章 21: Chapter 21: The Reward and Punishment System
"Do you know how to bring about change? How to achieve peace in the Land of Rain?"
Yahiko's own words hung heavy in the air, surprising even him.
Just a month ago, Yahiko might have only half-listened to Byakuya's musings. After all, the seemingly flippant Byakuya often tossed out thought-provoking ideas along with his jokes.
But the past month had been a harsh teacher. The Akatsuki had faced a relentless series of challenges – dwindling weapons stockpiles, a critical lack of medical supplies. The exhaustion etched on his companions' faces mirrored the growing doubt gnawing at Yahiko himself. He wasn't the only one questioning the Akatsuki's ideals anymore. It was why he'd recently proposed stepping down as leader to Nagato.
Byakuya, sensing Yahiko's genuine turmoil, offered a gentle head shake. "Peace for Amegakure, in the short term, is beyond the Akatsuki's reach. Even with Lord Hanzo's strength, achieving that would take years, if not longer. But there is something we can do – normalize the organization."
Yahiko's brow furrowed. Byakuya's words were cryptic, their meaning lost on him. Orphaned at a young age, his education had been limited to Jiraiya-sensei's three years of tutelage. Beyond that, the world was a vast unknown. His guiding principles were a patchwork of Jiraiya's teachings, his own experiences, and the ever-present ache for peace.
Byakuya felt a hit of helplessness as he saw the eager hope surfacing in Yahiko's eyes.
This Yahiko, a year into their comradeship, was far more mature than his counterpart from the original timeline. Yet, a certain naivety lingered, a stark contrast to the steely resolve Konan and Nagato would develop in the coming decade.
Back then, Konan ruled the Land of Rain with an iron fist, a semblance of order amidst the lingering poverty, a far cry from the war-torn existence they currently endured.
Though life remained impoverished, at least they weren't plagued by the ravages of war.
Byakuya's words cut through the air, clear and concise. "Think of it like this. We need to run Akatsuki like a proper shinobi village. By establishing a ranking system and a fair system of rewards and punishments, we can offer our members something more tangible to fight for than just empty dreams."
Yahiko furrowed his brow in concentration. "So, these from jutsu scrolls you captured from Kusagakure, you're suggesting we use them to build this system, not distribute them directly?"
Byakuya met his gaze earnestly. "Yahiko, if you want Akatsuki to remain a tiny band of just a few dozen, then by all means, hand them out freely. But listen closely. The reason I suggested using these scrolls for a reward system is because… I, more than anyone, want Akatsuki to become a truly powerful organization."
"Sharing every jutsu scroll with every member, might work for a small, core group – three, maybe five people at most. But once a group grows too large, that kind of free access becomes a detriment. It hinders healthy competition and undermines the organization's internal growth." Byakuya elaborated,
The weight of Byakuya's words settled heavily on Yahiko. The idea of internal collapse, Akatsuki falling apart not from external enemies but from its own flaws, sent a shiver down his spine. He yearned for a world of open sharing, but Byakuya's logic was undeniable.
"Alright, so how do we set up this reward system?" Yahiko finally asked, his voice hesitant. "And wouldn't implementing such a drastic change make us look just like another run-of-the-mill ninja village?"
Byakuya sighed, a hint of exasperation coloring his expression. "Yahiko, you're the leader. Whether it's based on the number of completed missions or their difficulty, you can create a point system that works for us. Look, we don't have to be exactly like the established villages. We can learn from their mistakes, keep their strengths, and build something entirely new."
A chuckle escaped Yahiko's lips. Byakuya was right. Why hadn't he considered this before? Here he was, yearning for a world of trust and open hearts, while the solution might have been right under his nose all along.
A genuine smile spread across Yahiko's face as he looked up at Byakuya. "Byakuya, you're a wealth of knowledge! Why didn't you share these ideas earlier? We could have avoided so many arguments and had productive discussions instead."
Byakuya snorted, a dismissive puff of air escaping his nose. "Don't be naive, Yahiko. A world of perfect trust? That's a fantasy. Here's the reality: no matter how bright the light, there will always be shadows that darkness clings to."
With that final, cryptic statement, Byakuya placed the storage scroll containing the jutsu scrolls on the table and turned to leave the office, leaving Yahiko with a thoughtful frown.
Yahiko watched Byakuya leave, his departing words echoing in the silent office. "I believe you do think such a world can exist. Otherwise, you wouldn't have shared your ideas with me."
Meanwhile, Byakuya emerged from the office to find Nagato, Konan, and Karen waiting nearby. His gaze swept over them before settling on Karen. "Karen, for now, follow Yahiko's arrangements and stay at the base. Given your current skill level, going on missions would be unwise."
With that, Byakuya vanished into the labyrinthine halls of the base.
Karen frowned, bewildered. "What's wrong with Lord Byakuya? Wasn't he just arguing with Yahiko-sama? Why is he asking me to follow Yahiko-sama's orders now?"
Konan, her face unreadable, finally spoke after spending weeks studying Byakuya's interactions with Yahiko. "They weren't arguing," she said simply.
Nagato offered a curt nod in agreement.
The trio then returned to the office.
Yahiko, his demeanor noticeably lighter than just moments ago, retrieved a blank notebook and addressed them all with newfound seriousness. "Following discussions with Byakuya, we're planning some changes within the organization. We'll establish a clear system of rewards and punishments based on the jutsu scrolls we acquired. If anyone has suggestions, please don't hesitate to speak up."
Karen's brow furrowed, a vein pulsing on her temple. Karen realized – Nagato and Konan were right. Yahiko and Byakuya hadn't been arguing at all. They'd been engaged in a thoughtful exchange about the Akatsuki's future. This collaborative atmosphere was a far cry from what she'd envisioned, yet a strange sense of satisfaction bloomed within her.
As Yahiko, Nagato, Konan, and Karen delved into the creation of the reward and punishment system, a paper clone of Byakuya observed them from the shadows.
The scene unfolding before him brought a satisfied crease to his brow. It wasn't just Yahiko's receptiveness to his ideas that pleased him; there were deeper reasons at play.
Byakuya's recent mission, which yielded a wealth of resources and spurred him to propose reforms for the Akatsuki, had fundamentally altered his standing within the organization.
Members who initially disagreed with Yahiko's idealistic vision now found themselves aligned with his goals, albeit disillusioned by the harsh realities they faced and the Akatsuki's current state of disarray.
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