Izumi closed the cracked puppet suit with a sharp click, the mechanical joints settling into place. Dust still swirled in the air from the recent clash, but her attention was fixed on the man in front of her. Kakuzu stood there, frozen mid-step, his eyes wide with disbelief.
She awkwardly raised a wooden sign in both hands, the characters painted in thick black strokes:
> "Sorry, Senior Kakuzu, I accidentally destroyed your clone while trying to save myself some trouble."
Her expression was almost apologetic, but her tone — if she had spoken aloud — would have carried an almost playful undertone.
Kakuzu blinked once, twice, then quickly shook his head. "No, no, it's fine!"
Inwardly, however, his thoughts were anything but fine.
What's going on here? How can she be this strong? What kind of power is that? He mentally ran through possibilities. A Tailed Beast Ball? No… but could she be a Jinchūriki? He frowned. Even then… would a Jinchūriki possess such overwhelming power?
He didn't have time to puzzle it out. Izumi was already walking toward him.
Kakuzu's instincts kicked in; he took several involuntary steps back. "You—what do you want?"
She stopped just a few paces away, flipped the sign, and revealed a new message:
> "Ah, nothing much. I just wanted to ask — how was my move?"
Kakuzu forced his stiff mouth into something resembling a smile. "Uh… haha, very strong. Not bad at all. I didn't realize someone so powerful existed in our ranks."
Izumi's hands moved, and the sign changed again:
> "Weren't you very arrogant before? Why don't you show me your ninjutsu?"
He froze. "Me? Uh… I'll pass. My technique is just Earth Grudge Fear, and you already know it — you've learned it yourself."
Her steps resumed, slow and deliberate.
Another sign rose in front of him:
> "If you refuse to show me… does that mean you're looking down on me?"
Kakuzu's gut twisted. "No, no! I admit defeat."
But she kept advancing.
Finally, irritation flared in him. His eyes hardened, and his voice turned sharp. "What are you pretending for, kid!"
Before she could react, one of his remaining clones sprang forward, mouth opening wide.
"Wind Release: Pressure Damage!"
The air itself seemed to implode. A roaring gale exploded outward, tearing across the battlefield in a violent wave. Stones shattered, debris spiraled into the air, and visibility vanished in the storm's white-grey blur.
Through the howling winds, Kakuzu caught a glimpse of Izumi's form being swallowed by the blast. He let out a cold snort. "Hmph. Seeking death. Even if she's strong, she's still made of flesh and blood—"
"Nani?"
The word escaped before he could stop it. A crushing repulsive force slammed into him, ripping apart the windstorm in an instant. Air burst outward in a shockwave, flattening the ground and sending Kakuzu sprawling.
When the dust settled, Izumi was walking toward him again. Her pace was unhurried, but her presence was suffocating.
"Wait, wait!" Kakuzu called out, raising a hand. "We're from the same Akatsuki organization, first—"
"Ah!" she interrupted with a little exclamation of amusement.
---
Far away, in the rainy heart of Amegakure, Konan spoke to Pain in a low voice.
"Although Uchiha Izumi has been useful — earning both the Land of Rain and Akatsuki a great deal of money — we must remember she was sent by Madara. We should remain cautious."
Pain's lips curved into a confident smirk. "Hmph. With me here, there's no one to fear. Not even Uchiha Madara."
Konan nodded. "That's true. As long as you're here, there's nothing to worry about."
"Exactly," Pain said.
After a pause, Konan tilted her head. "By the way, where is Izumi now?"
"She went to see Kakuzu."
"Kakuzu?" Konan's brows rose. "And what business does she have with him?"
Pain sighed faintly. "From the sound of it… she went to cause trouble."
Konan gave a helpless smile. "Oh? This little girl… she's far too mischievous."
Pain's gaze softened slightly. "But she is… undeniably strong."
"That's true," Konan agreed.
---
Back on the battlefield, Izumi was now holding Kakuzu aloft by his hair. The puppet suit's comical, bald bird-like wings flapped lazily behind her, a ridiculous contrast to the sheer power she displayed. Her voice was light, almost sing-song, but edged with pride.
