Chapter 207: A Small Accident
Kitahara Kaede stepped into the relentless curtain of rain that draped over the Land of Rain.
Rainwater drummed against the rim of his bamboo hat, dripping steadily off the edges. He raised a hand to touch his forehead; the skin there was cold, yet the memory of Tsunade leaning in close remained vivid in his mind.
He could still feel her golden hair brushing against his cheek. When she had pulled away, her face had been flushed a deep crimson, though she had fought to maintain an air of nonchalance.
A small smile tugged at the corner of Kaede's lips. A moment later, he lowered his hand. It was time to get to work.
Ahead lay the Hidden Rain Village, Hanzo's territory. Kaede pulled his hat lower, his pace steady as he vanished into the grey haze.
***
The security in the Hidden Rain Village was looser than he had anticipated. While the elderly Hanzo still maintained control over the village, it was a far cry from the iron-fisted rule Nagato would later establish.
The outer sentry posts were sparse. A few patrolling ninja huddled under the eaves of buildings to escape the rain, too lazy to even lift their heads.
Kaede crouched behind a thick iron pipe. He locked his gaze on a patrolling ninja lagging at the rear of the squad. The moment the others rounded a street corner, he moved.
One hand clamped over the man's mouth, the other delivered a precise blow to knock him unconscious. In seconds, he had dragged the body into a dark alley.
Shortly after, an ordinary-looking Rain ninja emerged from the shadows. He adjusted the strap of his forehead protector and blended seamlessly into the street.
Kaede looked up, surveying a village choked by steel and piping. Towering iron spires pierced the sky, and a dense network of pipes clung to the exterior walls of every building. Rain cascaded off the edges of the metal, splashing violently against the ground.
The entire village felt cold and sterile. A few scattered villagers hurried past, none of them sparing him a second glance.
Kaede turned into a side alley and stopped before an izakaya. He lifted the noren curtain and stepped inside.
It was warmer here than outside. The lanterns were lit, and the tables and chairs were kept reasonably clean. He ordered a pot of warmed sake and a pot of hot tea, taking a seat by the window—a vantage point that allowed him to monitor both the entrance and the street.
Once the drinks arrived, he waited in silence.
Half an hour later, the curtain flicked open. A figure entered wearing a wide bamboo hat and a waterproof cloak wrapped tightly around them. They stood at the door for a moment, shaking the rain off their clothes. Damp black strands of hair clung to their cheeks, framing a pair of wary, alert eyes.
Pakura scanned the room, her gaze sliding over every corner.
Kaede picked up his sake cup, tapped the rim lightly three times with his finger, and then rotated the cup. It was a standard signal for their secret meetings.
Pakura's eyes locked onto him instantly. She moved naturally through the scattered tables and sat opposite him, loosening her collar.
Kaede poured a cup of hot tea and pushed it to the center of the table. "No trouble on the road, I hope?"
Pakura took the cup, warming her hands against it for a moment before taking a sip. "Didn't the letter confirm everything with you? Do you still doubt my abilities?"
Kaede let out a soft chuckle and took a small sip of his sake. "I was simply worried. I wouldn't want my most capable subordinate to perish on the way here."
Pakura's hand paused for a fraction of a second. She shot him a glare, though it lacked any real sting. "Cut that out. And since when am I your 'subordinate'?"
Kaede cleared his throat. "Aren't you?"
"Yes, yes, fine."
Pakura set the tea cup down and leaned in, lowering her voice. "Business first. I tested Yahiko as you suggested; I brought up the idea of a secret alliance with Konoha."
"And?"
"He refused." Pakura frowned. "Just before this, Hanzo held a secret meeting with Yahiko. He told him to his face that a philosophy of 'achieving peace without force' is exactly what he hopes to see in his lifetime."
She paused, a hint of helplessness in her tone. "Yahiko believes him completely now. He thinks Hanzo sincerely supports the Akatsuki and sees no need to bring in Konoha's influence, fearing it might actually upset Hanzo."
Kaede sneered inwardly.
Hanzo might have possessed some sense of righteousness in his youth, but now? He was old—nothing more than a coward whose heart was gripped by power and fear. He feared losing the Hidden Rain Village; he feared being replaced by the younger generation. Not to mention, Danzo was in the shadows, fueling the fire.
However, Kaede had not told Pakura to force the issue with Yahiko. It would be useless. People rarely accept the truth simply by hearing it. They only truly wake up the moment they witness their faith collapse with their own eyes.
Pakura had been the same. Only when the betrayals of Hanzo and Danzo actually manifested would Yahiko see clearly. The rules of the shinobi world were never broken by ideals alone. When that time came, Kaede would step in, and his intervention would be entirely justified.
"Let him be," Kaede said indifferently, setting his cup back on the table. "Things will change soon enough."
Pakura looked at him but didn't press for details. She had grown used to this; he always seemed to know something before it happened.
"One more thing." Pakura lowered her voice even further. "That masked man codenamed 'Fu'—I still can't find a single shred of information on him."
Kaede pondered for a few seconds. "I see. He is an unpredictable variable. I'll deal with him personally later."
Pakura nodded, saying nothing more.
With the business concluded, the tension between them eased. Kaede finished the rest of his sake, and as he set the cup down, his expression suddenly turned grave.
"Over the next few days, Hanzo will move against the Akatsuki."
"Just stay close to Yahiko and the others. Don't overextend yourself or try to be a hero. Just protect yourself; I'll be watching everything from the shadows." He paused. "Remember, your life is more important than anything else."
Pakura felt a jolt in her chest, then nodded firmly.
The two left the izakaya one after the other. Once Pakura's silhouette vanished at the end of the rainy alley, Kaede donned his bamboo hat and turned in the opposite direction.
***
On a towering rock pillar outside the Hidden Rain Village, two figures stood in the rain.
Obito, wearing his single-swirl mask, looked down coldly. Beside him, Black Zetsu tilted his head.
"Lord Madara has passed away. How do you intend to proceed with the plan?"
Obito didn't turn around. "I tried to recruit Nagato previously, but they weren't receptive."
"In that case, the only way is to make them like me—to make them witness the death of their most beloved and feel the despair of losing everything. Only then will they understand."
"That this world is, in fact, a lie."
Black Zetsu chuckled. "And so?"
"I will secretly assist the alliance between Hanzo and Danzo in clearing out the nuisances within the Akatsuki, forcing Nagato to fully erupt."
"You keep watch over the battlefield. The moment something unexpected happens with Nagato's Rinnegan, come get me immediately."
Black Zetsu's smile widened. "This situation is becoming quite interesting. It seems there might be some 'small accidents' occurring."
Obito let out a disdainful huff. "Decide after you've read the situation; things always change."
His form began to distort within the swirl of Kamui, and the final gaze beneath his mask was devoid of any emotion.
"But the ending is predestined."
As the words fell, he vanished. Only Black Zetsu remained on the pillar. He looked toward the Hidden Rain Village.
"Small accidents, indeed."