08 - The New Path

On the way back, Yahiko finally learned the full story from Konan.

The group walked through the muddy paths, the weight of recent events hanging over them like the ever-present clouds of Ame. Yahiko's worried expression deepened with each step as he listened to Konan's account.

He could only rub his forehead in exasperation, "Shin just can't stay out of trouble, can he? How did he end up provoking Konoha's next Hokage again?!"

This could undo everything we've worked for. Peace isn't built on provocations! Yahiko thought.

Konan, who would typically comfort him at moments like this, seemed unusually hesitant this time. After a few failed attempts to speak, she finally said:

"Yahiko, maybe you should trust Shin more. There must be a deeper reason for what he's doing. Right now, his help is crucial for us and for Akatsuki. I'm afraid we won't be able to achieve true peace on our own."

Yahiko's mouth hung open in shock.

What happened in those three days? This isn't the Konan I know. Shin's influence... it's more dangerous than I thought, Yahiko mused, studying Konan's face for any hint of the doubt he was sure she must feel.

How could she change so much? Before she left, hadn't she said she was going to convince Shin to understand their ideals? But now she was actually defending him, and the trust in her words was astonishing.

At that moment, Yahiko even felt like he had somehow missed several months of plot development. How did things turn out like this?

But soon enough, he would realize: it wasn't just Konan who had changed.

All around them, Akatsuki members were praising the miracle that Shin had just pulled off. They were passing around the special statement written by Minato, standing straighter with each glance.

"You're amazing! You actually forced the future Fourth Hokage to issue such a statement!"

"So cool! Now we no longer need to worry about Konoha's ninjas just waltzing in whenever they want!"

"That's the Hokage, the leader of Konoha, the top ninja village! And you managed to retreat unscathed from his grasp and even secure protections for the Land of Rain! Shin, you're incredible!"

Ever since the latter stages of the Second Shinobi World War, when Hanzō lost his ambition, Ame shinobi hadn't been able to hold their heads high in front of other villages for a long time.

In the past, though life was tough, just mentioning Hanzō's name would allow even the lowliest Ame shinobi, barely surviving on the brink of poverty, to stand with pride.

But in recent years, even that last bit of glory was slipping away from them.

Shin humbly responded, "Minato isn't Hokage yet."

But to the Akatsuki members, their confidence now far surpassed his own.

"It's only a matter of time!"

They held onto the scroll left by Minato as if it were the long-lost heirloom of the Land of Rain.

"He's definitely going to be Hokage! After all, Shin, your judgment has never been wrong!"

Many of them, who had previously been wary of him, thinking he was too ruthless and extreme, now began to recall his merits. They remembered his strategies and foresight.

While they still respected Yahiko, his mercy and idealism made him their moral guide, but not someone who could evoke the pride they needed. In this aspect, Yahiko couldn't compare to the future second leader of Akatsuki, Nagato.

For now, though, Yahiko hadn't yet sensed the shift in people's hearts. He only felt a headache coming on, worried that the fragile peace around their base would be shattered. He cast another glance at the troublemaker behind all of this.

This isn't what Akatsuki was meant to be. We're losing sight of our true goals, he thought.

But Shin had no attention to spare for his concerns. He was currently reviewing the system updates he had missed.

Not long ago, at the very moment he decided to take action against Kakashi's squad, the system had dramatically updated his fated outcomes.

At one point, his chance of not surviving the day spiked to a terrifying 78%. The cause of death was, unsurprisingly, 'killed by Konoha ninja'.

Too close. I need to be more careful.

Fortunately, through a combination of caution, and a bit of luck, he managed to turn the situation around.

Now, his death prediction had reverted to its original state. While some of the fatal outcomes tied to Konoha had lessened in likelihood, his chances of dying peacefully had miraculously risen to 0.6%!

This showed that his efforts were on the right track, though he hadn't yet hit the core event that would truly avert his death. But his mood sank when he saw a new death prediction.

[8.7% chance of death in 7 days, cause: suffocated by genetically modified, rapidly growing banana tree sprouting in lungs after accidentally inhaling microscopic seed during covert mission in Kusa's experimental agriculture lab]

His eye twitched involuntarily as he processed the absurd information. A banana tree? In my lungs? How is that even possible?!

He sighed and then analyzed the situation logically, even though the predictions were sometimes so absurd. This was precisely why he couldn't let his guard down, not even for a second.

"I used to enjoy eating bananas," Shin mused bitterly. "Now, after that first incident and all these absurd predictions, I can't even look at one without feeling my chances of survival drop. And it's always bananas."

He shook his head. He'd need to research Kusa's agricultural experiments, perhaps find a way to sabotage them before his predicted death. Or maybe he could develop some sort of respiratory filter to prevent inhaling any seeds, or just avoid going there altogether?

