Land of Rain.
The Akatsuki organization was currently mobilized in full force, searching everywhere for their missing comrade. The missing comrade was named Konan. She had left yesterday morning and had been completely out of contact since.
Just as everyone had searched continuously for a full day and night, until they were utterly exhausted, a kidnapping letter sent by a stranger caused Yahiko and Nagato's moods to instantly plummet to the bottom.
The letter emphasized that only Yahiko, the leader of Akatsuki, and Nagato were to come. If even one extra person was seen, they would not hesitate to kill the hostage.
So, one day later, on a rainy day, Yahiko and Nagato followed the instructions in the kidnapping letter and successfully met the mastermind behind Konan's kidnapping.
The one responsible for all this was none other than the leader of Amegakure, Hanzō of the Salamander.
The Akatsuki organization had developed too rapidly over the past ten years, severely affecting Hanzō's political power and status.
Given the current situation in the Land of Rain, even without others interfering in their conflict, Hanzō would not allow Akatsuki to continue developing.
Of course, Akatsuki could desire peaceful development. But absorbing too many members, losing control of their scale, and beginning to threaten the rule of the Amegakure leader meant they had to be eliminated early.
How can one tolerate others snoring beside their bed.
A life and death battle unfolded between the two sides, centered around Konan.
The leader of Akatsuki died by Nagato's hand, just like in the original story. The intense pain and hatred caused the power of the Rinnegan to awaken significantly. Under the powerful intimidation of the Gedo Statue, Hanzō of the Salamander ultimately had no choice but to flee in disgrace.
Hanzō could have won this battle. However, the courage and conviction in his heart were too weak. His temporary retreat was merely setting the stage for his future death.
"The path of peace that Yahiko yearned for, ultimately, still cannot be walked."
"What you said is correct. Peace requires force as a foundation. Only by making the ninja world experience despair and feel pain will they cherish the peace you bring."
Nagato, who had lost the use of his legs, looked at the portrait on the wall with a face full of reverence.
"Ryuun..." Konan's gaze also followed to look at the black clad youth in the painting.
"No, his real name is... Uchiha Ryun." A purple light flickered in Nagato's Rinnegan eyes, his gaze fixed on that portrait. "He is an awakened one who has experienced pain. He has already walked ahead of us. Perhaps we can try to seek out this pioneer in the future."
Ancient Land of Loulan.
"So, for over five years, you went nowhere else, hiding within the Dragon Veil, just to fully awaken the Sage Body."
Kushina, while eating, asked Ryun about his recent circumstances.
"Your Sage Body doesn't seem particularly special... I think you've even gotten a bit thinner than before... But your complexion is superb, and the elasticity of your muscles is excellent..."
Kushina's smile was a bit meaningful.
Sarah, who was having lunch with them, heard this and looked at Ryun's face and neck. Recalling the stunning scene she had accidentally seen earlier, most of his fair body, Sarah couldn't help but blush and feel her ears grow hot.
"Does a Sage Body have to be big and burly? The First Hokage possessed a Sage Body. Looking at his photos, he was thinner than me, and shorter by more than half a head."
Ryun refuted while swallowing food in large mouthfuls. After not eating for so long, his body was ravenous now, feeling like no amount of food could fill him up.
"Really starving... Eat slower, don't choke."
Kushina advised with a pained expression, diligently standing by his side to serve him as he ate.
"So, you should be considered successfully awakened now, right? Do you still need to continue cultivating in the future?"
Ryun nodded upon hearing this. "There's no need for that kind of relentless, day and night hardship of secluded training. However, I still need to use the power of the Dragon Veil to fill the 'Yang Seal'. This is a good time to teach you the cultivation of Sage Art."
As Ryun spoke, the circular mark on his forehead manifested. This mark was usually deliberately hidden by him. Otherwise, his already somewhat handsome face, plus the small golden mark between his eyebrows, would become even more effeminate.
"You... you still want to extract the Dragon Veil's energy again."
Sarah suddenly mustered her courage to ask.
"If the Dragon Veil energy is lost in large quantities, it will have a destructive impact on Loulan's ecology and national fortune. If possible, please do not absorb too much energy at once. You can come back after a period of time. The Dragon Veil's energy will replenish itself over time."
Ryun was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, then fell into deep thought for a long time.
After a good while, Ryun spoke again. "You and your mother can both sense the Dragon Veil. If I'm not mistaken, that auspicious geomantic site was probably specially built by your ancestors, right?"
"Yes, the Ancient Land of Loulan has been passed down for over a thousand years. The Dragon Veil is also a treasured place formed after one of our lineage's ancestors organized the ley lines." Sarah said with pride, recounting Loulan's history.
"Your ancestor indeed had great talent, and was certainly also a Sage with great cultivation. However, his so-called organizing of the ley lines involved gathering the vitality from a thousand miles around into Loulan. Precisely because of this, the area outside this oasis appears as a barren, arid scene stretching a thousand miles."
Ryun had been here for five years. The mystery of the Dragon Veil was mostly understood by him now.
"You mean our ancestor."
Sarah widened her eyes, somewhat flustered. But before she could finish, Ryun cut her off.
"I don't want to judge the good, evil, or badness of your ancestor. After all, my cultivation was able to reach completion by borrowing the Dragon Veil he created. Speaking of which, I should be thanking him."
The Sage who built this Dragon Veil probably wanted to use this treasured place to benefit his descendants. But man proposes, god disposes. His Sage inheritance must have been broken in the hands of a certain descendant, causing subsequent generations to be unable to absorb the Dragon Veil's energy.
They possessed the treasured site but could not use it. By Sarah's generation, they could only sense the Dragon Veil, and even controlling it was extremely difficult.
If Ryun remembered correctly, the Ancient Land of Loulan in the Naruto movie should be destroyed about twenty years later, specifically due to being ruined by war.
Of course, it was also possible that it was because Namikaze Minato sealed this Dragon Veil, which represented Loulan's national fortune, that led to Loulan's eventual destruction, with Sarah leading the remaining few citizens to seek refuge in the nearest Land of Wind.
"Let's make a deal."
Ryun suddenly looked at Sarah very seriously.
"What kind of deal?" Sarah appeared somewhat nervous now.
"I want this Dragon Veil. You will still be the Queen of Loulan. I can guarantee your wealth, status, and noble position for your entire life. I will also protect Loulan to the best of my ability. I won't promise to restore its prosperity, but I will absolutely not let it perish during your reign."
Loulan's current total population was even less than fifty thousand. The entire country was basically on the verge of collapse. A few small-scale conflicts would be enough to destroy this enclosed 'forest of puppets'.
"You want to protect Loulan? At the cost of the Dragon Veil."
Sarah was no longer the ignorant young girl from five years ago. She understood the current state of Loulan better than anyone.
"Yes. The Dragon Veil will still be protected by the Queen of Loulan in the future, but the usage rights of this place will belong to me. Of course, I will definitely not do anything to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs, and I will not allow anyone to damage this Dragon Veil."
Ryun's words sounded like he was getting something for nothing. But Sarah fell into a rare silence.
"If I don't agree, you will control me like before, right." Sarah suddenly asked, hanging her head low.
Hearing this, Ryun couldn't help but let out a light laugh.
The answer was self evident.
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