"The Land of Rain?"
The mention of this special nation made everyone present furrow their brows, as if they had all recalled a certain figure. Rasa fixed his gaze on Yuki Yoru and slowly spoke:
"Mizukage-sama, are you certain the Akatsuki's base is in the Land of Rain? You should know exactly what kind of nation that is… and what sort of man its ruler is."
Aside from Yuki Yoru, who was the youngest in the room, the rest had all taken part in that grand and violent Second Great Ninja War. They knew very well about the one who single-handedly fought against three Great Nations, forcing recognition of the Land of Rain's independence and earning it the name of the Sixth Great Nation — the man hailed as a demi-god.
For the future of Amegakure, that man didn't hesitate to fight against Konoha, Sunagakure, and Iwagakure. He was an absolute local hero.
How could he allow others to sleep next to his bed?
How could a hero like Hanzō allow an ambitious organization like the Akatsuki to exist in the shinobi world?
"A demi-god who fought for a crying nation is indeed worthy of respect… but the corruption of power has long since dragged that former god down from his altar."
Under the watchful eyes of everyone present, Yuki Yoru shook his head.
"According to the information I have obtained, the corrupt Hanzō was killed by the leader of the Akatsuki a long time ago. After that, Amegakure became the Akatsuki organization's base of operations."
The corrupt Hanzō...
Such a term made the three Kage present frown. They obviously didn't expect that the man revered as a demigod would be corrupted by the desire for power.
Shock, disbelief, and a certain… unwillingness to accept it.
If anyone other than Yuki Yoru had said this, and if it wasn't during such a serious and tense battle meeting, there was a high probability that they would have scoffed at it.
To those who had lived through the Second Great Ninja War, Hanzō's reputation still carried great weight. After all, the Sannin — now famous throughout the ninja world — had been given their title by him.
That was the man who went to war against three Great Nations for the sake of Amegakure and the Land of Rain's future — the man called a demi-god!
"So… they really killed Hanzō and took over his nest."
The Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, said slowly: "It doesn't matter. This is even better. That guy Hanzō's abilities are quite troublesome in a large-scale ninja war."
During the Second Shinobi World War, the reason Hanzō was able to fight against Konoha, Sunagakure, and Iwagakure one after another was not only because of his solid ninja foundation, but also because the highly poisonous salamander he controlled was very intimidating.
If Sunagakure hadn't had Chiyo, who also specialized in poisons, their losses in that war would have been far greater.
Now that Hanzō was gone, the pressure was naturally much lighter.
"If we can really confirm that the Akatsuki organization is in Amegakure, then the next thing we should do is to take the initiative to attack," Fugaku Uchiha said in a deep voice: "Raikage, what are you going to do?"
"We'll take the initiative to attack!"
The Fourth Raikage, A, slammed his hand on the conference table, his words were decisive: "No matter how strong the Akatsuki organization is, they are absolutely no match for our four-village alliance. We just need to seal off Amegakure before they can react, and then we'll trap them and wipe them out in Amegakure."
"Sealing off the entire Amegakure won't be easy."
Rasa frowned and lowered his voice: "Because of space-time ninjutsu, we'd need a special barrier to restrict them. But creating a barrier big enough to seal an entire Amegakure…"
It was indeed a headache. The pressure posed by space-time jutsu users was immense. If the enemy refused direct confrontation, there was nothing you could do about it.
In the Third Ninja World War, including the series of events that Obito caused later, all showed how troublesome space-time jutsu users were.
Even in the future, during the Fourth Great Ninja War against Six Paths Madara and Kaguya, space-time abilities still had a huge influence on the battlefield.
"Mizukage-sama!"
Instead of answering Rasa's concern, the Raikage turned toward Yuki Yoru:
"You can do it, right? Seal off the entire space around Amegakure, so that damned space-time user has nowhere to run. You can, can't you?"
"Ah."
Yoru smiled faintly and answered without hesitation:
"That's right. With my current ability, and Kirigakure's strength, we can do that."
"Then we'll trouble you, Mizukage-sama!"
