Fifteen months of living in the Land of Rain taught Obito that the world didn't revolve around him, that people didn't trust easily. The only exception was Jiraiya's other students, even though they were older than him by a year or two.

Obito had grown a bond with Jiraiya and the three. They'd train day in, day out. They were amazing Shinobi and they could only go up. Yahiko was a master of water style, always intending to disarm an opponent rather then wound or kill, he was a pacifist or whatever the Shinobi equivalent was. But he lacked power because of this. In real battles Yahiko could never come close to the other three in strength, speed, or abilities.

Nagato was strange he had a lot of chakra yet he didn't do anything with it, he was strong sure but all he had was Earth and Wind style. It was strange to Obito, Nagato had so much potential but he was bound by his lack of confidence. Jiraiya noted this one night and though he didn't voice it he knew that Obito was lacking in confidence too as well as ambition. Yet Obito always got stronger and faster. Probably Uchiha genes kicking in.

Then there was Konan, the girl of the group. She was powerful with her paper jutsu, using it for offense and defense. It's only weakness was water or oil. It kinda reminded Obito of his Mangekyou ability, Kamui. The close range one.

And then Obito himself, he'd grown in many ways. Physically, mentally, and spiritually. He'd grown several inches, almost exceeding Yahiko and Nagato. His hair has grown out a bit, something he'd deal with at a later date. His personality shifted to being exposed to the war torn land for so long. He believed that fighting was out of necessity, not the first option. No longer was he gaining strength to become Hokage just to be recognized by the whole village, now he believed that the opinions of others didn't matter unless it was someone on a personal level.

Obito had done so much thinking, between Jiraiya's ideals and questionable hobbies to Yahiko and his idealistic dream of peace. Obito was somewhere in the middle, he was a realist that wanted to change the world for the better. If he had to become Hokage to do that then he would. And Obito would sacrifice nothing to get there, comrades were everything if he went back on that then Kakashi's death was for nothing. That was his nindo.

As the morning sun rose in the east, Jiraiya and his students were already up and eating breakfast, salmon and rice.

Obito hated fish but food was food. He ate slowly so as to not taste too much fish, it never helped.

Yahiko finished his bowl and sat it on the kitchen counter near the sink, they installed it a bit ago. He turned to Jiraiya who was still eating, "So, Jiraiya-Sensei. We've danced around the subject for a bit but now that you're back would you want to help us pursue peace?"

Jiraiya stopped himself from putting his fork in his mouth, he placed it back in the bowl. "I told you that's your business not mine. I'm a failure through and through, you wouldn't want me."

Nagato butted in, his emerald eyes twinkling in the natural light. "Come on, Sensei. Yahiko's already picked out a name, it would be a waste if he didn't use it."

Obito slowed his eating down, curious about what was going on. "A name? What's he wanting to name?"

Konan answered eating elegantly, "We've told you before that we planned on making a peacekeeping organization. Yahiko wanted to name it..."

"The Akatsuki!" Yahiko used one hand to point toward the rising dawn. "I thought it was silly at first but Konan said she found it cute so it kinda stuck."

Jiraiya was deep in thought, "If you wanna pursue peace you'd have to go through Hanzo and who knows how that nut job would react. I couldn't beat him with Tsunade and Orochimaru, I doubt it'd be in your favor if you had to resort to violence."

Obito decided to weigh in, "But maybe he'd be alright with peace. You can't assume the worst if you don't try." The other three nodded, hoping and pleading Jiraiya would reconsider.

Jiraiya shook his head firmly. "I can't get involved in this, Yahiko. It's too risky, and I'm done with that kind of life."

Yahiko's brow furrowed in frustration. "But Sensei, we need your guidance. You're the only one with the experience and knowledge to help us achieve true peace."

"Peace is a noble goal, but the path you're considering is fraught with danger," Jiraiya cautioned. "Hanzo won't take kindly to any challenge to his rule, no matter how peaceful your intentions may be."

Nagato chimed in, "We can't sit idly by while people suffer while he's in charge. Isn't it worth taking a risk to create a better world?"

