"Maybe you're right, but the Land of Rain absolutely cannot give up its chance to develop while holding such a huge advantage."
"Ninja Art: Poison Senbon."
Hanzo flung out a massive number of senbon coated with salamander venom.
Yahiko quickly used Water Release to defend himself.
"Water Release: Water Tornado."
A modified version of Water Dragon Bullet Technique.
A towering water tornado rose around Yahiko, blocking the incoming poisoned senbon.
Below them, the Akatsuki members and the two to three hundred Rain ninja Hanzo brought with him had already begun fighting fiercely.
But in terms of numbers, the Akatsuki held an overwhelming advantage.
"Summoning Technique: Salamander."
A gigantic salamander appeared and immediately began spewing massive clouds of poisonous mist.
Seeing this, Nagato quickly moved to counter it.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough."
No wonder people say going dark triples your strength while redemption turns you into trash.
Before Nagato fell into darkness, even Madara would've looked at him in despair and thought he was hopeless.
Otherwise, why would he have bothered looking for Obito?
The Rinnegan was right there, yet you barely used it. You just relied on the Uzumaki Clan's massive chakra reserves to brute-force everything.
What, did you have some kind of cleanliness obsession? If it wasn't your own power, you refused to use it?
Still, Nagato's physical abilities were exceptional.
Being able to restrain the Salamander's combat power wasn't something just anyone could do.
Meanwhile, Konan used her Paper Release to slaughter Rain ninja left and right.
Against ordinary ninja, bloodline users were an outright dimensionality reduction strike.
"Yahiko, with such incredible strength, it's truly a shame you refuse to serve the Hidden Rain."
"I studied ninjutsu so I wouldn't have to use it for war."
"You foolish brat. You learned ninjutsu not to protect the people of the Land of Rain, but to point your blade at your own people for the sake of foreign nations. And you think you're right?"
"And what about all the massacres you committed in the Land of Earth? You think that was right?"
"Then tell me, what else was I supposed to do? If you don't kill them, they kill you. That's the ninja world."
"The ninja world shouldn't be like this."
As their words clashed, so did Yahiko's kunai and Hanzo's sickle, sparks constantly flying between them.
At the moment, the two were evenly matched.
But it was obvious Hanzo was still holding back.
Even if their ideals differed, on a personal level, he truly admired Yahiko.
If I'd never witnessed the darkness of the ninja world, maybe I would've become someone like him too.
Or maybe once he grows older and sees more of the world, he'll eventually become someone like me.
But the Land of Rain, at this point in time, cannot wait for you to slowly grow up.
With one blow, Hanzo shattered the kunai in Yahiko's hand.
"Water Release: Water Severing Wave."
Yahiko immediately retaliated with a Water Release technique.
"Water Body Flicker."
Hanzo suddenly appeared behind Yahiko.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Wave."
Nagato hurriedly intervened.
"Yahiko, watch out!"
"Haha, I got careless. Thanks, Nagato."
"Paper Shuriken."
After dealing with the Rain ninja around her, Konan rushed over to assist.
Hanzo looked at the three standing side by side before him—
Konan, Yahiko, and Nagato.
"I feel like I've seen this scene before."
"But once I defeat you, your subordinates should listen to me."
"Ibuse."
Hearing Hanzo's call, the giant salamander quickly rushed over.
Hanzo leapt onto Ibuse's head, looking down from above.
That year, that scene… it was almost identical to this very moment.
History was always repeating itself.
...
An hour later, the four were still fighting intensely.
Konan's Paper Release, Yahiko's Water Release, and Nagato's Wind Release all left Hanzo deeply impressed.
He never expected the Land of Rain to produce talents comparable to the Konoha Sannin.
People like them had to be cultivated properly.
And the first step was correcting their overly naive way of thinking.
Hanzo's mindset had already changed.
Originally, he planned to capture them and throw them onto the battlefield as vanguards.
But now, he genuinely wanted to nurture them.
At that moment, even the weather of the Land of Rain joined in.
An endless torrential downpour descended, giving the battle an entirely different atmosphere.
Unfortunately, it caused huge trouble for one particular person.
"This is bad, Konan, retreat!"
Once Konan's paper came into contact with the rain, it immediately softened and fell to the ground.
Hanzo naturally seized that fleeting opening.
"Water Body Flicker."
Hanzo instantly appeared behind Konan and held her hostage with his sickle.
Land of Rain Weather: You can't blame me for this, right? I didn't know Rain ninja were afraid of rain. Besides, I come every single day without fail. You should already know that. I wasn't targeting anyone specifically.
Yahiko and Nagato froze instantly, unsure what to do next.
Outside, when the Rain ninja saw Lord Hanzo capture one of the enemy leaders, their morale surged.
Despite being outnumbered, they actually began suppressing the Akatsuki forces.
"Hanzo, what will it take for you to let Konan go?"
Yahiko asked.
Let her go?
Of course I'll let her go.
But only after we crush those naive beliefs of yours.
Love and peace are illusions.
The ninja world has always been a selfish place.
Today, I'll teach you that lesson.
"Let her go? Sure. As long as that red-haired ninja beside you kills you with his own hands, I'll release this female ninja. How about it?"
Crunch.
Before Nagato could even react, Yahiko had already thrown himself onto the kunai in Nagato's hand.
Yahiko collapsed into Nagato's arms.
"You and Konan… keep living."
With those final words, Yahiko died.
Nagato's eyes trembled uncontrollably.
Across from him, both Konan and Hanzo were stunned for a moment.
Konan let out a grief-stricken scream.
"Yahiko!!!"
For the first time in his life, Hanzo—who had spent his entire existence surrounded by schemes and betrayal—experienced the full force of genuine sincerity.
"AAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!"
Nagato collapsed to his knees, screaming in agony.
At the same instant, a gigantic demonic statue erupted from the ground behind him.
"The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path."
Nagato completely lost control, pouring chakra into it recklessly.
The Demonic Statue let out a deafening roar before charging forward.
The Salamander? Slapped to death in a single hit.
Hanzo? One slap wasn't enough.
Then two.
Three.
Four.
In the end, the enraged Nagato used the Demonic Statue to beat him into bloody pulp.
Konan rushed to Nagato's side.
Looking at the black rods piercing through his body, tears streamed endlessly down her face.
Because of her, Yahiko had died.
"Nagato!! Yahiko is dead!"
"No… Yahiko isn't dead. He will always be the leader of the Akatsuki. He will lead the ninja world to peace. I swear it."
Some things had changed.
Nagato's legs were still perfectly intact.
Some things remained the same.
Yahiko still died.
And Nagato still inherited Yahiko's dream of building a peaceful ninja world.
No matter what methods it took!!!!