Chapter 3
Chapter 3: Back Together
When they finally made it to Amegakure, the weather was unusually calm. There was no rain, which was probably a result of Pein’s new technique. After studying the Hexagon Crystal in the Land of Snow, he had developed a way to manipulate the rain. It was a technique that allowed him to control the weather in the village, and today, it seemed he’d decided to give the place a brief respite from the usual downpour.
The streets, while still wet with scattered puddles, seemed busier than the last time Naruto had been here. Amegakure had grown over the past four years. New buildings had sprouted up, and the village had expanded in size. Despite the changes, the villagers still respectfully stepped aside as the Akatsuki members made their way through the streets, their cloaks billowing behind them. They were a familiar sight, and the people knew better than to interfere with the Red Clouds.
Naruto’s team made their way towards the main HQ gate, weaving through the maze-like alleys. They donned their cloaks and rings seamlessly, blending in as if they had never been gone. When they finally reached the meeting room, Naruto spotted Tobi leaning against the wall. His orange mask with the spiraling design reflected the dim light of the room as he tapped his hand against a railing, clearly waiting for someone.
As soon as he saw them, he rushed forward, his single eye gleaming with excitement. His squeaky voice echoed as he exclaimed, "Tobi is glad Naru-chan is safe! Tobi missed Naru-chan! Tobi’s team is a nightmare!"
Before she could react, he had already spun her around in a tight embrace. Naruto, though a bit surprised, couldn’t help but roll her eyes and laugh softly. "Ku ku," she said, her voice dripping with amusement. "Nightmare? I think you’re the one causing all the trouble."
"Tobi is just a ball of joy!" Tobi responded with an exaggerated grin, clearly oblivious to any criticism.
From the corner of the room, Sasori’s voice rang out, dripping with irritation. "We the nightmare? He was!" Sasori entered the room with his usual stoic expression, followed by an even more irritated Kakuzu.
"Kisame! He burned a suitcase full of money... twice while we were undercover!" Kakuzu practically shouted, his eyes narrowing dangerously at Tobi, who just laughed sheepishly.
"Yeah, it was because we thought he could hold onto it, un," Deidara chimed in, rubbing his temples. "It was stupid, really."
Tobi looked unbothered by the reprimands, his grin never faltering. "Tobi is sorry, Tobi is trying his best!"
At that moment, Zetsu emerged from the ground, his black and white halves splitting as he greeted them with his usual calm demeanor. "Welcome back," he said simply.
Just then, the door opened, and Pein-sama stepped into the room. His commanding presence filled the space, and for a moment, all eyes were on him.
"Welcome back, my comrades in arms," Pein began, his voice grave. "We’ve managed to throw off any pursuit. It seems that we’ve become nothing more than a myth to the rest of the world."
His Rinnegan gleamed, sending a subtle, almost imperceptible chill through the room. "However, it is time to start. From this day forward, our missions will be more dangerous. We are securing the final resources necessary to capture all the Tailed Beasts. Once we have them, we will be ready to declare war on the world. There is no going back. Once we take this step, we will no longer be able to hide or retreat into the shadows. We are the Red Clouds that cover the world to bring peace. And we will stop at nothing to achieve it."
The room fell silent. Naruto’s heart did budge she had resolved to die for this cause years ago as she met the gazes of her comrades. The air felt heavier now, filled with the weight of their shared resolve. War was coming. And this time, there would be no turning back.
Naruto couldn't wait.
As Pein finished speaking, the group collectively stiffened, the gravity of their mission sinking in. Their journey had only just begun, and the stakes were higher than ever. But this time, they were united. They were the Akatsuki, and nothing would stand in their way