Naruto : Rise From The Rain

Akatsuki's reform plan was quickly put into motion.

This plan, developed with Yahiko's ideas in mind, was mainly crafted by Asahi. It included reevaluating new recruits through a series of strength and character assessments. When the announcement was made, the newcomers reacted with a mix of anxiety and dissatisfaction.

The strength test was overseen by Daibutsu and Kyusuke, requiring at least the level of a competent Genin to pass. As for the character assessment, Yahiko himself conducted one-on-one interviews—but only for those who passed the strength test.

Tobi barely managed to pass. His performance during the sparring session with Daibutsu was particularly embarrassing, but he just made it past the minimum threshold. In his private conversation with Yahiko afterward, Yahiko reported that Tobi seemed to be a pure optimist who genuinely admired the dream of world peace. Tobi claimed to have joined Akatsuki out of respect for Yahiko's courage and vision.

Finding nothing questionable in Tobi's answer, Yahiko decided to let him stay.

In the end, only four of the new recruits were allowed to remain. Moving forward, the recruitment threshold would be raised to Chunin-level strength, ensuring strict control over Akatsuki's growing numbers. Meanwhile, Yahiko completely abandoned the idea of establishing additional Akatsuki bases.

A week later, Yahiko received another summons from Hanzō. This time, he brought Konan, Kyusuke, and Asahi with him to Amegakure.

The group was shocked to learn that Ebizō had died. This unexpected news caused the alliance between Sunagakure and Konoha to collapse. Suna decided to withdraw from the Konoha-Iwagakure conflict and instead focus on countering the ongoing invasions from Kirigakure to their west.

Ebizō's death left Asahi stunned. Akatsuki's isolated position meant they hadn't heard about this major event earlier. According to Hanzō, Ebizō had died near Konoha's camp in the Land of Grass. However, Asahi clearly remembered that this character should have survived well into the main storyline's events, years later.

"Has history already changed?" Asahi wondered. But it didn't seem plausible for Konoha to have made such a move.

"Why would Konoha attack a Suna envoy?" Yahiko couldn't help but ask.

Hanzō replied indifferently, "That remains unknown. However, there's another major development—Kusagakure has officially allied with Iwagakure. They've declared war on Konoha's forces in the Land of Grass and plan to launch large-scale counterattacks."

Yahiko fell silent. The battlefield's dynamics were shifting rapidly. He had initially believed the war was nearing its end, but this development complicated everything.

"Lord Hanzō, what do you need from us this time?" Yahiko asked.

Hanzō's tone was calm: "Konoha sent another delegation."

"..."

Yahiko's heart sank as he realized what Konoha's representatives might be here for.

"They want to form an alliance with us," Hanzō continued.

Yahiko clenched his fists tightly.

Not long ago, when Akatsuki had approached Konoha's camp, they had been met with cold indifference. Amegakure's small size meant that Konoha had deemed an alliance unnecessary, relying instead on their partnership with Sunagakure.

However, Kusagakure's alliance with Iwagakure had drastically shifted the balance of power. Kusagakure's intimate knowledge of their own terrain would give Iwagakure a significant advantage, creating a major threat to Konoha's forces.

Yahiko looked up suddenly. "Lord Hanzō, are you planning to involve Amegakure in this war?"

The room fell into an oppressive silence.

After a long pause, Hanzō spoke slowly, "Yahiko, what do you think is necessary to achieve world peace?"

Yahiko froze, momentarily at a loss for words. He started to articulate his ideals but stopped when he saw Hanzō's calm, emotionless expression.

"Lord Hanzō," Yahiko finally said, "world peace doesn't necessarily require extreme military force. War only breeds pain, and that pain fuels hatred. If the leaders of the five great nations could learn to empathize with one another, a mediator could guide them toward peace through dialogue and negotiation."

Hanzō replied flatly, "So, you want to reason with them?"

Yahiko remained silent.

Hanzō then asked, "These people are at the top of this world. Why would they listen to someone as weak as you to talk about ideals?"

Yahiko replied firmly, "As long as we persist and spread our ideals, I believe that one day they will be willing to listen."

Hanzō sneered lightly. "Do you think the source of war is merely hatred? Why do they start wars? Is it simply because of hatred?"

Yahiko was momentarily stunned.

Asahi stood behind Yahiko, silently watching the scene unfold.

Yahiko and Hanzō both sought peace, but one was a pure idealist, and the other wanted to become the second Senju Hashirama. Asahi looked at Hanzō sitting there calmly, and by now, he had mostly guessed Hanzō's thoughts.

Ebizō had definitely not died at Konoha's hands. As Suna's envoy to Konoha, his movements were highly secretive and unlikely to have been tracked by Iwagakure.

However, Yahiko had been sending a letter to Amegakure every day, mentioning Suna's envoy.

It was very possible that the war had reached this point due to Hanzō's manipulation from behind the scenes. Had Hanzō's ambitions grown after obtaining the Rinnegan?

Yahiko fell into deep thought and then said, "Lord Hanzō, I know the path you wish to take, but the peace we seek is meant to spare more people from the suffering of war. Doesn't this contradict the end we are both pursuing?"

Hanzō coldly responded, "Even if we don't participate in this war, the conflict between Konoha and Iwagakure won't simply end. We are involving ourselves to end the war more quickly. Only when we are strong enough that the Five Great Nations don't dare to look down on us will they lower themselves and listen to us talk about peace. Force only submits to force."

"Yahiko, think carefully. Once you understand my perspective, I will assign you a task."

After leaving Hanzō's residence, Yahiko remained in a daze.

Hanzō was the true ruler of Amegakure, the one who could determine its fate, and Yahiko could not.

Akatsuki had been revered among the common people, who were ravaged by war, for spreading its ideals.

But when the conflict reached the level of nations, Yahiko deeply felt his own helplessness. These high-ranking individuals held thoughts beyond his influence.

He was too weak.

He recalled the vow he had made as a child to stand at the top of this world, to become a god of this world, and to change the country that weeps every day.

He suddenly whispered, "Do you think this world is sick?"

Konan and Kyusuke fell silent.

Yahiko did not wear his hood, and the rain drenched his orange hair.

Asahi looked at the gray sky. There was no sickness in this world. People were always like this, weren't they?

He spoke, "Yahiko, I just remembered a story."

Konan and Kyusuke both turned to Asahi.

"Once, there were seven countries, constantly fighting one another. The wars lasted for hundreds of years, until one of the rulers wiped out the other six countries and established a unified regime. Peace finally came, but in the process of conquering the six countries, countless people were killed, and this ruler was called a tyrant by the people of the time."

"Yahiko, do you think this person's actions were good or bad?"