A remote mountain village in the Land of Birds.
A stretch of houses had been built along the valley. Mountain streams from all around converged into a river, flowing from the middle towards the lake of the Land of Birds.
On the hill, sheets of paper carried wood and stones, reinforcing the cliff walls.
"This really wasn't easy!" Yahiko looked at the valley below, an indescribable sense of pride and excitement in his heart. "Nagato, this is our village, built from nothing to what it is now!"
"Yeah." A smile touched the corner of Nagato's mouth. Although it wasn't the Land of Rain, but... it was wonderful!
He suddenly looked at Yahiko and smiled. "Do you still want to go back to the Land of Rain now?"
"Of course!" Yahiko nodded without hesitation. He looked at the mountain village below and said, "The more beautiful it is here, the more I want to bring this beauty to everyone back home, to let everyone live such a life."
Nagato was stunned for a moment, then looked down below, falling into a thoughtful silence.
Yahiko turned his head. "Why aren't you talking? What are you thinking?"
"It's nothing. I just feel that your ideal is so much grander than mine and Konan's. Our ideal is just to live our own lives well." Nagato replied with a smile. "The life we have now is already very blissful for us."
"Hahahaha, what grand ideal? It's just a thought. From 'thinking' to 'doing', the distance in between is as far as from here to the Land of Water." Yahiko spread his hands, making an exaggerated example.
But, just then.
"Well said. But, you two, with the current situation in the Land of Rain, so what if you manage to build it up to this state? Once a war breaks out between the great ninja villages..."
"A small ninja village like this..."
"Is like a fragile wooden bridge. It will be directly crushed by the war machine, and then—dissipate into nothing."
Behind them, a strange voice sounded.
Yahiko and Nagato immediately turned around, their eyes filled with vigilance. Before them was a strange person, half black and half white. A Venus flytrap-like leaf grew out of his head, looking extremely bizarre.
"Who are you?" Nagato's eyes, hidden under his hair, had already locked onto the other party, his hand slightly raised. If Yahiko made any move, he would directly activate his ninjutsu and pull the strange person before him over.
"My name is Zetsu, a broker who sells intelligence."
"Selling intelligence... I have no intelligence to sell here, nor do I want to buy any. You can leave." Yahiko's tone was full of vigilance.
A slight smile appeared on Zetsu's lips. "Don't be so absolute. Perhaps in the future, you will need my help."
"At least not now," Yahiko refused coldly. This guy before him made him feel very dangerous! It wasn't that the other party was very strong, but his bizarre form, his ability to approach them silently, and his identity as an "intelligence broker" made him very uneasy.
Besides, it seemed that this person was also involved in the matter of Sasori of the Red Sand. The other party was a character who stirred up trouble. Their business was destined to plunge the ninja world into chaos.
Zetsu smiled faintly. "In that case..."
He was about to continue speaking when, the next second, a figure suddenly appeared between them.
The next moment, Zetsu instantly submerged into the ground. But, in just an instant, that figure arrived beside him.
Boom!
With one punch, half of the body underground was shattered, flesh and blood staining the surrounding gravel. And that figure quickly left via Earth Release.
"So fast!" Kyohiko sighed with regret but didn't pursue further.
Black Zetsu had the characteristics of Yin-Yang Release. His state was difficult to be detected by ordinary sensing abilities, so tracking him was meaningless. Moreover, even if he did catch up, with ordinary sealing abilities, it would probably be impossible to seal Black Zetsu.
He collected the surrounding rock fragments.
As for the parties involved, Yahiko and Nagato, they were currently completely bewildered.
Just now... what happened? Why did Kyohiko suddenly appear, and the next second, almost without hesitation, smash that guy's body? That decisiveness was as if he was certain the other party was an enemy.
He looked at Kyohiko in a daze. "What on earth is going on? Also, why did you suddenly appear here?"
"Uh, as you can see, I just came back from the Land of Snow." Kyohiko was still wearing the thick coat from the Land of Snow. It was quite hot. After taking it off, Gyūki on his shoulder also appeared. Gyūki scanned the surroundings... then, its eyes instantly fixed on Nagato.
"Kid, your eyes!" Gyūki's tone suddenly became tense and urgent. Then, it wanted to jump in front of Nagato, but due to its current size...
Bang!
It instantly fell to the ground.
Kyohiko picked it up and brought it in front of Nagato. Nagato nervously dodged. "Don't get too close!" he said unhappily.
Kyohiko smiled. "It's alright, this guy is just curious."
Gyūki's tail slapped him once, then it said excitedly, "Are your eyes also the Rinnegan? How do you have these eyes!"
"..."
Nagato glanced at it strangely, not bothering to answer at all. But this glance made him notice that the other party's structure was quite strange.
Tails... eight tails? Its appearance was also very strange. Besides, the chakra fluctuation in its body was very strong, but it seemed to be sealed.
