Orochimaru's voice—
Was like a snake.
Hissing—
Then striking.
Straight for the throat.
Lethal.
…
"…."
Shenyue Yuan's lips twitched.
Not like this…
Bro—don't ruin a fresh account.
His undercover mission—
Hadn't even started.
And it was already ending?
Orochimaru, you bastard…
…
Pain and Konan both turned toward Orochimaru.
He nodded.
Certain.
"Connect the events—"
"And the truth becomes obvious."
"This man…"
"…is a Konoha spy."
"An infiltrator."
Konan nodded slightly.
"…It is too coincidental."
Pain shifted his gaze—
Back to Yuan.
Those Rinnegan—
Cold.
Unfeeling.
As if asking:
Do you have anything to say?
…
One wrong step—
And it was over.
From this point—
His death was already decided.
Akatsuki could accept Itachi Uchiha—
Because he truly destroyed the Uchiha clan.
He had no way back.
Even if he dealt with Konoha in secret—
He could never return.
He was useful.
That was enough.
But—
A known spy?
Unacceptable.
And Yuan's biggest problem—
The Root incident.
Unverified.
Unclear.
…
Facing Pain's overwhelming presence—
Like a collapsing mountain—
Yuan suddenly laughed.
"HAHAHA…"
Helpless.
Unrestrained.
…
"Heh…"
Orochimaru shook his head.
Mocking.
"That old man…"
"…really sent an idiot to die."
…
Pain raised his hand.
Aimed at Yuan.
Konan lowered her gaze.
She didn't want to watch.
This—
Was already over.
…
But—
Yuan was prepared.
Of course he was.
This wasn't a game.
This was espionage.
…
Facing the prelude to Shinra Tensei—
He didn't panic.
At all.
He planted his cane.
Pulled out two scrolls.
Unrolled them—
Like banners.
They spread across the ground.
Then—
Hands forming seals.
Pressing down—
BOOM—
Smoke burst.
And then—
Bodies appeared.
One by one.
…
"…."
Orochimaru's expression changed.
He recognized them.
Immediately.
At the front—
A familiar face.
Torune Aburame.
Danzo's right-hand man.
And behind him—
More.
Root elites.
High-ranking operatives.
Dead.
All of them.
…
Orochimaru's pupils shrank.
He scanned again.
Half.
Half of Root's core…
Was here.
At Yuan's feet.
His throat tightened.
A sense of danger—
Crawled up his spine.
…
Yuan shrugged.
"These are Root's key members."
Calm.
Casual.
"I have no ties to Konoha anymore."
"There is no place for me there."
…
This—
Was why he didn't fear retaliation.
Before attacking Danzo—
He had already visited Root's base.
And erased it.
Completely.
…
Konoha hadn't lied.
He really did it.
Even Hiruzen—
Had sent ANBU to question him.
Why kill your own people?
Have you betrayed the village?
His answer?
Simple.
"If I want to join Akatsuki—"
"Konoha must pay a price."
"Itachi destroyed his clan."
"If I don't destroy something—"
"How can I qualify?"
…
Look at these bodies.
All brainwashed.
All loyal to Danzo.
None—
Loyal to Konoha.
…
Pain spoke.
Cold.
"Your purpose?"
Yuan raised his head.
Forty-five degrees.
As if recalling something painful.
"I witnessed Root…"
"…kill civilians."
"A mother."
"And her child."
No resistance.
No chance.
Just death.
…
Deep within the tower—
Nagato's eyes widened.
Even Pain—
Flickered.
…
Yuan continued.
"If Root is already rotten—"
"Then what about Konoha's leadership?"
"To preserve Wood Release—"
"To control power—"
"They conducted human experiments."
"On anyone."
"Men."
"Women."
"Children."
He turned his head slightly—
Toward Orochimaru.
A faint smile.
"You would know best, wouldn't you…?"
"Lord Orochimaru."
…
Konan looked at him.
Orochimaru said nothing.
His golden pupils—
Lowered.
…
Yuan's voice hardened.
"The great villages—"
"Spread suffering."
"In the name of protection."
"They don't understand pain."
"They create it."
"And use it—"
"As an excuse for more war."
…
Silence.
Then—
Pain's raised hand—
Lowered.
Slowly.
…
CRACK—
Nagato crushed the armrest.
His Rinnegan—
Burned.
Emotion surged.
…
Yes.
Good.
Very good.
Nagato looked at Yuan—
With something new.
Recognition.
Approval.
Because—
He understood.
Pain.
…
"I cannot return to darkness…"
"After seeing the light."
Yuan spoke quietly.
"I heard of Akatsuki."
"I investigated."
"And came here."
…
Pain glanced at Orochimaru.
"Check the bodies."
Even now—
He wasn't careless.
Words alone—
Meant nothing.
"Understood."
Orochimaru stepped forward.
Stopped before Yuan.
Studied him closely.
This boy—
Looked ordinary.
But these bodies…
…
He crouched.
Examined.
One by one.
Carefully.
Searching for flaws.
Signs of deception.
Minutes passed.
…
Then—
He stood up.
Took a breath.
Looked at Yuan.
Then—
At Pain.
"…They're real."
…
Pain nodded.
Then—
Looked at Yuan.
"You are… impressive."
A pause.
Then—
A declaration.
"You have earned—"