Konan's face was dark as she immediately donned her black robe. With a freezing expression, she asked, "Are you making sport of me?"
"Watch your attitude. You came in here threatening me right off the bat, which made me quite uncomfortable. I hope that next time you come, you can bring the sincerity of the Akatsuki's willingness to cooperate. Otherwise, Miss Konan, why bother demeaning yourself by coming to find me at all?" Shimizu said indifferently.
"You... you... you..."
Konan was nearly driven mad with rage. How could someone be so utterly shameless?
"Oh, and remember to be quick about it. Otherwise, I'll be heading back to Konohagakure. If you come again, remember to have 'sincerity.'"
At the end, Shimizu did not forget to apply more pressure on Konan, specifically emphasizing the word "sincerity."
If Yahiko remained a mere civilian, he would be completely unable to survive in the Land of Rain. The shinobi world was like a chaotic martial arts underworld; once you stepped into it, you were embroiled in never-ending conflict. Yahiko had completed so many missions that he had long since accumulated enemies. If those enemies discovered that Yahiko no longer had his abilities, his fate went without saying.
Nagato and Konan couldn't watch over Yahiko twenty-four hours a day. Furthermore, Yahiko wasn't the type of person who could sit idle; sooner or later, he would continue to travel for the sake of peace.
"Shimizu Uchiha, you... very well."
In the end, Konan didn't spit out any harsh parting words and left in a sorry state.
"Konan really does have a wonderful scent," Shimizu remarked, smelling the fragrance lingering in the room.
Konan was a strong-willed woman. He had to make her realize how powerless she was against him—he had to suppress her. Only then would she understand the hierarchy of status. At the same time, she would grow more fearful of him, making it easier for Shimizu to control her in their upcoming operations.
Back at the base, Konan was still ruminating on her own "shameless" appearance. Her heart was filled with shame and annoyance. How could she have done such things?
But looking at the supplies in her hand, Konan sighed again. The Akatsuki was currently at a critical juncture, accumulating strength for a comeback. It was also their lowest point. Their numbers, morale, funds, and connections were nothing like they used to be.
"Konan."
Yahiko's high fever had finally broken. He walked over shakily. The wound on the upper-left side of his abdomen had still not healed.
"Yahiko, make sure to get more rest."
Just as she spoke, another voice came from inside—it was Nagato's.
"What about Shimizu Uchiha? Did he refuse us?"
"No... he gave me this."
Konan took all the supplies out of the sealing scroll while relaying Shimizu's words to them. Inside were medical items and a small amount of ninja tools, such as kunai and explosive tags. These items all required money to purchase, including future supplies.
"Is that all? He only gave this many supplies?"
Nagato walked out, followed by several strange figures. Black chakra receivers were inserted into their noses and ears, and their eyes were all the deep purple Rinnegan.
Konan looked at these people in surprise. Since when were there so many people with the Rinnegan? No, that's not right.
Konan reacted quickly. These people weren't breathing. Looking closer, even though they stood behind him, they emitted a thick aura of decaying death.
Puppets! The answer was obvious.
"Haha, surprised? To be honest, I was surprised too," Yahiko said, patting Nagato's back.
He briefly explained to Konan that these people were puppets made by Nagato using the Outer Path power of the Rinnegan; they could exert power similar to Nagato's own. He hadn't misjudged his friend. Nagato would eventually become the bridge to peace.
"But Nagato, you must use the power of the Rinnegan less in the future."
Nagato's face had grown even thinner, almost like a skeleton, with black chakra receivers piercing his body.
"Yahiko, I know these things."
Seeing Yahiko's somewhat unsteady steps, Nagato supported him. "Konan, since you and Shimizu Uchiha get along well, I'll leave things with him to you from now on."
Yahiko smiled.
"...Yes."
Konan hesitated to speak. Looking at Yahiko's bright smile, she felt a pang of sorrow in her heart. Would Yahiko ever know what price she had paid? Her eyes reddened slightly, and she covered her face to wipe them.
"The wind here is carrying rainwater; it blew into my eyes. Let's go inside and talk."