Huh???
Nagato's eyes widened, looking at Kyohiko in disbelief. "No way?!!"
"What's wrong, Nagato?" Yahiko was stunned. Why was his emotional fluctuation so intense? Just letting it take a look was no big deal. It was just a summoning beast.
Nagato swallowed and said, "It should be the Eight-Tails, right?"
"Mhm, it's Gyūki," Kyohiko introduced. "Also, as you can see, Nagato's eyes are indeed the Rinnegan."
Gyūki nodded in a daze. It recognized them. The Rinnegan! Could it be the old man's eyes? No, that's not possible! The old man's eyes should have completely decayed with his death. It was impossible for them to be passed down to this day.
"Where did you get your Rinnegan?"
"I don't know. I've had them for a long time," Nagato answered.
After that... a painful memory surfaced in his mind. He looked at Kyohiko, a trace of hidden pain flashing in his eyes.
A ninja of Konoha! Although his teacher, Jiraiya, who had taught him ninjutsu, was also a ninja of Konoha, it was also a fact that his parents had died at the hands of Konoha ninja.
After a moment of silence, he looked at Yahiko. "I'll go down to help first."
"Alright," Yahiko nodded.
After Nagato left, he looked at Kyohiko, his expression suddenly becoming serious. "That guy just now, was he really the one with Sasori of the Red Sand before?"
"Yes. It appears as black and white. It seems the black part is the real main body. Of course, that's not the point. The point is..." Kyohiko glanced down below. "Currently, according to our Konoha's intelligence network, we can confirm that the master behind them is Uchiha Madara."
"U, Uchiha Madara?" Even though Yahiko was a relatively calm and steady type, upon suddenly hearing the identity of the mastermind behind them, he couldn't help but be shocked on the spot.
Uchiha Madara. A figure who, along with Senju Hashirama, had resounded throughout an era. He was still alive?
Yahiko's first reaction... was disbelief. Then, he met Kyohiko's gaze and saw the calm, completely unfazed look in his eyes, and finally believed it. It was true!
"Madara, is he really still alive?"
"It's not certain if it's the real Madara, but it's not important. What's important is that now, their goal is to concentrate all their forces... to deal with me," Kyohiko said, and at the end, he couldn't help but let out a laugh.
He never thought that one day he would become the target of Madara's siege. Thinking about it, it was quite an honor. This was probably the treatment Senju Hashirama received, right? Of course, if it were Madara in his prime, he definitely wouldn't have adopted the current strategy to deal with the current him.
Time spares no one! Even Uchiha Madara could only hang on by a thread with an "oxygen tube" now, which was quite lamentable.
Yahiko couldn't comprehend Kyohiko's thoughts at this moment. He only felt that such a situation seemed somewhat desperate. Besides.
"You came here, you don't possibly hope to get my help, do you?" If so, he felt quite powerless.
Kyohiko nodded, but then shook his head. "I need your help, but the way is, I hope you can protect yourselves and not get into danger. You know, they have already started attacking the Tailed Beasts."
"The Hidden Waterfall Village has already been attacked. Their Seven-Tails Jinchuriki is very likely to be taken away."
"I came here this time mainly to use you as a springboard to go to the Sand Village and see if I can protect the Sand Village's Shukaku. Also..."
"You don't think Nagato won't be in danger, do you?" Kyohiko looked at the valley below. This scene was indeed very blissful and beautiful, but the flames of war could spread to this beautiful land at any time. Because here, there was the Rinnegan.
Yahiko clearly understood Kyohiko's meaning, and—the other party had already found them. Did the result still need to be explained?
He was silent for a few seconds. "What should we do?"
"It's up to you. Perhaps..." Kyohiko thought for a moment and said, "While hiding Nagato's existence, you can consider cooperating with the Hidden Rain Village and Hanzō. You have a natural basis for cooperation."
Yahiko was a ninja from the Hidden Rain Village. And most of the people currently in the Land of Birds were from the Hidden Rain Village. Hanzō himself also admired Yahiko very much. The two of them cooperating would basically be a done deal.
Yahiko was silent for a few seconds, then nodded lightly. This was a viable method. The problem was, what about Nagato? He looked down below. Nagato...
"Mount Myōboku?"
"That's what I was thinking," Kyohiko nodded.
Yahiko didn't have the contract for Mount Myōboku, but Nagato had been recognized by the Great Toad Sage. "Going to Mount Myōboku can also let Nagato concentrate on cultivating Sage Mode. Once he masters this power, Nagato's strength can rise to a new level."
Sage Mode plus the Rinnegan. If coordinated with the secret techniques of the two great sages of Mount Myōboku, allowing Nagato to maintain Sage Mode for a long time, there would be very few in the ninja world who could take down Nagato.
