"The conclusion is... we might have run into a fake boss."
The Split-Hiding Dog galloped toward the Land of Fire, carrying the four members of Squad Hagoromo. The beast moved in silence, the only sound being the rhythmic thud of its paws hitting the earth.
The battlefield had long since been left in the dust.
Hagoromo, who still couldn't quite wrap his head around how things had unfolded, could only offer the aforementioned conclusion.
A fake boss?
That was impossible. The three leading the group were unmistakably Nagato and his companions; there was no reason for anyone to impersonate them at this stage in history.
But why hadn't they chosen to fight? Why had they let four Leaf ninjas walk away so easily?
Setting aside Hagoromo's memories of the future Akatsuki's brutal methods, the current situation alone shouldn't have been this simple. Since they wore the headbands of the Hidden Rain, they clearly felt a sense of belonging to this nation. And the Leaf was an enemy of the Rain.
In terms of power, the Akatsuki held every advantage—both in the number of ninjas and the sheer quality of their top-tier combatants.
Hagoromo couldn't understand it because his knowledge of the "original" Akatsuki's early days was thin. If he had known the full history, he would have understood why Yahiko chose peace over blood.
Having been born from the wreckage of war, Yahiko knew the agony it caused. To him, the life of an individual outweighed nationalistic rivalry. Cherishing life was his most basic and vital principle.
This was Yahiko's personal philosophy and the Akatsuki's current operating doctrine. They were a long way off from the "let the world feel pain" phase. In modern terms, their stance was: "Human rights over sovereignty."
Thus, once Pakura's intent couldn't be verified and the chaotic intervention of the Akatsuki made further combat meaningless, Hagoromo and his team took the offered exit and retreated.
The squad had no objections to the decision. For one, fighting dozens of ninjas solo wasn't part of the other three members' plans. Secondly, half the team was currently "medically retired" due to Hagoromo's earlier "accidental" defense. Survival was the priority.
"Can Pakura handle those Rain ninjas?" Asuma asked.
His wounds had been stabilized. He was still in pain, but he no longer looked like he was about to meet his ancestors. However, every time the dog's stride jolted his broken ribs, his face would twist into a grotesque mask of agony before he could force it back into a "tough guy" expression. Hagoromo eventually had to stop looking at him; it was too painful to watch.
Kurenai had fully recovered. Being electrocuted is a transient pain; once the numbness wore off, she was fine.
When Asuma said "Rain ninjas," he meant the Akatsuki. In his estimation, Pakura—the Hero of the Sand—held the advantage. Her Scorch Style was perfect for crowd control; she'd already mummified dozens of Rain ninjas without breaking a sweat.
But Asuma didn't know that the Akatsuki were different.
"Who knows..." Hagoromo replied.
In his head, he was thinking: Can Pakura even serve as a light snack for a 'Chosen One' like Nagato? Whether she fought them or not, Hagoromo would never know. The whole encounter had been a side-quest that spiraled out of his control.
To summarize the last few hours: an impulsive investigation, a sudden attack by Pakura, a confusing skirmish, the unexpected arrival of the Akatsuki, and a bewilderingly peaceful departure.
A few hours ago, just as Pakura tried to incinerate Yahiko, Nagato had stepped in front of her. The "unstoppable" Scorch Style simply... vanished.
It was erased.
Nagato hadn't just survived; he hadn't taken a scratch. Pakura had frozen in shock—her 100% success rate for mummification had finally been broken.
Hagoromo, watching from the trees, had found that method of absorption hauntingly familiar. That's a Rinnegan ability, he realized instantly. Nagato has already begun to master those eyes.
It proved his caution was correct. Even without the "dead weight" of his injured teammates, if Hagoromo had charged in full-tilt, who would have been the one doing the "stomping"?
"Leaf ninjas, what is your purpose in entering the Land of Rain?" Yahiko had asked from behind Nagato.
Nagato didn't counter-attack; he only maintained his defense. Yahiko didn't draw a weapon either.
"Our purpose?" Hagoromo lied through his teeth. "It's simple. We received intel that a certain Sand ninja had entered the Rain and appeared to be heading toward the Land of Fire. Our mission was to intercept and stop her."
He looked so certain that even Pakura glanced at him, genuinely wondering if a spy in the Sand had leaked her movements. If she made it home, the Sand was in for one hell of a counter-espionage purge.
"Considering our villages just signed a treaty, such a powerful ninja moving near the border is a matter of national security," Hagoromo added, making the lie sound perfectly reasonable.
Yahiko nodded. "Leaf and Sand ninjas... we have no wish to be your enemies. But regardless of your goals, this is the Land of Rain. It is not your country. We ask that you leave."
"We do not wish for pointless fighting."
Yahiko wasn't a fool; he remained on high alert even as he spoke. "Avoiding slaughter" didn't mean "incapable of slaughter."
Hagoromo didn't hesitate. "Our mission was to stop Pakura. Given the current situation, she won't be entering Fire Country anytime soon. Our task is done. We have no desire to cause trouble in the Rain."
If they were being allowed to leave, Hagoromo was taking the deal. As a "parting gift," he made sure to loudly mention Pakura's name and abilities one last time to the Akatsuki.
By the Sage of Six Paths, may there be world peace... and may these two sides bash each other's brains out.
--------------------------------------------
If you are enjoying the work, you can support it while upto 50 chapters ahead on Patreon!