Year 47, entering autumn. The world was undergoing drastic changes. The villages were already exhausted from fighting, while 'Akatsuki' was developing secretly.
Since the overall organizational structure was established, Otonashi no longer inquired about the details. Anyway, the 'Akatsuki' of this time period couldn't achieve anything major, merely guarding villages and escorting merchant caravans.
The former was free, while the latter charged fees, serving as a major source of funds for the organization.
Speaking of which, during this period, Konan developed a new business: acting as bounty hunters to capture rogue ninjas on the wanted list. Most of these people were villains, many having committed war crimes, but they hadn't touched the fundamental interests of the various villages, so the village ANBU units had no time to deal with them.
Upholding justice, and the bounties ranging from 100,000 to tens of millions were frighteningly lucrative. Thus, Otonashi specifically established a department responsible for this matter, with Nagato as the leader.
This teenager seemed to have a natural hatred for those ninjas who acted recklessly, which made Otonashi guess some aspects of his background.
'Perhaps his family was killed by ninjas.' Otonashi had basically participated fully in one Great Ninja War and understood the unwritten rules of conflict all too well.
Without specific orders from the village, one couldn't arbitrarily kill civilians. But collateral damage was unavoidable in war, and if ninjas didn't want to face a military tribunal, the best way was to silence witnesses.
Most rogue ninjas originated this way.
The ANBU's targets were mostly deserters and double agents. They had no time for these kinds of ninjas. Posting a bounty naturally had bounty hunters handle it.
"Finally finished." Otonashi tossed the documents in his hand aside and stretched languidly.
The inch-thick paper was filled with text, containing evaluations and rewards for organization members. No matter how noble the ideals, people still needed to eat. Just drawing pies (making empty promises) couldn't sustain them for long.
He finally understood how difficult being Hokage was. Managing just dozens of people was exhausting. An entire Konoha with tens of thousands, military affairs, civil administration, political struggles—all these matters piling up probably required working from morning till midnight.
Taking a sip of water, just as he pulled out his sketchbook to cultivate his sentiments, the room door was gently pushed open.
"Pain, here is last month's income and expenditure report." Konan walked in holding a stack of documents, just in time to see Otonashi closing something and sitting up straight.
"Oh, let me see." Otonashi coughed lightly, opened the ledger, and reviewed it carefully. Pausing, he looked at Konan who was sneaking glances beside him, "Remember to knock next time."
"Okay." The girl replied absentmindedly, her gaze fixed on the table.
The cowhide-covered notebook's surface was somewhat worn, clearly used frequently. Recalling the scene when she pushed the door open just now—
'Is it some incredible ninjutsu? Or a summary of those ideas?'
Either one was a treasure. Secretly glancing at the masked man reading seriously, Konan asked, "Pain, can I take a look at that notebook?"
"No." Otonashi refused without hesitation, raising an eyelid, "The things inside are still a bit too early for you."
Konan became even more curious. During this period, 'Akatsuki' had started large-scale training exercises. She discovered that this Pain's understanding of ninjutsu was no less than Teacher Jiraiya's.
"Is it a forbidden technique?"
"That's right, a forbidden technique that allows people to grow up instantly." Otonashi replied casually, turning a page to change the subject: "Aren't we purchasing too many explosive tags? How can these few people use them all?"
Konan, still regretting missing the chance to grow up, immediately became serious upon hearing official business: "Explosive tags are good things, and recently the battles between the major ninja villages have weakened. It's a good time to buy low."
"That's still too many. You know explosive tags have an expiration date."
"I've already solved that problem." Konan smiled gently.
Oh, I forgot you also play with paper.
Otonashi realized inwardly and finally nodded: "Then allocate another portion of funds to buy explosive tags, but not now. Wait until next year to stockpile."
"Next year?"
"Yes, based on current intelligence, the Third Great Ninja War will end soon."
Ended...
Konan was stunned, never expecting this long and cruel war to have an end. In her dozen or so years of life, she had already experienced two world wars, each etched deeply in her memory.
However, Otonashi didn't pay much attention. Not just intelligence, as a personal participant in the great war, he already knew the reality of the various villages. Simply put, too many people had died, and they could no longer continue fighting.
Except for the Battle of Kikyo Pass which defeated the Hidden Sand Village, there lacked a decisive battle to seal the outcome. There was only endless attrition.
This recent ambush likely made Konoha see the situation clearly too. If they continued fighting, perhaps the Hidden Sand Village, which retreated earliest, would end up winning by default.
Today you throw the Three-Tails, tomorrow I throw the Nine-Tails, the day after tomorrow the Eight-Tails blooms in the center—some defeated country would die laughing.
"Go tell Yahiko to prepare. Since the countries no longer want to fight, they need to find a mediator to build bridges for negotiations. The Land of Rain is the best choice."
"But what does this have to do with us?" Konan knew that the powerful and prestigious Hanzo of the Salamander was indeed very suitable.
"The Land of Rain itself is in a state of civil war. He needs to make a gesture for the countries to see. Who do you think those ninjas probing for intelligence recently belong to?"
"Okay, I'll go inform Yahiko."
Konan wasn't stupid and immediately left with hurried steps. Watching her retreating back, Otonashi's expression was meaningful.
Indeed, a gesture needs to be made. But whether Hanzo has that magnanimity, only heaven knows.
........
Rain drizzled down. In the center of a somewhat punk-styled city, dozens of body bags were neatly arranged in a square.
Before the body bags, Konoha ninjas, led by Shimura Danzo, stood solemnly in two rows, silently confronting several dozen other ninjas in the rain.
"Danzo, are you here to hold me accountable?" A middle-aged man wearing a gas mask asked with a frown.
"Hanzo of the Salamander, Konoha ninjas were killed by people from your Land of Rain. Shouldn't I come?" Danzo, dressed in ANBU attire, sneered.
Hanzo's eye twitched. Because the situation in the Land of Rain was special, not all Rain ninjas were under his control, so naturally, he lacked the confidence to deny it. In fact, his first thought was that 'Akatsuki'.
This actually wronged Otonashi. Akatsuki had long focused part of its efforts on rogue ninjas and had strict orders not to engage in combat with ninjas from the Five Great Nations arbitrarily.
As for where the corpses of the Konoha ninjas on the ground came from, only Danzo himself knew.
Watching the Rain ninja leader remain silent for a long while, Danzo said in a low voice: "Actually, I am also unwilling to believe in the hostile actions of the Land of Rain. The Third Hokage even recommended the Land of Rain as the bridge for peace talks in this great war."
"Is that so?" Hanzo became interested. He also held high the banner of peace. Mediating the great war undoubtedly suited his taste.
"But now it's impossible. How can Konoha negotiate in a hostile country?"
"I said, I didn't do this."
"I believe you." Danzo fully showed respect for an experienced powerhouse, but then changed the subject: "Then what if other forces in the Land of Rain did it? Konoha ANBU has already learned that there is an organization called 'Akatsuki' in the Land of Rain. Could they have done it?"
The blame had been pushed right to Hanzo's lips; it remained to see if he would pass it on. But Hanzo, after all, was known as the 'Demigod'. Basic decency was still required.
Seeing him hesitate, Danzo spoke again in an incomprehensible tone: "An organization existing within the country, yet not establishing contact with the leader. I estimate the next time I come, I'll have to deal with someone else."
This sentence struck a chord in Hanzo's heart. No country would tolerate an independent organization appearing within its borders, especially when its reputation already seemed poised to overshadow the leader's.
In the curtain of rain, Hanzo's eyes gradually turned ice-cold.