Chapter 8: Shadows of the Past and Alliances of the Present

After passing through the door, I find myself in a dark room, illuminated only by the lights of the metallic towers of the village.

Pain watches me with his Rinnegan eyes, sending a shiver down my spine. He's really intimidating, I think. Meanwhile, Konan stands beside him.

"Konan has told me about you," Pain says in his deep voice. "I don't trust strangers, but you seem to have potential."

I don't respond immediately. I can't show weakness.

"I'm not looking for trouble with you. I just want to understand this world… and find a purpose."

Nagato nods slowly.

"We will see if you are useful."

[Side Mission: Prove Your Worth to Pain]

Objective: Complete a task to earn his trust.Reward: Greater access to the village and possible allies.

Before I can ask what the task will be, the door suddenly bursts open, and Hanabi and Naruto-fem enter the room.

Damn, where did these two come from? They almost gave me a heart attack.

"Pain!" Hanabi exclaims, her attitude defiant. "We shouldn't accept just anyone into the village!"

Her white eyes reflect her distrust toward me.

Naruto-fem, on the other hand, defends me, saying that if I were an enemy, I wouldn't have helped her.

This girl is so naïve. As if a spy wouldn't help a villager just to maintain their cover, I think, a drop of sweat forming on my neck.

"He is not an enemy… yet," Konan says.

I decide to take advantage of the opportunity.

"It seems you don't trust me, Hanabi."

She frowns.

"Of course I don't trust you, I don't even know you."

"You have a point."

Konan crosses her arms and watches me.

"Before we continue, I have a question. If I'm not mistaken, Hanabi is a Hyuga."

"And… pardon me, I forgot to ask your name. Could you tell me, if it's not too much?" I ask, looking at Naruto-fem.

"Of course, my name is Natsumi, nice to meet you."

"My name is Luciano, a pleasure."

"Now, as I was saying, Natsumi… I feel an enormous, malevolent chakra separate from hers, which leads me to think she is a Jinchūriki. And if I had to guess, I'd say she holds the Nine-Tails, given its high density."

"So my question is: why are you two in this village and not in Konoha?"

I look at Konan curiously, waiting for an answer.

"How did you know about Natsumi?" she asks, suddenly more guarded.

Shit, I need to think of something before they kill me.

[System Mission]

Objective: Fix your mistake before they kill you.Reward: Keep your head +1200 system points.

Shit, Luciano, think, think… I got it.

"Well, that's because I'm a sensor. That's how I could detect the chakra inside Natsumi.

Besides, I also showed it when I helped Natsumi in her fight by going for the injured enemy first.

Natsumi can confirm that."

"That's true," Natsumi says.

"That makes sense," Pain replies.

"After all, I don't think he's lying," Konan says.

"How do you know?" Pain asks.

"I have a gut feeling," Konan responds.

[System Mission Completed]

Objective: Fix your mistake before they kill you.Reward: Keep your head +1200 system points.

Damn, that almost scared me to death, I think, relieved.

"Now, if it's not a problem, could you answer my previous question?" I ask respectfully.

Konan sighs and begins to explain the story.

"Years ago, Konoha betrayed the wrong people."

I look at Hanabi and Natsumi, who both seem tense.

"What happened?"

Hanabi is the first to speak.

"My clan, the Hyuga, has always been divided into two branches: the main and the secondary. My sister, Hinata, was the heir, and I was destined to follow her orders."

"And what changed?"

Hanabi clenches her fists.

"When the Third Hokage died and Tsunade took power, there were tensions between the Hyuga Clan and the village council. They wanted to use me as a bargaining chip… to strengthen alliances."

"They wanted to marry you off?"

Hanabi nods, hatred in her eyes.

"I was going to be betrothed to a feudal lord from another region. I had no choice."

I feel a surge of anger. Konoha, the village that's supposed to protect its ninjas, was going to sell her like an object.

"So you ran away…"

Hanabi nods.

"Konan and Pain took me in. They gave me the freedom Konoha never did."

I turn to Natsumi.

"And you?"

She crosses her arms.

"I'm different. My story has nothing to do with marriage, but with the Kyubi."

My eyes widen slightly.

"When I was born, the Nine-Tails was sealed inside me," she explains. "But after the Third Hokage's death, everything got worse."

"Why?"

Natsumi smirks bitterly.

"The council saw me as a weapon, but Tsunade wanted to protect me. The two factions in Konoha clashed. In the end, Tsunade lost politically, and I was exiled."

I remain silent.

Hanabi, sold off. Natsumi, exiled.

Both were betrayed by the village they were born in.

No wonder they are here now.

"Konoha… is not so different from DxD."

Konan watches me.

"Now you understand why they are here."

I look at Hanabi and Natsumi.

"Yeah… and I understand something else, too."

Konan raises an eyebrow.

"What is it?"

"That Konoha will fall one day."

Natsumi smiles.

"You're right."

Pain finally speaks.

"Then tell me… are you ready to prove your loyalty?"

I smirk.

"What do I have to do?"

Nagato stands up.

"There is a small group of ninjas still resisting our authority. I want you to eliminate them."

[Main Mission: Eradicate the Resistance]

Objective: Defeat the rebels.Reward: Greater recognition in the Rain Village and +15 relationship with Nagato.

"How much time do I have to complete this mission?"

Nagato watches me with interest.

"You have one week."

"Alright, in one week, you'll hear news about the mission."

"Then we'll see you in a week. Natsumi, guide Luciano to his temporary lodging."

"Alright," Natsumi says.

"Luciano, follow me," Natsumi tells me.

"Alright, lead the way," I say, laughing.

As we walk, a question comes to mind, one I want an answer to.

"Natsumi, I have a question."

"Go ahead, Luciano."

"What's your relationship with Pain?"

"Well, we're family. After all, he told me he's also an Uzumaki."

"Interesting…"

"Well, we're here. This is your temporary lodging."

"If you need anything, you can find me at training ground 16, next to the waterfall west of this lodging."

"Alright, see you later," she says before leaving.

"I need to prepare for the mission… at least I have a week," I say before entering my temporary lodging.