Ryou stood by the Akatsuki cave, watching the Akatsuki members walk away until they gradually disappeared into the rain.
Candy appeared on Ryou's shoulder and handed him a lollipop. "Is it worth it? They're going to die anyway."
Ryou peeled the lollipop and put it in his mouth, savoring the faint sweetness. "Candy, everyone dies eventually. So why bother living?"
Candy shook its head. "I don't know!"
Ryou replied, "Maybe Ninjas are just a group of people who pursue death! Since we'll die in the end, we might as well make our deaths spectacular."
"Like moths to a flame, living towards death!"
"Let's go. Follow them and collect their bodies!"
Ryou tightly gripped the paper flower Konan had given him, smiling somewhat foolishly. "Konan is so thoughtful. The language of carnations symbolizes warm blessings and a love that makes one weak."
Candy retorted, "Carnations have another meaning—selfless motherly love!"
"(ಠ∩ಠ)." Ryou turned his head and looked at Candy gloomily.
"Candy, see if I don't shock you to death!"
Candy quickly jumped off Ryou's shoulder and fled.
Ryou chased after it. As he left, he took one last look at the Akatsuki base, thinking he might never return... The meeting place between Hanzo and the Akatsuki was in the hills fifty li behind Amegakure.
The hills were not high, rising and falling with gentle slopes. There was almost no vegetation on the slopes, only a few scattered clumps of withered grass.
At the foot of the hills was a large open space. Water had collected in the potholes, reflecting the lead-gray sky.
No trees, no grass, not even a single bird in sight, only the sound of rain.
Yahiko gathered the Akatsuki members at the foot of the hills, waiting for Hanzo and the Amegakure Ninjas.
Why did Yahiko trust Hanzo so much?
Because they had already cooperated once. Before Ryou arrived, Hanzo had issued a mission for Yahiko's the Akatsuki to act as messengers of the Land of Rain to settle the wars between the Great Nations.
At that time, Hanzo had shared his vision for peace with Yahiko. Yahiko deeply respected the elder, and the two had even shaken hands.
The main purpose of this visit was to receive the Messenger's Credentials from Hanzo and travel to the Great Nations as envoys of the Land of Rain to convey their desire for peace.
Yahiko's impression of Hanzo was still that of the leader who, ten years ago, had single-handedly resisted the invasion of the Great Nations to protect the independence and peace of the Land of Rain.
He did not know that people age. With age, former ambitions turn into a greed for power and a suspicion of dissidents.
The Akatsuki members waited for Hanzo in the rain. Many tucked their hands into their sleeves, clutching their shuriken tightly.
They were not entirely defenseless.
After Ryou's warning, they couldn't just pretend they hadn't heard anything.
A crisp sound of splashing water came from the hills above. Then, an old man appeared, wearing a special breathing mask, with long golden hair and a deep blue short cloak.
The old man had a serious expression and an aura of natural authority.
This man was the leader of Amegakure, the Demigod, Hanzo.
"Lord Hanzo!"
The Akatsuki members bowed in unison, many of them looking at him with admiration.
No matter what, Hanzo was the great leader of the Land of Rain.
Even war orphans whose families had been destroyed by war would involuntarily puff out their chests at the thought of Hanzo's title as the "Demigod" and his great strength.
Did they not know that the Second Great Ninja War was triggered by Hanzo's expansion into the Great Nations?
They likely didn't, as public opinion in the Land of Rain was controlled by Hanzo and Amegakure. They would only desperately promote the narrative that the Great Nations had invaded and that they were the victims.
Yahiko smiled and looked up at Hanzo. "Lord Hanzo, the members of the Akatsuki have all arrived. Today, we will follow your command, Lord Hanzo, to mediate the war among the Five Great Nations."
Hanzo nodded. It was good that they had all come; it made them easier to kill.
Hanzo looked around and asked in confusion, "Where is Yakuganra? Where is that highly skilled Medical Ninja of your the Akatsuki?"