Konan gathered the items on the ground back into the sealing scroll.
"The wind is indeed quite strong," Yahiko agreed. In his weakened state, he felt it clearly. He could even feel the cold now. However, after waking up and seeing that Konan was completely unharmed, he felt truly good.
Konan followed them into the base. The interior was filled with newly wounded comrades, though some new members had also joined. Nagato's Six Paths of Pain had all been laid on beds to rest. Nagato himself exhaled, looking as if he had set down a heavy burden.
"These people..."
"We went to seek revenge against Hanzo of the Salamander. But that guy is cunning; we couldn't find his real body, only body doubles," Nagato said indifferently.
Konan looked at the people in the base. She felt that it was even more lifeless than before she had left, as if it could be crushed at any moment. Even if the rain outside washed the earth, it couldn't wash away the oppression here.
"We will definitely bring peace," Yahiko's hearty laughter echoed in the base, bringing a stream of vitality to the deathly atmosphere.
"Yes, we will bring peace."
There was another sentence Nagato didn't say in front of Yahiko: Only through pain can peace be achieved.
The two of them looked toward Konan, and she nodded. She recited the same slogan with them, and the other members of Akatsuki also cheered for peace.
In a corner where no one noticed, a trace of worry was hidden in the depths of Konan's eyes. Would they really bring peace? A Nagato being gradually swallowed by power? Or a Yahiko who had lost his strength and been reduced to a civilian?
Furthermore, could the three of them ever be the same as they were in the past?
As a woman, Konan had delicate emotions. She could see that Nagato had not told Yahiko his true theories. This was a time bomb that would explode sooner or later. If so, where would the friendship of the three of them go?
Uchiha Compound, Shimizu's Underground Lab
"These samples have been analyzed; they are all snake genes. However, there are residues of Cursed Seal and talisman power inside. I used previous cloning techniques to isolate the purest genes."
"Mm."
Shimizu took the test tube handed over by Rin Nohara. He shook it gently; a solution like liquid mercury flowed inside.
"How are the other adaptation fluids I asked for?"
"They're all in here."
Rin Nohara opened a container behind her, which emitted a cold mist, revealing dozens of test tubes. Shimizu took one out and began an experiment on a white mouse.
It was an experiment regarding using the power of Moryo to combine the Cursed Seal of Heaven and the Cursed Seal of Earth. Since obtaining the original fluids for these two Cursed Seals, Shimizu had been studying how to fuse these two powers.
The Heaven Seal represented the power of birds and beasts, while the Earth Seal represented the power of land animals. Their focuses were different, and there was very little overlap. This meant that if they were fused into one, they would complement each other's strengths and compensate for their deficiencies.
Orochimaru hadn't researched this, firstly because his ambitions lay elsewhere. As seen from Mitsuki, Orochimaru leaned toward cloning—cloning the most perfect individual to explore the power of a natural Sage Body. Secondly, he lacked the power of Moryo, which possessed the characteristics to harness and neutralize these two forces.
"It seems Kakashi is about to return?" Shimizu observed Rin Nohara's reaction.
Kakashi was still in Kirigakure spending time with his political marriage partner. After so long, it was almost time for him to come back.
"Is that so?" Rin Nohara said coldly, her expression unchanging. She then buried her head back into her work.
Seeing this, Shimizu knew that Rin's affection for Kakashi had mostly faded. As for how much was left, it would require further observation.
Should I have a child with Rin Nohara?
Looking at the increasingly beautiful Rin, Shimizu rubbed his chin, pondering. Rin was becoming more stunning, and both her height and "heart" were growing. In a few years, she would have an adult physique.
This didn't match Obito. After all, Obito's mental state had stopped at the moment he awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan. Only his body had grown. When he finally entered the Pure Land, he did so in the form of a child. Everyone else was an adult; even the souls of the past Hokage appeared as adults.
If we have a daughter, and after the Nine-Tails incident, Obito steps into Konoha years later only to find that Rin has a daughter... what would his reaction be?
