CHAPTER 45

First Meeting: Akatsuki

> "It seems they've managed to escape… but where are they hiding?"

After eliminating the Sand ninja sent to intercept Bai Ye and his team, Minato Namikaze continued searching northward, following the border of the Land of Fire.

Despite his efforts, he found no trace of the trio. Still, he wasn't overly concerned. The enemies had been dealt with, and as long as Bai Ye and the others remained cautious, the chances of them returning to the village safely were high.

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> "Are we even on the right path?"

Yuyan frowned. A light drizzle had followed them since their departure—a telltale sign that they were still within the borders of the Land of Rain.

> "Hehe, that's… not my fault. Maybe we should find somewhere to rest for the night and talk about it tomorrow?"

Bai Ye scratched his head awkwardly. He had confidently declared he'd lead the way, yet they'd spent far too long wandering the Land of Rain.

By all logic, with their speed and the distance involved, they should've already reached the Land of Grass. The fact that they hadn't meant one thing: they were lost.

Bai Ye couldn't help but wonder how shinobi in this world navigated without a compass. Did they seriously memorize every landform?

> "I'm more concerned about being mistaken for intruders by the Hidden Rain ninja. If we run into a capable sensor-type, they'll detect us immediately."

Yue's voice was steady, but there was tension beneath her words. She didn't understand why the Sand squad hadn't included a sensor-nin, but she couldn't count on the Hidden Rain being as careless.

Yuyan had already spotted several Rain shinobi patrolling nearby. She had only avoided them by sheer luck. If they encountered someone with a wider sensory range, evasion would be impossible.

> "Relax. As long as we stay away from Amegakure's core, we shouldn't encounter anyone that strong."

Bai Ye shared their concerns but chose to carry the pressure himself. He made a silent vow: no matter what, he'd get Yue and Yuyan home safely.

Even though he didn't know exactly when—or even if—the two girls died in the original timeline, they should still be academy students at this point. He couldn't let his presence cause their early deaths.

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> "Wait. Three powerful chakra signatures ahead. One of them has strange eyes—concentric circles. It feels… terrifying."

Yuyan's voice halted their steps. She instinctively pulled Yue and Bai Ye aside, ready to reroute. That strange presence was worse than facing Hizashi Hyūga himself.

The moment Bai Ye heard about the eyes with concentric circles, he knew exactly who it was: Nagato. Which meant the others must be Yahiko and Konan.

Still, he wasn't overly panicked. If the three were together, that meant Yahiko was still alive—this was the Akatsuki before their descent into darkness. They were likely still idealists, pursuing peace through diplomacy.

> "Bai Ye… what do we do? They've noticed us. No matter where we go, they follow."

Yuyan's voice trembled. She had changed direction four times, yet the trio continued toward them. Her instincts screamed danger—inescapable danger.

Bai Ye frowned. He finally understood the continuous rainfall—it was Nagato's Rain Tiger at Will Technique. The entire region was under surveillance. The moment they stepped foot into Amegakure's domain, their presence had been detected.

Still, he was puzzled. They had been in the Land of Rain for a while. Why show up now? If they had truly intended to apprehend them, they would've arrived much sooner.

Now, Yue was the only one maintaining a defensive stance. Bai Ye and Yuyan understood—resistance was futile. If Nagato meant harm, they wouldn't stand a chance.

Moments later, three figures emerged from the misty rain.

They wore identical black cloaks adorned with red clouds—Akatsuki had been officially formed, though likely still operating in secret.

> "Three kids? Really, Nagato? You're overthinking this. Who'd send children to infiltrate?"

Yahiko, with his spiky orange hair and cynical grin, looked unimpressed.

> "I couldn't detect their presence, either. But they kept heading toward our base—what else was I supposed to think?"

Nagato's voice was flat, irritated. He wasn't about to take the blame alone.

> "Regardless of age, they aren't ordinary children. That one's a Hyūga. The other two… unclear."

Konan, calm and calculating, studied them closely. Her deduction explained how they sensed the Akatsuki trio's approach.

> "They might be from Konoha. Do you think Jiraiya-sensei sent them?" Yahiko asked. The mention of their old mentor softened his expression. "Konan, you go speak with them. We'll just scare them if we approach."

Bai Ye watched, agitated. They had appeared, exchanged glances, and begun discussing things among themselves—but no one addressed him directly. The tension was unbearable.

Yue, sensing Yuyan's trembling, moved closer and protectively held her hand. Though on alert, she didn't activate her Sharingan—better not to reveal her Uchiha heritage unless necessary.

> "Big sister, we're from Konoha. Disciples of Master Jiraiya. We got lost on the way back after a mission. Could you point us toward the Fire Country border?"

Bai Ye stepped forward and shamelessly invoked Jiraiya's name, hoping to reduce their suspicion.

Though surprised, Yue and Yuyan didn't interrupt—trusting Bai Ye's judgment for now.

Bai Ye leaned hard into his youthful appearance and innocence. With Jiraiya's name as a lifeline, he worked to gain Konan's sympathy—going so far as to hug her leg with mock sincerity.

Yue and Yuyan, watching him pull this ridiculous stunt, could only cover their faces with their hands in embarrassment.