Reborn in Konoha as the Anbu Torturer

"It should be the Hidden Leaf Village up ahead!"

Konan led the group, having traveled a great distance from the Rain Country into the Fire Country. Thankfully, they encountered no obstacles along the way, but everyone's mood was somber. After all, leaving their homeland for a strange place and abandoning their familiar surroundings left an indescribable feeling in their hearts.

Significantly, when they thought about living in another village that had just waged an excellent ninja war against them, where many of their friends and family had fallen to ninjas from that village, it added a complex layer to their feelings.

However...

The Akatsuki organization had given them a choice.

Only some were required to follow them to the Hidden Leaf Village. Those who preferred to stay in the Rain Country could do so, so everyone who chose to come did so of their own free will, without any threats or coercion.

This also meant that those who decided to come to the Hidden Leaf Village were receptive to the idea, even if they still felt it was an odd decision.

Konan was at the forefront of the Akatsuki group.

She was the most eager to relocate the Akatsuki to the Hidden Leaf Village because her heart was entirely captivated by someone—the Otsutsuki member, Sheshin. She hadn't even anticipated developing such feelings during her time captured, leading her to feel nothing towards those around her after encountering such a being.

Even Yahiko, whom she had once significantly admired, seemed lesser in comparison.

How could one who has seen an eagle settle for a sparrow?

Yahiko and Nagato followed behind Konan, each preoccupied with their thoughts.

Nagato, in particular, was contemplating the Rinnegan and the information Konan had shared about the Otsutsuki clan. He had always been prepared for the possibility that his heritage was extraordinary, but the revelation that he was part of the Otsutsuki clan had still shocked and awed him.

He also had many questions he wanted to ask the Otsutsuki Sheshin personally, which ultimately led him to agree with Konan's suggestion to move the Akatsuki to the Hidden Leaf Village.

They also shared a common sentiment.

They all missed their teacher, Jiraiya.

It had been a long time since they last saw him.

"I think it won't be long now," Yahiko responded.

"That's great."

Konan felt a surge of joy and an indescribable trepidation about meeting that person. She was thrilled at the prospect but also somewhat fearful, a complex emotional state she couldn't fully articulate.

...

In the Hidden Leaf Village.

The Third Hokage and Danzo parted on less than amicable terms.

During this encounter, the Third Hokage had tried desperately to reconcile with Danzo, but he found that Danzo had changed.

The Danzo he knew was not the same person.

Whether in temperament or decisiveness, he seemed like a completely different person.

"Sigh..."

As the Third Hokage walked back to his office, he sighed deeply. Standing at the door bathed in the setting sun's light, he looked up at the office marked with the "Fire" symbol, feeling a profound sense of nostalgia.

This office was established when the Hidden Leaf Village was founded, beginning with the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju. Among all the Hokages, he had spent the most time here, considering it his home.

But now, everything has changed. It felt increasingly likely that this "home" would soon have a new owner, a notion that made him feel very out of control, especially after losing Danzo, who had been like a pillar of support. He didn't know how to salvage the situation.

"What should I do?"

Question marks popped up in his mind, and his mood was incredibly heavy. He didn't know how to handle the upcoming challenges.

He had a looming sense of an end approaching.

As the saying goes, "When the wall falls, everyone pushes," and now he didn't know who still stood with him. The only person he thought might help, Danzo, had become the straw that broke the camel's back. He stared at the office that had been his home, wondering how much longer he could stay.

For a moment...

A wave of melancholy washed over him.

He hated feeling so powerless.

Now, unsure of what to do next, he was engulfed by negative emotions.

...

After returning to the Hidden Leaf Village, Ao, without hesitation, we headed towards the Ichiraku Ramen shop.

He had frequented Ichiraku Ramen during this period.

However, it wasn't his natural body that visited but his shadow clone.

Throughout this time, he had made frequent appearances in front of Teuchi, the ramen chef, mainly to ensure he could be there when Minato returned.

Now...

Ao's natural body approached Ichiraku Ramen.

As usual...

Before even reaching the curtain, he spotted two familiar figures. Though he hadn't seen them in a long time, he had just encountered these two.

It was Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki.

"Minato, Kushina, you're back!"

Ao quickly walked over with a smile, pretending to have just learned the news, his eyes filled with nostalgia. After all, they hadn't seen each other for months.

"Ao!"

Upon seeing Ao, Minato's face lit up with excitement, and he immediately went over to give him a big hug.

"I was so worried!"

"I thought you had died!"

