Ryou scolded the Akatsuki for being pathetic: "Also, Konan doesn't provide anything, and you, Yahiko, don't pay wages. I'm only helping you guys for Jiraiya's sake."
"Now that I've captured a Konoha Ninja, you're making a fuss. How will you feel later if you find out the Akatsuki destroyed Konoha?"
Ryou pointed at Yahiko, questioning him.
Yahiko shook his head vigorously: "Impossible. The Akatsuki's purpose is to cultivate peace through mutual understanding. We will never become the evil organization you're talking about."
"Fine, fine, fine. You don't believe me, right? Just you wait and see!"
Kurenai was protected by Konan, and she focused her attention on Nagato, who was showing one eye.
She didn't know Nagato, but among Yahiko's trio, Nagato's eyes were the most special, with ring-like patterns similar to ripples.
Is this the legendary eye of the Sage of Six Paths, the Rinnegan?
Killing intent rose in Kurenai's heart.
Ryou's presence in the Akatsuki already explained a lot. Nagato's Rinnegan definitely had something to do with Madara.
Even if it didn't belong to Madara, it was being targeted by him.
She was very grateful that Konan's trio appeared in time to protect her.
But as a Konoha Ninja, she had to prioritize the Village's interests; she could never let Madara obtain the Rinnegan.
If necessary, she would destroy these eyes no matter the cost.
Now, a serious crisis of trust had emerged between Ryou and Yahiko's trio.
Even if Ryou hadn't captured Kurenai, they would have eventually parted ways one day due to the massive differences in their ideologies.
Kurenai only accelerated this process in advance.
Yahiko had a headache over the trouble Ryou brought.
It would be one thing if it were a Ninja from another Village, but this was a Ninja from Konoha.
Currently, anyone could see that Konoha would be the winner of the Third Great Ninja War, and their momentum would be even greater then.
As a peace organization, the Akatsuki actually captured a Konoha Ninja?
Talk about a mess!
Konan softly comforted Kurenai and asked, "Don't be afraid, little girl. We will protect you. By the way, what is your name?"
Looking at the gentle Konan, Kurenai said endearingly, "My name is Kurenai, a Chunin of Konoha."
"This time, I came to the Land of Rain with the Village's Yellow Flash, Minato, the Jonin, to capture the rogue ninja, Uchiha Ryou."
As Kurenai spoke, she deliberately glanced at Ryou, giving him a fierce look.
"I hope your the Akatsuki doesn't harbor Uchiha Ryou. He is an S-rank wanted Ninja of our Konoha. If he is captured, our Konoha will offer a great reward."
Oh no!
Konoha's Yellow Flash!
When Yahiko's trio heard this, they felt like the sky was falling. Even in the most remote countryside, they had heard of the Yellow Flash's prestige.
His miraculous space-time Ninjutsu, his incredible record of wiping out over 50 Iwagakure Chunin and Jonin in an instant... the Third Great Ninja War was the Yellow Flash's stage, and he was highly likely to become the next Hokage of Konoha.
The Akatsuki actually provoked such a person?
"Nagato, capture Ryou!"
Ryou was very useful, even more so than Yahiko and Konan, but he was ultimately a Konoha rogue ninja, and he harbored ill intentions toward Nagato's Rinnegan and Konan.
The Akatsuki couldn't afford the risk of Ryou causing a disaster; they had to control him.
"Shinra Tensei!"
It was a familiar scene again. The hole Ryou had just filled two days ago was destroyed by Nagato once more.
Ryou was blasted out of the Akatsuki's cave.
After Nagato released Shinra Tensei, he immediately followed Ryou out of the cave. Yahiko also followed, jumping into mid-air and aiming his Ninjutsu at Ryou's position.
"Water Release: Wild Water Wave!"
Yahiko spat out a high-pressure stream of water from his mouth, rushing toward Ryou.
Ryou didn't even move. Candy, on his shoulder, took out a scroll and opened the Gunbai, blowing Yahiko's Wild Water Wave back with a single swing.
