Chapter 177: Leaving the Akatsuki
"Now you know to beg for mercy? Too late."
Yasushi sneered coldly, slowly walking in from outside. Standing before Haku and Karin, he reached out and ruffled Karin's small head, reprimanding:
"You're a shinobi now. Next time encountering this situation, you can't retreat and evade. You should bravely engage and eliminate those guys."
"But..." Karin sniffled. "They're Rain shinobi. We're currently living under others' roofs..."
"What living under others' roofs?" Yasushi's eyes flashed. He reached out pinching her little face. "If not for Akatsuki's utility here, even if they invited me, I wouldn't bother coming to this damp, sticky place."
"We Uchiha are the shinobi world's noble clan. Going anywhere gives that place face. There's never any situation of living under others' roofs."
"Remember—this world is always ruled by the strong. What qualifications do a mere group of Rain shinobi have to provoke you?"
"Mm." Karin nodded half-understanding.
Wind-breaking sounds rang out. Nagato's figure appeared before them.
Looking at that large tree hung with Rain shinobi corpses, he couldn't help raging furiously.
"What are you doing?!"
"What am I doing?" Yasushi glanced at him sideways, pointing toward the distant onlookers. "Go ask them—won't you know?"
"Look at this Rain shinobi group you've spoiled!"
"They treat everything you've given as natural. They comfortably enjoy the peace you painstakingly created while also claiming credit for themselves, thinking they're incredibly important with such great contributions."
"They've long forgotten respect and have no gratitude—exactly like those Konoha Village villagers!"
"I know you don't care about their gratitude. Actually, I don't care either."
"But I cannot allow them to have no respect for me!"
"Uchiha clansmen's honor isn't something these trash can touch."
But Nagato didn't even look at that nearby group, only staring at Yasushi alone.
"Coincidentally, I also cannot allow you to have no respect for me!"
"You've repeatedly challenged my authority. Various internal scheming tricks emerge endlessly."
"Speaking of which, other organization members were all beaten into submission before joining Akatsuki. Only you voluntarily came to our door."
"Looks like I very much need to teach you this lesson."
"Time to give you a lesson, making you understand—who has final say in Akatsuki!"
"Hehe... hahaha...HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA" Yasushi was immediately amused by Nagato's words. Clutching his belly, he laughed maniacally skyward.
"Nagato, oh Nagato! Who gave you the courage to think you can definitely defeat me?"
"Looks like I've always fought externally without letting you see my true combat capabilities, causing you to misjudge!"
"Whatever. Akatsuki has no utility value for me now anyway. Might as well fight you seriously today. Afterward, you walk your sunny path, I cross my single-plank bridge. Everyone parts ways!"
"Hmph!" Nagato snorted coldly, pointing toward the distance. "This place is too close to the village. We'll fight over there."
"Fine!" Yasushi nodded in agreement, following Nagato racing toward the distance.
Karin and others waited nervously here, watching the distance first manifest sky-filling missiles and super-massive summoning beasts, then appear that towering giant and boundless tree seas rising from the ground, followed by explosion after explosion.
Summoning beasts fell. Summoning beasts rose again. Tree seas were flattened. Tree seas regrew.
Violent explosions, blinding white light, earth violently trembling even from kilometers away, wind cutting like blades, tsunami-like shockwaves...
The two fought until the sky darkened. After an unknown time, their battle finally stopped.
Amegakure's side, seeing their deity still suspended in midair, cheered in unison.
But before they could celebrate happily, Yasushi's figure appeared within Amegakure, full of vitality without any signs of injury.
Yasushi waved at Karin and her mother . "Pack your things. We're leaving here. Won't stay anymore."
"Great! Clan head-sama being fine is wonderful!" Karin cheered, rushing to hug Yasushi and not letting go.
Shinyo and Haku quickly packed a small bundle, following Yasushi together as they left the Land of Rain.
"Hey hey, clan head-sama, you won, right?" Along the way, Karin's little mouth didn't stop, continuously inquiring.
"Call it a draw!" Yasushi spread his hands helplessly. "Nagato was too shameless. He flew into the sky—I couldn't reach him."
"Speaking of which, I taught him this move before the Konoha Village battle!"
"But he also couldn't break my Kamui dimension or harm me."
"We attacked each other for a while, discovered neither could do anything to the other, so simultaneously stopped."
"I see!" Karin hugged Yasushi's neck, laughing cheerfully. "I believe next time clan head-sama will definitely defeat him."
"Clan head-sama is the shinobi world's only deity."
"Haha..." Yasushi laughed happily hearing this. "Exactly! It's just flight!"
"Once I transplant the Tenseigan, I can also freely soar in the sky."
"By then, Nagato definitely won't be my match."
"I just hope he won't be killed by Zetsu and them by then."
The group left the Land of Rain while chatting and laughing, entering Land of Wind territory.
Following traces Shukaku left behind, Yasushi quickly found the big cat sunbathing and napping in the desert.
"Yo, doggy! Haven't seen you in days. Did you miss me?" Yasushi jumped onto Shukaku's head, asking with a cheeky grin.
"You're the dog!" Shukaku roared angrily, slapping his own head. Naturally still no effect.
"Alright, I'll introduce some new friends to you."
Yasushi waved, calling Karin and others before Shukaku, introducing them to each other. Then taking out his reclining chair and placing it on Shukaku's head, he comfortably reclined.
"Now, let's go to the Land of Fire and see if Konoha Village has been destroyed."
Shukaku huffed and puffed several times but ultimately obediently departed.
This time passing through the Land of Rivers, no short-sighted people jumped out. The group smoothly crossed this area, entering Land of Fire territory.
But shortly after entering, Yasushi heard news that greatly displeased him.
The Five Nations had actually begun peace talks!
"You're kidding! They're negotiating—did they ask my fucking permission?!"
After angrily cursing, Yasushi planned to sabotage this matter for them.