"..."
The Akatsuki members suddenly paused. From Hanzo's tone, he seemed to care more about Ryou.
This wasn't surprising. After all, Ryou's master-level Medical Ninjutsu could significantly increase Amegakure's strength, perhaps even allowing it to become the sixth great Ninja village.
Yahiko broke the Akatsuki's silence. "I'm sorry, Lord Hanzo. Yakuganra was a spy lurking in the Akatsuki. His true identity is the Konoha rogue ninja, Uchiha Ryou."
"He gains his high-level Medical Ninjutsu by devouring human life, which is inconsistent with our the Akatsuki's philosophy, so we drove him away."
Hanzo was stunned, not expecting this outcome.
"Uchiha Ryou? Wait, I seem to have heard that name. He's the Uchiha who mastered the Immortality Technique and defected from Konoha!"
"You—you actually drove away my man and my technique!"
Hanzo's voice grew louder and louder, finally turning into a heart-wrenching roar.
What kind of person craves immortality and youth the most?
Powerful people who have grown old.
Before life and death, everyone is equal, but resources are not.
Those who control most of the resources will inevitably hope for more, and Hanzo was one of them.
He was old and hadn't fought in a long time. His body was beginning to decay, and his Ninja stats had plummeted.
If it hadn't been for the rumors of Ryou's death in a self-explosion, Hanzo would have long since led Amegakure to seize his forbidden jutsu.
The Akatsuki members looked solemn. Seeing Hanzo like this, it seemed he was here to snatch someone, clearly not to cooperate with the Akatsuki.
Nagato gripped his Kunai tightly, and Konan also gathered her Chakra to prepare for battle.
Yahiko wiped the sweat from his forehead. Hanzo's hysterical and furious appearance was different from the wise elder he had imagined.
"Lord Hanzo, let's continue talking about mediating the conflicts in the Ninja World."
"Mediate my ass!"
Hanzo barked, and dozens of dark shadows suddenly appeared around him. Wearing breathing masks and rainproof trench coats, they were all elite Anbu of Amegakure.
They glared menacingly, looking at the Akatsuki as if they were sheep for the slaughter.
Oh no! What Uchiha Ryou said was true!
This is a trap!
The members of the Akatsuki all looked grim.
Yahiko quickly took a step forward and questioned Hanzo, "Lord Hanzo, what is the meaning of this? Do you not want to mediate the war in the Ninja World?"
Hanzo ignored the naive Yahiko.
Mediate the war? He, Hanzo, was no lover of peace.
He wished the Five Great Nations would fight as fiercely as possible. This would weaken their power and give small nations time to breathe.
Hanzo slowly calmed down. The Akatsuki's Yakuganra had been driven away, not killed. He still had a chance.
Hanzo issued an order to his personal Anbu: "From now on, seal off the entire Land of Rain. It shall not be unsealed until Yakuganra, Uchiha Ryou, is found."
"Yes!"
The Amegakure Anbu took the order and used Body Flicker to leave, returning to Amegakure to announce the Martial Law.
Hanzo took a step forward and looked down at Yahiko. "Yahiko, you are too naive and too good at inciting people's hearts. I cannot let you live."
"Danzo, move!"
Buzz, buzz, buzz—
A buzzing sound of insects rang out in the rain, and a large cloud of insects suddenly covered all the members of the Akatsuki.
The insect cloud transformed into a giant hand and lunged toward Nagato's position.
Nagato raised his hand, and a Shinra Tensei blast scattered the insect cloud. The insects immediately shifted their target to Konan.
Seeing that the insect cloud was about to sweep Konan away, Yahiko rushed over and pushed her aside.
"Yahiko!!"
Konan lunged toward him.
Nagato desperately tried to reach him, but it was too late. Yahiko was enveloped by the insect cloud and snatched up to the hills, right beside Hanzo.