In a clearing in the southwest of the Land of Fire.
An old man held a palm-sized puppet in his hand.
His eyes were lowered.
"Lord Ebizo, the source of the intelligence has been confirmed."
"However..."
A Sunagakure ninja stood in front of Ebizo, looking somewhat troubled.
He didn't continue speaking but took out a fragment from his ninja tool pouch and handed it to Ebizo.
Ebizo took the fragment, looking at the familiar character for "Scorpion" (Sasori) on it, his pupils constricted.
"Is it that child?"
Ebizo quickly restrained his emotions.
His sister Chiyo's biggest regret in her life was that she never saw her grandson · Sasori of the Red Sand again until she died.
Ebizo also didn't expect to get news about Sasori under such circumstances.
"Lord Ebizo, that person is a missing-nin after all, we..."
This Sunagakure ninja was still somewhat worried.
After all, their operation this time was under the guise of a mission to gather intelligence outside.
If the village discovered their actions, the punishment from the village would not be something these ordinary ninjas could bear.
"The village has already walked onto a wrong path."
"We now are protecting the village, helping the village."
"Let's move."
Ebizo put away the small puppet in his hand, then stood up, looking towards the impending battlefield.
...
Konoha, Uchiha clan grounds.
Nara Shikaku, holding intelligence, brought Yamanaka Inoichi and Akimichi Chōza together outside Kaze's small courtyard.
"I say, I'm already off work."
"What matters can't you three handle?"
Before Nara Shikaku even knocked, Kaze's voice already came through.
The courtyard gate opened automatically. The three saw Kaze in the courtyard and immediately came before him.
"Lord Hokage, Sunagakure has made a move."
"This is the intelligence just sent by Rasa. Their entire Intelligence Department disappeared. Plus the Sunagakure ninjas confirmed missing recently, there are fully more than three hundred people."
"Ebizo also left Sunagakure."
Nara Shikaku said, subconsciously glancing at Gaara playing with sand with Naruto in the corner of the courtyard.
Because Gaara was already Kaze's disciple, Nara Shikaku felt somewhat awkward.
Plus Rasa actively sent intelligence, Nara Shikaku was somewhat unsure how to handle it for a moment.
"Mm, Rasa is still not decisive enough."
"But not a big problem. Pass the intelligence to the front line, let them know."
"Has the village's sensory barrier been replaced recently?"
After responding to Nara Shikaku's worry, Kaze looked at Yamanaka Inoichi.
"Yes."
"It was just replaced yesterday. Here is the new barrier map, and the positions of patrolling ninjas have also been changed."
Yamanaka Inoichi didn't hesitate and immediately placed the map on the stone table in front of Kaze.
Akimichi Chōza also followed, reporting the information of ninjas who took combat missions this time, before the three left Kaze's courtyard.
"Who do you say... will come over first?"
Kaze pointed at the map and spoke deeply.
"Don't know."
"Lord Kaze, won't you really consider becoming a god?"
Although Black Zetsu had already transmitted the intelligence in that instant just now.
But he still played dumb directly.
Even tried to change the topic to distract Kaze.
"Kami (God)?"
"That is nothing but a disguise the weak put on themselves."
"A thing like you won't understand what 'man can conquer nature' means."
"Be quiet... you are disturbing me."
Kaze said, and flames ignited on the map on his finger, then disappeared.
Black Zetsu was stunned.
Internal Monologue: [What does he mean? Am I exposed? No, he definitely won't know my identity!]
After doubting himself for a moment, Black Zetsu immediately reaffirmed his own thoughts.
No one would know his identity!
The next morning, two people appeared at the Konoha main gate bathed in warm sunlight.
"Is this the gate of Konoha?"
"Looks like nothing special."
Hiruko · Sasori's hoarse voice slowly came out.
The two had been standing here for almost five minutes, yet they didn't see a single Konoha ninja.
Even the gatekeeping ninjas were nowhere to be found.
"A madman."
"Do you think he can manage a village well?"
"An Uchiha with only violence and destruction in his brain will make this village an existence that creates tragedy too."
"Let's go."
Pain spoke in a low voice, raised his foot, and prepared to step into Konoha.
Actually, being here, Nagato had already predetermined victory.
"Clack, clack..."
Just at this moment, the sound of wooden clogs stepping on the ground came slowly.
The familiar sound of wooden clogs made the advancing Pain pause.
White hair, Konoha forehead protector.
A huge scroll behind him, approaching step by step.
"Jiraiya?!"
Sasori recognized this Legendary Sannin immediately and even prepared to attack.
Pain, however, still stood dumbly on the spot.
"Hmm?"
"You... look a bit familiar..."
Jiraiya suddenly stopped, staring at the Deva Path Pain.
"It seems Teacher has forgotten me."
"Rustle rustle..."
Deva Path Pain's voice was low. The next moment, five other figures appeared here.
Surrounding Jiraiya.
"Yahiko?"
"But... your eyes..."
Jiraiya also realized at this moment.
He was distracted just now because he was still conflicted internally. He didn't even know how to face Uchiha Kaze up to now.
Or rather, he couldn't find his place in the village.
However, upon seeing those Rinnegan, Jiraiya realized.
Shouldn't these eyes be on Nagato?
Why...
"Remembering only now, it's already late."
"Teacher, please... stay here for now."
Preta Path Pain teleported behind Jiraiya, locking Jiraiya directly.
With the attack on Jiraiya, a figure in the sky also flew into Konoha.
"Clap clap clap..."
"I thought it would be that traitor of our family arriving first!"
"Guessed wrong."
Bang!
As the voice came, the figure in the sky also fell.
Countless pieces of paper began to converge, and Konan appeared.
Akimichi Chōza's huge arm also shrank slowly at this time, returning to normal and standing behind Kaze.
"Uchiha Kaze?"
"It seems you have quite..."
"Two puppets came, really... underestimated me too much..."
"Boom!"
Before Deva Path Pain could finish speaking, Kaze had already moved.
Hiruko was shattered directly by a kick. Sasori's reaction was not slow; the moment Kaze attacked, he knew he couldn't dodge with just Hiruko's speed.
So, he immediately abandoned Hiruko and fled back more than ten meters.