As he plotted, Shin's composed mask slipped back into place. He couldn't let anyone see how much this affected him. After all, in this world of ninjas and constant danger, being afraid of fruit would make him look ridiculous.

But he knew better. Bananas were no laughing matter—they were a very real threat to his continued existence. All he needed was to overcome it, like he had today.

His recent survival spike had even earned him some rewards.

The system had drawn some energy from the river of fate and fished out a few goodies for him.

[Gained: Minor enhancement in physical strength]

[Gained: Minor increment in chakra reserves]

[Gained: Swordsmanship insights from the Praying Mantis (to be delivered through dreams)]

[Gained: Illusion countermeasures from the Mantis Shrimp (to be delivered through dreams)]

[Gained: Medical insights from the Honeybee (to be delivered through dreams)]

[Gained: Elephant Physique (beginner level)]

Compared to the more general rewards last time, which were aimed at laying a solid foundation, this batch was clearly more targeted. The reward that caught his attention the most was the last one: beginner-level Elephant physique.

Focusing on it, the system helpfully expanded its description:

[Elephant Physique (beginner level): Elephants are known for their impressive strength, resilience, and long-lasting vitality. This trait includes the following benefits and drawbacks.

Benefits:

Passive Increase in Chakra Capacity: Reflecting the elephant's large body size and capacity for energy storage, this physique provides a significant boost to chakra reserves.

Accelerated Chakra Recovery: Similar to how elephants have a slow metabolism that allows them to conserve energy, this ability enhances the speed at which chakra is replenished, giving the host greater endurance in battle.

Improved Fuinjutsu Aptitude: Drawing from elephants' intelligence and memory, this physique boosts the understanding and execution of sealing techniques.

Heightened Illusion Resistance: Elephants are known for their strong social bonds and emotional intelligence, which translates into a greater awareness of their surroundings, providing increased resistance to mental and visual deception.

Enhanced Adaptability to Sage Techniques: Elephants have a profound connection with nature; this physique enhances the host's ability to adapt and harness sage techniques effectively.

Higher Compatibility Rate as a Jinchuriki: The elephant's robust physiology suggests a resilience that makes the host more compatible with tailed beasts.

Giant's Resilience: This perk combines enhanced healing and endurance, reflecting the elephant's remarkable longevity and recovery abilities. The host benefits from accelerated regeneration, allowing them to recover from injuries more quickly and endure prolonged battles with increased stamina, similar to the endurance of a giant creature.

Drawbacks:

Chakra Overflow: While this physique increases chakra reserves, it can lead to a situation where the host's chakra exceeds their control limit. This may cause excess chakra to accumulate beneath the skin, similar to how an elephant's large body stores fat and energy reserves.

Chakra Absorption Vulnerability: If the host is bitten, the excess chakra can be absorbed by the attacker, providing some healing effects to them. This mirrors the idea that, in nature, large creatures can sometimes be vulnerable despite their size, emphasizing the need for caution in battles.]

The effects were impressive, but since it was only a beginner-level physique, there were also some drawbacks.

Interesting... Huh?! Why does the physique sound like the Uzumaki Bloodline Limit? Anyway, I need to upgrade this physique as soon as possible.

But the Elephant Physique also reminded Shin of something else.

Only Karin and her mother had healing abilities, while Nagato, Kushina, and earlier members like Mito didn't. He speculated it must be because Nagato and the others had more advanced Uzumaki physiques, which allowed them to control all their chakra, preventing any excess from leaking out.

At this point in time, Karin probably hasn't been born yet, but her mother should have already fled to Kusa, right? Damn, is this why the new death prediction appeared? Will I be going to Kusa?

As he pondered, a new plan began to form in his mind.

Now that Konan, one of Akatsuki's original core trio, was on his side, the next step was clear—Nagato, who just happened to be from the Uzumaki clan!

Shin began to plot his next move.

As the group neared Ame, he noticed Yahiko approaching him. He prepared himself for the confrontation he knew was coming.

"Shin, we need to talk."

Shin turned to face him, his expression calm and unreadable. "Of course, Yahiko. What's on your mind?"

"What you did... This isn't what Akatsuki stands for."

"And what does Akatsuki stand for? Peace through passivity? How's that working out for the Land of Rain?"

"We're supposed to be building bridges, not burning them!"

"Sometimes," Shin replied, "you need to burn the old to build the new. Konoha respects strength, not ideals."

Before Yahiko could say something, Konan stepped between them. "Stop this, both of you. We're supposed to be on the same side. Yahiko, his methods may be extreme, but look at what he's accomplished.

"And Shin, remember why we formed Akatsuki in the first place."

As the group finally arrived at the base entrance, they dispersed. Shin found a moment to stand alone, gazing in the direction of Kusa.