Amegakure. In a war-torn land where people struggled to survive, few had the luxury of keeping pets, limiting the reach of his spy network.

Still, by sheer coincidence, he had now stumbled upon information about Akatsuki's presence.

Exiting the village, Tonari found a secluded cave and reemerged in the same raincoat.

Yet, upon closer inspection, one would notice something—his figure was slightly shorter than before.

Not that anyone was around to notice.

For the one who had just emerged was not Tonari himself, but a puppet.

It was none other than the Third Kazekage Puppet.

After integrating his Shadow Clone into it, the puppet could now operate independently to a certain extent.

A few days ago, he had used it in combat against Shukaku, but his unfamiliarity with it had prevented him from utilizing its full potential.

Now, after further adjustments, he had refined his control.

More importantly, a puppet was a perfect means to approach Akatsuki without drawing the attention of Uchiha Madara's spies—whether it be Black Zetsu or the lurking White Zetsu.

With the information from the tavern, Tonari made his way toward the other side of Amegakure.

The ongoing war had divided the Land of Rain into two regions.

To the north, the Rain Village had become a battleground between Konoha and the Sand. To the south, bordering the Land of Earth, no such conflict existed.

Thus, many refugees had fled south in search of safety.

Among them, Akatsuki had found its purpose—offering aid to the displaced and promoting their vision of peace.

Following the trail of impoverished wanderers, it wasn't difficult for Tonari to locate Akatsuki's gathering.

In a clearing, a small group of young shinobi—no more than four or five—were distributing food to the starving.

Despite their fatigue, they smiled warmly at those they helped, their satisfaction evident.

Among them, one figure stood out—a young man with crimson hair that partially veiled one eye.

Yet the visible eye was not normal.

Instead of a white sclera and dark pupil, it was filled with concentric rings.

The Rinnegan.

A surge of greed flashed through Tonari's eyes.

The Rinnegan!

Even before the late-stage godlike monsters appeared, the Rinnegan had stood as an overwhelming power.

In the future, if he possessed those eyes, he was confident he could survive against even the likes of Uchiha Madara or Kaguya Ōtsutsuki.

Though Nagato was of Uzumaki lineage, granting him enough life force to sustain the Rinnegan, he was still not the true owner of the eyes.

Thus, he could never unleash their full potential.

To wield the Rinnegan at its peak…

Tonari's fingers itched at the thought.

If Jiraiya hadn't found Nagato first, but rather Orochimaru or even a partially recovered Uchiha Madara, things would have played out very differently.

As if sensing Tonari's intense gaze, Nagato looked up in his direction.

By then, however, Tonari had already composed himself, offering a harmless smile.

From the stance of the figures distributing food, it was clear who the leader was—the young man with short, spiky orange hair and a determined expression.

Yahiko.

Tonari recognized him instantly.

And beside him, a blue-haired girl with a paper flower in her hair—the future wealthiest woman in the shinobi world.

Konan.

Seeing them in the flesh, rather than as characters from an old story, left a surreal feeling in Tonari's heart.

Yahiko, upon noticing Nagato's glance, turned toward Tonari and smiled warmly.

At this stage, Akatsuki's vision of peace was still idealistic and pure.

This sincerity had already attracted followers, and if a powerful shinobi like Tonari wished to join them, they would welcome him with open arms.

"Hello," Yahiko greeted, offering a handshake. "I'm Yahiko, leader of Akatsuki. This is Nagato, and she's Konan."

Tonari smiled and shook his hand.

Though his grip was ice-cold, Yahiko paid it little mind.

"My name is Conan, a wandering ninja," Tonari introduced himself. "I heard about your group in a tavern and wanted to see it for myself."

Excitement flickered across Yahiko's face.

Strong wandering ninjas were rare, but ones who shared their ideals?

Even rarer.

"Conan-san, do you have time?" Yahiko asked eagerly. "Would you like to visit our base?"

Tonari smiled.

"It would be an honor."

(End of Chapter)

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