Boom! A thunderous explosion reverberated through the air, its echoes lingering long after the initial blast.
Scalding lake water cascaded down like a torrential rain, completely engulfing the kilometer-wide ruins.
A vacuum briefly appeared at the center of the lake before being filled by the surging water a few seconds later.
Yahiko and Nagato, having barely escaped the Great Fireball Technique, exchanged pale, incredulous glances.
In their eyes, the combined power of the Wind Release Gale Palm and Fire Release Great Fireball Technique was extraordinary.
They had spent seven or eight years honing this jutsu, perfecting the chakra balance for maximum power.
Yet, against Kai's fifty-meter-diameter fireball, their attack was laughable. They couldn't believe someone could wield a C-rank jutsu with such S-rank power.
"Yahiko, Nagato, are you injured?" Konan asked, worry etched on her face. She landed beside them, carefully examining them before finally relaxing.
If Pakura hadn't intervened with the Water Wall Technique to partially deflect the fireball, Konan wouldn't have been able to save them unscathed.
"We're fine, but didn't you have a conflict with that person?" Yahiko asked, his gaze snapping to Uchiha Kai, his expression shifting.
"Him?"
Konan nodded wryly. "He's the Konoha ninja I mentioned, the Blood-Red Asura, Uchiha Kai."
"His current situation is… complicated," she added, considering Kai's fall from Konoha hero to rogue ninja.
This drastic change was problematic for Akatsuki, whose goal was peaceful negotiation with the five great nations. Being associated with a rogue ninja would severely hinder their efforts.
"Konan, you should know the difference between us and him," Nagato said coldly. Compared to the carefree Yahiko and compassionate Konan, Nagato possessed a colder, more calculating personality.
This was evident in his violent reaction after Yahiko's death, when he awakened the Rinnegan and summoned the Gedō Mazō.
"But he saved me twice! If it weren't for him, we would have died fighting the Rain-soaked Head-Hunter," Konan insisted, conveniently omitting the near-death experiences she'd had at Kai's hands.
Rō and his men, lacking the courage to contradict her, could only nod in agreement.
"You encountered the Rain-soaked Head-Hunter?" Yahiko's expression changed. "We received intel; it's Suigetsu Hozuki of Kirigakure. That's why we came to support you."
Bordering the Land of Water, Akatsuki had some knowledge of Kirigakure, especially its talented ninjas from the Third Great Ninja War.
They were monitoring them to prevent border conflicts. They'd sensed powerful lightning chakra from several kilometers away, leading them to mistake Kai for an enemy.
"Finished your whispered conversation?" Kai said, smiling as he brushed dust off his clothes. "Get me a room. I saved you."
"Two rooms!" Pakura interjected sharply.
Nagato's expression darkened, about to speak, but Yahiko stopped him.
"Guests are guests, especially since he helped Konan and the organization.
Turning him away would make us seem heartless," Nagato said, looking at Kai. "However, due to your identities, you can only stay overnight!"
"This…" Konan panicked, but under Nagato's gaze, could only apologize to Kai.
"A night's stay is worth a thousand gold, and tomorrow morning, you might not want to leave," Kai said with a playful smile, unconcerned.
"Don't flatter yourself," Nagato retorted coldly, clearly annoyed.
But as soon as he spoke, Kai vanished and reappeared several meters away, beside Nagato.
"Incredible Body Flicker Technique!" Yahiko and Nagato exclaimed in surprise.
Before they could react, Kai's hand shot out, gripping Nagato's shoulder.
"Ah!" A cry of pain rang out, blood staining Nagato's dark robe.
"Weren't you injured here recently? The wound wouldn't heal and was very painful," Kai said, releasing Nagato. He had a suspicion.
"Kai, what was that?" Konan asked anxiously.
"Konan, I'm fine. I suffered this injury on a mission," Nagato said, steadying himself and examining the wound.
He was surprised to find the lingering aura of decay was gone. His gaze towards Kai shifted. Akatsuki had many medical ninjas, but Nagato's wounds had been resistant to healing due to the lingering aura. The Sage Art used had been easily countered.
"Nagato, are you alright?" Yahiko asked, puzzled. "You're not one to take a beating lightly."
"I'm fine. Let's go back and discuss this," Nagato said, looking at Kai, then at Yahiko, his expression unreadable.
Yahiko, no longer wanting to linger, produced two masks. "Your identities are sensitive. Please wear these when entering Akatsuki's base."
"No problem," Kai said, putting on a mask. He'd expected Danzō and Hanzo to attack Akatsuki immediately, but it seemed Akatsuki was involved in something else, something big.
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