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  Kona Bck Zetsu, her eyes bzing. "Enough! That's disgusting. I won't allow it. Nagato wouldher. Give up."

  With that, she turned a, her back to Bck Zetsu, her disapproval palpable.

  "My, my. Such a stroion. But your opinion it doesn't matter. Nagato will agree. He always does."

  …

  "Nagato~"

  Pain, in Yahiko's body, stood atop the highest tower in Amegakure, overlooking the vilge.

  Sensisu's approach, he gnced back. "What is it?"

  "There's something we o discuss."

  "anizational matters? Speak with Konan."

  "She disagrees."

  "Then there's o discuss it with me. Her will is my will."

  Konan was the only perso in the world who shared a genuine bond with him. He trusted her implicitly.

  "But, Nagato, this is different. I believe Konan's personal feelings are clouding her judgment. You know me. I alrioritize the Akatsuki's is. But Konaional response has dampened my enthusiasm."

  In a way, Gojo Kaigetsu and Bck Zetsu were two sides of the same .

  Gojo served Konoha; Bck Zetsu, his mother.

  Gojo nurtured Konoha's younger geion; Bck Zetsu recruited Missing-nin. Gojo promoted legitimate businesses; Bck Zetsu sought alternative revereams.

  Pain sidered this. He'd always been wary of Zetsu, but he had to admit, Zetsu's dedication to the Akatsuki was undeniable.

  Perhaps there was more to this?

  "Expin."

  "Kakuzu was killed during the Gojo Kaigetsu assassination attempt. He was ambushed by Konoha ninja, including the Third Hokage himself. As you know, Kakuzu hahe anization's finances. Without him, we're struggling. We o maintain our retionship with Amegakure's leadership, supply Sasori and Konan with essential materials, and fund your charitable donations to the vilgers. Money isn't everything, but it's essential, especially at this stage."

  Pain frowned. So, Konan's obje was financial? That didn't seem right. She'd always been resourceful.

  "Hiruko's Edo Te's not very effective for resurreg powerful ninja. But for ordinary people it works well enough. I'm suggesting we have him resurrect attractive men and women. With a few modifications to improve their appearahen, we'll send them to the Land of Fire, the Land of Water, to provide services. Those wealthy nobles and merts they've experienced everything. But Edo Tensei panions? That's a y. We'll er the market."

  Bck Zetsu's expnation it was ued.

  Pain, at een, hadn't experienced such things.

  But he uood why Konan had objected. From a kunoichi's perspective, it was uable.

  The Edo Tensei he'd seen Hiruko use it.

  But disregarding the ethics, it was a viable business model.

  Nagato, having grown up in war-torn Amegakure, uood the depths of human depravity.

  Those wealthy nobles and merts they'd ofte up establishments in the ruins, food and shelter in exge for children. And days ter the children's bodies would be found, discarded like trash.

  War exposed the darkness within.

  Aensei panions, they wouldn't die. Those wealthy patrons would pay a fortune for such services.

  "Where will you find suitable didates?" Pain asked after a long silence.

  "Locally, for venience."

  "No. Not in Amegakure," Pain said firmly. "Target the rger nations. But duct thh research first. Determiheir preferences. And prioritize naturally deceased individuals. No killing."

  To nurture peace from pain. That was his ninja way.

  Ninja pain ain, civilian pain ain. The suffering the Great Nations had inflicted on Amegakure he'd repay it in kind.

  Prioritizing naturally deceased individuals that was his mercy.

  "And in anization, only Konan hahe logistics of this operation. She infiltrate the rger nations aablish es. What do you think?"

  "I'll speak with her."

  "Excellent. I'll begin preparations." Bck Zetsu sank into the earth and vanished.

  "Konan, you're listening, aren't you?" Pain said to the empty room.

  Konan emerged from the shadows, her gaze filled with disappoi.

  She'd heard everything.

  This was wrong.

  The Akatsuki's mission was to kill. But their targets were usually ninja, or those who profited from war.

  But this…

  Targeting ordinary people, simply for their appearance?

  It was unjustifiable.

  For the first time, her and Nagato's paths diverged.

  'Nagato your pursuit of peace it's bee twisted.'

  "Konan, you heard our versation. I'm asking you to hahis, in the Land of Fire, the Land of Water."

  "If it's your order, I'll obey. But Nagato, don't you see? This is wrong! We're er than those invaders. These people are i. They've dohing to deserve this."

  "I've forbiddesu from killing."

  "Do you truly believe him, Nagato? He will kill. I know he will."

  "Enough, Konan! I am the leader!"

  "Were we guilty? We were invaded, our home destroyed. This is retribution."

  Pain waved his hand dismissively. "Go. Carry out your mission."

  Konan's disappoi deepened. She turo leave, her body dissolving into paper.

  "Konan, where will you begin?"

  "…The Land of Fire." The paper scattered, leaving Pain alone.

  He turned back to the window, overlooking Amegakure.

  He was certain, he was on the right path.

  He would bring peace through pain, make the Great Nations suffer. They would, of course, oppose him.

  Their opposition only validated his as. And if they feared him enough to support him that, too, was validation.

  And Konan her support meant he was right. Her oppositio she was misguided, an enemy.

  He was on the right path.

  "You'll uand someday, Konan. There be no peace without pain. Only through suffering will they learn to value peace. The Great Nations they are the source of the ninja world's suffering."

  …

  …

  [Sunagakure Annou:]

  [The Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, a renowned Mag Release user and key figure in the Konoha-Suna Trade Route, has tragically passed away. He was assassinated by Missing-nin, Sasori of the Red Sand, while attending the Trade Route pletion ceremony. He was twenty-seven years old.]

  The news of Rasa's death spread quickly.

  A Kage assassinated.

  The first sut sihe end of the Third Shinobi World War.

  The ninja world was in turmoil.

  In Sunagakure, a somber atmosphere prevailed.

  Chiyo and Ebizo, the vilge elders, were called out of retirement.

  With the Kazekage dead, someone had to lead. And no one had greater seniority than Chiyo and Ebizo. Furthermore, the assassin was Chiyo's grandson, Sasori of the Red Sand. She owed the vilge an expnation.

  Outside the Kazekage Tower, those influenced by Iki, having heard the news, anized a protest.

  Their demands were simple:

  Bring the assassin to justid hold those responsible for the Kazekage's security atable.

  And don't bme Konoha. Sunagakure's ey depended on them.

  Anbu ninja, wearing white armbands, observed the protest. Seeing that it wasing, they didn't intervene.

  The Fourth Kazekage had been a good leader. Under his rule, the vilge had prospered. They, too, mourned his death.

  ...

  Kazekage Tower Meeting Room.

  Chiyo, now the ag Kazekage, spoke. "Appoint Baki to lead the iigation into Rasa's death. bi with the iigation into the Third Kazekage's disappearance."

  Baki stood up and bowed, his face a mask of solemermination. But beh it a sinister smirk.

  Iigating himself? How ve.

  As head of security for the ceremony, he was teically a suspect. And his pn to gaiige by hunting Sasori had been ruined by that Konoha monster. He hadn't everieved the Kazekage seal from Rasa's body.

  A, Chiyo had appointed him to lead the iigation.

  This meant she knew Sunagakure needed him.

  The Kazekage title was within his grasp.

  Behind him, the other elders remained silent. Some, who'd previously supported Kosaka Kaoru, now residered.

  Their leader was obsessed with GDP. The Kazekage was dead, and he was still talking about parks and hotels.

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