Seeing that Yahiko was about to be hit by his own technique, Nagato used a Shinra Tensei to blast the Wild Water Wave away.
"What kind of weapon is that?"
Yahiko looked at the fan-like weapon Candy was holding, somewhat confused. It could even reflect Ninjutsu; it was similar to the basho fan of the Hidden Cloud Village!
Snowy, holding the Kama, snorted coldly: "I've been annoyed with them for a long time. Might as well just kill them all for some peace and quiet."
Black Zetsu emerged from the ground, showing only his head, and reminded Ryou: "Ryou, Minato is almost here."
Ryou nodded and closed his eyes. All the Spore Clones that were training burst simultaneously, transferring their Chakra and experience to the main body.
Nagato aimed his palm at Ryou and released Shinra Tensei again.
Ryou was speechless: "Nagato, is this the only move you know?"
"..."
Nagato paused for a moment and shouted: "Banshō Ten'in!"
A powerful gravitational force was released from Nagato's palm, and Ryou was uncontrollably pulled toward him.
Nagato wanted to touch Ryou and absorb all his Chakra.
"Fine, fine, fine. It's even better that I'm coming over!"
Ryou condensed a basketball-sized Rasengan in his hand.
"Big Ball Rasengan!"
Snowy swung the Kama, and Candy fanned the Gunbai. Three types of attacks were about to cover Nagato.
"Shinra Tensei!"
Nagato released Shinra Tensei again, and Ryou, Snowy, and Candy were all blasted away.
Candy's Gunbai couldn't reflect Nagato's Shinra Tensei.
Nagato's technique was a Dojutsu; furthermore, the Rinnegan was the eye of the Sage of Six Paths, and its level was higher than the Gunbai.
Ryou was about to crash into a rock wall, but he gathered all his Chakra into his fist and shattered the wall with a blast of Monster Strength.
Yahiko couldn't participate in this kind of battle, so he hid far away, dealing with the Akatsuki members who had come after hearing the commotion.
The same went for Konan; her Paper Release would likely be burned away by Ryou's flames in an instant.
Konan could only protect Kurenai, watching the battle between Ryou and Nagato in shock.
Boom, boom, boom—
The sound was like thunder, as if two ancient emperors were obliterating the Great Path in the void of the universe.
Around the area where Ryou and Nagato were fighting, rocks and trees were either destroyed by Nagato's Shinra Tensei or Ryou's Monster Strength.
Nagato had been unable to catch Ryou to absorb his Chakra, and Ryou's Chakra was also terrifyingly abundant.
Various high-level Fire Release techniques were used one after another, and the two Ninja Cats on his shoulders could also perform elemental releases.
One used Earth Release, the other used Lightning Release.
Coupled with the Gunbai and the Kama, Nagato was struggling to cope.
He could only frequently use Shinra Tensei and Banshō Ten'in to deal with Ryou.
He couldn't let Ryou get close because a single punch of Ryou's Monster Strength could send his internal organs flying.
The Rinnegan was not omnipotent, especially a Rinnegan that hadn't fully awakened its power.
If Nagato had the Six Paths of Pain and Chibaku Tensei, Ryou would have run away long ago.
Nagato blasted Ryou away with a Shinra Tensei. Suddenly, a pair of hands reached out from the ground beneath Nagato and grabbed his legs.
With a hard trip, Nagato fell down abruptly.
"Gotcha!"
Ryou instantly appeared in front of Nagato, the Rasengan in his hand held close to Nagato's head, leaving only a finger's width of distance.
Snowy hooked Nagato's neck with the Kama, and Candy pressed a Kunai against the other side of Nagato's neck.
Three directions, three sources of killing intent.
Nagato's Shinra Tensei had a weakness: a five-second cooldown after use.
Ryou seized this five-second cooldown, having a Spore Clone use Earth Release to hide underground in advance, and then rushing up to grab Nagato's feet after he released Shinra Tensei.