Bang bang bang bang...
Twelve consecutive impacts rang out.
The twelve ninja who had just rushed forward to confront Uchiha Kamito all collapsed to the ground at the same time.
The Fire Daimyō's expression immediately turned ugly.
Part of it was directed at Minato and Uchiha Kamito.
The other part was directed at the Guardian Twelve Ninja.
He knew they were weak, but he hadn't realized they were this weak. Couldn't they at least hold out for a minute?
"Daimyō-sama, my apologies. Kamito is used to fighting on the battlefield, so he tends to strike a little too heavily. You're not offended, are you?"
"Not at all, not at all. For Hidden Leaf Village to produce such a fierce warrior, I'm delighted if anything. Why would I mind?"
"Daimyō-sama is truly broad-minded. A blessing for Konoha, and a blessing for the Land of Fire."
"You flatter me, you flatter me. Come, drink."
"Please."
More than an hour later, the banquet finally came to an end.
After exchanging farewells, Minato and the others departed.
Once the Fourth Hokage had left, the Fire Daimyō's expression turned serious.
"Go. Summon Mitokado Homura."
"Yes."
When Mitokado Homura arrived before the Daimyō, he immediately bowed.
"My respects, Daimyō-sama."
"Mm. Rise."
See? This was the proper attitude one should have when meeting the Daimyō.
"Homura, we've known each other for many years, so I'll speak plainly."
"Please do, Daimyō-sama."
"The Fourth Hokage is a fine man, but he's still too young. There are many matters he simply doesn't handle properly. Personally, I preferred the Third Hokage's style of doing things."
"You are absolutely correct, Daimyō-sama. Minato achieved success too early in life and has had things too easy. If Daimyō-sama were to give him a small setback, I'm sure he would quickly realize his mistakes."
"But Konoha is, after all, the Land of Fire's Konoha, and I am the Fire Daimyō. To deliberately hinder him... would that really be appropriate?"
"There's no need for concern, Daimyō-sama. This is merely a small warning for the Fourth Hokage. If he doesn't suffer a setback here today, then when he suffers one elsewhere in the future, it may already be too late."
"If that's the case... then very well."
The Fire Daimyō spoke as if reluctantly agreeing.
"Daimyō-sama is wise."
Mitokado Homura immediately echoed loudly.
(Fire Daimyō: Talking with crafty old veterans like this is far more comfortable. That young Minato fellow doesn't understand hints at all. But some things can't exactly be said outright.)
Meanwhile, Minato was using Flying Thunder God to rush everyone back at high speed.
"Minato, are you really that eager to return to Konoha?"
"That's right. I need to warn Shiken. The Daimyō intends to move against him. From what he implied today, the coal business in the Land of Fire must be nationalized."
"Oh? Then there's no need to rush. Do you really think Shiken wouldn't already have a countermeasure prepared?"
"...Good point."
Minato immediately stopped moving.
The moment he did, Genma and the other two instantly ran off to throw up.
Uchiha Kamito glanced at them.
"Minato... your Hokage Guard wasn't assembled through bribery and connections, was it?"
That made Minato blush awkwardly.
"They're still young, and I haven't properly trained them yet. They'll improve. Definitely."
"Hopefully."
After Genma and the others finished vomiting, the group resumed their journey back to the village.
This time, however, they took their sweet time instead of hurrying.
After all, what man on a business trip would want to rush home if there wasn't an emergency?
As for the reason...
Anyone who knows, knows.
...
Konoha.
The Sarutobi residence.
Utatane Koharu was drinking tea there.
"Hiruzen, how are your preparations going? Minato is no longer on the same side as us. His stance is clearly leaning toward the ninja clans now."
"We wait. We wait for Homura's news."
Hiruzen took another sip of tea.
Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others still hadn't given up on weakening the ninja clans.
But now, Minato had very clearly chosen the clans' side.
Jiraiya had been absent for a long time.
Tsunade was hopelessly addicted to gambling and couldn't be relied upon.
As for Orochimaru, his position was extremely ambiguous.
(Orochimaru: Isn't my position obvious enough already? I'm standing with Shiken.)
Still, they possessed one final trump card—the Daimyō's court.
Their years of friendship with the Daimyō's faction hadn't been cultivated for nothing.
Now they only needed to wait for Mitokado Homura's message.
Konoha would absolutely continue down the path he had planned for it.
...
Land of Rain.
Hidden Rain Village.
An orange-haired figure suddenly appeared.
Konan's pupils trembled violently.
"Ya-Yahiko..."
"I am Deva Path Pain."
Yahiko's body emitted a lifeless voice.
"I told you before. Yahiko will continue leading us forward."
Nagato emerged alongside the other five figures.
The Six Paths of Pain, along with the Outer Path Nagato, had officially appeared.
"Nagato, what do we do next?"
Konan quickly regained control of her emotions.
The only thing she could do now was support Nagato.
To atone for her sins.
If she hadn't been so weak, Yahiko wouldn't have died, and Nagato wouldn't have become like this.
"Right now, we're too weak. We need to strengthen ourselves. Fortunately, all the Tailed Beasts have entered their revival phase, so we can use this time to build our power."
"One day, when all the Tailed Beasts are under our control, we'll possess the power to stop every conflict in the ninja world."
Nagato spoke firmly.
Absolute power would bring absolute peace.
If their plan succeeded, then as long as the Akatsuki existed, no nation in the ninja world would dare start another large-scale war.
"Zetsu."
At Nagato's call, Black Zetsu and White Zetsu emerged from underground. The black cloak with red clouds officially made its debut.
"Lord Nagato."
"From now on, call me Pain."
"As you command, Lord Pain."
"Investigate powerful rogue ninja throughout the ninja world. We need manpower. A great deal of manpower."
"As you command."
After responding, Black Zetsu and White Zetsu sank back underground and disappeared.
"Nagato, he belongs to that Uchiha Madara. He can't be trusted."
"I know. But I'm only using him as well. Konan, the only people we can truly trust are each other. Uchiha Madara merely wants to use us, and I just so happen to want to use him too. That Zetsu's intelligence-gathering abilities are simply too valuable. We'll make full use of him to strengthen ourselves as much as possible."
As Nagato spoke, he deliberately glanced toward the Animal Path Pain.
Especially you. Your strength depends entirely on the intelligence Zetsu provides. Who knows whether there are really that many powerful summon beasts left in the ninja world.
"As long as you have a plan, Nagato, I'll support you no matter what."
After saying that, Konan looked once more at the Deva Path Pain.
"I'll support both of you. Always."
"Mm. First, we'll head to the Violet Bamboo Grove, Whitecloud Vale, and Hell Valley. I need to find more summon beasts for the Animal Path."
"Alright."
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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