After digging a few pits and burying several Pain puppets, Kairen and the others went to a certain place.
Hundreds of km away from the Hidden Rain, this was the place where Jiraiya taught the three of Konan—where all dreams began, and also where they woke.
The night had already faded; before dawn arrived, this little cabin was wreathed in the sun's colored halo.
Outside the cabin, Kairen dug a pit and buried Yahiko.
Then he condensed more than ten Shadow Clones to conduct the rites.
Some did the ritual dance, some wailed in mourning—one look and you could tell they were professionals.
Under the pained gazes of Nagato and the others, Yahiko was finally laid to rest.
Kairen finished carving the tombstone and looked at the silent master and disciples, using silence to console Yahiko's spirit in heaven.
Nagato sighed and looked at Yahiko's grave mound.
"Yahiko was a born leader. He was benevolent, just, and had a power that made people positive."
Jiraiya clenched his fist. "Danzo!"
He had learned the truth from Nagato's mouth: it was Danzo who, together with Hanzō, had caused Yahiko's death.
But what could Jiraiya do?
Go settle accounts with Danzo?
The other party was an elder of Konoha—what was wrong with dealing with someone from the Land of Rain?
And there was the Rinnegan. No matter what, Danzo had reasons to deal with the Akatsuki back then.
Kairen said lightly, "Don't worry. When the time comes, I'll put Danzo's head here."
Nagato said a word of thanks. "Thank you!"
Jiraiya wanted to say something, but in the end he couldn't get it out.
Right now he seemed to be stuck between Konoha and his enemies, caught in the middle.
Kairen naturally saw Jiraiya's awkwardness. He patted his shoulder, summoned a few Shadow Clones, and had them take some photos.
"Come on, look at the camera!"
Jiraiya looked in confusion at Kairen with his arm around his shoulder, then at the Shadow Clones taking pictures.
"Photos? What for?"
Kairen smiled. "Nothing."
He wanted to mess with Jiraiya a bit.
If the people of Konoha saw him arm in arm with members of the Akatsuki, what would happen? Interrogation and surveillance would be unavoidable.
Then the group walked into the nearby cabin.
This place had been old for a long time; many parts were moldy.
Kairen summoned Shadow Clones to clean it up, replaced some furniture, and even made breakfast.
The few of them quietly savored the food at the table, as if they had returned to the old days.
After eating, Jiraiya put down his bowl and chopsticks and looked at Kairen.
"If only you were Yahiko."
Kairen replied, "What, am I disturbing your master-and-disciples reunion?"
Jiraiya shook his head, then looked at Konan sitting shoulder to shoulder with Kairen.
"Such a beautiful great beauty, and she just had to end up benefiting you, an outsider."
Konan smiled.
Jiraiya then said to Kairen, "You want to unify the ninja world and establish an empire—this isn't a joke, right?"
Kairen gave a light laugh. "I've never joked. When I say I'll rule the ninja world, I'll rule the ninja world."
Jiraiya couldn't help trying to persuade Kairen to put aside that dangerous idea.
"Once war starts, then who knows—"
Kairen quickly stopped Jiraiya. "Don't say it. My peace is unification. Besides, how can one tolerate others snoring beside one's bed?"
Jiraiya frowned and was about to launch into a grand speech, but Konan hurriedly stepped out to stop him.
"Let's all stop. Don't let outside matters disturb this reunion."
Jiraiya nodded. He could see it clearly now.
If Nagato wanted to use the power of the tailed beasts to reach the point of ending war, then Kairen wanted to completely eliminate everything that could trigger war.
By comparison, Kairen's was more extreme; the war he would launch would encompass the entire ninja world.
Jiraiya felt worried. Nagato had just been persuaded back onto the right path, and in the blink of an eye a bigger threat had arrived.
Konan walked over to the place with several frog-head wooden plaques and flipped Yahiko's plaque back to red, meaning he had already gone home.
She softly said, "Maybe one day, we'll all return here."
...
The early-rising sun was red. Nagato hastily packed his luggage and then said goodbye to the others.
He hugged Konan and then let go, and also offered his blessing.
"Konan, I wish you happiness."
Konan nodded and urged, "Nagato, be careful on the road!"
Jiraiya walked up and patted Nagato on the shoulder.
"Nagato, a wanderer will eventually return home. When you're tired out there, come back here!"
Nagato nodded. "Got it, Jiraiya-sensei."
Seeing that Konan and Jiraiya had both said their farewells, Kairen knew he couldn't be left out.
He walked in front of Nagato, put an arm around his shoulder, and said,
"The journey will reach its end someday. No need to hurry."
Nagato nodded. "Thank you!"
"Everyone, until we meet again!"
Stepping on the morning dew and the first sun, Nagato began a journey that belonged to him alone.
The three quietly watched Nagato leave, until his figure disappeared into the forest.
Konan was a little worried.
"Nagato knows so many secrets of the Akatsuki. What if Obito and the others go after him?"
Without the Rinnegan, Nagato's strength was no longer what it used to be.
Kairen held Konan's hand. "Don't worry. I'm watching over him."
As long as there were people in the ninja world, they were all under his surveillance, and Nagato's movements were also within his sight.
Jiraiya walked over and coughed twice. Kairen could tell by the look on his face that he was about to lecture him again.
He picked up Konan and shot into the sky, leaving a thread of sound for Jiraiya.
"Jiraiya, mind your own business a bit less. Go back to your village!"
"Tell Tsunade that in half a month I'll visit Konoha. By then, please give me a little more fun!"
According to the plot, during this time Jiraiya would be killed by Nagato and Konan.
Half a month later, the Akatsuki would invade, and at the same time Naruto would return from training in Sage Mode, pulling open the curtain on the great ninja war.
But now it was different. Kairen had messed the plot up completely; even the Great Toad Sage was dumbfounded.
Kairen planned to stand in for Nagato and play a round of the game.
Jiraiya stood where he was, Kairen's words leaving him a bit troubled.
"The ninja world is going to be in turmoil again!"
After thinking for more than ten seconds, Jiraiya also slung his bag over his shoulder and set off in the direction of Konoha.
...
Now, speaking of Deidara—after seeing Sasuke, it was like dry firewood meeting raging flames, so heated it was unstoppable.
The two of them turned on a live stream and fought to their hearts' content, fighting with wild abandon—it was exhilarating.
At the same time, Deidara also hated Sasuke so much his teeth itched.
Itachi bullies me and looks down on me, and you, an Uchiha, also look down on me—baka.
Furious, he unleashed C4: Garuda. All the life in the forest disintegrated, and Sasuke also became a pile of ash.
Deidara laughed loudly at the sky. "Did you see that! This is art. Even a famous Uchiha has to fall beneath my art."
[Kurotsuchi: "Deidara, behind you, behind you!"]
[Ōnoki: "Idiot, Uchiha Sasuke isn't dead yet!"]
Deidara was still lost in self-admiration when a blade shot out from behind.
At the critical moment, Deidara rolled backward and dodged Sasuke's cold strike.
After standing up, he glared at Sasuke's impassive face.
"You little punk, you actually launched a sneak attack!"
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