"So the rain itself is being used as a sensory barrier… If I'd tried to sneak into the village using my usual methods, I'd have been caught the moment I stepped inside."Jiraiya let out a breath, a trace of fear in his voice. If not for Uchiha Fugaku's warning, his solo infiltration of Amegakure would have ended in disaster.
"They're channeling chakra through the raindrops to sense intruders. As long as we avoid direct contact with the rain, we should be able to slip past unnoticed."The Fifth Mizukage, Mei Terumī, who had mastered Water Release, immediately grasped the principle once Fugaku pointed it out.
"Then the solution is simple."The Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, nodded. "Once we're inside, cloaks and umbrellas will keep the rain off our bodies."
Half an hour later, Fugaku led more than a dozen shinobi into Amegakure. Disguised as ordinary villagers—some carrying umbrellas, others wearing straw cloaks—they blended into the streets, shielding themselves from the chakra-laced rain.
"This peace… who would've thought it possible before?""It's all thanks to Lord Pain and Lady Angel.""Yes, without them we'd never know peace."
As they walked through the bustling streets, the shinobi overheard the villagers' conversations. Everyone except Fugaku felt their hearts waver. They didn't know who "Angel" was, but "Lord Pain" could only mean one thing: the leader of Akatsuki.
There was no longer any doubt—this was Akatsuki's stronghold.
"Grab a shinobi and interrogate him. We need Pain's location."The Fourth Raikage's patience was wearing thin.
They soon spotted two ninja eating in a small restaurant. With a glance, they moved as one.
"Go!"The group stormed in. Some subdued the two shinobi, others restrained the shopkeeper and staff, while the rest sealed the doors.
"Mifune, leave the interrogation to me," Fugaku said. His Sharingan was unmatched in genjutsu.
He locked eyes with one of the captured shinobi. "Where is Pain?""…In the tallest tower… in the center of the village."
Despite his resistance, the genjutsu unraveled him. A second captive gave the same answer.
Ōnoki's eyes narrowed. "So it's true—the tallest tower. I knew it was no ordinary building."
"Then we head straight there." The Raikage's eyes burned with killing intent."Hot tempers don't… cook good tofu, brother," Killer B rapped halfheartedly, only to shrink under his brother's glare.
They slipped out of the restaurant, locking the doors behind them as if it were closed, and made for the looming iron tower.
Guards surrounded the structure, a clear sign of its importance. But against Fugaku's team, they were nothing. Silent strikes cut them down before alarms could be raised. A genjutsu barrier concealed the bloodshed.
One by one, they cleared their way inside, climbing toward the top.
"They're here."The words came from Uchiha Obito, standing beside Nagato—bandaged and weary, the Rinnegan glowing in his eyes—and Konan, with her paper flower tucked in her hair.
"Amegakure is compromised," Konan murmured, her brow furrowing."They chased us all the way here…" Nagato's expression darkened. His body was still frail, far from healed.
"We retreat," Obito declared. With a swirling vortex of space-time, he opened the way. Konan stepped through, followed reluctantly by Nagato.
Obito lingered a moment, smirking beneath his mask as he formed a hand seal. "Enjoy the gift."
In an instant, the room—and the entire tower—lit up with thousands of explosive tags.
BOOM!The iron tower erupted in a deafening explosion. Metal beams and stone rained down as fire engulfed the center of the village.
But towering above the blast, shielding his allies, was Fugaku's Complete Susanoo, a black-armored giant.
When the flames cleared, the shinobi emerged—singed, tattered, but alive.
"Damn it!" The Raikage roared, blackened with soot. He kicked a chunk of debris, sending it flying like a cannonball.
"They were ready for us." Ōnoki scowled. "They knew we'd come."Mei's gaze swept over the ruins, where muffled cries rose from crushed homes. "So ruthless… sacrificing their own people without hesitation."
Shouts rang out—Amegakure shinobi converged, surrounding them."You! Did you destroy the tower? Where are Lord Pain and Lady Angel?"
They glared with murderous fury, blaming the outsiders for the devastation.
"What now? Do we leave Amegakure to rot?" Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage, asked."No," Ōnoki said firmly. "We can't let Akatsuki reclaim it. The five great villages should take joint control."One by one, the others nodded in agreement.
But the Ame shinobi didn't wait. "They killed Lord Pain! Kill them!""Kill them all!"
The mob charged.
"Fools!" The Raikage's patience snapped. Cloaked in lightning, he plowed through their ranks like a thunderstorm incarnate.
"Susanoo!" Fugaku's giant swept its hand, scattering dozens of Ame shinobi in a single blow. He held nothing back—had Nagato been allowed to attack Konoha, the loss would've been catastrophic. Mercy was not an option.
Under their combined might, Amegakure's defenders fell—some killed, others surrendering. By the end, the village lay firmly under the Five Kage's control. Orders were dispatched for each village to send reinforcements to secure it.
Far away, under cover of night in Konoha…
Mechanical birds descended silently from the sky, carrying an army of Ōtsutsuki puppets. The barrier corps failed to detect them—they weren't living beings.
The puppets landed atop the Hyūga compound. Their mission was clear: find those with pure Byakugan, untouched by the Caged Bird seal.
"You there—who are you?!" Two Hyūga shinobi confronted them, only to be cut down in an instant. These puppets fought with the strength of jōnin, overwhelming ordinary clan guards with ease.
More Hyūga rushed in, kunai flashing, but were met with brutal close combat and volleys of glowing yellow spheres.
"Send a distress signal!" someone shouted.
Even as the clan fought desperately, one puppet located a small girl with pure Byakugan. She was knocked unconscious, slung over its shoulder.
"Release my daughter!" Hyūga Hiashi charged, fury blazing in his eyes. The girl was none other than his youngest child—Hyūga Hanabi.
But a puppet of near-Kage-level strength intercepted him, holding him at bay.
Reinforcements from the village began to arrive, but more puppet birds swooped down, covering the retreat. Some were destroyed, but enough escaped—carrying Hanabi away into the night.