Jiraiya sighed heavily. "I admire your idealism, but I've seen too much bloodshed to believe that peace can be achieved through force or confrontation. There's just too much hatred in this world."

Yahiko turned to Obito, his eyes pleading. "What about you, Obito? You're an Uchiha, a powerful shinobi. Heck, you're probably stronger than all three of us. Will you help us?"

Obito shifted uncomfortably, torn between his desire to aid his friends and his fear of losing Jiraiya's tutelage. Without Jiraiya's guidance, he risked going blind from overusing his Mangekyou Sharingan.

"I... I want to help, truly," Obito said, choosing his words carefully. "But I'm still learning, and I need Jiraiya-sensei's guidance to achieve strength without my eyes. If I go blind, I'll be useless to you."

Yahiko's shoulders slumped in disappointment, but he nodded in understanding. "I respect your decision, Obito. But know that our door will always be open to you, should you change your mind."

The conversation ended there. The teens began heading out for their daily routine. However, Jiraiya kept Obito back. Yahiko's words had some effect, but not directly. "Obito, it's time we go on a little adventure."

The rain fell in a steady drizzle as Jiraiya and Obito made their way through the hidden paths leading to the village concealed within Amegakure. Obito's onyx eyes scanned their surroundings warily, ever vigilant for potential threats.

"Sensei, are you sure about this?" Obito whispered, his brow furrowed with concern. "Yahiko and the others won't be happy if they find out we're meeting with Hanzo behind their backs."

Jiraiya's expression was grim, his voice low. "I understand their frustrations, but confronting Hanzo directly is foolish. He's a dangerous man, and yet he wouldn't attack us because of the Leaf. He'd fear they would retaliate."

As they neared the village's outskirts, whispers and murmurs reached their ears, carried on the damp air. Obito's keen senses picked up the hushed tones of fear and uncertainty.

"Something's not right," Obito muttered, his hand instinctively gripping the hilt of his saber.

Jiraiya nodded, his posture tense. "Let's proceed with caution."

They slipped through the winding alleys, careful to avoid drawing attention. The rumors grew louder, more insistent, until a familiar name caught Obito's ear.

"Hanzo... dead... by a lightning style jutsu..."

Obito's breath caught in his throat. Hanzo, the formidable leader of Amegakure, slain? The implications were staggering, and he couldn't help but wonder if Yahiko and the others had taken matters into their own hands. But they couldn't have, they were far too weak to beat someone who named the sanin for simply surviving a battle against him. Who could be so strong and ruthless?

Jiraiya's jaw tightened, his mind undoubtedly racing with the possibilities. "There's nothing we can do now," he murmured, his gaze meeting Obito's. "It's best we leave this to Rain."

Obito wanted to protest and discover why Hanzo was killed but he simply complied with Jiraiya. He was still a boy he couldn't comprehend the icy slope Rain was in and what they'd do to get out. Blaming a Leaf Shinobi for investigating Hanzo's death would be very likely. It was better to leave it to in house investigations.

But still, who was it that killed the legendary Hanzo?

Elsewhere in the land of Rain, the night prior to Hanzo's death.

Danzo Shimura stood amidst the rubble of a small town, his one visible eye narrowed in determination. He surveyed the scene, taking in the piles of debris and the scattered remains of what once had been a thriving town.

Danzo motioned to his Root agents, who carried bundles of uniforms and headbands bearing the insignia of the Hidden Stone Village. "Prepare yourselves," he commanded, his voice low and gravelly. "We move forward with our operation."

As the agents began distributing the disguises, a figure emerged from the shadows, cloaked in black, with a mask concealing their face, a scythe hanging from their back. Danzo tensed, his hand instinctively reaching for a kunai, but he froze when he caught sight of the figure's eyes, a mismatched pair, one bearing the piercing gaze of the Byakugan, and the other, the unmistakable crimson of the Sharingan.

"Who are you?" Danzo demanded, his voice laced with suspicion. "Those eyes... The Hyuuga and Uchiha would never allow anyone to possess both doujutsu."

