After deciding to split up, Mokgetsu formulated a detailed plan.
In terms of personnel, considering safety issues, each team must have seven or more members, and they cannot be too far apart. Every three days, they must report back to Mokgetsu and attend lessons.
After a few days of emergency training by Mokgetsu, the teams split into seven and began their operations.
Yahiko declined invitations from other Akatsuki members and, along with Nagato and Konan, invited a few ninjas with keen senses.
He wanted to use this opportunity to help the ninjas in the team learn more about Akatsuki.
At first, Yahiko's efforts were going well, whether it was spreading the Ninja Sect principles or helping the companions better understand Akatsuki.
But surprises always come unexpectedly.
In a village on the border of the Land of Rain, Yahiko and his companions were attacked by Hidden Rock Ninjas.
"We are ninjas of the Land of Rain. There is no war between the Land of Earth and the Land of Rain. Are you mistaking us for someone else?" Yahiko didn't want to engage in meaningless combat and tried to use words to stop the attack.
However, the Hidden Rock Ninjas ignored Yahiko's words and instead launched a fierce attack on him because of his leadership appearance.
Yahiko then realized that these Hidden Rock Ninjas were not ordinary; they might be an elite squad from Hidden Rock.
"Don't harm them, just subdue them first," Yahiko shouted loudly.
He mainly wanted to remind Nagato, because if Nagato got too excited, the power of the Rinnegan could instantly kill the opponents.
Nagato nodded, knowing that killing the Hidden Rock Ninjas could bring trouble to the Land of Rain.
Yet, while Yahiko and his companions did not wish to harm the Hidden Rock Ninjas, the latter showed no such concern, with each attack aiming at Yahiko and his companions' vital points.
Under such pressure, Yahiko was accidentally grazed on the arm, drawing a line of blood.
Seeing the burst of blood on Yahiko, Nagato was stunned.
Yahiko was the person Nagato cared most about, without exception.
When Nagato lost his parents and wandered the Ninja World, it was Yahiko who led him forward, guiding him out of sorrow into a new life.
Though Konan was also an important companion to Nagato, Yahiko held a special place in Nagato's heart. If one had to describe it, Yahiko was the first light Nagato encountered in darkness.
"Die!" The Hidden Rock Ninja fighting Nagato seized the opportunity to stab at Nagato with a sword.
Bam!
Nagato's Rinnegan suddenly surged, an incredibly terrifying aura emanating from him. The attacking Hidden Rock Ninja was instantly sent flying, crashing hard to the ground, leaving a trail of blood.
The remaining Hidden Rock Ninjas were all startled by this terrifying aura.
Before they could react, Nagato, with extreme speed and strange powerful techniques, killed them all.
By the time Nagato came back to his senses, the ground was littered with bodies, and his four Ninja Sect companions were in shock.
None of them expected there to be a strong person in the team besides Mokgetsu, and so young at that.
"Yahiko, sorry, I…" Nagato said, lowering his head.
Undoubtedly, he had messed up.
Seeing Nagato's somewhat pale face, Yahiko sighed and reassured him with a smile:
"Didn't Uncle Sosuke say that for ninjas trying to kill us, we can retaliate equally? It's only natural; you didn't do anything wrong."
Nagato erupted to protect him, so Yahiko had no reason to blame Nagato.
"Nagato, are you feeling unwell at all?" Konan asked with concern.
"I'm alright, just used quite a bit of Chakra earlier," Nagato shook his head and replied.
"With things like this happening, I think it's necessary to report to Uncle Sosuke. Let's return earlier this time," Yahiko thought for a moment and said.
No one had any objections, and the seven of them rushed back to the village where Mokgetsu was located.
After Yahiko and the others left, a few ninjas in Konoha Root Ninja uniforms appeared.
"So it's the Rinnegan, who would've thought such power exists in the Land of Rain," Shimura Danzo looked at the fallen Root squad with a surprised expression.
With the Senju, Uchiha, and Uzumaki all descendants of the Six Paths Sage, Konoha had extensive information about him. Shimura Danzo knew that the Six Paths Sage was not a legend but a real person.
However, Danzo never expected the Rinnegan of the Six Paths Sage would appear in the Land of Rain.
"Half-God Hanzo, Ninja Master Sosuke, the Rinnegan—these three forces must not unite!" Heavy apprehension flashed in Shimura Danzo's eyes.
To him, the current strength of the Land of Rain was overwhelmingly high, enough to threaten Konoha.
"Luckily, I discovered this in time; otherwise, the consequences would be unimaginable." Inside, Shimura Danzo mocked Sarutobi Hiruzen's incompetence.
Now that Ninja Master Sosuke has joined forces with the Rinnegan, if left unchecked, the fusion of these three forces could lead to an existence on par with the Five Great Ninja Villages.
Although Shimura Danzo wished for Hanzo and Mokgetsu to directly clash, his investigation revealed that the two were not enemies and had even met amicably once.
Thus, upon discovering that Mokgetsu's journey was heading towards the border touching the Land of Earth, Shimura Danzo brought his men to stir up trouble, hoping to provoke conflict between Mokgetsu and Hidden Rock.
Now, Shimura Danzo felt this wasn't enough; he needed to suppress any possibility of collaboration between Hanzo and Mokgetsu.
Shimura Danzo ordered his men to collect the bodies of the fallen Root Organization members, then used the Transformation Jutsu to take on the appearance of Yahiko and his group to assassinate a squad of Hidden Rock Ninjas. After arranging the scene, Shimura Danzo took the bodies of the Hidden Rock Ninjas to the Rain Village.