Compared to the original timeline, where the Daimyo of This Country was killed, many nobles died, and the Tenshukaku was completely flattened by Sasori's Puppet Mastery, there were actually many more survivors this time.
The Konoha Ninja didn't care how This Country and That Country would fight in the future; they quickly returned to the Village, escorting their captives and carrying their wounded.
Land of Rain.
The Masked Man, Obito, was still looking out at the drizzling rain.
Zetsu emerged silently.
He asked, "Deidara said Konan was captured by Konoha Ninja. Will there be any problems on Nagato's side?"
Akatsuki Organization members rarely had team-building opportunities. They usually operated in groups, contacting each other only when necessary. Some members wouldn't see each other for years, which was completely different from Kara, which established its headquarters in a different dimension and often went there for coffee.
Obito's tone was calm. He quietly watched the drizzle for a while and said, "What problems could there be? It was originally just Deidara and Sasori's mission. He specifically sent Konan out, saying he wanted to observe the Nine-Tailed from close range. Actually..."
He paused, and Zetsu asked with interest, "Actually, what?"
Obito's tone was mocking: "Actually, he probably wanted to give Konan a chance. Their hearts died when Yahiko died. The tale of the gutsy ninja that Uchiha Itachi brought back shook their resolve. Konan had been reading this book for the past few days. The cycle of hatred and war is a curse. Am I to cut off the curse? Hmph, Jiraiya's book is truly naive."
Zetsu said sinisterly, "You mean... Nagato is also wavering?"
Obito retorted, "Does his wavering have anything to do with the outcome?"
Zetsu still didn't quite understand human thinking. He felt that humans often contradicted themselves in what they said and did.
Obito seemed to recall something, speaking with a hint of reminiscence: "Nagato tricked Konan into taking on this mission, hoping Konan would find the answer to the problem, while he would bear everything, walking that path alone. We don't need to go against his wishes. Cutting off this bond of friendship will make him sink deeper into hell, which is good for us."
Obito turned and asked, "Who defeated Konan?"
"It was a Female Ninja from Konoha Village, very young. She seems to be even stronger than Kakashi, who was promoted to Jonin at 12 years old back then," Zetsu said playfully.
Obito wore a mask, so no one could see his expression. His tone was flat: "A genius from Konoha Village? In front of the Rinnegan, genius is meaningless."
Zetsu seemingly sincerely agreed, "Hmm, I agree with your assessment."
Obito thought for a moment and said, "...Konan being gone is actually a good thing. Nagato still needs a Ninja to deliver messages. You go to Hidden Rain Village and find one for him."
"Okay."
"Also, Konan's ring must be brought back. The Akatsuki Organization still needs some sense of ritual."
"Understood."
A day later, a Female Ninja named Ajisai entered Zetsu's sight. She greatly admired the "Angel" of Hidden Rain Village. Hearing that the "Angel" had fallen and she had the opportunity to become the new "Angel," she was filled with joy and followed the Animal Path of the Six Paths of Pain into the main iron gate of Hidden Rain Village.
The Konoha Ninja and the samurai with their swords separated, rushing back to the Village at full speed.
Konan was a major criminal. Upon returning to the Village, the Konoha Interrogation Department immediately imprisoned her.
Kakashi, in his capacity as Jonin Squad Leader, ordered Morino Ibiki and Yamanaka Inoichi to be on high alert, to put her in a restraint suit with Chakra sealing jutsu, and to have the Sealing Team set up layers of blockade outside the prison.
All Ninja who carried out the mission in This Country rushed to the Hokage Building to report the situation.
Even Gekkō Hayate and Namikaze Raidō, who were extremely weak due to poisoning, were no exception.
Ino was the captain of the decoy squad, while Kakashi and Asuma were the captains of the two ambush squads. The three of them immediately reported the intelligence gathered from this mission to the Fifth Hokage.
Ino focused on Konan's abilities. Jiraiya's expression changed slightly but he said nothing. Asuma described Sasori's puppet manipulation abilities, and Kakashi spoke about Deidara's clay explosion abilities.
The remaining Shikamaru, Genma Shiranui, and others had nothing to add. Naruto squinted, seemingly wanting to express his opinion, but Shikamaru directly covered his mouth, not giving him a chance to speak.
After the report, many Jonin and Chunin, including Asuma and Ino, turned and left.
Kakashi stayed behind, followed by Shikaku, Utatane Koharu, Homura Mitokado, and Danzo Shimura, who arrived in succession.
No one had called Danzo, but he rushed to the meeting as soon as he heard that the Village had captured Konan.
Since he was already there, they couldn't just kick him out. Jiraiya gave him a disgusted look but said nothing.
Kakashi said, "Hokage-sama, the Akatsuki Organization consists of very strong Rogue Ninja. We cannot rule out the possibility that they will come to the Village to rescue her. I believe we should strengthen the Village's defenses."
Homura Mitokado disagreed: "Strengthen defenses? Kakashi, to what extent do you want to strengthen them?"
Kakashi replied very seriously: "Raise the Village's security level to the highest. The Sensing Team and Medical Corps should prepare for wartime. Konoha School should be temporarily suspended, and all Jonin, Chunin, and Genin vacations should be canceled, with everyone returning to their posts."
He actually thought they should close the Village gates and triple the number of defenders around the Village.
However, these matters, especially closing the Village gates, were entirely the Hokage's prerogative. Let alone him, who was just a newly appointed Jonin Squad Leader, even the three Advisors did not have the right to close the Village gates.
Utatane Koharu smiled without warmth: "Is it necessary for Konoha to be on such high alert just because of a Rogue Ninja from Hidden Rain Village captured by a Chunin?"
Jiraiya had no intention of hiding the past, and frankly said, "Konan was once my disciple. I know her abilities very well. Her Secret Technique and Taijutsu are both very strong. It's very difficult to defeat her, let alone capture her. Ino being able to capture her is a complete display of her strength. This has nothing to do with the Chunin rank. We must take the Akatsuki Organization seriously enough."
Utatane Koharu, of course, knew these past events. Bringing up this matter now was simply to undermine the Hokage's authority and elevate the importance of the Advisors. She stopped after a brief attempt and said nothing more.
Isn't it normal for a Hokage to have one or two Rogue Ninja as disciples?
The Third Hokage had Rogue Ninja disciples, and now it seems the Fifth Hokage does too.
Did the Fourth Hokage? Will the future Sixth Hokage? Who knows, and even if they do, it wouldn't be surprising. This is tradition!
If you don't produce one or two Rogue Ninja, you're not even qualified to be Hokage.
Conversely, if you're not a Hokage's disciple, you won't be exposed to those advanced Ninjutsu, won't know anything, and won't be qualified to defect from the Village either.
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