Several kilometers from the battlefield, amidst the ruins, some disturbed earth hinted at movement beneath a shattered rock. The rock was th
Several kilometers from the battlefield, amidst the ruins, some disturbed earth hinted at movement beneath a shattered rock.
The rock was then kicked away, revealing a battered and bruised face. However, the eyes, possessing an unnerving, almost supernatural gleam, drew immediate attention.
"Nagato, what happened out there?" Yahiko asked, struggling to emerge from the rubble.
They had retreated when Kimimaro unleashed his ultimate attack, but Kai's sudden summoning of the Three-Tails and subsequent Bijūdama attack had been too swift for a complete escape.
Only Nagato's desperate, almost frantic use of a powerful Earth Release technique, creating ten layers of defensive earth walls, had saved them from the Bijūdama's devastating aftershocks.
Even with ten layers of protection, they had nearly been buried alive. Emerging from the hole, they stared at the utterly devastated landscape, their pupils constricting, their scalps tingling.
The full impact of the tailed beast's power hit them; this mission was the beginning of a powerful new weapon for the Land of Lightning.
"That… that was the power of a tailed beast?" Kumayama asked, his face ashen, gripping Yahiko's shoulder.
"That man… wasn't he your Rain Village reinforcement? Yahiko, don't lie to me! What's going on?!"
Seeing Kumayama's near-hysterical state, Yahiko hung his head, then spoke with bitter resignation. "Kumayama-san, you probably guessed his identity.
Hanzo refused our request for aid. We encountered Uchiha Kai, the Blood-Red Asura, a Konoha rogue ninja."
"I intended to use Kai and Pakura as a diversion, suspecting a traitor within Akatsuki. We planned to draw enemy fire while secretly moving Yugito. But I didn't expect the traitor wasn't within Akatsuki."
The lengthy explanation left Kumayama stunned. He had been kept in the dark, but as a veteran Akatsuki member, he'd already suspected something.
His expression shifting rapidly, he gripped Yahiko's shoulder even tighter. "Yahiko, tell me… it wasn't Hanzo-sama who betrayed us. Tell me!"
Kumayama's desperate plea left Yahiko and Nagato pale and trembling, barely able to speak.
From their first encounter with Kai, and his strange comments about being betrayed and still helping, they had held Hanzo of Amegakure in the highest regard.
They believed Hanzo's efforts were responsible for Rain Village's survival through countless wars. Akatsuki's growth, too, was due to his tolerance and support.
Now, however, suspicion fell heavily upon Hanzo. They wouldn't believe it if they hadn't witnessed the Takeuchi clan's ambush, their deception so easily exposed.
"He saved us again," Konan said hesitantly. The Bijūdama's blast had nearly buried them alive, but she knew that without Kai's intervention, they would have failed the mission and likely died.
Yahiko and Nagato fell silent. As they opened their mouths to speak, a figure descended from the sky.
Seeing Kai, Yahiko, Nagato, and Kumayama tensed, wary of being eliminated. They had witnessed the fate of the Takeuchi clan's prodigy, highly regarded by Kai just moments before, under the Bijūdama's assault.
"Ah, so that's why you're all unharmed. You activated the Rinnegan," Kai said, landing beside Konan, noticing Nagato's change.
In the original story, Uchiha Madara, seeking his resurrection, had given his eyes to Nagato, knowing he was an Uzumaki. He hadn't anticipated Kai's interference.
"The Rinnegan?" Kumayama gasped, his face paling. "That's the legendary dōjutsu, possessed only by the Sage of Six Paths."
As a rogue ninja from the Land of Lightning, he knew the legends surrounding the Sage of Six Paths. He didn't know its exact abilities, but he knew it was incredibly powerful.
Yahiko's nerves tightened. He stepped in front of Nagato. "Uchiha Kai, I thank you for saving us, but if you try to take Nagato's Rinnegan, I will stop you, even if it means dying."
Bloodline limits were unique and irreplaceable. But powerful eyes were different. Amegakure's Ao, who had taken possession of a Byakugan, was a testament to the power and desirability of such dōjutsu.
The Byakugan and Sharingan had been coveted by many powerful nations for generations, leading to the Hyūga clan's main and branch family system and the Uchiha clan's tradition of self-destruction.
Nagato's awakening of the legendary Rinnegan was a tempting prize for Kai, who also possessed the Sharingan.
"Die to stop me?" Kai scoffed. "Even a hundred of you wouldn't stop me. The Rinnegan is rare, but not something I lack. I'm here for Nagato's help with something."
Yahiko's face twitched at Kai's arrogance, but he couldn't argue. Kai's casual mention of possessing the Rinnegan made him suspect Kai was concealing even greater power.
"Yahiko, step aside. He likely already knew about my Rinnegan," Nagato said. His calm demeanor and Kai's earlier words confirmed this.
Nagato paused, then said, "Whatever your reason, to repay you for saving my life and to ensure there's no future conflict, I will grant any request."
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