Chapter 36: Kisame Hoshigaki

"I've found Itachi's new partner."

Having been persuaded by Obito long ago, Kisame Hoshigaki arrived at Amegakure. Upon his arrival, Obito led him to Pain and quietly spoke those words.

Pain stared at Kisame for a moment before nodding slightly.

He and Madara had a cooperative relationship rather than a hierarchical one.

Since Obito was strengthening the organization, Pain had no reason to object.

"Get some rest; you must be tired from the journey," Pain said softly after a brief pause.

He then summoned a ninja to prepare a room for Kisame.

...

Kisame nodded without saying a word.

As an experienced spy, he knew better than to speak recklessly in unfamiliar settings.

Moreover, with his "big brother" here, he had to be especially cautious.

He yearned for the world Obito had described to him—a world without lies, only truth. "A world without any falsehoods is just within reach..." Madara's Eye of the Moon Plan was Kisame's future goal.

After the two left, Pain stepped out of his room and stood atop the tallest building in Amegakure, overlooking the peaceful village below.

Moments later, his body began to float, swiftly passing his office.

He formed several hand seals, stopping after a brief sequence.

With the chakra flowing inside him, a raincloud appeared over Amegakure.

Gentle raindrops began to fall, each drop intricately connected to his senses.

This was his A-rank sensory ninjutsu: Rain Tiger at Will Technique.

Every Sunday, Pain would let it rain over Amegakure for an entire day, enhancing his control over the village.

He also used this technique whenever he left the village, ensuring constant surveillance.

...

"Madara? When did he start getting so close to Zetsu? Could it have been a few days ago in Kirigakure?"

Pain, now seated in his office, paused while reviewing documents and murmured in confusion.

Madara had always worked from the shadows, so his sudden exposure to Zetsu raised questions.

"What is he planning...?"

Pain suddenly realized a potential issue.

Itachi was recruited by Madara. Kisame was recruited by Madara. Zetsu, at some point, also came into contact with Madara. Both Konan and Pain himself were aware of Madara's existence.

Was Madara even "hidden" at all?

Apart from Sasori, Kakuzu, and Kakuzu's nondescript partner, the entire organization knew about Madara.

Pain's heart grew uneasy. His perception of Madara began to shift subtly.

Although Pain disliked schemes, he was no fool.

If Madara continued like this, Akatsuki would become an empty shell.

And Pain would be left leading nothing more than a hollow organization...

...

"Pain has noticed us," Zetsu remarked to Obito as they walked.

"So what? He's just a naive fool. Now that we have the Three-Tails, focus on tracking the remaining eight-tailed beasts. Gather intelligence on their whereabouts," Obito replied indifferently.

Indeed, Obito had arranged this meeting with Zetsu to discuss this very matter.

Due to Itachi's unexpected decision to capture the Three-Tails, the process of collecting the tailed beasts had become urgent.

They needed to pinpoint the locations of the other tailed beasts and plan a swift, decisive operation to capture them all from One-Tail to Seven-Tails.

When it came to intelligence gathering, no one was more capable than Zetsu.

While this reconnaissance would take time, there was another priority—recruiting strong individuals to fill the organization's vacancies.

These recruits needed to familiarize themselves with Akatsuki's operational methods to avoid complications during tailed beast captures.

...

"Leader, you called for me?"

A female voice echoed in Pain's office as Konan entered.

She was puzzled as to why Pain had summoned her yet again.

"Yes, I have something to discuss," Pain said softly, glancing at her. She wore the Akatsuki's signature robe, with her headband tied neatly across her forehead.

"Has something happened?" Konan asked, surprised.

"What are your thoughts on Uchiha Itachi?" Pain suddenly asked, avoiding her question.

"He's alright. A rather impressive young man," Konan replied after some thought, though slightly perplexed by the topic.

It seemed Pain had been pondering Uchiha Itachi a lot lately.

"I want you to team up with Uchiha Itachi. What do you think?"

Hearing Konan's response, Pain spoke softly.

His feelings were complicated. He didn't want Konan to go on missions or risk her safety.

But Madara's moves were unpredictable, and he had to take precautions.

Although Pain was powerful, he couldn't handle everything personally. He needed capable subordinates.

So, he decided to pair Konan with Itachi for a while. On one hand, it would fill the gap in their combat strength. On the other hand, it would give him a chance to learn more about Itachi and possibly win him over.

His relationship with Madara had grown increasingly delicate.

Whatever Madara aimed to achieve, Pain intended to obstruct it. He couldn't let Madara's goals come to fruition.

Konan was momentarily stunned upon hearing Pain's words, but she quickly nodded.

"Alright."

In the past, whenever she expressed a desire to help the organization and go on missions, Pain always refused with various excuses, unwilling to let her risk leaving the village.

Although she felt a tinge of disappointment, she reminded herself that Yahiko had died protecting her, and Nagato had lost the use of his legs in the same battle. Her heart was filled with bitterness. Even if she didn't want to remain a mere figurehead…

"Go and get some rest," Pain said softly, gazing at her with a deep expression.

His seemingly impassive eyes and cold voice carried an unspoken depth of emotion.

Elsewhere, Kisame, who had been escorted to his room by Pain's subordinates, found himself growing bored.

The evening was still young, and sleep was far from his mind.

After some thought, he put on one of Akatsuki's better-looking cloaks, grabbed Samehada, and stepped out of his room.

He couldn't wait to meet his new partner—his surveillance target.

Looking at the bigger picture, compared to Itachi infiltrating Akatsuki as a spy...

Obito eventually being redeemed…

Nagato succumbing to Naruto's persuasion...

Konan's loyalty lying solely with Nagato, with little emotional attachment to Akatsuki…

Orochimaru treating Akatsuki as a playground for his schemes…

Zetsu using Akatsuki to revive Kaguya…

Sasori leveraging Akatsuki's resources to collect puppets…

Kakuzu exploiting Akatsuki for money and hearts to extend his life…

Hidan spreading his religion through Akatsuki…

Deidara using Akatsuki to showcase his art…

Kisame was perhaps the only one who truly saw Akatsuki as his home. He treated his partner, Itachi, as family, carried out missions diligently, and never wavered. Even in death, he refused to divulge Akatsuki's secrets, staying loyal until the very end. Kisame could be considered the most professional and dedicated member of Akatsuki.

One can only wonder how Kisame would feel if he knew all of this.

Kisame: "If I had known, I wouldn't have bothered playing along with all of you."

The Mizukage under Obito's control:

"I trust you because I know your character. You've carried out countless unspeakable missions for the sake of your country and village. Only someone like you, who has betrayed others countless times for a mission, can understand how false this world truly is."

Kisame:

"When I killed my comrades for the first time, I understood. As a Mist ninja, I was forced to kill my fellow Mist ninja. What does that make me? Friend or foe? What is my purpose? Where do I stand? Where am I headed? Where can I find peace? The only thing I truly feel is my own falsehood."

Obito:

"Let me free you from the pain of this falsehood. I'll create a place where you can belong. You've been fighting all this time, burdened by the act of killing your comrades. From now on, fight as my comrade instead."