Shun was engulfed in a raging fury at those who dared to attack the Land of Water's refugee camp.
He launched a bloody crackdown, and the attackers fell one after another into pools of blood.
Then, he flew above the camps of Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Sunagakure.
He stood high in the sky, overlooking the camps below, and let out a booming voice.
"You! How dare you attack my Land of Water's refugee camp. If I ever see it happen again, I will let you know what it means: those who offend my Land of Water, no matter how far, shall be punished."
This colossal voice, like a bolt from the blue, was deafening and echoed continuously throughout the camps below.
Immediately after, an even more chilling scene unfolded.
Suddenly, a large number of ninja corpses rained down from the sky. These bodies fell haphazardly into the camps, some even smashing onto tents, emitting dull thuds.
This bizarre scene left people dumbfounded, and the once calm camps were instantly enveloped in panic.
The previously orderly camps were completely disrupted at this moment, with a large number of ninjas fleeing in all directions, and the scene became chaotic.
Shun showed a satisfied expression as he watched the turmoil in the three camps.
After this lesson, the three great ninja villages should no longer attack the refugee camps.
However, to prevent any unforeseen circumstances, he planned to stir up some trouble for the two great ninja villages.
With a casual flick, he opened a black spatial gate, and he arrived at the secret base of the Land of Akatsuki.
At this time, the Akatsuki's base was no longer as rudimentary as it once was.
Television sets were placed on both sides of the corridors, occasionally broadcasting news from the Land of Water. The living area was even equipped with refrigerators for storing food.
Deep within the base, a small cinema had been built, showing ninja-themed films produced by the Land of Water every evening. This had become a rare leisure spot for Akatsuki members.
In the core stone chamber of the base, the Six Paths of Pain stood neatly like sculptures.
The cold light reflected on them, making them appear even more sacred. In the eyes of the Land of Akatsuki members, Pain was the god who saved them from war. And Konan, standing beside them, was the angel accompanying the god.
Nagato sensed the newcomer. He stood with his back to the entrance, expressionless.
Konan guarded the corner of the stone chamber, her origami quietly unfolding, clearly vigilant for outside movements.
Hearing footsteps, Nagato did not turn his head. He merely controlled Deva Path to slowly turn around, a ripple flashing in his Rinnegan.
"Shun-dono, why have you suddenly come?"
Although he had agreed to Shun, Nagato often paid attention to the movements of the Land of Water. And the news broadcasts from the Land of Water were his means of understanding it.
The current Land of Water was like the paradise he had imagined. Therefore, when he managed the Land of Akatsuki, he often imitated the policies of the Land of Water.
Shun walked into the room and casually found a place to sit.
"Sunagakure, Iwagakure, and Kumogakure jointly raided the Land of Water's refugee camp, trying to drag the Land of Water into war. I need you to immediately send troops to occupy the cities of the Land of Earth and the Land of Wind to teach them a lesson. As for Kumogakure, I will deal with them myself."
Nagato pondered for a moment, then cautiously asked, "Do you want us to occupy cities again? This requires careful arrangement."
Konan nodded, and the origami in her palm transformed into tiny paper butterflies, quietly flying out of the room to scout, preventing anyone from entering.
Shun turned to Nagato, his tone flat. "Nagato, you take the Six Paths of Pain, Konan, and Sasori to occupy the cities of the Land of Earth. Tobi, you take Deidara and Hidan to the Land of Wind, targeting the outer cities of Sunagakure. I hope you divide your forces and target the military strongholds on the borders of the two countries, while avoiding harming civilians."
Tobi (Obito), wearing a spiral mask, scratched his head, his tone playful. "No problem, Shun-dono. I guarantee to turn the Land of Wind upside down."
Seeing that his objective had been achieved, Shun's figure suddenly vanished, as if he had never been there.
Akatsuki had been idle for quite some time, and Obito also wanted something to do. So, he found Deidara and Hidan and conveyed the relevant orders.
Deidara excitedly raised his clay and said, "Art is an explosion! The cities of the Land of Wind will become the most magnificent and hidden works of art."
Hidan emerged from the shadows, his eyes gleaming with devout light. "I love war. I can offer many sacrifices to Jashin-sama."
Deva Path's voice was as cold as ever. "Tomorrow at dawn, divide into two units and depart from the west side of the base. Remember, do not harm civilians, focus on striking Sunagakure's ninja forces and military strongholds. If you encounter insurmountable resistance, you may retreat to preserve your forces."
After speaking, Deva Path turned and left without further delay.
The next morning, the Land of Akatsuki's forces, according to plan, split into two routes and quietly left the secret base, heading towards the Land of Earth and the Land of Wind.
Outside Kuroishi Castle, on the border of the Land of Earth, Deva Path stood at the forefront.
