Among the ruins of Konoha.
The Human Path caught sight of Shizune and her group hurrying along and quietly began to close in.
On the other side of the battlefield.
Kanon and the Deva Path walked slowly out from the devastation. Behind them lay the charred remains of insects consumed by Amaterasu and the corpses of the Aburame clan.
"Are your eyes truly all right?" the Deva Path asked.
Kanon used the sleeve of her Akatsuki cloak to wipe away the bloody tears from the corners of her eyes, her tone icy. "They're fine."
After ten minutes of advancing, they found the Animal Path standing before Ibiki Morino and Inoichi Yamanaka of the Intelligence Division, locked in a tense standoff.
"It seems reinforcements have arrived," Ibiki noted flatly, eyeing the Deva Path and Kanon behind him.
"Since you are determined to make Konoha your enemy... I'll make you want to speak from the bottom of your hearts."
With that, Ibiki leaped forward, throwing both fists toward the Animal Path.
Before he could even land, in the span of a heartbeat, a flash of white light erupted. The Chidori Sharp Spear had already skewered Ibiki through the chest.
"It's been a long time, Ibiki-sensei," Kanon said softly.
"It's you... Kanon Uchiha..."
Before he could say more, Kanon gripped her right wrist with her left hand.
"Chidori Sharp Spear!" Suddenly, a more terrifying surge of electricity burst forth. Ibiki felt as if his body were being torn apart as every cell was decimated by the horrific lightning.
Five seconds later, Ibiki's charred, blackened body collapsed to the ground.
Kanon retracted the spear. Her face remained devoid of joy or sorrow, showing no more emotion than if she had stepped on an ant.
The Deva Path walked up to the dying Ibiki. A black receiver slid into his hand, and before Ibiki's terrified eyes, he drove it through the man's brow.
Ahead lay the largest building in Konoha, the headquarters for the Hokage and the high command.
Inside, Tsunade sat centered between four Anbu bodyguards, continuing to maintain the Katsuyu jutsu. Suddenly, she snapped her eyes open and looked behind her.
Kanon and Pain appeared together.
As the two descended slowly to the ground, the four Anbu sprang up into combat stances. Tsunade herself ceased her technique and turned around.
Kanon's gaze was freezing. Her three-tomoe Sharingan spun incessantly; it was a look of someone swallowed by the deepest despair, carrying a heavy, palpable killing intent.
"Six piercings on the nose, seven on the ears... that guy. And the other one, Sharingan, waist-length hair, wearing a fox mask... there's no mistake. One is the leader of the Akatsuki, Pain, and the other is the SSS-rank rogue ninja, Kanon Uchiha."
"Though I sent a parting gift not long ago, we meet again, Fifth Hokage... Tsunade-'sama'."
"I have a few things to say to you," Kanon said flatly.
"I am the one who sent the troops to destroy Otogakure," Tsunade stated firmly, taking full responsibility upon herself.
"No, it wasn't just you. Danzo was involved as well."
"Tell me, where is Danzo?"
"Danzo..." Tsunade gritted her teeth. Was Kanon's primary target Danzo?
"Don't get too arrogant, Kanon Uchiha. As Hokage, it is my duty to annihilate the Akatsuki. I have nothing to say to a rogue ninja like you."
Tsunade ignored Kanon's hardening expression and shifted her gaze to the Deva Path.
"You are definitely..."
"The brat from back then."
"So, you remember," the Deva Path said tonelessly.
"Tsunade-sama, who is he?"
"I am a god who brings order," the Deva Path replied. "I ask you: where is the Nine-Tails, Naruto Uzumaki?"
"Who knows?" Tsunade said calmly. She was answering Pain, but she was also answering Kanon. She would not reveal the location they sought.
"The capture of the Jinchuriki is nearly complete. The balance of power between villages maintained by the Tailed Beasts can no longer be sustained."
"Even if you continue to protect the Nine-Tails, it is meaningless."
"And the same goes for Danzo," the Deva Path added coldly.
"So the Akatsuki's goal really is Naruto," Tsunade nodded slightly.
"Conflicts will soon erupt everywhere. The sparks of war will spread, and we shall be the ones to control those wars."
"If you cooperate with me, I might consider sparing you."
"Given the situation, you should understand the strength of myself and Kanon."
At those words, Tsunade flew into a rage.
"Don't underestimate the Five Kage!"
"We, who have maintained peace since the time of our predecessors, are nothing like you terrorists!"
"Talking is useless."
Boom!
A Chidori Sharp Spear streaked past Tsunade's side, instantly pinning an Anbu to the wall.
"Don't be so arrogant!" Kanon barked, tears beginning to flow from her eyes.