The Raikage spoke directly:
The Fourth Raikage said directly: "Mizukage-sama, you are not only the leader of Kirigakure, but also the leader and pioneer of the future of the ninja world! I can see that beautiful future, a future that absolutely cannot be destroyed, a future that belongs to the entire shinobi world!"
"This time, we must crush the Akatsuki threat in its cradle. So, Mizukage-sama — we need your hand in this!"
"Tch… putting a hat like that on me just to pile on the pressure? You're a real headache."
Yoru clicked his tongue.
"Fine. The Akatsuki, who have completely gone astray, are indeed a threat. Let's take advantage of this meeting and put an end to them once and for all!"
As the plan unfolded, four of the Five Great Nations had fully promoted spiritual power, and the era of the Quincy had begun.
The Akatsuki, which Yoru had originally used merely as a distraction for the ninja world's powers, no longer had any value or purpose. Eliminating them now would be fine.
And besides…
It was also time for the ninja world, which had now entered the Quincy era, to see the correct way to use spiritual power!
...
With the outcome of the meeting already decided from the start, the Kage summit only lasted for half a day before it came to an end.
The Fourth Raikage once again extended his warm hospitality to the three visiting Kage, and then wasted no time in mobilizing every available force.
The other three Kage, after spending a day or two sightseeing, returned to their own villages to begin mustering their troops.
This operation had a name: [Operation Dawnbreak]!
...
Iwagakure
Deep beneath the Rock Guard Project's artificial human laboratory, Obito was continuously extracting and absorbing chakra, storing the portions in a special device.
During this time, the Rock Guard Project was being carried out in full swing. After Obito unhesitantly showed the value of the White Zetsu's cells, not only did the high-ranking officials of Iwagakure become excited, but also the ninjas of the entire Iwagakure, the nobles of the Land of Earth, and even ordinary civilians had heard about it.
The ninjas saw the future improvement of the village's medical system, and the merchants and nobles saw unlimited business opportunities. For a time, everyone was enthusiastic and eagerly participated.
The huge benefits brought by this had greatly satisfied Obito's need for chakra!
"Alright."
After taking another special chakra crystal that contained a massive amount of chakra and was supposed to be embedded in an artificial human, Obito's masked face was beaming with a smile, and he muttered: "Almost there. At this rate, my ascension ritual will soon begin!"
"Obito — the Kage Summit convened by the Raikage is over. They've decided to jointly attack the Akatsuki."
The ground rippled, and Zetsu emerged, speaking in a low tone:
"Yuki Yoru has exposed that the Akatsuki are based in Amegakure. Should we get Nagato to relocate ahead of time?"
Hearing this, Uchiha Obito, who was still extracting chakra, paused his movements for a moment, then continued to operate.
"No need. Nagato's current strength, paired with Hiruko, isn't something that can be wiped out so easily."
"With Yuki Yoru there, even if Nagato enters Sage Mode, he won't be able to win." Black Zetsu's tone was grave:
The Rinnegan is the core of our plan. We can't afford to lose it."
"Oh? Then what do you expect me to do?" Obito put down what he was holding, his blood-red eyes locking onto Black Zetsu: "Are you expecting me to fight Yuki Yoru now?"
"Don't make me laugh, Zetsu. Finishing my ritual takes priority. If Nagato loses, you can just use your jutsu to summon him back."
"After all, the only thing of value Nagato has left… are the eyes in his sockets — Madara's eyes."
A pawn that had started to disobey was better removed using Yoru's hand.
Black Zetsu seemed ready to argue further, but Obito had already turned his back and resumed extracting chakra.
Seeing this, Black Zetsu fell silent. His inscrutable gaze lingered on Obito for a long moment before he slowly sank back into the earth.
His own power hadn't fully recovered yet; if he had to teleport Nagato again, the strain would be enormous.
For the sake of the Rinnegan, for the stability of the current situation, this was a battle that must not happen!
Once Zetsu disappeared into the ground, Obito's eyes narrowed slightly beneath the mask, a faint smirk curling his lips.
"Let them stir things up. The bigger the chaos, the smoother my ritual will go…"
...
