Konan's body dispersed into countless sheets of paper, rising lightly into the gloomy sky.
Raindrops passed through the gaps between the paper fragments, yet they could not dampen those specially treated sheets.
She circled high above, looking down at the gradually gathering black tide below.
Three hundred meters away, Amegakure shinobi were forming ranks.
It was not merely a few dozen people, but two full squads, more than eighty shinobi in total.
They wore uniform gray rain cloaks, and their forehead protectors gleamed coldly through the curtain of rain.
Even farther away, more figures flickered in and out of view among the trees.
Konan's heart sank.
She lowered her altitude, the paper fragments gathering once more into a human form as she landed on the branch of a withered tree.
Through the rain, she saw at the center of the formation a figure wearing a gas mask, standing atop a massive salamander.
That salamander was as large as a small house, its skin a dull brown, its back covered in poison glands.
It was Hanzo of the Salamander himself.
Why would Lord Hanzo personally lead troops here?
Konan was filled with doubt.
She took a deep breath, paper wings spreading behind her as she swiftly turned and flew back toward the base.
At the entrance of the base, Yahiko stood at the very front, rainwater dripping down from his short orange hair.
Behind him were more than twenty members of the Akatsuki, every face marked with tension.
"Konan is back."
Someone spoke softly.
Paper fragments drifted down like snow as Konan reassembled her form in front of Yahiko, her face pale. "Hanzo is leading them personally, at least eighty Amegakure shinobi."
"Hanzo..."
Yahiko clenched his fists.
He could not understand it. Everything had been fine just a few days ago, so why had such a large force suddenly been sent against the Akatsuki today?
If it were negotiations, it would never be with such a display of force.
At that moment, Kiyohara, Tsunade, and the others also walked over.
"Lady Tsunade."
Yahiko called out.
"Amegakure shinobi have arrived?"
Tsunade asked.
"Yes."
Yahiko nodded.
There was no doubt that Amegakure shinobi had come, and most likely with hostile intent.
He could not help but wonder whether the ones who had attacked Konan yesterday had also been from Amegakure.
Unfortunately, determining which village a shinobi belonged to required analyzing their ninjutsu, or identifying their uniforms.
Neither of those clues was clear at the moment.
"This is an antidote. I have fought Hanzo before."
Tsunade took out a vial of antidote.
After suffering losses at Hanzo's hands, she had analyzed the poison of the salamander.
However, since she had not returned to the Land of Rain afterward, she had never had the chance to use it.
"An antidote?"
Yahiko had not expected such a thing to exist.
And such a valuable item, Lady Tsunade was willing to give it to them?
This further improved Yahiko's impression of the Konoha shinobi.
Even Nagato could not help but glance at Tsunade in surprise.
"You are in a cooperative relationship with Konoha, which makes you allies. Konoha does not abandon its allies lightly."
Tsunade shook her head.
Since she had come here to carry out a mission, she would see it through.
Moreover, in the end, this situation had been caused by Konoha.
However, this was not something Tsunade could openly say.
"I do not have much antidote."
Tsunade handed a small bottle to Yahiko.
As for how to distribute it, that would be Yahiko's responsibility.
After that, Tsunade took out several smaller bottles for Shizune and Kurenai, and gave the largest one to Kiyohara.
"Sensei, you are not using one?"
"I do not need it."
Tsunade waved her hand.
She suffered from hemophobia. Even if she wanted to fight, she could not bring herself to do so.
Fighting a powerful enemy would inevitably involve bloodshed.
"Make sure to keep it safe."
Tsunade said to Kiyohara.
Kiyohara could use flying jutsu, and if things turned bad, he could take Shizune and Kurenai away with him.
"I understand, Sensei."
Kiyohara accepted the largest bottle of antidote.
For some reason, he felt as though he was now more favored than Shizune.
"Lady Tsunade, thank you for your generosity."
Even though it was only a small bottle, Yahiko was very pleased.
He poured out the liquid and divided it into more containers, distributing it among the Akatsuki members.
Finally, Yahiko turned to Nagato and said, "Nagato, take the non-combatants and withdraw through the secret passage behind the mountain. Kyosuke, take a few people and assist Nagato. Make sure everyone stays safe."