Tsunade's attitude had broken Kanon's heart once again.
Why did her village and her comrades have to suffer such ruthless slaughter?
Why, from the moment of her birth, had she been the one rejected and abandoned?
Why could the Hokage before her boast that the predecessors had "maintained peace"?
Why did the Uchiha clan, her father, her mother, have to be mercilessly killed by her own brother?
Did this truly count as the "peace" she spoke of? Kanon was enraged. Her expression was no longer indifferent; as blood-red tears streamed down her face, the rose-patterned Mangekyo Sharingan finally appeared before them all.
"The Mangekyo Sharingan!" the three remaining Anbu exclaimed in shock. As members of the Root or Anbu, they were well aware of that legendary eye.
"It's true that Konoha's past actions weren't entirely right, but I can never forgive your methods today!"
Pain spoke up then: "How can the people who ignited the Third Shinobi World War claim to have maintained peace?"
"Watch your words. This is a god's final warning."
"Where are Naruto and Danzo?"
"Speak!"
Tsunade, however, showed no fear of the two.
"We will gather all our strength to defeat you. It's as simple as that!"
"And you are wrong about one thing. The thing you want most will never fall into your hands," Tsunade smiled confidently.
"If you believe the Konoha shinobi can protect Naruto forever, that is…" The Deva Path cut Tsunade off.
"No! Naruto is very strong."
At that moment, the Human Path ripped the soul from Shizune, instantly learning that Naruto was training at Mount Myoboku.
The Five Paths of Pain retreated immediately. Konan, waiting outside the village, summoned them back.
The Deva Path, still facing Tsunade, said softly, "It seems Naruto isn't here."
"Mount Myoboku..."
"What?!" Tsunade gasped.
"Mount Myoboku, one of the Three Great Sage Regions... the ninja village of the toads? It seems staying here is a waste of time."
"You bastard!" Tsunade gritted her teeth.
Seeing Pain prepare to turn away, Tsunade realized she had to wait for him to retreat before she could counterattack.
As Pain prepared to leave, he turned back and asked one final question: "The chakra at your feet... it's to counter my technique, isn't it?"
"It seems you've already figured out my ability."
"But in the face of absolute power, everything is meaningless."
"Your Great Nations have already proven this. You imagine yourselves to be the protagonists of this world, believing death is far away."
"Sunk in such shallow peace... the killer will eventually be killed."
"Hatred will bind the two together."
Tsunade rejected Pain's words.
"What a load of nonsense!"
Pain ignored her and continued, "War brings death, injury, and pain to both sides."
Tsunade interrupted again. "Our Great Nation has suffered the same pain! Stop making excuses for these atrocities!"
At those words, an unprecedented killing intent flared in Pain's eyes. He had been provoked once more.
Just as he was about to strike, Kanon stopped him.
"Don't. I still have something to ask."
Nagato managed to restrain himself. Konoha, as the strongest village, had allowed the destruction of the Uzumaki's Land of Whirpools despite generations of friendship. His family, refugees of the Land of Whirlpools, had barely managed to escape to the Land of Rain.
Then, it was Konoha's shinobi who brought the flames of war to the Hidden Rain, killing his parents before his very eyes.
After he had finally chosen to endure the pain and pursue peace with his comrades, it was a man from Konoha who killed his dearest friend, Yahiko.
Now, he controlled Pain to stand before Tsunade to speak of the pain he had realized, only for Tsunade to dismissively say, "Our Great Nation has suffered the same pain."
What enraged a victim like Nagato more than the crime itself was the total disregard for the crime. If Kanon hadn't stopped him, he would have destroyed Konoha then and there.
Kanon stepped forward, locking eyes with Tsunade.
"Fifth Hokage, I ask you: if you say your predecessors maintained peace, then in this vast village, why was there no room for a single little girl like me?"
Kanon gritted her teeth, tears bursting from her eyes. She looked at Tsunade, hoping to find someone who could answer her confusion, after all, this woman was a Legendary Sannin and the current Fifth Hokage.
Kanon wept uncontrollably, but her tears were stained with red blood. Memories flashed through her mind, the smiles of people, the way they looked when they were alive, acting like blades carving into her already withered heart.
"Enough of your nonsense, you damn rogue ninja! Look at the corpses around you. I acknowledge you've suffered, but this world cannot be entirely bright and beautiful!"
"It's not just you. Many shinobi endure humiliation and heavy burdens in the darkness. You should think more about why you are the only one who turned out like this, instead of venting your rage on others!"
"But to you, none of that matters. You just want to destroy everything in Konoha."
"Your actions have defiled the name of the Uchiha clan. You are a rogue ninja through and through!"
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