So Onoki had to give up and choose to hire Wandering Ninjas to help them complete some high-risk tasks, while the Hidden Rock Village would just proceed with normal Ninja training.
The development in Hidden Mist and Hidden Sand can never truly thrive, even though they carry the title of Five Great Ninja Villages, but in reality, if we were strict, they could be excluded.
As for Konoha, it's entirely different from Hidden Rock and Hidden Cloud; besides Ninja training, they also develop military technology, economy, and social cohesion among people.
As long as he is there, Konoha Village does not fear war, so there's no need to focus solely on developing Ninja strength.
And now, with the slightest revelation, the village's Ninja have become extremely powerful; with Wind Travel Pill + Beast Power Pill + Vein-Protecting Pill + Small Recovery Pill, a Chunin taking these four elixirs can probably kill a Jonin by swapping lives.
Moreover, there's the Ninja Battle Suit; regular Shuriken Kunais can barely break through vital defenses.
What's truly remarkable about Konoha is the human research; once the research results of Orochimaru and Tsunade are widespread, the number of elite Ninjas in Konoha will increase by three to four times.
Hidden Rock and Hidden Cloud are unaware of these; they think Konoha is solely focused on economic development, secretly rejoicing over Konoha's foolishness.
While Konoha and Hidden Sand prepare for the Chunin Exam, Hidden Rock Village is organizing personnel to explore the unknown area north of the Land of Earth.
They need to locate the rebirth sites of the Four-tailed and Five-tailed in advance; although, based on decades-old intel, they know Senju Hashirama had been there, they need to verify the specific locations.
Especially since Hidden Rock Village hasn't sent anyone there, the initial scout teams experienced severe casualties.
In sparsely populated areas, there are terrifying wild beasts; some are so large in size and have thick skin that even Chunins can't handle them.
Therefore, Hidden Rock hires some Wandering Ninjas, including the Akatsuki Organization.
"Heavenly Attraction!"
"Almighty Push!"
Deva Path Pain raises his hand towards the massive exotic beast, followed by a burst of strong suction and repulsive force, directly knocking out the saber-toothed tiger, which is over twenty meters tall.
Then the Animal Path leaps and lands on the saber-toothed tiger, a few Black Rods appear in his hand and are inserted into the tiger's body.
In the next second, the Animal Path performs a Double-Handed Seal, and the saber-toothed tiger's eyes transform into the Rinnegan.
Konan steps forward and asks, "Did it work, Nagato?"
"Yes, this environment is quite suitable; if we capture a few more such Summoned Beasts, the Animal Path's power can rank at the forefront,"
Deva Path Pain says, as Animal Path summons Summoned Beasts controlled by the Rinnegan, it barely consumes any Chakra; once finished, they'll act like Puppet Clones.
The saber-toothed tiger just now had almost Special Jonin strength, and after being made into Puppet-like Summoned Beast, it fears no pain, charging into Ninja ranks, posing no small trouble to the middle and lower ranks.
Konan says, "In that case, let's go back."
"Alright, let's go ask the Hidden Rock for the reward,"
Deva Path Clone finishes speaking and turns around to leave, while Nagato's real body is protected by four other Pains, following behind Deva Path Clone and Konan.
The closer a Pain Clone is to the real body, the stronger it becomes, otherwise, transmitting Chakra becomes somewhat difficult at a distance.
Returning to the temporary base of Hidden Rock Village, some Hidden Rocks instinctively reach for Kunai seeing Deva Path Pain but pause after realizing.
"The task is completed, let's settle the payment."
"No problem, but Kitsuchi-sama is looking for you, take a moment to go see him,"
The Hidden Rock Ninja told them after paying and Nagato and Konan thought it was a new task, directly heading towards Kitsuchi's tent.
After announcing their arrival outside the tent, the two entered.
"Every time I see your Puppet Clone, I can't help but want to make a move... but let's get to business,"
Seeing the face resembling the Golden Flash, Kitsuchi's hatred for Konoha resurfaces but recalling the intel from his father, he seriously asks
"You must be the Akatsuki Organization, and you, are you Nagato of the Akatsuki Organization with the Rinnegan? Is this controlling corpse clone a Rinnegan ability?"
Konan felt tense hearing their identities exposed and began refining Chakra, ready to use Shikigami Jutsu.
"No need to be nervous, we check the backgrounds of every hired Ninja; also, you're quite bold, not even changing your decorations or appearance,"
Kitsuchi glanced at Konan and slowly said; their strength is considerable, but they lack experience in the Ninja World, and are likely around the same age, under 20.
"Hidden Rain Village is aggressively capturing Akatsuki members, including your core members; they were almost all caught, and their information was naturally exposed... Hanzo, although a Demigod, after we stole intelligence from him, didn't dare start a war recklessly,"
The intel of Hidden Rock was obtained from Hidden Rain Village, which also exposed spies, killing a few Hidden Rain Ninjas.
But it's okay; having acquired such crucial information, exposed spies are less concerning.
Deva Path Clone asks, "What do you want to say?"
"Join the Hidden Rock Village, Hidden Rock will offer protection; now Hidden Rain Village is hunting you, surely Konoha bears deep hatred towards you too..."