Chapter 102: Pain
In the heart of a highly industrialized village, rain cascaded down in relentless torrents, drenching the streets and turning them into rivers that flowed toward the expansive lake surrounding the village. The downpour seemed eternal, enveloping the village in a shroud of gray misery.
But just as despair threatened to consume the inhabitants, a remarkable change took place. The rain ceased abruptly, as if an invisible hand had brushed away the clouds, allowing a ray of sunlight to pierce through the gloom and illuminate the tallest tower that overlooked the village.
This tower, a colossal structure, stood tall and imposing, its four sides adorned with humanoid faces. Each face possessed its own distinct features, but one in particular captured the attention of anyone who gazed upon it.
Positioned to overlook the village, it bore Rinnegan-like eye patterns, lending an air of otherworldly power to the statue. The face depicted a mischievous grin, with a pipe jutting out from its mouth and piercings adorning its features. Its tongue playfully stuck out, as if mocking the world below.
Step. Step. Step. From the shadows of the tower within, a figure emerged, his footsteps echoing through the air. Cloaked in the signature black robe adorned with red clouds, he exuded an aura of danger, his affiliation clear to those recognizing his iconic outfit. His appearance, however, was unsettling.
His pale complexion resembled that of a corpse, devoid of any expression or signs of life. The hidden rain ninja forehead guard concealed his forehead, partially veiling his medium-length spiky orange hair.
But what truly captivated attention were his eyes - white with rings - a clear indication that he possessed the legendary Rinnegan, the most exalted eye amongst the 'Three Great Dojutsu'… until the transition into Boruto- Ahem, back to the point.
He was Yahiko, once an unknown side-character, now a puppet under the control of the hidden leader of the infamous Akatsuki, and was bestowed with a new name - Pain.
Finding his way to the extended tongue of the Rinnegan statue, Pain settled down, gazing up at the sunlit sky. His face, devoid of emotion, remained calm and unyielding as the warmth of the sunlight enveloped him.
The gentle wind brushed against him as time flowed in silence. But this tranquil moment was disturbed by a flurry of paper manifesting beside him, transforming into the ethereal form of Konan, seemingly defying gravity as she floated in the air.
As her gaze fixed upon the visage of the man before her, her neutral face betrayed a flicker of long-lost emotions before she extinguished them, knowing all too well that the man before her was no longer the same.
In her usual composed manner, Konan delivered her report. "The new member will arrive at the external base soon. Are you going now?"
Pain remained silent, his gaze fixed on some unseen point in the distance. The silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken words and shared history.
After what felt like an eternity, Pain rose to his feet and murmured in his characteristically confident tone, "Another troublesome fella. I suppose there will be no problems. I will depart now."
His Rinnegan locked onto the village, sweeping across its entirety without a trace of emotion before fixing his eyes on a nearby corner. With a chilling coldness, he declared, "Take care of the base and the bugs." And just like that, with a puff of smoke, he vanished into thin air, leaving behind an eerie stillness.
As Pain disappeared, Konan's gaze shifted to the hidden corner of their lair. With a swift motion of her hands, a flurry of paper danced through the air, leaving behind trails that traced through the village like bridges. Each piece of paper had a destination, a target, and purpose.
But one particular piece veered toward the corner, wrapping around a small bug that had been lurking unnoticed. The paper carried the unsuspecting insect back to Konan's hand, where she regarded it with detached indifference.
Staring down at the captured translucent bug, Konan's face remained devoid of emotion as she muttered, "It seems our defense still needs to be upgraded." And in a single crushing motion, she obliterated the tiny creature, erasing any traces of its existence.
Two figures clad in the iconic Akatsuki outfits stepped into a dimly lit and sparsely furnished base. It was Kakuzu and Tobey, their presence exuding an air of menace and power… ruined by Maguire's twerking.
Tobey glanced around the room, unimpressed by its simplicity, muttering to himself as he swung his hips, "There's nothing special here. But at least there's no damn door."
Kakuzu cast a sidelong glance at Tobey, a warning lacing his words. "Don't say I didn't warn you. Keep your attitude in check, or you'll be unlucky."
Flicking his hair with an air of confidence, Tobey responded with a smirk, "Worried about me?"
Kakuzu's voice turned icy cold as he retorted, "No, I only feel it would be a pity because your corpse wouldn't be worth anything at the moment."
Step. Step. Step. The atmosphere thickened as the echoes of approaching footsteps reverberated through the nearby corridor. Both men turned their attention toward the sound, their senses heightened.
