"Ryugan."
"Tsuchikage-sama."
"Go to the underground exchange and put all the higher-ups of the Hidden Rain Village on the bounty list. One Hidden Rain executive, twenty million ryō. The higher the rank, the higher the bounty."
"Yes."
"Also, see if we can gather a group of mercenaries. One war mission, one million ryō per person, no limit on numbers. However many come, the Hidden Stone Village will take them all."
"Yes. However, Tsuchikage-sama, our funds may not be sufficient to support such massive expenditure."
"It doesn't matter. Dead people can't come asking us for money. As for the living—pay the strong ones, and eliminate the weak ones directly. You must handle the balance yourself."
"Understood, Tsuchikage-sama. Leave everything to me."
After Ryugan left,
Ōnoki looked at the map of the Land of Earth.
"Hidden Rain Village… come. Only by killing one jackal can the others learn to fear."
...
Inside a ruined cave somewhere in the Land of Rain, a dozen or so people wearing black cloaks with red clouds were gathered inside, playing around happily.
"Today I saved a pair of women. You didn't see their grateful expressions—it felt amazing."
"Tch, that's nothing. I took down over ten bandits today. That's what really feels good."
"Killing people doesn't prove anything. Saving people is the best."
"Killing one evil person outweighs doing a hundred good deeds, you know that?"
"Bullshit."
The two of them arguing eventually started fighting.
From a distance, a red-haired ninja stood up, ready to step in and stop them—
"Nagato, don't interfere with their friendly communication."
A cheerful orange-haired young man wrapped an arm around Nagato's neck.
"Yahiko, this is how conflicts start," Nagato said helplessly.
"Nonsense. Friendship between men is built through fighting and roughhousing. Right, Konan?"
Konan smiled without saying a word.
Male friendships… she really couldn't intervene in that conversation.
"See? Konan agrees."
Yahiko said.
"She's clearly just ignoring you," Nagato retorted.
"Leader! Leader! A messenger from the Hidden Rain Village has come to meet you!"
A member of the Akatsuki ran over to report.
"Yahiko, this doesn't look good. Be careful," Konan said.
"It's fine, Konan. We're just doing what we believe in. Maybe Hanzo will even recognize our ideals and join us."
Yahiko still wore his bright, sunny smile.
Nagato and Konan both looked worried.
They didn't think Hanzo of the Hidden Rain Village—who controlled a powerful military force—would ever join their small group.
Yahiko happily went to meet the messenger, thinking today might bring another new companion.
"Hello, I am Yahiko, leader of the Akatsuki. How can I help you?"
The Hidden Rain messenger was extremely arrogant.
"Lord Hanzo orders you to gather in the Hidden Rain Village tomorrow to prepare for war against the Land of Earth."
Hearing this, Yahiko's smile froze for a moment.
But he still answered politely,
"I'm sorry, sir. The purpose of our Akatsuki is to stop wars. We will never participate in one. Please convey that to Lord Hanzo."
"How dare you disobey Lord Hanzo's orders!"
"Ninjutsu: Rain Needles."
The Rain ninja pulled out his umbrella weapon and prepared to attack—
"Paper Binding Technique."
The messenger was instantly restrained.
Konan and Nagato also walked out of the cave.
"Yahiko already said it. Hanzo and we are not the same," Nagato said.
"Yahiko, you're too careless," Konan added.
Yahiko still smiled brightly, as if nothing bothered him.
In terms of mental resilience, Yahiko was definitely among the strongest in the ninja world.
After all, someone with a small heart would never dare dream of something so impossible.
"Sir messenger, let me explain our Akatsuki ideology. You might not understand it, but Lord Hanzo might share our thoughts."
One hour passed.
"How is it? Did you remember it?"
"What the hell was that nonsense?"
"Then I'll explain it again."
Messenger: ???
Another hour passed.
"How is it? Got it now?"
"I got it, I got it!"
"Good. Just to be safe, let's go over it one more time."
Rain ninja: NOOO!!!
After the final hour, the Rain messenger left trembling all over.
Anyone who didn't know would think he had suffered some unbearable torture.
In the Hidden Rain Village, the miserable messenger reported everything that happened—including those three hours of "top-tier mental torture."
"Hmph, idiot. The essence of the ninja world is survival of the fittest. Creating a world without conflict? Who does he think he is—Six Paths Sage?"
"Forget it. No need to bother with that fool. As long as I lead the Hidden Rain Village to become one of the Five Great Villages, everyone in the Land of Rain will follow me."
Hanzo first got angry, irritated that such a naive fool existed in the Land of Rain.
Then he calmed himself down again. As long as he succeeded, everyone would know he was right.
"Go rest. Don't delay preparations for the war against the Land of Earth."
"Yes, Lord Hanzo."
...
In the Land of Grass, at a mountain known as Hideki Mountain,
"Kamito, are you sure this is what Hideki turned into?"
Inuzuka Ryoha looked in disbelief.
Then he glanced at the massive wall in the distance.
Do Earth Release users all like doing things like this?
A Rock ninja and a Leaf ninja—how did you two even come up with this level of coordination?
"Hiyasu, have you found Hideki yet?" Aburame Shiken asked.
"Wait, I'm still searching."
Hyūga Hiyasu activated his Byakugan and scanned carefully.
"Hey, hey, you useless guy, can't you hurry up? You're really pathetic."
A red-headed figure mocked Hyūga Hiyasu.
That red head was actually Uchiha Kamito, after his identity had been exposed.
After Uchiha Mikoto learned that Uzumaki mother and daughter had no relationship with Uchiha Kamito, she outwardly remained calm and warmly hosted them, but when it was time to rest—according to reliable informant little Uchiha Itachi:
never anger your mother. I swear I will obey her forever and be a good child.
Other details are unclear, but Uchiha Kamito now had a swollen red-like face—and this was already after a full day of recovery.
"I found it."
Hyūga Hiyasu pointed in a direction.
"Start digging."
Just as Inuzuka Ryoha was about to act,
Aburame Shiken stopped him.
"You do it. We can't see the situation clearly. If we mess up, we might make things worse."
"Tch. So I have to scout and dig. What a life…"
"Gentle Fist Technique."
The mountain began to be dug into a deepening tunnel.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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