The tower standing in the rain.
"Ah!!!"
A scream of extreme pain came from Kanzo's mouth.
Yet, no one offered him any assistance.
Many despised him—the one who sold the interests of Hidden Rain to Konoha—and wished for his immediate death.
And those who colluded with him have already been executed.
In other words, Kanzo is now in an utterly despairing state of isolation and helplessness.
"You… you're from Akatsuki…"
Kanzo struggled to move his body backward, fearfully staring at the person standing before him.
With long red hair and an indifferent expression, seeming to disregard everything, lacking the human emotions of joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness.
As if transformed into a higher level "creature," looking down upon the world from above.
Including humans struggling bitterly on earth, he also looked down upon them.
"Long time no see, Mr. Kanzo. It's been about two or three years since Lord Hanzou and Yahiko passed away."
Nagato's tone was filled with honorifics and politeness, with no hint of killing intent.
Or rather, showing killing intent to such a person would be redundant and a waste.
Kanzo's body trembled, his lips quivered, unable to utter a word, with only naked fear in his eyes.
Just by standing in front of him, Nagato emanated an irresistible invisible force, making his body feel as heavy as a thousand pounds.
"However, I suppose you wouldn't pay too much attention to someone like me. That's why I've come here today, to take away everything that never belonged to you."
Nagato spoke calmly, as if mentioning something trivial.
Kanzo swallowed hard and finally managed to respond, "Are you here to avenge Hanzou?"
Nagato didn't respond, and in Kanzo's eyes, that silence was an admission.
"Actually, I had no choice… If Hanzou continued to lead Hidden Rain, he would surely bring it into the abyss. Look, now with our cooperation with Konoha, Hidden Rock and Hidden Sand wouldn't dare to trouble us…"
Kanzo wasn't sure if his sophistry would work, but since the other person was from Akatsuki, a subordinate of that idiot Yahiko, as long as he claimed to consider the future of Hidden Rain, the situation wouldn't get too bad.
At least, enough to hold out until Konoha's reinforcements arrived.
"So, should everyone in Hidden Rain thank you for your noble intentions?"
"Please, no. In fact, old Hanzou had already decayed in spirit. As his deputy, I knew everything about him. He only went to the battlefield out of coercion; he didn't dare confront Konoha and Hidden Sand… He was just a vain old man, willing to watch the Land of Rain crumble to protect the title of Demigod… He's the culprit of the Land of Rain's current tragedy."
"Is that so?"
"Indeed. Even the once-mighty Demigod can't resist the erosion of time, becoming a cowardly old fool afraid of death. Cooperating with Konoha was my last resort; it's the only way for Hidden Rain and the Land of Rain to survive. If you don't believe me, I can…"
"No, I believe you."
Nagato smiled.
At this moment, Nagato appeared as an embodiment of mercy, his face smiling in a way that provided immense reassurance.
Kanzo hesitated, and before he could show any joy, Nagato reached out and effortlessly gripped Kanzo's throat, lifting him into the air.
"Ugh… ugh… you… cough… make…"
With his throat constricted, Kanzo was nearly suffocating, only able to utter disjointed words.
Despite his weak body and arms, the power within them felt like a fierce and mighty beast, making Kanzo's face turn deathly pale.
"But… does that have any necessary connection to whether or not I kill you?"
Nagato casually uttered, causing Kanzo's pupils to contract and a plea for mercy to flash in his eyes.
However, Nagato's grip only tightened, like iron, as if about to crush Kanzo's throat.
"Spare… spare me… please…"
Kanzo's face turned red from lack of air.
As he was about to suffocate to death, Nagato suddenly released his hand.
"Ha… ha…"
Sitting on the ground, gasping for breath, Kanzo, who narrowly escaped death, realized for the first time how wonderful it felt to be alive.
There were still wonderful parts of life he hadn't experienced; he couldn't die here.
He didn't know why Nagato spared him, but it was certainly not out of mercy.
The desire of the other party to kill him was absolutely real.
Yet, he wouldn't think much about it now, crawling on the ground, like an animal faced with danger, pathetically rushing towards the door he could escape through.
Nagato did not stop him, and Kanzo saw hope for survival.
But just as he grasped this hope, a shadow loomed before him.
With eyes like Nagato's Rinnegan, an aged face stared at him with tranquil pupils.
"Ha-Hanzou lo-ord…"
Looking as if he had seen a ghost, Kanzo stumbled back two steps, unable to utter a coherent sentence.
Thinking he had seen a glimmer of hope, and in the moment it was stripped away again, Kanzo's heart sank into deeper despair.
It was as if he was poisoned, his face twisted with fear, mumbling incoherent words, before finally collapsing stiffly to the ground, lifeless.
"Looks like he died of fright, how useless,"
Konan emerged from somewhere, her expression cold, her body carrying the scent of blood, showing utter disdain for Kanzo without hesitation.