Shimizu shook his head and laughed. It was a bit of a wicked sense of humor. Perhaps if Obito saw a new "little Rin," he would believe that Rin was his true "white moonlight."
"What are you laughing at?" Rin Nohara gave Shimizu a strange look. She felt he was up to no good.
"Nothing."
After Shimizu spoke, he continued his experiments. Rin could only suppress the doubts in her heart. Since things had already turned out this way, she couldn't do anything about whatever else Shimizu wanted to do.
Yes, this is my life, my fate, Rin thought sorrowfully.
"You have seen the tree, but not the forest. You simply do not understand the meaning of peace. Surrender quietly and stop throwing your lives away for Hanzo of the Salamander. Otherwise, your deaths will be used to promote peace."
The Deva Path Pain spoke calmly. He had the same orange hair and similar facial features as Yahiko. If Yahiko weren't an orphan, Konan would have suspected this person was Yahiko's long-lost brother.
"Cough, cough... Nagato, don't be like this... We are here to bring peace, not to start conflicts," Yahiko shouted.
"Yahiko, you should call me Pain here. Since they have heard my true identity, they have been sentenced to death."
The Deva Path Pain's cold gaze fell upon the Rain Shinobi. Amidst their terrified expressions, he uttered two words: "Shinra Tensei!"
Boom!
An invisible repulsive force sent all the Rain Shinobi flying. They landed dozens of meters away and went silent instantly.
"Nagato!"
Yahiko pushed away Konan, who was supporting him, and grabbed the Deva Path's robes with both hands, as if trying to lift him up. But his body was too weak; instead, he pulled his wound, causing him to frown in pain.
Even so, Yahiko did not let go, questioning the Deva Path: "What on earth are you doing? They were just guards responsible for protecting this village. Even if they worked for Hanzo, they didn't participate in the killings of our people."
"They heard my name. Furthermore, only through pain can the other shinobi who join Amegakure understand peace," the Deva Path said indifferently.
Yahiko looked at the puppet controlled by Nagato in disbelief. He felt Nagato had changed. The way they used to seek peace was never through such indiscriminate killing of the innocent. They were just bottom-tier shinobi forced by the hardships of life. They were someone's husband, someone's son, someone's father! Without the pillars of their families, would those left behind be able to survive in the Land of Rain?
Looking at the dead Rain Shinobi, Yahiko seemed to see a vast field of displaced orphans.
"Yahiko, Nagato, don't be like this."
Konan rushed forward to pull the two apart. It had been several days since her last visit to Shimizu. Nagato had been leading Akatsuki in guerrilla warfare. Today, Yahiko had recovered enough and intended to talk to the people of this village. However, their request was rejected, and Nagato, believing they had heard his true identity, killed them directly.
"Nagato!" Yahiko shouted.
"Yahiko, you will eventually understand that I am true peace. Within infinite pain, I have achieved growth beyond that of mortals. From a mortal, I have become a god. I will forge a kingdom of God and bring eternal peace to the world."
No emotion could be heard in the Deva Path Pain's words. Because this was a corpse to begin with. This also made the Deva Path's words cold and heartless, adding a touch of divinity.
"Ah..." Konan cried out in pain.
Nagato, wanting to separate the three of them, pried her fingers away. That immense strength caused Konan's fingers to immediately turn bruised and red.
"Sorr—"
Nagato wanted to say sorry. This puppet was a corpse; a corpse had lost the brain's restrictions on the body and would exert 100% of its strength. He wasn't very skilled in using it and could easily hurt others.
"Konan, are you okay?"
Someone was faster than Yahiko, pushing the Deva Path aside and looking at Konan with concern.
"It's nothing major." Konan endured the pain and hid her fingers inside her black sleeves, not letting Nagato or the Deva Path see. "Let's go back."
Konan squeezed out a smile. The Deva Path and Yahiko remained silent and nodded. The three of them returned to the base together. The atmosphere on the road was eerily heavy. This was the first time they had such a major conflict. And both Nagato and Yahiko knew in their hearts that it wouldn't be the last. Unless they could change the other's perspective, today's situation would play out countless times.
