In a small town somewhere in the Land of Rain.
Yahiko spoke earnestly to a merchant. "Mister! We really know ninjutsu! We can absolutely escort your cargo — and we only charge half the price of adult shinobi!"
The merchant sized up the three children, each about ten years old, and said, "If you're hungry, I can give you some leftover soup. But entrusting my goods to you three? Forget it."
Yahiko quickly formed hand seals and released a Water Release: Water Severing Wave.
A considerable stream of water surged upward into the air before crashing back down.
Like a waterfall, the torrent reached its peak before descending with crushing momentum, smashing into the street below.
The tiles along the merchant's roof shattered under the impact, clattering down in pieces.
"What are you doing?!" the merchant shouted as he stared at his ruined eaves. "There's no way I'm giving my cargo to you three!
Fix my roof, or I'll hire Rain shinobi to deal with you wandering brats!"
Konan sighed.
The three of them had trained under Jiraiya-sensei for more than two years and believed their strength to be decent. But they lacked official status as Rain shinobi, and their young age made it extremely difficult to survive by taking missions.
They also refused to become like certain rogue shinobi who learned a few techniques and turned to robbery.
The three fetched a ladder and climbed onto the roof to repair it.
Konan passed up wooden stakes and tiles from below. Nagato moved up and down carrying materials. Yahiko crouched atop the roof, making repairs.
It was… somewhat pitiful.
Konan suddenly remembered the terrifying events that had occurred when Jiraiya-sensei left.
Two groups had clashed — masked Konoha shinobi who initially tried to capture them, only to be driven off by an old man.
The old man had spoken many things they did not understand before releasing them.
After finally fixing the roof, the three set out to search for another mission opportunity.
At the town entrance was a designated area where wandering shinobi gathered to take jobs.
Employers would come there to select suitable candidates.
By midday, the other wandering shinobi had gone off to eat, leaving only Yahiko's group waiting stubbornly for work.
An elderly man slowly approached the town entrance.
He paused, noticing that aside from three children, there were no wandering shinobi nearby.
Yahiko immediately rushed over. "Grandpa, do you have a mission? Don't let our age fool you — we're powerful shinobi who know ninjutsu! We're way stronger than those who only rely on taijutsu!"
The old man replied, "I have some goods that need delivering to the next town, but you three are too young. You probably couldn't even lift my cargo. Don't cause trouble. Where are your parents? Your elders?"
Yahiko's expression dimmed. "We're orphans. We don't have parents."
The old man's face softened with sympathy. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize you were orphans."
Yahiko immediately ran over to a large roadside boulder, lifted it with effort, and carried it back toward the old man.
"We can use chakra to move heavy things!"
The old man thought for a moment. "You know, I'm an orphan too now. I'm seventy years old — haven't called anyone 'mother' in over twenty years.
Seeing how pitiful you look… my cargo isn't particularly valuable anyway. I'll let you handle it.
Three thousand ryō. Deliver it to the neighboring town. Interested?"
"Yes!"
The three followed him into a shop. Four wooden crates sat inside, filled with bottles of homemade liquor.
They set off happily.
Three thousand ryō — enough for a week's worth of food.
After walking more than ten steps, Nagato glanced back at the old man.
His long bangs concealed his Rinnegan.
In the distance, Yako frowned instantly.
Did Nagato notice something with the Rinnegan?
But Nagato only glanced briefly before turning back to follow Yahiko.
Compared to a vague sense of unease, the lure of three thousand ryō was stronger.
Living through their own ninjutsu — that was Yahiko's conviction, and Nagato supported him fully.
***
After a while, Uchiha Suigiku appeared beside clan head Uchiha Kagen and Fox Squad Leader using the Body Flicker Technique.
"Clan Head, mission complete. I used genjutsu to lure the three of them away from the town."
Uchiha Kagen nodded. "Let's go. We'll set up an ambush along the road and capture all three.
Once we return to the village, the Yamanaka clan will extract intelligence about Uchiha Madara.
If we capture a surviving Uzumaki, this mission will be considered a success."
Uchiha Kagen felt pleased. The intelligence provided by ANBU had arrived at the perfect moment.
Just enough to complete the mission — and without significant danger.
The Uchiha moved ahead to prepare the ambush.
Yako crouched down, pressing his fingertips against the ground.
He intended to merge a tiny layer of skin at his fingertips with the underground organic network using a mayfly-like technique, scouting for nearby White Zetsu.
Then he stopped.
He had once accidentally discovered White Zetsu within Konoha while they were observing Uchiha Obito. Back then, surrounded by tens of thousands of villagers, White Zetsu could not determine who he was.
If he used that technique now, it might expose his identity.
Yako raised his hand, signaling White Ram and Blossom Deer squads to follow.
Under the heavy rain, Yahiko's group walked slowly forward, carrying the crates on their backs.
Yahiko carried two crates, while Nagato and Konan each carried one.
Not only did Yahiko carry more — he continued speaking excitedly, full of energy.
Among the three, Yahiko possessed the strongest charisma and presence. He was their leader.
No matter how difficult things became, Yahiko remained optimistic, always thinking of ways forward.
Soft or hard approaches — he never stopped trying to improve their lives.
Nagato remained mostly silent.
The burden of the Rinnegan weighed heavily on him.
As for Konan, she was still a gentle, obedient girl.
Just as Yahiko spoke passionately about their bright future, four figures suddenly burst forward from concealment, charging toward the trio.
Uchiha Gogo, Uchiha Tōka, and two others appeared.
Though labeled a Tokubetsu jōnin squad, all four possessed three-tomoe Sharingan. Due to prejudice and suppression within the village, they had been unable to advance to full jonin rank.
Four crimson Sharingan locked onto the red-haired Nagato.
Two of the Uchiha immediately formed hand seals.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
A massive fireball surged forward. Rain struck its surface, instantly turning to steam.
Further away, Uchiha Kagen and Yako watched Nagato closely.
The reconnaissance squad guarded the outer perimeter.
Hyuga Ketsu felt tense, uncertain whether they might encounter the legendary Uchiha Madara — the rogue ninja said to rival the First Hokage, the God of Shinobi.
Yako's eyes narrowed suddenly.
From the ground near Nagato, ten White Zetsu emerged.
One of them complained, "Why are there Konoha shinobi again? The plan was to remain hidden in the shadows so no one would ever know.
But now Konoha keeps showing up over and over. What a nuisance."
Seeing the pale figures, Uchiha Kagen thought to himself, So these are the subordinates Fox mentioned… Uchiha Madara's forces?