"You have no idea how anxious I was after hearing you were on the battlefield!"

"I'm so glad you survived!"

Minato expressed his intense relief, having been focused on his training at Mount Myoboku and unaware of the detailed developments of the ninja world war. Most of the information and events were only made known to him after he left Mount Myoboku.

After defeating the Rock Village's forces, Minato only had a little time to learn what had happened in the village.

Only as they were about to return to the Hidden Leaf Village did Minato ask Shikamaru Nara about the village's situation.

That was when he learned that the Hidden Leaf's Anbu had previously been deployed to the battlefield and had been completely wiped out.

When he thought of the Anbu, he immediately thought of Ao, as Ao was the only person he knew well enough from his generation who had become an Anbu. Naturally, he was very concerned.

When he heard that only two Anbu members had survived, his heart sank, fully convinced that Ao had died on the battlefield.

In his understanding, Ao was a sensor ninja.

Such ninjas typically lacked significant combat capabilities, and he was well aware of the strength of the Rock Village's ninjas. Sending Anbu there was akin to sending sheep into the mouth of a tiger—a sure death.

When he made this decision, he became extremely dissatisfied with the Third Hokage, believing it to be a terrible decision that had needlessly cost many lives.

But when he was feeling most dejected...

Shikamaru told him the names of the two survivors.

One of them was Ao.

Minato was utterly shocked that Ao had survived; he had already prepared himself for Ao's death. This sudden joy felt like regaining a lost treasure.

This was why, upon seeing Ao again, his emotions surged, and even though they hadn't interacted on the battlefield, it felt as though they had endured it together.

This scene moved even Kushina, who stood by, her eyes brimming with tears.

"It's so good to see you again!"

Minato's emotions were intense as they sat down together to catch up on recent events.

Time flew by quickly.

Minato and Kushina shared their experiences in Mount Myoboku, conversations they had yet to have the chance to have before, not knowing who else to share them with until today with Ao.

Some of the experiences were individual, unknown to each other until now.

At this moment, Kushina learned what Minato had endured at Mount Myoboku. Of course, she also shared some details about her time there but did not reveal all her secrets to Ao.

Ao didn't mind this.

Although they were friends, it's normal for friends to have secrets. He hadn't been entirely open with them, so he didn't expect them to be completely open with him.

As night fell, they all went their separate ways.

"Hmm?"

Just as Ao stepped out of Ichiraku Ramen, he immediately sensed something unusual. He instinctively activated his sensory abilities and detected several chakra signatures heading toward the Hidden Leaf Village, which was already very close.

"This is..."

Ao quickly identified the chakra signatures as belonging to the Akatsuki members.

However, this iteration of the Akatsuki wasn't the formidable force known later on. Instead, it consisted of a few ninjas bound by a shared sense of purpose and mutual respect, a surprisingly positive dynamic.

At this moment, the Akatsuki members were setting up tents not far from the village, clearly preparing to spend the night there.

According to the current time, they would reach the Hidden Leaf Village by tomorrow.

"I didn't expect them actually to come."

"Things are getting more interesting."

"Let's go see them."

Ao vanished in a flash, using the Flying Thunder God Technique to reach just outside the village instantly.

Whisk, whisk, whisk...

The sound of rustling paper echoed around Ao as he transformed into the appearance of Sheshin Otsutsuki.

After completing the transformation, Ao quickly moved towards the tents and arrived in front of them within a few breaths.

"Konan."

Ao called out softly, immediately drawing everyone's attention.

Konan trembled as she heard Ao's voice, her nerves stretched to the limit. She was unsure of her decision to bring the Akatsuki here, especially now, feeling incredibly flustered.

Sheshin Otsutsuki?!

Yahiko and Nagato turned to look at Ao as they recognized the Rinnegan in his eyes.

It was indeed the Rinnegan!

Konan hadn't lied!

There, indeed, was a Rinnegan in this world!

"Lord Sheshin!"

Konan approached Ao timidly, her heart racing with nervous anticipation.

"You came after all!"

Ao nodded at Konan and then glanced at Yahiko and Nagato, pausing slightly longer on Nagato and nodding.

"Are you planning to stay in the Hidden Leaf Village from now on?"

Ao observed them not just as if they were here for a mission but as if they were relocating permanently, as if they were moving house.

"Yes!"

Konan immediately nodded, sensing from Ao's tone that he wasn't outright rejecting the idea but seemed to consider it feasible.

"I see."

Ao nodded and then suggested, "I recommend that you seek out your senior brother!"