"Don't underestimate me, old man."
To punctuate the statement, she gave his head a small shake.
Kakuzu's mouth hung open. Blood dripped from the corner of his lips, two teeth missing. His body dangled helplessly, feet barely touching the ground.
"You dared to attack me," Izumi said, tilting her head. "How are you going to compensate me, hmm?"
He mumbled through the pain, "I'll… I'll do anything you want."
Her smile widened. "Last time, I gave you sixty million ryō. This time… how much is your life worth?"
"One hundred million ryō!" he blurted. "I'll give you one hundred million!"
Her eyes narrowed. "Hmm? Is your life only worth that much?"
"Three hundred million! Three hundred million ryō!"
"That's more like it." She patted his face, the gesture somehow both mocking and dismissive. "By the way — don't tell anyone about this. And don't even think about leaving Akatsuki. If you do… I'll kill you. Understand?"
Kakuzu closed his eyes and nodded quickly. "Yes. I understand."
She dropped him unceremoniously to the ground and struck a triumphant pose, hands on hips.
From his position on the dirt, Kakuzu gritted his teeth. I swear… one day…
"What are you thinking about!" Izumi snapped, immediately kicking him twice in the ribs.
"Ow! Nothing! Be gentle, I'm an old man!"
She kicked him again. "Don't 'old man' me!"
---
Meanwhile, Pain and Konan were still mid-conversation when Izumi suddenly appeared, materializing as if from thin air.
She waved cheerfully. "Hi."
Pain raised an eyebrow. "Back so soon?"
"I just played with Senior Kakuzu for a bit," she said with a coy smile. "It was really fun."
"Is that so?" Pain replied. "Konan has gathered information on several other rogue ninja — potential recruits for Akatsuki. We'll be going to meet them. Do you want to come along?"
She shook her head. "Forget it. Sounds boring."
"Boring?" Konan echoed.
"I'll be busy for a while," Izumi explained. "So don't call me unless it's important."
"Oh? Something urgent?" Pain asked.
"Just… private matters," she said vaguely. "If I don't contact you, assume I'm tied up with my own things."
Pain studied her for a moment, then nodded. "Very well. Do what you need to do."
"Thanks, Leader. Bye-bye."
And with that, she was gone.
---
When she reappeared, it was not anywhere on Earth — but on the moon.
In her palm rested a pair of scarlet Mangekyō Sharingan, glimmering faintly in the lunar light.
She had done it. Using her spiritual power and carefully prepared divine talismans, she had catalyzed her mother's Sharingan into a Mangekyō. She held them as if they were priceless jewels, her gaze lingering on them for a long moment.
Activating them experimentally, she felt the surge immediately — her physical strength multiplied, chakra reserves swelling until they threatened to overflow.
"This power…" she murmured to herself. "The kind of power that strengthens you directly, without any tricks or hidden costs."
It reminded her of Uchiha Madara's own Mangekyō — pure, overwhelming force. Her Susanoo flared in her mind's eye, now more imposing than ever.
"It's a pity," she admitted to herself, "that I catalyzed it artificially. If Mother had awakened it herself, perhaps it would have had unique, special abilities. But this is… more than enough."
She turned to her clone. "Integrate these eyes into mine. I want to awaken the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan."
The clone smirked. "Even though you could fuse Fugaku's or Shisui's eyes after talismanization?"
"Yes," she said firmly. "I want my mother's eyes. I want them with me — always. Anyone else's… doesn't matter."
The clone's expression softened. "No problem. Let's begin."
Izumi nodded once. "Begin."
---
Far below, Akatsuki's recruitment was progressing. Deidara. Hidan. Kisame Hoshigaki, brought in through Obito's recommendation. One by one, the core members fell into place, the organization's true power solidifying.
On the moon, Izumi's transformation was complete. Her new Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan gleamed — a striking design, a cross set within an octagonal sun.
And in the depths of her mind, one quiet resolution formed: this was not the end. With time, and more catalyzation, these eyes would evolve again… into the Rinnegan.
---
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