Nagato's long red hair clung to his face in the rain, the Rinnegan faintly visible through the strands. "Yahiko, I will stay. My power..."
"Your power is meant to protect those who trust us."
Yahiko interrupted him.
"Go. This is the leader's order."
Nagato fell silent for a moment, then finally nodded.
He turned and walked toward the civilians gathered deep within the base, the elderly and the women.
Kyosuke had already begun organizing the group.
"Stay close to me. Do not make any noise."
Nagato said.
The crowd moved slowly, disappearing into the crack in the rock wall at the back of the base.
Yahiko watched the direction they left until the last figure vanished, then turned back.
Meanwhile, Amegakure shinobi in the distance, after that brief delay, had all emerged from the surrounding area.
The most eye-catching presence was undoubtedly Hanzo's summoned salamander.
Behind Hanzo stood many Amegakure shinobi.
For many Akatsuki members, this was the first time seeing such a scene, and fear appeared on their faces.
Kiyohara, Kurenai, and Shizune had all experienced the Third Great Shinobi War, so they showed no particular reaction.
"Tsunade, it has been a long time."
Hanzo noticed Tsunade.
"It has indeed been a long time."
Tsunade replied.
"What, the other two Sannin did not come?"
Hanzo's tone carried obvious mockery.
Tsunade's brows furrowed slightly.
"They are not needed here."
Tsunade cast a glance at Hanzo.
Hanzo was older than her.
A shinobi's strength declines with age.
It was possible that Hanzo was no longer as powerful as before, while they were still in their prime, with room to grow.
As for someone like Hanzo, who had associated with Danzo, Tsunade suspected he had already fallen from his former self.
"Is that so?"
Hanzo looked at Tsunade's calm expression and sneered.
Then he commanded the salamander to release a cloud of poison, after which Amegakure shinobi immediately followed up with Wind Release techniques to spread the toxic mist.
"Watch out for the poison, use Wind jutsus!"
Yahiko shouted.
He quickly released a Wind Release technique.
Having wind natured chakra, Yahiko naturally knew such techniques.
However, the wind he alone produced was far from enough. Only after the other Akatsuki members reacted did they begin releasing Wind Release techniques one after another.
"Sensei, you should step back first."
Kiyohara estimated that there would soon be a lot of bloodshed, so it would be better for Tsunade to leave early.
"Very well."
Tsunade nodded slightly, but before leaving, she summoned Katsuyu, then returned alone to the Akatsuki base.
One of the slugs crawled onto Kiyohara.
Kiyohara then looked at the purple poisonous mist that continued to spread.
If not for the antidote Tsunade had provided, that earlier attack alone would have caused heavy casualties for the Akatsuki.
Seeing this, Kiyohara formed hand seals.
"Wind Release: Tornado Hurricane!"
He used a relatively high-level Wind Release technique.
A massive tornado rapidly formed under the infusion of wind chakra, sweeping all the purple poison mist into its vortex. From afar, the white tornado was gradually turning into a purple one.
This technique, if used together with "Fire Release: Dragon Flame Release Song Technique," could even create a vast sea of fire over a wide area.
"What a massive tornado!"
A trace of astonishment flickered through Kurenai's beautiful eyes.
Before she had trained in Wind Release, the way she saw Kiyohara was like a frog at the bottom of a well looking up at the moon.
Only after she began practicing Wind Release herself did she truly understand just how much mastery and chakra it required.
Now, when she looked at Kiyohara, it was as if a mayfly were gazing up at the boundless sky.
Under Kiyohara's tornado, Hanzo's poisonous mist was completely swept away and carried off into the distance.
Hanzo was somewhat surprised that Kiyohara had so easily dispersed his purple poison, and he withdrew his earlier contempt.
At his signal, Amegakure shinobi behind him surged forward.
They rushed ahead and clashed with the Akatsuki members.
On the other side.
Nagato walked at the very front of the group, while Kyosuke and several other Akatsuki members guarded the rear, turning back from time to time to ensure there were no pursuers.
"We are almost there."
Nagato said in a low voice.
The exit was a slope of broken stones covered in moss, and beyond it lay a dense coniferous forest.