Soon enough, a figure emerged from the shadows, his Rinnegan sweeping over the duo. A wave of pressure settled upon them as he continued his measured stride, coming to a halt in the center of the room. With an imperceptible movement, he turned his piercing gaze toward Tobey, his Rinnegan scanning mysteries hidden from the bare eyes.
Locked in a battle of wills, Tobey arrogantly met his leader's intense stare, their eyes locked in a fierce contest of dominance. Stare eyes? Easy.
Silence engulfed the room, broken only by the sound of their steady breathing.
Kakuzu stood in silence, his keen green eyes shifting from their leader to Tobey beside him. Sensing the tension, he inwardly questioned, "There seems to be a problem?"
Minutes ticked by, each passing second laden with unspoken tension. Finally, Tobey, with his bloodshot eyes, succumbed to the pressure, blinking in surrender. With a hint of defiance, he mustered the courage to speak. "Hey, you got a problem with your eyes? Do you need me to put some dirt in your eyes to help you close them?"
Kakuzu's face contorted in panic, a single bead of sweat trickling down his forehead. This idiot! He cursed Tobey silently, his mind filled with expletives, but he refrained from uttering a word to defuse the situation.
A palpable tension filled the room as Pain's gaze remained fixed on Tobey, his eyes boring into the defiant member before him. Another heavy silence descended upon the room, shrouding it in an icy stillness.
Then, in a chilling voice, Pain uttered words that sent shivers down their spines, "You have no soul. Who sent you?"
Then, the atmosphere chilled.
Meanwhile, in Konoha, Tsunade sat at her desk, rubbing her temples as she surveyed the bounty placed before her. The weight of responsibility bore down upon her as she grappled with the undercurrents that lay within this simple notice.
Shizune, her loyal assistant, spoke softly, her voice tinged with concern. "Tsunade-sama... we still can't find out who the client who funded the bounty is. You know how uncooperative the underground can be, especially since the conflicts between the village and those forces. But… it doesn't take much to guess. It's most likely..."
"That dirty old man just wants to disgust us," Tsunade interjected with a hint of frustration. With a dismissive wave of her hand, she tossed the bounty onto the pile of papers, shaking her head. "There's no need to worry so much. After all, with the delayed notice due to that man's intervention, it's already too late to contain the fire. Although it increases the risk, it's just a part of being a ninja. As long as we provide them with a capable instructor, they won't have to worry too much about accidents. And even if accidents do occur, it's also a form of growth."
Shizune spoke up, her voice soft but tinged with hesitation. "Tsunade-sama..."
Tsunade let out a weary sigh, her expression one of resignation. "I know, Shizune. But the truth is, we simply lack the personnel, especially with the increasing demand of ninjas to stabilize our borders. The capital also seemed to have some trouble brewing and we need to keep an eye there as well. Other ninjas are busy, the workload is heavy, so we can't keep them under our wings, idling forever. I thought I could keep them for longer, but it's been a while, and their break should also come to an end. Have we determined an instructor for Team 8?"
Shizune nodded, handing over a list of potential candidates. "There are a couple of Anbu members who are available and possess sufficient strength. There are also some idle, clean, and single jonins in the village."
Tsunade's brows furrowed as she perused the list, her mind delving into deep thought. The silence in the room grew, prompting Shizune to break it. "Tsunade-sama? Is there a problem?"
Tsunade raised her gaze, her eyes filled with a sense of recollection. "Wasn't there one in the Anbu? I remember Kakashi mentioning him as someone we can trust."
A look of shock crossed Shizune's face as she responded, "Him? Yes, but his strength makes him suitable for handling important tasks. There seems to be no need to send him to lead a genin team."
Leaning back in her chair, Tsunade appeared lost in her own thoughts, contemplating something significant. After a prolonged moment of silence, Shizune hesitated before speaking. "Tsunade-sama... why choose him? He's overqualified for such a role."
Tsunade met Shizune's gaze and shook her head. Understanding flickered in Shizune's eyes, but before she could voice her thoughts, Tsunade interjected. "I am concerned, Shizune. It's best to send someone capable, in case that dirty old man makes a move again."
Shizune paused, absorbing Tsunade's words, before nodding in agreement. "Then I will send someone to arrange it."
In the lit confines of his hidden base's lab, Shino's eyes remained fixated on the intense exchange between Tsunade and Shizune, a flicker of intrigue dancing in his mind as a possibility lingered, "Could it possibly be him? If so, many of my plans will need some adjustments."
Weekly Power Status
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Ranking 
-- Power
stone