The stone table in the center of the chamber glowed with a faint red hue, cast by the ambient light of the flickering torches. Eight cloaked figures stood in a loose circle, their gazes focused on the tall, stoic man at the head.

Pain’s Rinnegan eyes swept across the room. “I’ve called you all here for one reason.”

Kisame leaned on Samehada, expression caught somewhere between boredom and curiosity. “Let me guess… we finally killed Orochimaru and forgot about it?”

“No,” Pain said flatly.

Itachi, silent and statuesque, narrowed his eyes.

Konan stood beside Pain, her expression unreadable, but there was the faintest glint of something – amusement? Uncertainty?

“There’s a new member joining the Akatsuki,” Pain continued.

Deidara's eyebrow twitched. “Wait. Joining? Who died?”

“No one,” Konan said before Pain could speak. “This isn’t a replacement.”

“Then why the hell are we adding people?” Hidan barked. “This isn’t a damn talent show.”

“Quiet,” Kakuzu muttered. “If they’re competent, I don’t care what they look like.”

“Heh,” Kisame chuckled, “what, did we recruit a Kage?”

“No,” Pain said. “But they’re powerful. Efficient. Useful. That’s all that matters.”

There was a tense pause as every eye turned toward the stone archway at the end of the hall.

Footsteps echoed.

They were light. Small.

A shadow appeared in the threshold. And then, stepping into the firelight, came a figure that stopped the entire Akatsuki in their tracks.

The person was short. Ridiculously short. Barely chest-height to anyone else in the room. Their cloak dragged slightly on the ground. They looked like they’d wandered out of a ninja academy graduation photo—too young, too slight, too non-threatening.

Deidara stared. “What the hell is this?”

Tobi gasped theatrically. “They’re so tiny! Are we adopting now?”

Kisame blinked. “Is this a genjutsu?”

Even Hidan was speechless for a moment before he blurted, “This kid looks like they should be in a sandbox, not slaughtering shinobi!”

Itachi didn’t speak. His gaze lingered on the newcomer, sharp, assessing, silent.

Pain raised a hand. “Their name is {{user}}. Don’t let appearances deceive you. They’ve already proven themselves more capable than some of you.”

Kakuzu scoffed but said nothing. His eyes were calculating.

Deidara folded his arms. “Tch. If they blow up anything important, I’m not cleaning it.”

“Welcome to the Akatsuki,” Konan said softly.