Nagato was the first to slip out, his Rinnegan scanning the surroundings. Only after confirming it was safe did he step forward.
He turned around and helped the people behind him climb out one by one. When he lifted the last child out of the passage, faint explosions echoed from the distance.
Nagato paused for a brief moment.
"Big Brother Nagato?"
The child looked up at him.
"It is nothing." Nagato gently patted the child's head and turned to Kyosuke.
"Take them to the designated shelter. Food and medicine have already been prepared."
"And you?"
"I am going back."
Nagato said.
Before his words had even finished, his figure had already vanished into the rain.
Kyosuke opened his mouth, but in the end only sighed, then waved to the crowd. "Everyone, follow me. Quickly!"
Nagato moved swiftly through the forest.
Rain struck his face, cold and biting.
The Rinnegan granted him perception far beyond ordinary people. At this moment, he could sense a large amount of hostile chakra gathering in the direction of the base, while Yahiko and the others' chakra fluctuated violently.
The battle had already begun.
Just as he was about to rush out of the forest, the space ahead suddenly twisted.
The air rippled like the surface of water, and a figure wearing an orange spiral mask slowly emerged, revealing only a single crimson Sharingan.
"Who are you?"
Nagato asked in a deep voice, his fingers already resting on the shinobi tools at his waist.
"Uchiha Madara."
Obito spoke in a tone imitating Madara.
Nagato narrowed his eyes slightly. "Madara? What is your purpose in approaching me?"
"Your eyes are the eyes of the Sage of Six Paths."
Obito said calmly.
Manipulating Nagato was part of the Eye of the Moon Plan.
If the Rinnegan were used properly, it could greatly accelerate the collection of the tailed beasts.
"You know about these eyes?"
Nagato asked, puzzled.
Even Jiraiya did not have much understanding of the Rinnegan. It remained shrouded in mystery.
"Of course."
Obito nodded.
"To guide those who awaken the Rinnegan onto the correct path has been the mission of my organization since ancient times. You are the reincarnation of the will of the Sage of Six Paths, one who longs for peace in this world."
As he spoke, he slowly walked forward.
"The shinobi villages of the great nations bask in the sunlight, while your small country struggles to survive in the shadows."
Raindrops continuously passed through Obito's body, as if he did not truly exist in this space.
"If you wish to end war, you must uncover the true power of the Rinnegan. Come to my side, and I will show you how to use that power."
Nagato looked at him in silence.
Rainwater flowed down his red hair, gathering into small puddles on the ground.
"I do not need your guidance."
Nagato shook his head.
He was not a fool. There was no way he would believe whatever a stranger suddenly appeared and claimed.
"The Akatsuki has its own path. Through understanding, communication, and mutual aid, we will achieve peace. Peace obtained through violence is merely another form of oppression."
Beneath the mask, Obito's brows furrowed slightly.
Nagato was still too naive.
Sure enough, only loss could awaken the darkness within one's heart.
"The rules of this world have never been changed through words alone. Pain, loss, hatred, only by experiencing these can humanity truly understand the value of peace."
Obito's voice grew heavier.
"Then I will understand it in my own way."
Nagato turned around, no longer looking at him.
"If you truly are Uchiha Madara, then you should know that forcing others to accept your ideals is itself the beginning of war."
Obito stood in place, watching Nagato's figure gradually fade into the distance.
Rain passed through his body and fell to the ground.
"Must reality always be understood through suffering…"
He murmured to himself.
"Even with the Rinnegan, you are still only human, Nagato. Very well. Then let your own pain show you the truth."
The space twisted once more, and Obito's figure dissipated like smoke.
Only the sound of rain remained in the forest.
Nagato did not look back.
This person was mysterious, and under normal circumstances, Nagato would have investigated him.
But now, he had something more important to do.
The explosions coming from the direction of the base were growing more frequent.
Nagato quickened his pace.
At the same time, far away in the Mountains' Graveyard.
The massive Demonic Statue of the Outer Path stood deep within a cavern.
Madara sat on a wooden chair, his aged body wrapped in a black robe.
White Zetsu slowly emerged from the ground, his body twisting and warping like melting wax.