Yahiko quickly thought it over and soon realized that Kyohiko's plan was reasonable. And, it could be said that this was the most suitable plan for them at present!
"Alright, there's no time to lose. I'll go talk to Nagato right away. Thank you, Kyohiko." Yahiko was extremely grateful.
This was not the first time Kyohiko had helped them, but each time, his help was very timely. Just like this time... if not for Kyohiko's arrival, he might not have realized how dangerous their situation was.
"It's nothing. I also have my own selfish motives. After all, I absolutely do not want the enemy to have an extra pair of Rinnegan, and even... Nagato and Konan." Kyohiko answered with a serious expression.
Yahiko nodded lightly, vaguely understanding Kyohiko's unspoken meaning.
"Even if Nagato goes to Mount Myōboku, you can't let your guard down, because the enemy's main target is very likely to be you or Konan," Kyohiko instructed again.
Yahiko took a deep breath. "I know, they are indeed very dependent on me..."
If he died, Nagato and Konan would probably be kept in the dark by Madara and his group, and be used by the enemy. He had to live!
Yahiko's expression was grave. "While they haven't completely united and acted yet, I must start the plan immediately. Kyohiko, I won't be able to accompany you."
"Mhm, I have to go to the Sand Village too."
"After I ally with Hanzō, I'll see what his attitude is, and then I'll contact you."
"Alright."
***
Down below, Yahiko flickered over, then clapped his hands. The surrounding people immediately looked over.
Looking at everyone's gazes, a trace of reluctance appeared in Yahiko's eyes, but... he gritted his teeth and finally spoke.
"Everyone has worked hard to settle down in the Land of Birds and build such a village. But now, I plan to take a few people and leave, to return to the Hidden Rain Village!"
Below, there was an immediate uproar. Go back?
Konan and Nagato looked at each other, both very surprised and incredulous.
"Why?"
"Nagato, that guy just now might be a pawn of Madara. They are now planning to start an unprecedented ninja world war!" Yahiko explained. "In the Land of Birds, our strength is too weak to protect everyone. We must unite with the power of the Hidden Rain Village to have a chance to survive."
"Of course, this is also related to the three of us personally..."
"So, who is willing to go back to the Hidden Rain Village with me?" Yahiko said with a smile.
Below, everyone looked at each other. Finally, a few people stood up. "Leader Yahiko, we are willing to go back with you!"
Yahiko scanned the crowd. After these few, everyone else stood up one after another.
A line of hot tears flowed from Yahiko's eyes. Then, he looked up. "I'm sorry, I can't take too many people. So, Kyūsuke, you've been with me for a long time and have learned a lot about handling village affairs. You few will stay in the village."
"People are needed here too!" Yahiko said with a gentle smile.
Kyūsuke was unwilling but could only nod in agreement.
Konan frowned and said, "Do I have to go too?"
"Of course!" Yahiko nodded seriously. Then, he looked at Nagato.
"Nagato, you go to that place. Go there to cultivate a stronger sage art. The current you, and us, are still too weak!" Previously, the toads of Mount Myōboku had asked Nagato about this, but Nagato had been putting it off and was unwilling to go. Yahiko's words left Nagato no room to refuse.
"I..." Nagato's face was full of reluctance. But, in the end, he still nodded silently. "I'll go to Mount Myōboku!"
Yahiko walked up to him and patted him on the shoulder. "Sorry!"
"I understand. I'm the one who has dragged everyone down." Nagato covered his eyes. He was not stupid. Yahiko and Konan were both going to the Hidden Rain Village, and only he needed to go to Mount Myōboku to train. It was clearly not just to make him stronger. There was another meaning... he was too weak, not qualified to protect these eyes.
He needed to become stronger! "When we meet again, I will let you see the power of these eyes. I will make it so that no one dares to have designs on us again!" Nagato said decisively.
"I believe in you, because you are definitely the 'Child of the Prophecy' who shoulders the future of the ninja world!" Yahiko's smile was brilliant.
Nagato nodded heavily.
Parting was the most painful, but after listening to Yahiko's words, everyone agreed with his judgment. This was the prestige Yahiko had here, and it was also the reason why Yahiko was unwilling to take too many people back. Hanzō was a great man, a hero, but he was also suspicious. He needed to be on his guard.
After a round of farewells, Nagato summoned a toad and went directly to Mount Myōboku via the reverse summoning technique. Yahiko, on the other hand, took Konan and a few subordinates and headed towards the Hidden Rain Village.
Standing on the hill, Konan looked back at this place. "We'll come back, right?"
"Of course. When everything is peaceful, when the conspirators are killed, we will return here and build our home. And... I will also make the Land of Rain a better place!" Yahiko looked in the direction of the Land of Rain.
"The forbearance now is only for the reunion in the future! So, we must live!"
"Mhm!" Konan nodded heavily.