"Konan, go gather information on this so-called 'Black Reaper of Konoha' and report back to me immediately."
"I understand."
Konan replied coolly before dissolving into countless sheets of paper, scattering into the night.
"Konoha… Black Reaper…"
In the shadows, a masked man murmured the words, tilting his head slightly as if deep in thought.
Meanwhile, at Akatsuki's hideout…
Yahiko stood over Hidan, whose body had been completely destroyed—only his severed head remained. A moment of silence passed before he sighed.
"Can you regenerate on your own?"
Kakuzu was dead, and no one else in Akatsuki had the ability—or the inclination—to stitch Hidan back together.
"This…"
"No. I can't."
Even Hidan, who never feared death, sounded frustrated.
The atmosphere in the hideout was eerily quiet. Not even the Rinnegan could restore Hidan's body like Kakuzu had done for himself in the past. The Rinnegan was powerful, but not omnipotent.
Indeed, it possessed the Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique—a forbidden jutsu capable of resurrecting those reduced to mere dust—but at the cost of the user's own life.
For someone like Hidan?
Pain—no, Uzumaki Nagato—would never consider using such a technique.
And besides…
It would be pointless.
The Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique was meant to bring the dead back to life.
But Hidan wasn't dead.
No matter how gruesome his state was, his immortality kept him alive.
"The Rinne Rebirth Jutsu… wouldn't work on someone like him."
"I have a solution."
A masked figure stepped forward, his voice low and composed.
Hidan's eyes widened in recognition.
"…You?! That idiot from before?!"
Yahiko hesitated before addressing Hidan.
"Tobi is just an alias."
"His real identity is Madara. Uchiha Madara."
"Hidan, only I knew this before. Now, you do too." Yahiko's expression hardened. "Do not let me hear a single word about this outside."
Hidan—despite being reduced to nothing but a severed head—somehow managed to look dumbfounded.
"M-Madara? Uchiha Madara?!"
The realization hit like a thunderclap.
Hidan had been brought into Akatsuki under Yahiko—or rather, under Nagato's leadership. He had assumed this masked man was just some foolish subordinate.
But now… he was being told this was Madara Uchiha?!
"…Don't worry, I won't run my mouth."
He might be immortal, but even he feared Pain.
The Rinnegan belonged to the Sage of Six Paths—an ancient legend who, according to myths, could create the moon with a mere gesture.
Hidan wasn't eager to find out if Nagato could do the same.
Obito—still posing as Madara—approached Hidan's head, inspecting it briefly before picking it up.
"I'll be taking Hidan with me."
"Go."
Pain—Nagato speaking through Yahiko's corpse—allowed it without further question.
Just as Obito turned to leave, he suddenly paused.
"…By the way."
"I overheard something interesting earlier."
"The 'Black Reaper of Konoha'…"
His Sharingan glowed ominously behind the mask.
"The Akatsuki cannot afford unnecessary exposure at this stage. Leave this matter to me."
Pain narrowed his eyes.
Even if this man truly was Uchiha Madara…
Was there anyone left in the world that even he couldn't eliminate quietly?
Well… Uzumaki Nagato still believes that Uchiha Obito is Uchiha Madara.
As Pain paused, a dull sound escaped his lips.
Uchiha Obito saw through Pain's thoughts.
Nagato, who had long been consumed by the grief of losing his companions, naturally couldn't bear to see the Akatsuki members he had gathered failing in their missions.
Obito said, "I don't need to make a move."
"Did you forget? There's someone in Konoha who worked with us a few years ago."
"Let him handle it."
On the streets of Konoha,
Kazuki stepped out of the Hokage's office.
After making a trip to the Anbu headquarters to submit his mission report, his findings naturally caught the attention of Kakashi, the current Anbu Commander.
To be able to fight on par with someone as powerful as Kakuzu…
Had Kazuki's strength already reached such a high level?
Or had he simply never revealed his full power before?
Either possibility was enough to be unsettling.
"Captain, if there's nothing else, I'll be taking some time off for a vacation," Kazuki said to Kakashi.
"Got it," Kakashi nodded.
As Kazuki turned to leave, he suddenly paused as if something had just come to mind.
Turning back with a serious expression, he met Kakashi's gaze.
Kakashi, sensing the sudden shift in atmosphere, instinctively tensed.
"What is it? Did you leave out something important from your mission report?" Kakashi asked quickly.
"Or… do you have any additional intel on that organization with the red clouds on black cloaks?"
Any piece of information about the Akatsuki was crucial to Konoha.
A hidden group operating from the shadows, housing monsters like Kakuzu and Hidan, both near Kage-level threats—this was a serious danger that Konoha couldn't afford to overlook.
But Kazuki simply shook his head.
"No," he replied, before asking seriously,
"I just wanted to confirm—while I'm on vacation… Anbu's base salary is still paid, right?"
"…???"
Kakashi was visibly stunned.
After a few seconds, he finally processed the question.
With a deep sigh, he pressed his fingers against his forehead and replied, exasperated,
"Yes. You don't need to worry about that."
"What about Anbu's standard benefits? Like borrowing scrolls and receiving ninja tools?" Kazuki asked again.
"…Yes."
Kakashi's face twitched.
Isn't your family rich?!
And yet you're still so concerned about Anbu's base salary and benefits?!
That serious expression just now made me think you had crucial intel! I almost had a heart attack!
Hearing Kakashi's confirmation, a satisfied smile spread across Kazuki's face.
"Alright, then I can relax and enjoy my vacation~ See you later, Captain."
With that, he turned and walked away.
Keh… No matter how wealthy you are, you should always care about your paycheck!
That was Kazuki's firm belief as a working ninja.
Meanwhile, Kakashi, standing behind him, wore an expression of utter disbelief.
…
After removing his Anbu uniform,
Kazuki donned the white, round-neck robe he usually wore.
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