Chapter 68: The Akatsuki's Red Line
"We need to make the Five Great Nations understand one thing: the Land of Rain is not their backyard, but a red-hot iron plate. Anyone who dares to step on it must be prepared to have a layer of skin burned off."
"Only by beating them until it hurts, until they are afraid, will they learn to knock."
A hint of fanaticism flashed in Nagato's eyes; this was why he followed Yahiko. It wasn't about humbly begging for peace, but using absolute violence to set the rules.
"Now, for the assignments."
Yahiko threw the broken pen into the trash can and began appointing leaders.
"The Eastern Front will primarily guard against Konoha's exploratory attacks. Though they are weak right now, they are still the number one village after all. Even a lean camel is bigger than a horse."
Yahiko looked toward Nagato and Sasori.
"The six paths of pain, along with Sasori of the Red Sand, you two head to the Eastern Front."
"Konoha has always touted itself as the strongest, so let them witness what true 'God's power' really is," Yahiko said calmly. "Besides, this will be a combat test for your new creation, Sasori."
"The Southern Front will face the Hidden Sand Village."
Yahiko's gaze fell upon the guys with the worst personalities.
"Kakuzu, Orochimaru, and Biwa Jūzō."
This was a lineup designed to be extremely disgusting to the opponent.
Kakuzu was a bounty hunter with eyes only for money; Orochimaru was the former commander of the Konoha-Sand battlefield during the Third Shinobi World War, and the Hidden Sand Village wanted nothing more than to eat his flesh and sleep on his skin; add to that a murderous maniac from the former Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
"This combination... I like it very much." Orochimaru gave a raspy laugh, his golden vertical pupils filled with malice. "If that old hag Chiyo sees me, her expression will surely be wonderful."
"As long as there's money, I don't mind killing a few of the Kazekage's Guard for bounties," Kakuzu snorted.
"As for the Northern Front, Iwagakure."
Yahiko straightened his collar and looked at Konan beside him.
"I'll go meet them. Konan, you come with me."
The arrangements were complete.
Just as everyone was about to disperse to prepare, a weak voice suddenly rang out from the corner.
"Um... Leader-sama?"
Obito (Tobi) raised a hand, his tone exaggerated and artificial, his body twisting like a maggot. "For this kind of high-level play, an intern like me shouldn't participate, right? See how weak I am? If I die, the organization would have to pay out a pension. That's just not cost-effective!"
Several gazes in the meeting room shot toward him simultaneously.
Especially Konan, whose eyes were playful, as if she wanted to pull out a brush and write something on his face again.
Obito's scalp tingled, and he hurriedly continued making excuses. "Besides, the organization is so short-staffed right now. I plan to go out and continue looking for excellent companions! For the sake of Akatsuki's future, I am willing to go on an official business trip at this time to those remote places to catch... uh, no, invite talent!"
He had to leave.
Staying in this oppressive room for even one more second made him feel like he was streaking. Moreover, since the plan for Konoha had failed, he had to go to the Hidden Mist Village to confirm his control over the Fourth Mizukage Yagura. That was the only foundation Madara had left, and nothing could go wrong again.
Yahiko looked at Obito's blustering but cowardly appearance, seeing through him completely.
"Very well." Yahiko didn't expose him, instead giving a meaningful smile. "An intern is indeed not suited for the battlefield. Since you have this intention, I'll approve your leave."
He walked up to Obito and helped him adjust his crooked mask.
"Go on, Tobi. No matter where you go, remember to do a good job. Don't let me down. If you come back with nothing..."
Yahiko leaned close to his ear and whispered softly, "You know the consequences."
Obito's whole body stiffened, then he bowed abruptly as if spring-loaded. "Yes! Leader! Mission guaranteed to be completed! For Akatsuki!"
With that, he activated Kamui and scrambled to suck himself into the alternate dimension, as if a dog were chasing him... Half an hour later.
Atop the highest tower of the Hidden Rain Village.
The wild wind howled, and the rain poured down in torrents.
Several figures stood atop gargoyles, their black robes with red clouds flapping loudly in the wind and rain.
Yahiko looked down at the village below, which resembled a jungle of steel, and the gloomy skyline in the distance.
"Let's move out."
He reached out his hand, as if to grasp the storm filling the sky.
"Let this Ninja World see clearly what kind of monsters the Akatsuki, returned from Hell, truly are."
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Several dark shadows vanished into the rain curtain instantly, heading toward the three borders of the country.
The Akatsuki officially unsheathed its blade against the Ninja World... The scene shifted.
On the eastern border of the Land of Rain, in the dense rainforest bordering the Land of Fire.
Thick fog filled the area, with visibility less than five meters.
An elite Konoha unit was on a forced march. The leader had the signature pineapple hair and two scars on his face—it was Konoha's premier strategist, Nara Shikaku.
Behind him were the stout Akimichi Choza and the sharp-eyed Inoichi Yamanaka.
The entire Ino–Shika–Chō trio was deployed, along with two Anbu squads, showing how much importance Konoha placed on this operation.
"Shikaku, this fog isn't right." Inoichi Yamanaka pressed his forehead; his sensory Ninjutsu was being heavily interfered with. "Rain is common in the Land of Rain, but this fog is mixed with something that isolates Chakra."
"Everyone, on high alert." Nara Shikaku stopped in his tracks, his expression grave. "Our mission is to seize the high ground on the border, build defensive fortifications, and prevent any potential flanking surprise attacks from Kumogakure. If any Rain Ninja block us..."
His eyes turned cold. "Try to drive them away. If there's resistance, kill without mercy."
To the great nations, the protests of small countries were like the buzzing of mosquitoes, to be swatted away at will.
This was the unspoken rule of the Ninja World.
However, just then.
"Aaaah—!!!"
A scout ahead suddenly let out a piercing, agonizing scream.
Followed by a second, then a third... "Enemy attack?!" Akimichi Choza instantly used the Multi-Size Technique to enlarge his arm, shielding the front of the team.
A strange wind blew past, and the thick mist slowly dissipated.
When the scene before them became clear, even Nara Shikaku, who was accustomed to life and death, couldn't help but have his pupils shrink violently.
Along the border ahead, the earth seemed to have been torn apart by some terrifying force.
Countless pitch-black, cold, massive iron spikes, like the fangs of prehistoric behemoths, rose densely from the ground toward the sky!
The Konoha scouts who had gone ahead to scout were now like grasshoppers on a grill, skewered by those black iron spikes. Their bodies were suspended high in the air, blood dripping down the spikes and staining the soil below red.
This was a Great Wall of Death composed of steel and corpses, forcibly cutting off the path from the Land of Fire to the Land of Rain.
At the top of this forest of death.
A man wearing a gas mask, with black rods through his nose and a pair of rippled purple eyes, was looking down at them from above.
That gaze held no killing intent, only a cold indifference that viewed all living things as ants.
"No passage here."
Pain: Heavenly Dao Hanzou slowly raised his hand, his palm aimed at the Konoha army below.
"Those who cross the line, die."
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