"The left flank is advancing like a knife through butter, but the right flank appears vulnerable."
Yahiko noticed that the left flank's attack was faltering and advancing sluggishly.
"That Kakuzu must be tearing through the left. Of course it's fast that way, right?"
Although Konan had no love for Kakuzu, she acknowledged his strength.
At the very least, she knew she still couldn't stand up to Kakuzu—for now.
"Probably true."
"Let's head to the right flank first, link up with the center, then push inward together."
Yahiko first agreed with Konan's guess before offering their plan of action.
"No problem. I'll take you there."
Before Yahiko could reply, Konan had already positioned herself behind him, looping both arms under his armpits.
"Flying's definitely faster than sprinting."
"Just don't let go, okay?"
This wasn't Yahiko's first time being carried by Konan. After getting over the initial surprise, he quickly regained his composure.
"I'll drop you so hard you'll splatter like meat paste."
Konan playfully shook him around, though it didn't scare Yahiko even slightly.
"There, throw me over there."
As they approached the battlefield, Yahiko began directing Konan.
"Hold on tight!"
Lowering her altitude, Konan shoved Yahiko forward while giving his butt a playful kick.
Stupid Yahiko—always leaning into her chest like that.
[Water Release: Water Blade Slash]
Midair, Yahiko pulled out a kunai and enveloped it entirely in water chakra.
Using the acceleration from falling downward, Yahiko landed with tremendous force.
Several wandering ninja directly ahead had their heads cleaved open, while accidentally crushing an unlucky bystander underfoot.
"Leader Yahiko!" The rescued Akatsuki members cried joyfully.
"Follow me!"
Maintaining his cold expression, Yahiko charged back into combat first.
[Paper Release: Paper Spear]
Konan didn't stand idly by either, launching area attacks toward the densely packed wandering ninja from above.
The assembled paper spears appeared dull at the edges, yet possessed astonishing power.
Row after row of paper spears rained down from above, accompanied by piercing whistling sounds.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Continuous explosions erupted as the wave of paper spears struck. Compared to Yahiko's efforts, a single volley caused far more destruction.
The wandering ninja formation was torn apart, allowing the Akatsuki members to swarm inside.
With Yahiko and Konan joining the fight, the left flank's progress improved dramatically.
The wandering jonin who'd rushed here thinking the right side pressure lighter couldn't possibly stop the Akatsuki advance.
Several wandering jonin soon fell beneath Yahiko and Konan's combined assault.
"Launch a signal flare."
Seeing the number of enemies ahead had thinned considerably, Yahiko ordered his subordinates to fire an assembly signal flare.
This was a prearranged signal to gather everyone at the middle line for a final push eliminating the wandering ninja completely.
"Yes sir, Leader Yahiko!"
One Akatsuki member wiped blood off his face before retrieving a flare from his ninja tool bag and igniting it.
A purple signal flare bloomed across the sky, lingering without fading.
"Lord Kakuzu, we should assemble at the middle line now."
Nagashima Yuki eliminated several nearby wandering ninja before approaching Kakuzu cautiously at a safe distance.
He genuinely feared Kakuzu might fall into a killing frenzy and strike him down too.
"I saw it."
Kakuzu retracted the black threads that had pierced through several wandering ninja, his tone devoid of emotion.
Nagashima Yuki dared not act before receiving official orders.
Only corpses littered the area—aside from Kakuzu and himself.
"Let's move too."
Kakuzu glanced upward slightly. The resistance here had nearly been crushed.
"Yes, Kakuzu-sama."
Truth be told, Nagashima Yuki was genuinely afraid Kakuzu wouldn't follow orders—he would be utterly helpless if that happened.
"Move."
Kakuzu took the lead, followed closely by the main force.
Before long, only the rescue squad continued operations on the left flank.
"Hmm, looks like we've found a big one."
Kakuzu halted and pulled out a small notebook from his coat.
Flipping deftly to the middle pages, he compared the ninja currently fighting Yahiko with the wanted profiles listed within.
"That's right—thirty million."
For the first time in a while, Nagashima Yuki saw a rare smile on Kakuzu's face.
[Lightning Release: False Darkness!]
Having confirmed the target, Kakuzu nonchalantly unleashed a Lightning Release technique.
"Are you trying to kill me?!"
Yahiko, locked in close combat, barely dodged it in an undignified manner. He scrambled back to his feet and shouted furiously at Kakuzu.
"If you couldn't even dodge something like that, you'd be better off dead."
Except for Nagato, Kakuzu showed no mercy to anyone else.
A cold smirk curled his lips as he ignored Yahiko and rushed straight toward the still-breathing wandering ninja.
"This guy!!!"
Yahiko glared at Kakuzu with seething hatred.
Indeed, true reliability came only from personal strength.
Nagato couldn't protect them forever.
Once he became stronger than Kakuzu, he'd make sure to give him a beating.
Looking again at the wandering ninja who had just taken a direct hit from False Darkness, it was clear he wouldn't last long.
After all, False Darkness equaled two uses of Chidori. Surviving it at all was proof of his strength.
"I'll be taking your head."
Grabbing the ninja by the hair, Kakuzu let out a maniacal laugh before slicing off his head.
Thirty million ryō—jackpot!
"Yahiko, their leader is getting away!"
Moments later, Konan's voice called out, followed shortly by her landing beside Yahiko.
"Which way? Let's go after him."
Yahiko didn't have time to keep being angry at Kakuzu.
"That way—I'll come with you."
Without hesitation, Konan took off again, her aerial vantage point giving her a wide field of view.
Ohhh—
[Naruto: Starting from Pursuing Tsunade — be sure to bookmark this site: (m.]
"Yuki, we'll leave this area to you."
With a brief greeting, Yahiko dashed off.
After a long while, following Konan's guidance, Yahiko finally intercepted the wandering ninja leader deep within a dense forest.
The man was unharmed—it seemed he had fled as soon as things turned bad.
But this was better—no guards accompanied him.
"Spare me! I swear I'll leave and never return!"
Looking at the pair standing before him—one tall, one short—the leader tensed his face, his eyes carrying a hint of pleading.
They were always just a ragtag group anyway; even as leader, he lacked both honor and pride.
Besides, he had witnessed Yahiko and Konan fight in person—he knew they were truly strong.
"You're dreaming!!"
"You know full well the number of sins you've committed."
Konan was the first to speak, decisively rejecting any plea for mercy.
Though not some self-righteous crusader, she knew that wandering ninja had indeed made life miserable for ordinary civilians in the Land of Rain. His atrocities were too numerous to count.
"They're just peasants. No need to get so worked up."
"Let me go and I still have some money on me."
The leader didn't take it seriously; he pulled out several thick stacks of cash from inside his cloak.
In his mind, what did it matter if every last person in the Land of Rain were wiped out?
"This little amount isn't enough to buy your life."
Yahiko struggled to contain his rage, his fists clenched so tightly that veins stood out beneath his dark cloak. He really wanted to beat this bastard to death.
"Won't enough?"
"No problem."
The leader thought he'd found a way out and hurriedly pulled out several more stacks of bills. Smiling obsequiously, he tossed the wads of cash to the floor. At a glance, it was worth nearly ten million ryō.
"That money'll be mine anyway once you're dead."
Before Yahiko could respond, Konan had already begun her attack. This time, money seemed to have lost its importance.
Konan's paper senbon rained down like a hailstorm, tearing the bills into shreds scattered across the floor.
...
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