Rain Shinobi Village.
Atop the iron tower—the highest point of the country, where the leader of Rain and the entire Rain nation resided—sat "God's Pain" and "Angels." Even within the notorious Akatsuki, only the core five members could enter this inner sanctum.
Boom!
The torrential rain lashed down, accompanied by rolling thunder. Rain had long been the hallmark of the country, but in recent days, it seemed almost relentless. Yet despite the weather, the nation thrived under the iron grip of "God's Pain." Since Hanzo of the Salamander's death, no rebellious factions dared to rise. Under his unchallenged rule, prosperity and stability were ensured—a fact that only strengthened Nagato's belief in his methods.
In the dimly lit room at the tower's apex, seated in triangular formation, were Pain and Konan. In the center sat Uchiha Obito, masked and silent, bearing the authority of Madara.
"Should Akatsuki simply sit idle while the five great nations clash? The defense is thin, the opportunity ripe… we could seize the tailed beasts," Pain asked bluntly.
The previous agreement to allow Konoha and Sand passage through the Rain lands, delivered via Jiraiya, had not been Nagato's decision—it was Obito's directive. Nagato had already considered exploiting Naruto, the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, yet Obito had restrained him.
Now, with the Third Tsuchikage Onoki's request for Akatsuki's intervention in this war, Nagato's curiosity and frustration deepened. The two sides were clearly using each other.
"Calm yourself, Pain. Now is not the time for Akatsuki to reveal itself to the world. Exposure would invite coordinated attacks and jeopardize the entire peace plan," Obito said, his tone flat yet commanding. His single visible eye glanced at Konan.
"Konan, what of the wandering Jinchūriki under your watch?"
Konan's gaze was icy. "The Four-Tails in Iwagakure, the Five-Tails in Konoha, and the rogue Mist Jinchūriki have been accounted for. Other Jinchūriki remain in their respective villages. When the five great nations wage war, these three will be our primary targets."
Pain's eyes, hollow yet potent, glimmered with impatience. "Are you afraid?"
Nagato, awakened to part of the Six Paths power, had grown nearly unmatched, and his Rinnegan granted him strength beyond most shinobi. Confidence verged on arrogance—he saw himself as a successor to the Sage of Six Paths.
"I'm not afraid," Obito replied lightly, "but patience is a virtue. You are too hasty, Pain."
Meanwhile, Akatsuki's refusal to accept Onoki's employment request only fueled the Tsuchikage's annoyance. No matter how high he raised the offered compensation, the group remained indifferent. Perhaps the scale of the war itself intimidated them.
"Tsuchikage-sama! Latest news from the front!" a Rock Shinobi ninja burst into Onoki's office. "Gaara and Konoha's Kakashi have led the first allied unit—about 3,000 strong—to camp on Rain's northern border. They have coordinated with the Rain leader."
Onoki's expression darkened. "Why was Rain not contacted beforehand?!"
The Rain country's strategic location—at the confluence of Fire, Wind, and Earth—meant control over it dictated the war's initiative. Onoki had tried to negotiate, but the new Rain leader had chosen Konoha instead.
"No… the new leader refuses to discuss terms in detail, sending only a unilateral rejection," the subordinate stammered.
"The successor to Hanzo is too arrogant," Onoki growled. He used the Light and Heavy Rock Technique to float out of the Tsuchikage building, his subordinates hustling behind him.
"Te… Huang Tu, how are our preparations?" Onoki asked.
"Yes, Lord Loess has led 2,000 shinobi to confront Konoha and Sand forces," came the reply.
"By all means, we cannot lose this battle!" Onoki barked.
Meanwhile, the Fourth Raikage of Cloud Shinobi fumed with arrogance, bolstered by the confidence his village had gained under his rule. Shadow ninjas and military might had surpassed Konoha's power during Hiruzen's reign. If not for Tsunade and Uchiha Kenya's rapid rise, Konoha's title as the first ninja village might have been wrested from them entirely.
But Konoha had already allied with Mist Shinobi—an unexpected move.
"Darui! Who commands the Konoha-Mist coalition?" the Raikage demanded.
Darui's usual laziness was gone, replaced by tense focus. "Hime Tsunade remains in Konoha, at the rear. The coalition is commanded by Uchiha Kenya."
"Uchiha Kenya?" the Raikage blinked, recalling the name. "The one thought dead at Luosha's hands?"
"Old information, sir," Darui corrected. "He survived, took the alias 'Aizen,' and operated within Sand Shinobi for four years. In this three-nation alliance, his goal is to overthrow the Earth and Thunder nations, letting Wind and Water dominate, ushering in the era of the Three Kingdoms."
"The era of the Three Kingdoms? That masked freak is audacious!" the Fourth Raikage sneered.
"I will personally deal with this upstart. Call the Bina kid to defend the village, and have the Wooden Golem intercept him!"