The conflict between Hanzo and the Dawn stemmed primarily from power struggles.
Once Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato led the Dawn out of the Rain Country, the corrupt Hanzo would no longer dare to pursue them.
As Raj observed the scene, Konan emerged from a nearby hut.
She bowed deeply.
"Qianming-kun, we're counting on you for this battle. Please ensure both you and Yahiko return safely."
'Why are you cursing me? Besides, I'm not even one of Dawn's members. You're acting like I'm one of you,' Raj thought.
He stared at Konan for a moment, then suddenly said, "Meow~ Are you worried about me?"
"Of course," Konan replied without hesitation.
The next moment, "Mouse" nimbly leaped onto her shoulder, causing her to tremble slightly.
She couldn't help it.
Even though she knew it was actually a cat, the sight of its form still made her shudder.
"Don't worry, meow. I'll survive," Raj whispered in her ear.
As for whether he'd return, that would depend on the circumstances.
He wasn't a member of Dawn, so if he did return, it wouldn't be to their base.
His main concern was what would happen if Kakashi and the others ran into Dawn's fleet on their way back from the Land of Snow.
'Troublesome,' Raj thought darkly.
By then, Yahiko had already set off to meet Hanzo.
"Goodbye, meow," Raj said, waving a paw, and swiftly slipped into the forest, tracking Yahiko and the others toward the meeting place.
Konan wasn't brought along because she was the weakest of the three.
However, she wasn't useless; during a retreat, her support would be far more valuable than Yahiko's.
They had a comprehensive plan for this operation.
The only question was whether Danzo would take the bait.
Raj crouched in the forest, pondering this.
Upon arriving at the meeting place, Nagato blended into the crowd and subtly released his Chakra.
Rain Tiger at Will Technique.
"Everyone, before we arrive, I need to explain something," Yahiko said, his voice low but firm as he walked.
"War is a mistake for the Rain Country. Our purpose here isn't war, but to eliminate the corrupt and leave afterward. Once we have sufficient strength, we'll return to save our homeland..."
The ninjas accompanying him represented Dawn's current strongest combat force and core members.
To expand Akatsuki beyond the Rain Country, they would rely heavily on these individuals.
Therefore, Yahiko needed to share his true intentions with them.
Raj, eavesdropping from behind, was deeply impressed by Yahiko's silver tongue.
His verbal skills far surpassed Nagato's, making it clear why Yahiko led the trio.
Nagato had already dispersed his Chakra into the rain.
The rain permeated the area, making it impossible for anyone within its reach to escape detection.
This ability surpassed ordinary sensory techniques in range and reliability, even uncovering Danzo and his Root squad lurking in the shadows.
Moments later, a slip of paper fluttered from Nagato's hand.
It was a message for Raj: Danzo's location!
However, Danzo wasn't alone.
He was accompanied by two Root members from the Aburame and Yamanaka clans.
Fortunately, there were only two.
Raj didn't immediately approach Danzo's position.
The Aburame Clan's parasitic insects likely blanketed the area, and to avoid exposing his identity, he needed to wait for the perfect opportunity.
At the meeting place, Hanzo was already waiting.
In addition to him, dozens of Amegakure ninja and a handful of Konoha's Root operatives lay in ambush.
Unlike the original Naruto storyline, in Raj's previous life, Hanzo and Danzo had always maintained complete control over the meeting - dictating when and where it would occur.
This time, however, Yahiko had proposed the meeting location and time.
Hanzo could only agree to the meeting.
There was no time to set traps or capture Konan; in the rush, all he could manage was to deploy a few ambushing ninja.
After sensing the surrounding situation, Nagato immediately retracted his Chakra.
With a fierce battle looming, continuing to use the Rain Tiger at Will Technique would only waste his energy.
Soon, Yahiko and Nagato stepped forward to the meeting place.
On the surface, only Hanzo, Yahiko, and Nagato were present, but both Hanzo and Yahiko knew that their opponents had hidden forces nearby.
"Lord Hanzo, I am Yahiko, leader of the Akatsuki. This is my brother, Nagato," Yahiko said, bowing deeply.
The bow was one of respect - respect for Hanzo's years of protecting the Rain Country and providing its people with relative stability, as well as respect for his contributions to Amegakure.
Of course, it was also a farewell.
Hanzo was no longer the man he once was.
The Amegakure ninja lurking nearby were all here to take their lives.
Hanzo's eyes could no longer tolerate the Akatsuki.
"Akatsuki, I know about you. You've been active in the border regions of the Rain Country, Land of Earth, and Land of Wind, preventing numerous conflicts that could have led to war. When I learned of your deeds recently, I immediately sent a letter to contact you."
"I hope to unite the strength of all the smaller ninja villages, using Amegakure as our base, to form a powerful central force that will deter the Five Great Nations and achieve our peace. Therefore..."
Hanzo, wearing his bizarre mask, continued speaking his "heartfelt" words.
If it weren't for the Amegakure ninja who had begun moving in the shadows, these words might have carried more credibility.
"I used to believe the same, Lord Hanzo. But why would you invite Konoha ninja to participate in such a matter? You are the god of Amegakure. Has even the Demigod been corrupted by Konoha now?" Yahiko sighed.
Then he raised his voice, pointing toward the nearby hiding place of Danzo and his Root members.
The suddenness of his accusation startled both Hanzo and Danzo.
In the next moment, Nagato raised his hand.
He had once believed the power of his eyes to be inherently evil, but Raj was right: power itself is neither good nor evil; it's how it's used that determines its nature.
Justice and evil shouldn't be judged by such superficial standards.
Universal Pull!
Chakra surged, activating the Rinnegan's power.
Danzo suddenly felt an inexplicable gravitational force pulling him forward.
He stumbled out of his hiding place, his feet sliding uncontrollably until he slammed into a boulder at the edge of the steep slope.
Nagato was only fifteen years old.
His control over the Rinnegan was still nascent.
Achieving this level of manipulation was already remarkable.
Danzo's sudden appearance startled the Amegakure ninja lying in ambush.
Hanzo, however, merely glanced at him in surprise before tossing a signal flare into the air.
This was the signal to attack.
"Lord, you..." a subordinate began.
"Move! Capture that red-haired ninja!" Danzo shouted.
Danzo's eyes gleamed with excitement, tinged with bewilderment.
What did the red hair signify?
The Uzumaki bloodline.