The System Panel's point income grew increasingly stable, rising from a few hundred on the first day to a consistent seven or eight hundred per day.
It had become his most reliable source of points.
'If only these days could last forever.'
But just three days later, trouble came knocking.
First, there was Kakashi.
He was still far from mastering the Chidori, but he had already developed the Chidori Blade.
However, his ability to use it depended entirely on the Thunder Blade Fang; without that Chakra Blade, he couldn't replicate the technique.
Of course, that wasn't the real issue.
To put it bluntly, Kakashi was there to stir up trouble, reminding Raj that he was merely "working for pay" and that even a Jonin still had to report for duty.
Second, there was new intelligence from the Rain Country.
According to A'Shui's report from the Rain Country, Yahiko and his group had apparently made contact with Hanzo's forces, though the exact nature of their interaction remained unclear.
To avoid detection by the Rinnegan, Raj had specifically instructed A'Shui to avoid getting too close to Nagato, which meant many details couldn't be immediately confirmed.
One thing was certain: Yahiko and his group had exchanged letters or communicated through subordinates with Hanzo.
Whether they would pursue further contact remained uncertain.
After considering the situation, Raj decided he needed to personally investigate.
This matter was crucial for his future plans to utterly ruin Danzo, and he couldn't afford any missteps.
Rain Country border.
Yahiko held a letter in his hand, with Konan and Nagato standing beside him.
"Do you really think he'll send a message?" Konan asked.
"If my guess is correct, he should," Yahiko replied softly. "They likely have surveillance methods in place here."
The letter in Yahiko's hand was indeed from Hanzo, containing his vision for peace and "heartfelt words."
It also detailed Hanzo's efforts toward achieving peace.
To be honest, Yahiko found it quite sincere.
If not for Raj's earlier message, he might have replied without hesitation.
But now, he needed to carefully consider the consequences of responding.
Nagato's eyes scanned the surroundings.
At this stage, his Rinnegan was not fully developed, only manifesting repulsive and attractive forces.
He hadn't even mastered the Rain Tiger at Will Technique, let alone other advanced abilities.
However, the Uzumaki Clan possessed exceptional sensory capabilities.
He meticulously sensed his surroundings, combining his Rinnegan's power with his clan's innate perception to thoroughly scout the area.
Meanwhile, Konan continuously checked herself for any new paper fragments.
But in the next moment...
A familiar surge of Chakra rippled through the air, followed by the appearance of a paper slip.
Konan calmly manipulated the paper, allowing it to sink into her skin before summoning it to her hand for a quick glance.
"It says we should come over. Don't be too surprised, don't make a sound, and don't resort to violence."
"Hmm," Yahiko nodded slowly.
Nagato stood beside them, his hand gripping a kunai.
Konan gently patted his hand, signaling him to relax.
In the next instant, a figure materialized from thin air.
In the blink of an eye, a bizarre creature landed on Konan's shoulder.
Her heart leaped violently, and she nearly slapped it away.
If not for Raj's earlier message warning them to remain silent, and her past scavenging in trash
If there had been heaps, she would have screamed.
"What the hell is this...?"
"A cockroach?" Yahiko's eyes widened as he glanced at Nagato, the expert in detecting Illusion Techniques and transformation jutsu.
"No, it's that Black Cat," Nagato said calmly.
Recognizing the familiar presence, he temporarily lowered his guard, but he remained ready to use Universal Pull to yank Raj toward him at the slightest sign of aggression.
'Black Cat?'
Yahiko paused, vaguely recalling Raj's appearance.
What he remembered most vividly was its extraordinary strength - far beyond ordinary.
Now, seeing it again, they realized they had underestimated it.
The cockroach leaped onto the central table and spoke, "Meow~ Greetings, everyone."
"Can't you change back to your original form?" Konan asked, visibly disgusted.
'Such a cute cat... why transform into a cockroach? It's so repulsive!'
"To evade potential pursuers, I must maintain this disguise. Our ancestors prophesied that a young boy with the Rinnegan would one day appear in the Ninja World. His path will determine the future of the Ninja World, meow."
Raj sat on the table.
Transforming into a cockroach also prevented others from noticing him.
While Black Zetsu might not be monitoring them here, it was better to be cautious.
Besides... this way, he could earn points.
That was crucial.
Raj had just replaced his Shadow Clones.
Although he had received a 500-point discount by using pre-learned Shadow Clone techniques and hand seals, the remaining cost still drained 5,500 points, leaving him with only 16,000 points in savings.
Konan, Nagato, and Yahiko were all formidable.
If he didn't exploit this opportunity now, when would he?
After all, Shadow Clones weren't afraid of death.
'A prophecy? The Rinnegan?'
Nagato frowned slightly, recalling words from his teacher, Jiraiya.
Jiraiya had told him that possessing the most powerful Rinnegan meant he would inevitably shape the future of the Ninja World, urging him to maintain his initial kindness.
In truth, they had been striving for peace all these years.
But prophecies seemed far too vague and ethereal.
"So, your warning about Hanzo and Danzo was also based on a prophecy?"
"No, meow." Raj shook his head. "That was a reliable deduction based on intelligence gathering."
Even a mystic should know their limits.
Attributing every event to "prophecy" would inevitably erode its credibility.
No one could accurately predict the future, not even the old toad sage of Mount Myoboku.
Next, Raj detailed the recent cooperative relationship between Amegakure and Konoha, explaining the internal factional divisions within Konoha to prevent the trio from condemning the entire village wholesale.
Yahiko listened intently.
With this much information, it was reasonable to suspect a conspiracy, one that might be directly linked to Danzo.
Why else would Hanzo, who had previously refrained from purging Akatsuki from the Rain Country, suddenly send a message now?
This was precisely the effect Raj had hoped to achieve.
Danzo had to die.
With the System, Raj's abilities would inevitably grow, and Danzo's presence would hinder many future plans.
Moreover, who knew if that man might suddenly decide to frame Raj on a whim?
Judging by Tsunade and the Third Hokage's reactions last time, Danzo had already attempted such a maneuver.
"Got it, meow?"
"Yes," the three nodded in unison.
Though it felt strange talking to a cockroach, the information it provided was invaluable.
They suppressed their discomfort and focused on the task at hand.
After a moment's thought, Yahiko added, "We still need to meet with Lord Hanzo. Does your clan have any abilities for enhanced perception or reconnaissance?