In a palace sculpted from ice down to the finest detail, polished statues reflected pale light off the cold stone walls. The entire hall looked like a frozen winter scene that had never known warmth. Over time, some of the sculptures had transformed into rare jade—subtle, but enough to send a clear message of wealth and power.
At the center of the hall sat a boy, no older than fifteen, on a throne carved from ice and draped with thick fur. One hand supported his face in a lazy posture that did nothing to hide the sharp focus in his eyes. His skin was unusually pale, and his gaze was colder than the frost around him.
Standing before him was a child of about seven, delivering a report in a steady voice.
"Sir, as I said earlier, we've taken over Kajo Corporation. We now control the sea trade routes in the Land of Whirlpools. But there's a problem in the Land of Lightning… our representative there is skimming money. He seems to have ties to the daimyo. Expansion is temporarily halted. Shall I send Zabuza to handle it?"
Hyōjin didn't answer right away. He stared forward, as if the walls in front of him held a scene only he could see. After a moment, he muttered:
"...Zabuza, huh."
The memory surfaced immediately. A year and a half ago, back when the palace was just a blueprint on parchment, he met Zabuza. The deal was blunt: "I'll fund your coup. You win, and from now on, you work for me."
It was a calculated move, and it paid off. Zabuza had accelerated the foundation of the organization, pushing it forward with minimal noise.
"In the Land of Whirlpools, tell Masashi to raise wages for Kajo staff, but monitor them closely. Within a year, begin replacing them with locals from Uzumaki territory. Also, ease the trade of essential goods. That region is fragile. One wrong move, and everything could collapse."
Haku looked impressed. "Sir… you're very kind."
Hyōjin gave a short, humorless laugh. "Two years with me, and you still say that?"
Haku tried to respond, but Hyōjin cut in, tone cold and firm:
"Haku, this isn't kindness. Listen carefully… The greatest mistake nobles make is that they suffocate those beneath them until there's no room left to breathe. And when that happens, those people start breaking everything around them. I don't stop them from falling—I just leave a clear exit… then make them pay to use it."
The room fell silent for a beat. The smile on his lips wasn't warm.
"What I'm doing is low-cost, high-yield. I don't mind saving them, if I get their loyalty in return. All it takes is a crumb of profit."
Haku nodded slowly, trying to grasp the logic. It had little to do with mercy and everything to do with control.
"As for Hiro… don't touch him. Give him the money he wants. But tell him—if expansion doesn't accelerate, he dies."
Haku looked hesitant. He'd expected an order for execution; Hyōjin rarely tolerated betrayal.
Noticing that, Hyōjin added coolly, "When I appointed him to the Land of Lightning, I already knew he was a spy."
Haku's eyes widened, but he said nothing.
"We're a company from the Land of Water. Expanding into other nations depends on their daimyo's approval—which we don't have. Remember what happened in the Land of Fire?"
Haku nodded. The stores that opened were shut within days. Some owners vanished. The rest fled.
"That was the Fire Daimyo's doing. Likely with Konoha's help. The same goes for the Lands of Earth and Wind. But the Land of Lightning… I invested in their spy. Let him steal, let him please the daimyo. That way, no one blocked our path."
He paused, then added, "Once we secure full control there, I'll kill him. After that, I deal with the daimyo directly."
Haku nodded again. No objections.
Just as he turned to leave, Hyōjin spoke:
"Since the guests have waited long enough, it would be rude to leave them standing."
Haku turned. He saw no one—but Hyōjin's instincts rarely failed. He drew a kunai and fixed his gaze on the same corner his master had been watching.
Then came the slow sound of clapping.
"As expected from someone who caught the leader's attention… sharp awareness."
From the shadows emerged three figures in black cloaks marked with red clouds. The first was a woman with violet hair. The second, a man with a stitched face. The third was unmistakable—Jūzō, wielder of the Executioner's Blade.
Haku was on edge. Hyōjin, as always, looked unconcerned.
"A visit from the Akatsuki? What brings you to the Ice Palace?"
The trio exchanged a glance. They hadn't expected him to recognize them so quickly—or to be so unfazed.
"We're here to skip the formalities. We're offering you a place in Akatsuki. You seem to already know who we are."
Konan spoke calmly.
Hyōjin gestured for them to sit and replied simply:
"I don't mind. But as you know—I don't move without the right price."
Inside, he already knew what he wanted: White Zetsu. His body had been growing weaker, unable to endure prolonged combat. He'd come to rely on Haku for field operations. His strength remained, but he needed a long-term solution—and things were getting worse.
He studied Konan's expression. She wasn't foolish. She weighed every word and action before making a decision.
Finally, she spoke: "If you join us, you'll have our support. You'll be free to expand in the Land of Rain and the Land of Sound. If you have a specific request—state it. We'll consider it."
He pretended to think, then used sensory ninjutsu to transfer his thoughts directly through chakra.
Kakuzu and Jūzō tensed, but Konan stopped them with a glance.
Fifteen minutes passed in silence. Then, Konan stood and tossed him a ring.
They left without another word.
Hyōjin looked down at the ring in his hand. Just moments earlier, he had relayed the truth to her: his body was slowly failing from an illness. He didn't mention Zetsu—just gave her enough to let her connect the dots.
That was all he needed.