The masked figure remained silent, their eyes fixed on Danzo and his Root operatives. With a sudden movement, they raised their hand, and the ground beneath Danzo's feet began to tremble.

Danzo's eyes widened as he realized the figure's intent. "Stop them!" he barked, but it was too late. The earth erupted, and from the fissures emerged a legion of creatures made entirely of lightning, their forms flickering and shifting like phantoms.

The Root agents scattered, engaging the mysterious attacker, but their efforts proved futile. One by one, they fell, their bodies consumed by lightning, until only Danzo remained.

The rain had subsided by the time Jiraiya and Obito reached the secluded shack nestled near the surrounding border of Amegakure. As they approached, they noticed Nagato and Konan tending to the modest vegetable garden, their movements fluid and graceful.

Obito noted the garden because he'd tended to it every other day starting on Tuesdays with Yahiko, they usually skipped Sunday to not work more than the other two.

Nagato looked happy, his emerald colored eyes gazing at all the seeds he'd planted. He liked planting squash and potatoes, it was what he remembered his parents making before they died to a stray paper bomb. His smile faded remembering that moment.

Konan noticed the shift in him and did her best to console him, she always knew what was the source of Nagato's unhappiness.

Yahiko, however, sat on the weathered porch, a scroll clutched in his hands. His brow was furrowed, and his expression was one of profound unease, as if the contents of the scroll had shaken him to his core.

Upon catching sight of Jiraiya and Obito, Yahiko sprang to his feet, clutching the scroll tightly. "Sensei!" he called out, his voice laced with urgency.

Jiraiya was curious as to what his student had been holding onto, "What's the rush, Yahiko?"

He closed the distance between them, thrusting the scroll into Jiraiya's hands. "You need to read this."

Jiraiya's eyes narrowed as he unfurled the scroll, his gaze scanning the contents. Obito watched, his heart pounding in his chest, as Jiraiya's expression shifted from confusion to shock.

"This can't be right..." Jiraiya muttered, his voice barely audible.

Obito stepped closer, peering over Jiraiya's shoulder to catch a glimpse of the scroll's contents. His eyes widened as he read the words etched upon the parchment – a report detailing the death of Danzo Shimura, a prominent figure within Konohagakure's ranks.

"Danzo Shimura... dead?" Obito breathed, his mind racing with the implications.

Nagato and Konan, alerted by the commotion, abandoned their gardening and joined the group, their faces etched with concern.

"What's going on?" Nagato asked, his emerald-eyes studying the scroll intently.

Jiraiya let out a heavy sigh, his fingers tightening around the parchment. "It seems there's more going on than we thought. Danzo Shimura, one of the hidden Leaf Village's elders and a notorious war-hawk, has been assassinated within the Land of Rain."

Konan's eyes widened, her hand covering her mouth in shock. "But who would dare...?"

Yahiko's expression darkened, his jaw clenched. "You know something we don't."

Jiraiya met his gaze, his expression grave. "We discovered that Hanzo had been assassinated as well," he revealed. "And if both were killed in the Land of Rain then there's a killer who's deliberately selecting targets."

Jiraiya paced back and forth, his brow furrowed in deep thought. "It's perplexing," he murmured, his voice grave. "For someone to assassinate both Hanzo and Danzo within the Land of Rain... It's too much of a coincidence."

Obito exchanged a glance with Yahiko, both of them wearing expressions of concern. Konan's eyes followed Jiraiya's movements, her lips pursed in a tight line.

"You think there's a connection between the two murders?" Nagato spoke up, his emerald eyes narrowing.

Jiraiya nodded, his stride slowing as he pondered the implications. "Hanzo was the leader of Amegakure, a powerful figure in his own right. And Danzo..." He paused, letting out a heavy sigh. "Danzo was a member of Konoha's Council of Elders, with a reputation for being a ruthless and cunning individual. Why he was in the land of Rain is beyond my position."

Yahiko's frown deepened. "But why would someone target them both? And why in the Land of Rain?"

