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Mastermind of the Akatsuki 49
🕑 Added 2024-06-25 18:25:27 +0000 UTCChapter 49: Preparation of the New Department
(AN: I have changed Karin’s mother's name from Karen to Akane.)
"The current strength of the Akatsuki organization is too weak. You must develop it immediately in order to facilitate our sincere cooperation."
The contents of the letter were simple, but after reading it, Byakuya's eye twitched. Man, he wanted to punch that face.
The nerve of that fossil, Danzo! Did the ROOT leader think Byakuya was his errand boy? "Develop the Akatsuki?" the letter demanded like an order, not a request.
Did Byakuya want the Akatsuki to grow? Absolutely. Did he currently possess the magic wand to make that happen? Absolutely not. Why couldn't Danzo just waltz in and strong-arm the Five Great Nations himself?
Byakuya usually ignored such ridiculous demands from clients. But hey, Danzo still had some use. With a sigh, Byakuya grabbed a brush and started crafting his reply.
First, a healthy dose of passive-aggressive annoyance. Then, the real issue is Akatsuki's growth deficit. The Akatsuki was a newly emerging group that lacked manpower, funds, and ninja techniques. Byakuya had suggested reforms in these aspects several times during organizational meetings, but they were consistently rejected by the senior executives led by Yahiko.
So, yeah, any "sincere cooperation" with the Hokage's office was impossible... for now.
Finishing the letter, Byakuya reread it, savoring the subtle jabs. Yep, that should get a rise out of Danzo. He sealed it with wax, a smug smile playing on his lips, and summoned a messenger hawk. As the hawk soared away, shrinking into a speck against the vast sky, Byakuya's smile widened. This letter was a masterpiece – perfectly tailored to inflate Danzo's ego while subtly reminding him who was really in charge.
---
Byakuya wasn't blasting back with his chakra like he usually did. Instead, he found Akane shivering a few hundred meters down the path, looking like a drowned kitten. Her glasses were fogged and her clothes plastered to her skin, rain soaking them through.
"Akane? What are you doing out here? Didn't I tell you to stay inside when it rains?"
Byakuya asked, exasperation lacing his voice.
Akane fumbled with her glasses, wiping away the clinging water droplets.
"Lord Byakuya, when I heard you were back, I just had to see you. But you weren't home, so I… well, I followed your chakra signature all the way here."
A hint of pride snuck into her tone.
"I wanted to tell you I mastered all the sealing techniques you taught me!"
Byakuya stared at her, speechless for a moment. Couldn't this girl have picked a better time? Here he was, in the middle of some top-secret shinobi business, and Akane decides to play detective. What if she'd blown his cover?
This secluded spot was over ten kilometers from the Akatsuki base. Thankfully, Byakuya himself had mastered the Kagura's Mind's Eye technique. Otherwise, Akane's freakishly good sensory perception would've picked up on him. He'd have been forced to confess everything, and Yahiko would definitely flip his lid about Byakuya conspiring with Danzo.
Still, Byakuya tried his best not to sound like a drill sergeant in front of the enthusiastic young kunoichi.
"Look, Akane. It’s great that you're so eager to improve. But next time you decide to embark on a solo mission, maybe consider packing some weights and wearing clothes that don't turn to mush when they get wet."
Akane blinked, completely bewildered.
"Weight training? Even on rainy days?"
This Byakuya character was starting to freak her out a bit. Seriously, what was with the constant training? It was like he was obsessed, and why was he always hiding away from the base to do it?
A seed of suspicion sprouted in Akane's mind. Was Byakuya up to something shady? Why the secrecy? Could it be that he was… training in secret?
Byakuya could practically hear Akane's gears turning. He chuckled, a low rumble in his chest.
"Thinking about joining the secret training club, are you? You know, I've always thought you had the makings of a powerhouse taijutsu user."
Akane's head whipped back and forth like a frantic metronome.
"Nope! No way! Absolutely not!"
She wasn't built for hand-to-hand combat. Her happy place was buried in research scrolls, dissecting medical ninjutsu and unraveling the complexities of sealing techniques. The outside world was a terrifying place – everyone seemed to have their eyes on the Uzumaki bloodline, and that wasn't exactly a comforting thought.
Byakuya, ever the master of deflection, smoothly steered the conversation away from his mysterious training sessions. Instead, he focused on Akane's progress. He was itching to know when she'd be ready to level up – Jonin, maybe even Elite Jonin, or dare he dream, Kage-level?
Unfortunately, Akane's strength gains weren't exactly meteoric. While she was a genius in the research department, her chosen fields of medical ninjutsu and sealing techniques didn't exactly translate to raw physical power. It was a tough break – for research-focused ninjas like Akane, climbing the ranks to Jonin or even Kage-level was a steeper path compared to their combat-oriented brethren.
But hey, the long game was what mattered, right?
Akane's research would be instrumental in the Akatsuki's growth. With the organization solidifying its foundation, it was time to start building specialized teams – medical units, sealing squads, the whole shebang. A proper department.
Throwing everyone into the mix without dedicated roles wouldn't cut it.
However, to truly establish exclusive departments, the Akatsuki still lacked manpower.
With only dozens of ninjas in the Akatsuki at the moment, at least hundreds were needed to differentiate into various departments. This meant that it was time for the Akatsuki to start recruiting.
---
Byakuya wasted no time after returning to the Akatsuki's base. He marched straight to Yahiko's office, surprising him with a second visit in one day. Byakuya wasn't known for his frequent visits to the leader's office.
"Byakuya, do you need something?" Yahiko asked, raising an eyebrow.
Byakuya gave a curt nod, getting straight to the point. "The money situation is settled. But with threats from both the Hidden Rain Village and Konoha's ANBU on our plate, we need more muscle."
"And it's high time the Akatsuki had dedicated departments for things like medical care and security."
Yahiko leaned back in his chair, considering this.
"Recruiting more people? I was actually thinking the same thing."
He agreed instinctively, then a furrow appeared in his brow.
"Wait, what's going on with the Hidden Rain Village? Konoha's ninja attacked us. What does this have to do with Lord Hanzo?"
Byakuya's face remained impassive.
"Naturally, the Akatsuki's development will arouse Hanzo's suspicions. You can think of Hanzo as not posing a threat to us. However, to deal with the attacks from Konoha ninja, we need to recruit more manpower."
Yahiko couldn't deny the logic. Both Byakuya and Konan had been attacked by ninja recently. Plus, their recent expansion meant they were stretched thin. Setting up medical and security departments was also long overdue.
After their last chat with Byakuya, Yahiko had researched the history of the major shinobi villages. He discovered they were all founded on ideals, similar to the Akatsuki's current goals. But as they grew, they also established various departments to function effectively.
What truly bothered Yahiko was the hypocrisy. These villages preached unity and friendship internally, yet acted differently on the world stage. It made him worry about the Akatsuki's future. Would they become just another power-hungry village like the Five Great Nations?
It was probably too early to worry about that. The Akatsuki was still small, with limited influence in the Land of Rain.
Shaking off his anxieties, Yahiko met Byakuya's gaze.
"I'll get started on setting up the new departments in a few days. But I have one favor to ask."
"What is it?"
Byakuya asked curiously.
Yahiko smiled.
"When you bring back new recruits this time, I want you to help me evaluate them. Don't try to shirk your duties."
Byakuya considered this for a moment, then gave a small nod of agreement.
