"Pfft~~ Hey hey, Kakuzu~ those two are basically beyond saving~"
Sitting behind Kakuzu, Hidan immediately burst out laughing. But Kakuzu just said calmly, "It's a good name, actually. Reminds me of the sound of silver coins clinking. We're here."
Before Hidan could say anything else, the clay bird carrying him suddenly went into a sharp dive—clearly, the ever-petty Deidara had heard his comment and decided a quick high-altitude roller coaster was in order.
Thanks to the convenience of ninjutsu, building a base in this world was easy. One Earth Style jutsu could instantly create a basement. So when Hinata saw a hidden cave embedded in a mountain wall, she wasn't surprised at all.
Deidara's clay bird, while not as fast as a jet, still cruised at over a hundred kilometers an hour. They were now basically beyond the borders of the Land of Fire.
After Deidara unsealed the barrier on the cave, the group entered—where a circle of Akatsuki members' projected avatars were already waiting.
"Well, this is rare. It's the first time an outsider's ever stepped into the Akatsuki's base~"
The first to speak was Kisame, clearly amused by the arrival of Hinata and Sai. Beside him, Zetsu nodded.
"Right? And honestly, we always thought the first outsider to get here would be an enemy breaking in~"
"Shut up! You want the base to be invaded?!"
Besides Kisame and the black-and-white Zetsu, the rest were clearly the quiet types. Konan rarely spoke, Itachi mostly ignored everyone, and Pain wasn't interested in mortals.
Still, they were all here now—for the sole purpose of meeting the person who'd just brought in a fortune for the Akatsuki.
"Pain, this is the girl I mentioned."
Kakuzu was the first to speak, motioning for Hinata to step forward.
"So you're the leader of the Akatsuki? It's an honor to meet you."
Hinata glanced around quickly, noting that Tobi wasn't present. That slippery puppet master must be off somewhere scheming again—so, no need to worry about him for now.
"Welcome, Suigin Tou. The Akatsuki appreciates your trust and cooperation."
Though only a projection created by the Pain's presence was still overwhelming. His greeting was standard, but reasonable. After all, the Akatsuki was, at its core, a mercenary group taking jobs—and right now, Hinata was their biggest patron.
After hearing Kakuzu's report, even Pain had found it hard to believe. Those nearly cost-free wooden and clay dolls had sold for tens of millions? He had to see for himself how Hinata had pulled it off.
Every organization needs funding. Ninja villages had support from their respective lords and received military budgets, along with income from official missions. That allowed them to keep running.
But as a rogue ninja group, Akatsuki got none of that. They couldn't openly accept commissions or support from any nation. They could only work underground, taking extremely dangerous, poorly paid jobs.
And with Akatsuki trying to corner the entire black market by undercutting prices, their margin was even worse.
Funding? Barely enough to scrape by.
On top of that, Pain and Konan ruled the impoverished Amegakure, a rain-drenched village where crops barely grew and the economy was in ruins. The people lived on the edge of survival, and much of the Akatsuki's income was spent just keeping the village afloat.
Otherwise, there's no way "God" and "Angel" would've earned the villagers' loyalty after killing Hanzo. The only reason Amegakure still supported them was because they had improved the villagers' lives—even just a little.
In short, the Akatsuki was dirt broke. If their members weren't all absurdly powerful S-rank ninjas, they'd have been wiped out by competitors long ago. The rogue ninja world wasn't kind—missions were finite, and if Akatsuki hogged them all, others would retaliate.
Which was why Akatsuki ultimately had no choice but to turn to gathering the tailed beasts if they wanted to dominate the world. Taking over through normal military force or alliances was out of the question.
"I'll be direct: your organization is the most powerful group in the underground world. I want to collaborate on a business venture."
With all that in mind, Hinata spoke with a calm tone. Her words drew varied reactions from the surrounding Akatsuki members.