"Lord Madara, there has been a slight situation on Obito's side."
White Zetsu's tone was light, completely out of place with the atmosphere.
"Nagato refused the guidance and insists on following the Akatsuki's own path."
Madara's eyes narrowed slightly. "Oh?"
"Additionally, Kiyohara's performance has exceeded expectations. He…"
White Zetsu reported everything he knew.
Madara listened with little change in his expression.
He had already anticipated many of these developments.
The only exception was the speed at which Kiyohara's Sharingan had evolved, along with the rapid growth of his chakra reserves.
With Kiyohara as a comparison, even Obito seemed less impressive to Madara.
If Kiyohara were as easy to manipulate as Obito, and if he had awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan along with powerful ocular abilities, Madara would have considered him the perfect successor.
But that was only a hypothetical.
"Go and bring me some of the statue's chakra that I have stored."
Madara spoke.
Nagato might soon summon the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, and to prevent himself from dying of old age, Madara had prepared some chakra in advance to sustain himself.
Land of Rain, outskirts of the Akatsuki base.
The battle had fully erupted.
Amegakure shinobi advanced from three directions, kunai and shuriken colliding in the air and sparking against one another.
The Akatsuki members relied on the terrain for defense, but their numerical disadvantage was far too obvious.
"Demonic Illusion: Tree Binding Death!"
Kurenai's voice rang out through the rain.
Her figure vanished from where she stood, and in the next instant, three Amegakure shinobi suddenly froze, fear appearing in their eyes.
In their illusion, the surrounding trees came alive, thick branches wrapping tightly around them, constricting more and more.
In reality, they simply stood motionless, unable to move.
Shizune seized the opportunity. With a swift motion of her hands, dozens of poisoned senbon shot out.
The needles struck the three shinobi in the neck and joints. They let out muffled groans and collapsed to the ground.
"Well done!"
An Akatsuki member shouted.
But before his words had even faded, more Amegakure shinobi had already filled the gap.
"Fire Release: Great Fire Technique!"
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
The wind fueled the flames, and the fire exploded even in the rain, forming a deadly zone filled with steam.
Two Akatsuki members failed to dodge in time and were swallowed by the flames.
"Damn it!"
Yahiko roared, forming hand seals.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"
Rainwater gathered above his head, forming a ferocious water dragon that surged toward the flames.
Water and fire collided, producing an even larger cloud of steam that temporarily obscured vision.
Konan circled in the air, paper fragments shooting down like darts toward the enemies below.
But Amegakure shinobi were clearly prepared. Several of them formed hand seals simultaneously. "Fire Release: Fireball!"
Fireballs shot into the sky. Konan hurriedly dispersed into paper, but some of the sheets were still set ablaze.
At this moment, Kiyohara also charged directly into the ranks of Amegakure shinobi.
Curse mark patterns spread across his skin, intertwining and crossing.
His first punch was aimed at a Amegakure chunin rushing straight at him.
The force of his punch cut a clear path through the rain, brushing past the opponent's body, yet a heavy impact sound suddenly echoed.
Bang.
An invisible force struck the chunin's chest through the air. He was sent flying backward, crashing through two trees before finally stopping, his chest visibly caved in.
"What?"
The surrounding Amegakure shinobi were stunned.
Kiyohara did not stop moving.
He shifted his body and struck with his elbow.
Again, he did not make direct contact, yet the shinobi on his left was struck as if by a massive hammer in the side, coughing blood as he fell.
He turned and kicked.
His foot was still half a meter away, yet three enemies on his right were simultaneously sent flying.
Frog Kata.
Kiyohara could now use Frog Kata in actual combat.
"This is…"
Tsunade, who remained inside the base, suddenly sensed something.
Although she could not go out due to her condition, she could still perceive what was happening outside.
Within her perception, Kiyohara's chakra had suddenly changed.
And this sensation was something she was very familiar with.
It was natural energy.
"This feeling… Sage Mode…"
Tsunade thought to herself.
She had not yet taught Kiyohara senjutsu, and yet he had already learned something like this?
"No, upon closer sensing, there are subtle differences."
Tsunade realized that Kiyohara's chakra was still different from Jiraiya's.
(End of Chapter)