"That's how it is, Nagato. The Four Nations' Alliance is already on its way to the Land of Rain — Yuki Yoru and his Shinigami are among them."
White Zetsu delivered the intel rapidly.
"This force is not one we can match. We need to retreat immediately!"
"Retreat?"
Nagato looked at White Zetsu with a calm expression, seemingly not at all shocked by the news.
He slowly walked to the window, opened it, and looked at the dark and oppressive clouds in the sky.
Sparse raindrops began to fall from the heavens, and under his steady gaze, the rain grew heavier. The endless sheets of rain hung like beads between heaven and earth, playing a lonely yet lingering melody.
"The Land of Rain… is crying."
Nagato stretched a hand into the downpour, feeling the patter of raindrops breaking against his palm. The shattered droplets shimmered faintly, as if carrying with them the memories of this village's sorrowful past — reflected within his pair of Rinnegan eyes that seemed to see through all things.
A chaotic world, a sorrowful nation.
The ambition of a hero, the dream of a sixth great nation
A fallen and corrupt demigod, the rule of a savior and a destroyer!
Everything this village had experienced was finally gathered in his hands at this moment..
"This village… this nation's skies have never once cleared.
"The First Great Ninja War — the Great Nations slaughtered one another for profit, and the weak Land of Rain became the sacrifice.
"The Second Great Ninja War — Konoha, Sunagakure, and Iwagakure all invaded this land, clashing with Amegakure's forces, shattering Hanzō's dream of the Sixth Great Nation, and thickening the dark clouds over our skies…"
"Zetsu."
Nagato's voice was calm, almost gentle:
"This nation has been shrouded in dark clouds for far, far too long. It has always been crying, always been in pain.
"I am a God— the savior of this sorrowful world — yet I cannot fulfill Yahiko's dream, nor can I dispel the clouds over my own homeland.
"And now, I'm to abandon this village, to hand it over to be trampled by those so-called Great Nations."
"Tell me… is that right?"
"…I understand."
White Zetsu burrowed underground and passed the message to Black Zetsu. Kaguya's third child almost had a cerebral hemorrhage from anger
Inwardly, he cursed Nagato as a complete idiot.
We told you Yoru was coming, and you still want to stand and fight? What the hell is wrong with your brain?!
They had originally chosen the psychologically abnormal Nagato so that their plan could be executed better, but now, Nagato's psychological abnormality had become a hindrance to the plan!
"Fine, fine! If you're so eager to die, go ahead!"
For once, Black Zetsu felt genuine irritation, even a touch of hopelessness.
If Nagato died, they'd just retrieve the Rinnegan later. Even if it cost him some more energy, so be it.
...
"If Yuki Yoru really is part of this siege, you should be retreating."
Once Zetsu had gone, a figure emerged silently from behind — Jigen.
Gazing out through the curtain of rain, he spoke evenly:
"You're not yet a match for Yoru. There's no need for this show of emotion that's meaningless in the end."
"Tch… meaningless, huh?"
Nagato turned to face Jigen, his voice calm:
"Now that I've learned the truth of this world, I no longer care about such things.
"I am not this world's savior, nor its destroyer. I am merely a windmill standing high above the world… waiting for the wind to come.
"How it blows — that's for you to decide, isn't it?"
"…I am far from recovered. I can't fight Yuki Yoru." Jigen shook his head.
"But if you insist on fighting, then fight. I'll make sure you can retreat.
"After this is over, you might want to try that so-called Gedo: Gedō Rinne Tensei. I've already prepared the sacrifices for you."
"…Alright."
"Then I wish you luck."
A black space tore open, swallowing Jigen's figure, leaving Nagato alone to continue looking out at Amegakure in the rain.
His pale purple Rinnegan was like a deep, ancient well, and only after a long time did it show a hint of bitterness and sorrow.
After understanding the truth of this world, he didn't know what he should do or what he shouldn't do.
His former dreams and obsessions were so ridiculous in the face of reality that he now felt that whatever he did was meaningless.
"…I'm sorry, Yahiko."
"I… have let you down."