"Hmm~ she's cute, but she's got guts. Hey Itachi, she's from Konoha, right? Are all their women like this?"
Kisame spoke with interest, and Itachi—usually silent—actually replied, "I don't know about other villages, but I haven't seen many like her in Konoha."
"So... rare, then~~"
"Few people have real vision. Most just go with the flow."
Black and White Zetsu chimed in, clearly intrigued.
"I can't speak for anything else, but she is great at making money."
Kakuzu nodded with arms crossed, clearly caring only about that.
"Hey hey~ you guys, show some respect~ Suigin-chan here actually appreciates art—unlike you people~"
Deidara, who currently had the highest opinion of Hinata, jumped in to defend her. Pain narrowed his eyes slightly.
He stared directly at Hinata, finally speaking.
"I've heard Kakuzu's report on your money-making abilities. But I want to hear it from you—what exactly is the business you propose?"
There it is. The line she'd been waiting for.
Hinata's lips curved into a faint smile. Her pale eyes glowed slightly in the dim cave, brimming with unhidden ambition.
"Nothing fancy—just selling products. Only, these products go by one name—"
"Otaku Culture!!"
"You said... culture?"
Even Konan, rarely surprised, spoke up—her voice filled with disbelief.
The world of Naruto wasn't a peaceful one. Outside of Konoha, most places—especially small villages and minor nations—were dirt-poor and underdeveloped. Konan and her companions had only learned as much as they did thanks to Jiraiya's care and education.
In war-torn countries, most people probably died without ever learning to read. Konoha, with its stability and actual schools, was undeniably the most well-rounded village in the world.
Cities outside the villages were divided into extremes: in wealthy cities, nobles and rich merchants lived in luxury, with access to culture and education. These places were usually well-defended and untouched even during major wars.
But in towns with no strategic or economic value? They were utterly unprotected. The richer ones might get by, but most were just tiny hamlets struggling with hunger—easy prey for bandits or rogue ninjas. People were often treated like livestock, especially when someone like Orochimaru showed up to do human experiments.
In this social landscape, culture was still a luxury, not something widespread. So Hinata's proposal to spread some unheard-of otaku culture was nothing short of shocking.
"Yes, in the literal sense: a brand-new cultural system. One that has the power to change this entire world."
She raised her hands and swept her gaze across the Akatsuki members, speaking with power in her voice.
"This world is in ruins. The gap between rich and poor is a chasm. People, no matter their wealth, are spiritually starved!"
"They're tired of the same old plays and operas. Sick of age-old clichés that haven't changed for centuries. And now—this is our chance. A moment for innovators and trailblazers to lead a new era!"
Raising her slender hand high, she clenched her fist, voice rising again.
"Seize this opportunity—and we can rule this world! The cultural legacy of this world is ready for a revolution! And we—we can become the founding saints of a new cultural age!"
There was no doubt that her passionate speech stunned the surrounding Akatsuki members. Not many people could deliver such a powerful address—it required insight, clarity, and an unshakable purpose.
"Amazing... she's just like—"
"Shut up."
White Zetsu was the first to react, nearly blurting out a dangerous name before Black Zetsu forcibly cut him off.
"Mm~~ Mmm~~ Kakuzu, I think I suddenly have a crush on her~~ Her speech was way better than those who just spout empty nonsense~~ She really reminds me of my old cult leader~"
Hidan was also captivated, clearly reminiscing with interest.
"It's true—great rhetoric and bold promises. But... I still don't quite get it. Are you saying this 'otaku culture' just means selling the figurines Deidara and Sasori made?"
Kisame bared his teeth slightly. His voice made it clear—he was intrigued and wanted to understand more.
"Heh~ Nice words, but—pardon me for being blunt—I don't think you have the power to actually pull this off."
As the leader, Pain held the most sway. But even as he said this, the subtle caution in his tone proved one thing—at least in terms of ideas and charisma, he now saw this little girl as a worthy opponent.