After a brief negotiation, the Shinobi Allied Forces led by Jiraiya swiftly withdrew from the Land of Sound, releasing every single prisoner from the Hidden Sound Village.
They even paid a massive sum in war reparations for the privilege!
It was a classic case of "going out for wool and coming home shorn," failing a task and suffering a loss to boot.
Immediately upon returning to the village, the Toad Sage stormed into the Hokage's office, asking Tsunade heatedly, "How much longer until that Sealing Jutsu research is successful? I really can't stomach this any longer! That brat is too arrogant! He acts like he's got us exactly where he wants us! We can't let this continue, or the downfall of the Hidden Villages and the shinobi system will only be a matter of time."
"Don't be so impatient. Hold on! We're just a step away from success. Besides, our people finally gathered intelligence on the Akatsuki organization. Remember those strange Rinnegan users who appeared on the battlefield not long ago? They are called the Six Paths of Pain. The one leading them calls himself Pain; he killed Hanzo of the Salamander long ago and claims to be a god, bringing the entire Land of Rain under his control."
As she spoke, Tsunade tossed a heap of documents and photographs onto the desk.
To say nothing of the massive personnel losses the Hidden Leaf suffered in that battle, those eyes, rumored to belong only to the legendary Sage of the Six Paths, demanded the utmost priority.
"This is... Yahiko?!!"
With just a single glance, Jiraiya recognized his former pupil, his face contorting into an expression of utter disbelief.
Simultaneously, he recalled Nagato, the one among the three children who truly possessed the Rinnegan.
"Yahiko? One of those brats we met in the Land of Rain years ago?" Tsunade clearly remembered the scene as well, her expression turning grim.
Jiraiya nodded with a bitter smile. "Yes. It's definitely Yahiko; I wouldn't mistake him. But the one who truly had the Rinnegan should be Nagato. Why does Yahiko have those eyes? It seems I must personally pay a visit to Akatsuki to investigate their situation thoroughly."
"Wait! When this Pain appeared last time, he effortlessly slaughtered forty of our Genin, twenty Chunin, and six Jonin. If you intend to infiltrate the Land of Rain, you must be extremely careful. I don't want to hear news of your death," Tsunade reminded him, her fists clenched tight.
With the daily reports of deaths, the most painful memories from her past resurfaced; she was terrified of a similar tragedy repeating itself.
"Hahahaha! I am the Toad Sage! How could I die so easily? Don't worry, not only will I return alive, but I'll bring back intelligence on Akatsuki."
After saying this, Jiraiya leaped out of the window with a boisterous laugh.
...
Meanwhile, far away in the Hidden Rain Village, Nagato sat in his wheelchair, admiring the scenery while sipping tea personally brewed by Konan. Gone was his former anger and pain, replaced by a strange, inexplicable serenity.
After a full minute, he asked without turning his head, "Any leads regarding the swordsmith?"
"I've found a suitable target and have already sent people to escort him to the Land of Sound. Additionally, are you certain that letting someone like Kabuto join Akatsuki is the right choice?" Konan asked, her brow furrowed.
"It doesn't matter. Kabuto is merely a pawn used to resurrect Madara. According to Allen, someone must become the Jinchuriki of the Ten-Tails and use these Rinnegan to cast Rinne Tensei to bring Madara back. Only after Madara is revived and casts the Infinite Tsukuyomi will the Progenitor of Chakra, the world's only goddess, be released from her seal. Kabuto's role is critical, but he will never know the truth," Nagato explained patiently.
"But you'll have to give up your own eyes, right?" Konan's tone carried a strong sense of resentment.
Nagato, however, shook his head with an indifferent smile. "No. You're wrong. Allen will replicate a pair of Rinnegan, and then Obito will cooperate to put on a show. Once the performance is over, I will put my original Rinnegan back in and appear on the final battlefield."
"Replicate?" Konan keenly caught the keyword.
"Yes. Allen possesses a very special ability; he can replicate anything and have the duplicate exist for twenty-four hours. For the resurrection of Madara, twenty-four hours is more than enough. I truly look forward to seeing the expression on that 'Ghost of the Uchiha' when he realizes his eyes have suddenly vanished."
As he spoke, a rare, playful smile appeared on Nagato's face.
Ever since learning how Madara and Black Zetsu had manipulated his life, a fire of vengeance had been burning fiercely in his heart. It was this very fire that allowed him to forgive Obito, who shared a similar deep-seated grudge; in a way, the two were kindred spirits sharing the same misfortune.
Hearing this, Konan's face lit up with realization. "I see! But are you sure Obito can really be trusted?"
"I never trusted Obito. But I trust the hatred within his heart. Remember how much we hated Hanzo and Danzo when Yahiko died? His hatred now is even stronger than ours was then. According to Allen, for Obito, no person or thing in this world holds a higher status than Rin. Therefore, even if he has to stake his life, he will make Madara and Black Zetsu pay for their crimes." This was Nagato's reasoning for accepting Obito.
For those who had already fallen into the abyss, the drive to keep living was never a beautiful wish, but the anger and hatred toward the masterminds behind the curtain.
"Fine. Perhaps you are right. In a couple of days, I will personally go to the Hidden Sound Village in the Land of Sound. You had better be careful during this period. Since all of Akatsuki is now embroiled in the war between the Resistance and the Great Hidden Villages, it's only a matter of time before this place is targeted."
After saying this, Konan dissolved into a flurry of paper and vanished into the air.
Nagato remained in his wheelchair, continuing to gaze at the landscape, his thoughts unknown.
After several minutes, Kisame, wearing his Akatsuki uniform, slowly stepped out of the darkness and asked bluntly, "Leader, what are your orders for summoning me back so suddenly?"
"There are orders indeed." Nagato turned to face the strange-looking man from the Hidden Mist. "I have a secret mission to entrust to you."
"Oh? Another infiltration mission?" Kisame glanced at the briefing he was handed, his tone tinged with a hint of helplessness.
He had spent most of his life as an undercover agent, and each mission was more dangerous than the last.
Nagato took a small sip of his steaming tea and responded in a low voice, "Precisely. I heard Obito mention that you are the most professional in this regard. Infiltrating Kabuto's side is to ensure he follows the plan accordingly. Remember, everything we are doing now is to protect this world and allow it to develop in a better direction. After spending time within the Resistance, you should have felt the power that erupts when the people at the bottom finally awaken, right?"
"Understood. I will see to it."
Since things had been framed this way, Kisame naturally could not refuse; besides, he wouldn't feel at ease entrusting such a vital task to anyone else.