"You're back."
Kyusuke had also lost quite a bit of weight. He seemed to have adapted to life with one hand and was currently stir-frying in a large pot. However, one could see that many of the vegetables in the pot were rotting leaves.
The Deva Path Pain frowned slightly, and the Nagato controlling him looked at Yahiko. Now that Hanzo of the Salamander was suppressing the Akatsuki on a large scale, they couldn't buy food or oil even if they had money. They even faced the risk of being reported and having their location exposed.
If Yahiko hadn't stopped him, he could have resolved the Akatsuki's supply crisis with just a bit of force. How could they have fallen to the point where even eating was a problem?
Yahiko knew what Nagato wanted to say and immediately spoke up: "We will find a way. But we cannot resort to stealing or looting. Otherwise, what difference is there between us and the shinobi of the Great Nations who invaded us?"
"I hope so."
The Deva Path Pain said no more. He walked to a corner, lay on a bed, and went into standby mode. These puppets needed constant maintenance to ensure no accidents occurred during battle.
"Yahiko..."
Seeing the two who were once so close acting like this, Konan felt an indescribable sadness. The crisis of lacking supplies for the Akatsuki also loomed before her. At this moment, she thought of that irritating fellow, Shimizu Uchiha.
Only he didn't care about the suppression by Hanzo of the Salamander; as long as there was money, he would continue to provide supplies. But... would there be additional requirements? Konan fell into deep thought.
"Konan."
Yahiko interrupted Konan's thoughts. He took her to a corner and said, "Shimizu Uchiha... you said he doesn't mind us, right?"
Yahiko's tone carried a hint of respect. As the saying goes, "distance tests a horse's strength, and time reveals a person's heart." Only those who lend a helping hand in times of crisis are true friends. Yahiko completely believed the intelligence he had gathered in the past. Shimizu was not only "Shimizu of the Instantaneous Body," but also a highly virtuous doctor who helped the world. Only a person with such a compassionate heart would continue to believe in the Akatsuki and not expose their information despite the high bounty on their heads.
"Yahiko... you..."
A flash of confusion crossed Konan's eyes. Why did Yahiko sound so respectful when mentioning Shimizu Uchiha? What was there to respect about that guy?
"Konan, I'm counting on you. The major factions in the Land of Rain are all wary of Hanzo, and those ordinary merchants don't dare offend Amegakure. They are all poor people struggling for a living. We cannot use those methods; doing so would negate all our past efforts."
Yahiko rambled on. Konan listened patiently because this was the man she loved. But as Yahiko continued, Konan felt something was wrong.
Sure enough, Yahiko finally said, "Cough, cough... please, Konan, go find Shimizu Uchiha again. Can you invite him to come meet us?"
Yahiko made his request. It wasn't good for too many members of Akatsuki to go to the area where Shimizu lived, as it would be easy to be discovered. Having Shimizu come here was the safest option. As for exposing their location—if Shimizu wanted to expose them, he would have done so long ago. He would only need an excuse to send Konan away to use her as leverage against them.
Konan bit her lower lip, her expression hesitant. Yahiko had said the same thing last time. She had delayed for a few days, and now Akatsuki was once again at a point of lacking supplies. There was no avoiding it now.
"...Alright."
Konan nodded. Yahiko's health couldn't be delayed either; it was best to resolve this quickly.
"That's great, Konan. It's good to have you."
Yahiko gave a brilliant smile. Nagato had changed. Fortunately, Konan was still the same—still as beautiful, pure, and kind as before.
Looking at Yahiko's sunny smile, Konan felt a momentary daze. She also revealed a genuine smile, pushing down all her anxieties about the future. "Mm."
Shimizu's Cottage
"Ten thousand Ryo."
Shimizu placed the aid money into an envelope and had a mail ninja deliver it. Before long, Nonoyu Yakushi would lose her composure. Currently, the economy in all sectors was declining. Without connections or using special shinobi methods to earn extra cash, one couldn't make much money at all.
"Miss Konan, what a coincidence."
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