@starblesse sent A PROMPT.
“ i’m still a believer. ”
There were very few who knew the way to the leaders’ room in the upper levels of the hideout, where Madara and Konan would usually hold meetings with each other or pour over administrative tasks for the Akatsuki and Amegakure. It was an even lesser known fact that ‘Tobi’ could be found here when he was home. Madara either rested here, doing some paperwork, or he went to watch the Uchiha in their daily lives and see how they were coming along.
Like Zetsu, Makihime’s role was to gather intel for the Akatsuki. Her craft allowed her access to the more aristocratic confines of upper class society or royal courts, things that Zetsu lacked the acumen or aesthetics for. When ‘Tobi’ had recruited her, he used his real voice and showed her the secret way in cases where she had absolute emergencies to report. Kisame and Kakuzu also knew the way to the leaders’ office.
When Madara had sensed her turmoil approaching, he put ‘Tobi’ mask back on. He surely did not expect to be confronted by the rumours she had heard on her travels about children and youths kidnapped by red clouds. Ah, the Jinchuuriki. Well, it was either that or allow the great villages to continue sacrificing young lives in the name of ❛ Power Balance ❜.
But did the fighting stop even after the Five Greats got what they wanted? Did anything change? No. Perpetual suffering remained. Betrayal remained. Tossing away shinobi lives in the name of money and influence. People with power always wanted more. More land. More missions. More resources. More, more, more.
Makihime was an entrance to the royal courts of the Daimyo, and Madara preferred if she stayed in Akatsuki’s service.
Or else.
❝Good.❞ he uttered calmly. ❝You are smart enough to know that I have to remove you if I ever perceived otherwise. I hope that you remain grateful to the Akatsuki for adding purpose and meaning to your otherwise very endangered life.❞
Madara purposefully put focus on the Aktasuki as a whole, as a family unit, not just himself who recruited her, so that she knows that she would be betraying a host of people if she ever made the mistake that required her eternal silence and death. Besides, it didn’t hurt to remind her that Konoha will still hunt her down, as any rogue nin, until the end of her days. She will never have peace, whether she thought she deserved it or not, but at least ‘Tobi’ had promised her peace some day in the future. The Tailed Beasts were needed for his plan.