Jiraiya's gaze swept over the group, his expression grave. "That's the question we don't have answers to. Whoever is behind these assassinations has chosen their targets carefully, and the location is significant."

Obito's mind raced, piecing together the puzzle. "Could it be someone with a grudge against both Amegakure and Konoha?" he ventured, his voice laced with uncertainty.

Jiraiya stroked his chin, considering Obito's words. "It's a possibility," he conceded. "Or perhaps someone seeking to destabilize the balance of power in the region."

Konan's eyes narrowed, her lips pursed in a thin line. "Whoever it is, they're playing a dangerous game," she warned. "Assassinating leaders and high-ranking officials could have severe consequences."

Nagato nodded grimly. "And if they're not stopped, who knows what they might do next."

A heavy silence fell over the group, each of them grappling with the weight of the situation. Obito's heart pounded in his chest, his mind whirling with the implications of the assassinations.

Jiraiya's expression hardened, his eyes steely with cautiousness. "We can't do anything, not if the perpetrator was able to kill Hanzo and Danzo, they'd likely be an S rank Shinobi." He declared, his voice resolute. "So I forbid any of you from looking into this for your safety."

Yahiko wanted to refute it but Jiraiya was completely right, it would be a fool's errand to investigate someone so dangerous. It would be better if they left it be. Though Yahiko believed it wouldn't be the last time they'd heard of the assassin.

The clash of steel echoed through the rubble-strewn battlefield as Danzo's kunai clashed against the masked figure's scythe. Sparks flew, illuminating the shadowy battleground that surrounded them, their flickering outlines casting an eerie glow over the scene.

Danzo gritted his teeth, his single eye narrowed in concentration as he parried each strike. Despite his advanced age, his movements were swift and precise, honed by years of experience on the battlefield. He was forced to use his stolen Sharingan early on to rewrite reality using a forbidden jutsu. He attempted to strike the masked assailant in a moment of vulnerability.

Yet, his opponent was skilled enough to counterattack. The masked assailant was unmatched, their strikes fueled by a relentless determination that seemed to transcend mere human limits. Something inhuman maybe.

With a deft twist of their wrist, the masked figure disarmed Danzo by cutting off the man's good arm, sending his kunai clattering to the ground. Danzo stumbled backward, his back pressing against the crumbling wall of a ruined building.

"Who are you?" Danzo growled, his gaze fixed on the mismatched eyes that peered through the mask's eyeholes.

The masked figure remained silent, his scythe raised, poised to strike. Danzo tensed, preparing for the inevitable, when a sudden movement caught his eye. The mask, once pristine, had cracked during the battle, revealing a glimpse of the face beneath.

A scruff of white hair, and an old scar on the left eye. Danzo had read every report of the promising young Uchiha who'd awakened the Mangekyou Sharingan, there were details regarding one individual that seemed to match this one.

Danzo's breath caught in his throat as realization dawned upon him. "You're..." he whispered, his voice trembling with disbelief.

The masked figure froze, their scythe wavering slightly. For a moment, the world seemed to stand still, the shadows flickering and swirling around them like spectral witnesses.

"Impossible..." Danzo murmured, his voice barely audible over the eerie silence that had fallen upon the battlefield.

The masked figure did not respond, but his grip on the scythe tightened, his stance shifting ever so slightly. Danzo braced himself, his mind whirling with questions that would forever remain unanswered.

In that moment, the masked figure enveloped his left hand in lightning. The screeching sound of the controlled lightning on his palm drowned out Danzo's screams of pain for but a moment.

To break the chains of torment one had to torment the tormentors. Hanzo the salamander, Danzo Shimura, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Ohnoki, Ay, Rasa of the gold dust, and Minato Namikaze. All these men would die at his hand and many more for the pursuit of peace. The world was full of hatred and yet those who tried to break the mold were always treated poorly, driven to death or forced to comply with the rotten systems.

The masked assailant would break the chains that binded the world in place, through any means necessary. For that was the dream that was passed to him. The dream of eternal peace.