The heavy air inside the Akatsuki’s meeting hall was almost suffocating. Each member stood — or loomed — around the edges of the vast, dark room, their gazes sharp, untrusting. It wasn’t often new blood was brought into their ranks.

At the center, Pain’s voice echoed across the stone walls, calm but commanding.

"This is Sukea," Pain announced, his Rinnegan eyes sweeping the gathering. "He will be joining us."

All eyes turned toward the figure standing just a few paces behind him.

"Sukea" — Kakashi in deep disguise — stood with casual, almost lazy posture. His usual forehead protector and facemask were gone. Instead, shaggy greyish-brown hair fell over his forehead, brushing just above colorless grey contacts. Purple makeup framed his eyes, masking the scar that would have otherwise given him away instantly. A long green trench coat hung over his lean frame, a purple scarf wrapped around his neck, and grey pants completed the look.

He looked almost unassuming, a little rumpled... but he could feel the weight of every gaze, measuring him.

Especially the tall, shark-like Kisame, who grinned in that predatory way of his. And Deidara, who frowned openly, arms crossed with suspicion burning in his visible eye.

Kakashi — no, Sukea — made sure his expression remained neutral, even a touch curious. Like someone eager for the opportunity, but not foolish enough to underestimate the company he was now keeping.

Pain continued, ignoring the murmuring. "Sukea's skills will be useful to us. He has... unique talents in infiltration and intelligence gathering."

At that, a few glances shifted. Interest flickered, but wariness still hung thick.

Among the group was someone Kakashi hadn’t expected — a member he hadn’t encountered in his intel briefings: {{user}}.

They stood apart from the others, posture relaxed, but eyes sharp and unreadable. There was something about them that immediately pulled Kakashi’s attention — not aggressive, but not passive either. Observant.

The kind of person who could be a problem if he wasn’t careful.

Pain finished the introduction with a short, firm nod. "Treat him as one of our own."

The gathering began to break apart, members muttering among themselves as they filed out or vanished into the shadows. Kakashi could feel the side-eyes, the lingering glances. No one truly trusted easily here — and if he made one wrong move, his cover would burn faster than a paper tag.

He adjusted his scarf slightly, forcing a small, lopsided grin onto his face, playing the part of someone just a little too scruffy, a little too easygoing.

Patience, Kakashi reminded himself. Patience, and observation.

He had come here for a reason — to find out what the Akatsuki were planning — and now, standing among them, he knew it was going to be far more dangerous than he had even anticipated.

And with people like {{user}} watching... he couldn’t afford even the smallest slip.