Kuroishi Castle was surrounded by thick defensive walls. As a core supply point for Iwagakure, it stockpiled a large amount of provisions and ninja tools. Iwa ninjas on the city walls were vigilantly patrolling the surroundings.
"Move! Hurry up!" Deva Path's voice was cold, devoid of any emotion.
Just as he was about to raise his hand to use Shinra Tensei, a violent tremor suddenly came from the ground.
On the hillsides on both sides of Kuroishi Castle, dozens of Iwagakure Earth Release masters simultaneously leaped up, forming hand signs and slamming them onto the ground.
Earth Release: Moving Earth Core!
Onoki slowly flew into the sky from the defensive wall.
"From the moment you left your base, we received intelligence on you. And you truly came here. This carefully prepared trap was made especially for you."
As Onoki's words fell, the ground beneath the Akatsuki members' feet suddenly sank rapidly, gravel and dust flying, instantly forming a giant crater dozens of meters in diameter.
Iwagakure's Earth Release masters exerted their full strength simultaneously. The edges of the crater continuously collapsed, clearly intending to trap the Akatsuki at the bottom of the pit and then bury them alive with earth and stone.
"Hmph, you think such a small trick can trap us?"
Sasori's back suddenly unfolded two pairs of metal wings, the spikes on the wings gleaming with cold light. This was his specially designed flying puppet form to counter aerial combat.
The wings spun rapidly, and he easily flew out of the crater's range.
Konan reacted even faster, growing a pair of large paper wings on her back, lifting her body into the air.
At the same time, she threw out hundreds of origami, which transformed into paper shuriken, shooting towards the Earth Release ninjas below.
These papers were all made with explosive tags, so...
Boom... Boom... Boom...
Then, there were continuous screams.
Deva Path controlled gravity, carrying the Six Paths of Pain into the sky.
In just a few seconds, all Akatsuki members escaped the trap, leaving the Iwa ninjas completely exposed on the ground.
"What?!"
Onoki's face changed dramatically.
Flying ninjas were rare. He hadn't expected the Akatsuki members to have so many means of aerial combat, causing his meticulously laid trap to instantly become a joke.
"Now, it's our turn."
Deva Path slowly raised his hand, a terrifying repulsive force gathering in his palm.
Shinra Tensei!
A massive repulsive force erupted from Deva Path as its center, spreading outwards.
The crater below was instantly leveled, and dozens of Iwagakure Earth Release masters were sent flying like trash, slamming into Kuroishi Castle's defensive wall. The wall collapsed with a crash, and many Iwa ninjas coughed up blood, losing their ability to fight.
The power of this single blow destroyed Iwagakure's first line of defense.
"Damn it! You monsters!" Onoki roared, forming hand signs.
Earth Release: Light-Weight Rock Technique!
He reduced his body weight to the extreme, his body as light as a feather, and quickly flew towards Deva Path.
Now, only by first dealing with the "leader" Deva Path would he have a chance of winning.
But before Onoki could get close to Deva Path, Konan's figure suddenly appeared in front of him. The origami in her hand changed form again. This time, the paper shuriken were larger than before.
"Onoki, your opponent is me."
"Get out of the way!"
Onoki unleashed a Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World, attempting to force Konan back. But Konan did not dodge or evade. Instead, she threw out all her paper shuriken.
Onoki snorted coldly, dodging sideways, thinking he could easily avoid them. But just as the paper shuriken grazed his arm, they suddenly exploded.
Boom... Boom...
Violent explosions rang out, and flames and smoke engulfed Onoki's figure.
When the smoke cleared, Onoki's left arm was mangled and bloody, forcing him to flee in a desperate state.
"Protect Tsuchikage-sama!"
Iwa ninjas rushed over, shielding Onoki behind them, but dared not advance further. Akatsuki's strength had exceeded their understanding.
Deva Path slowly descended in front of Onoki, looking down at him.
"Onoki, I spared your life last time. This time you actively provoked us, so don't blame us for being impolite."
He raised his hand, gathering a large amount of Chakra.
"Wait! We surrender. We are willing to withdraw from Kuroishi Castle. Please, spare the Iwa ninjas."
Onoki struggled to speak, his eyes filled with unwillingness, yet he had no choice but to bow his head.
Deva Path was silent for a moment, then withdrew his Chakra. He glanced at the civilians hiding in the houses in the distance and ultimately did not deliver a fatal blow.
"Remember your words, take the Iwa ninjas and leave. Kuroishi Castle now belongs to the Land of Akatsuki."
"Tsuchikage-sama, how will you explain this to the Daimyo?!"
"Fool, I am the Tsuchikage. Obey my orders, everyone withdraw from Kuroishi Castle."
The Iwa ninjas helped Onoki, retreating from Kuroishi Castle in a sorry state.
Akatsuki successfully occupied the city, and Nagato began to set up defenses to ensure the city's safety.
Konan, meanwhile, directed some members to comfort the civilians in the city, telling them not to panic.