After leaving the dreamscape, Konan appeared deeply troubled.
Orochimaru had attempted divination several times within the "dream," but without exception, each attempt had been heavily disrupted.
Left with no better option, he could only change his approach—rather than divining specific details, he broadened the scope of the reading.
"Is there currently anyone in Amegakure besides Konan who is a Beyonder of mid-to-high sequence?"
Once the scope was widened, the interference significantly diminished.
This time, the divination results clearly indicated—within Amegakure, there was indeed a Beyonder of the mid-to-high sequences.
Without a doubt, the most likely candidate was the one who had already stepped into the demigod sequence—White Zetsu.
The other members of the Twilight Hermit Order were currently stationed across various regions.
As for the Aurora Order, their involvement was highly unlikely.
Which left only one possibility—White Zetsu.
No—considering White Zetsu's cautious personality, he would likely bring Uchiha Obito along with him.
The enemy they now faced might very well be two individuals who had reached Sequence 4—Demigod tier.
Given the current strength of the Twilight Hermit Order, even with a full gathering of its members, there would be no chance of victory.
And yet, a far more pressing concern loomed before Konan.
There was a traitor hiding within the Twilight Hermit Order.
Aside from Orochimaru—whose loyalty had already been confirmed—she didn't know who else she could trust.
If she made the wrong choice...
The still-slumbering Lord Adam would be in grave danger.
With these thoughts clouding her mind, Konan quickened her pace, heading toward the top floor.
Nagato, wearing the Akatsuki cloak marked with red clouds, was seated at the edge of an outstretched pipe, watching over every movement within Amegakure.
Hearing the soft sound of footsteps behind him, he didn't turn around.
"You're back already?" he asked quietly.
"Nagato," Konan said, her voice tense. "You need to relocate. Immediately."
Konan got straight to the point, her voice tinged with urgency and worry.
"Why do we suddenly need to relocate?"
Nagato sensed something off in her tone. He slowly rose from the pipe he had been resting on and turned to look at her.
"What exactly happened? Why do you look so flustered?"
Since the founding of the Akatsuki, aside from the day Yahiko died, he had never seen Konan this anxious.
"Don't ask, Nagato. Just leave Amegakure as soon as possible. Just leave the Six Paths behind." Konan shook her head but still refused to explain the truth.
Nagato stared at her worried expression. Slowly, he reached out and gently brushed aside her disheveled hair. His eyes softened as he spoke quietly.
"Konan, do you remember? We grew up together. We followed Yahiko's ideals and created Akatsuki. We've worked so hard to change Amegakure, to free it from its dark past."
"No, you don't understand."
Konan's eyebrows furrowed tightly, as if a storm was gathering between them.
"Nagato, this is serious. You have to leave Amegakure immediately."
"Konan, no matter what's happening, don't bear it alone, alright?" Nagato looked at her with concern and said in a low voice, "I'm not the weak and helpless Nagato from before, waiting for someone to save me. I have the strength now… to shoulder this burden with you."
Konan felt a pounding headache coming on. She knew Nagato's concern came from the heart, but… White Zetsu and Obito—those were not threats he could deal with.
"Listen to me, Nagato." She took a deep breath and cupped his pale face in her hands, speaking softly.
"This time, staying in Amegakure will only put you in greater danger. I have to make sure you don't fall under anyone's control. Only then… can the Six Paths help me. Do you understand?"
The essence of the Six Paths is six corpses, refined through the Rinnegan, then controlled using black chakra rods.
As long as Nagato stays away from Amegakure and hides in a place no one can find, the risk of being controlled by 'White Zetsu' can be avoided to some extent.
Otherwise, if Nagato falls under White Zetsu's control, things will become even more chaotic.
She had to eliminate this possibility from the root.
"Control… is it genjutsu?"
Nagato frowned. Genjutsu was indeed troublesome. Even with the Rinnegan, it couldn't guarantee complete immunity.
"Alright. I'll listen to you and hide somewhere no one knows."
He was still reluctant, but he decided to follow Konan's orders.
"If the situation becomes urgent, I'll have the Animal Path reverse summon me back immediately. I hope you understand that, Konan."
Konan could only agree helplessly.
She knew very well that if she didn't agree, Nagato would never leave. And even if she refused, it wouldn't change anything.
"Is there anything else you need me to do?"
Nagato was still worried about Konan and asked, "Whatever it is, I can help."
"No need. The rest… I can handle myself."
Konan looked out at the village still shrouded in dark clouds, sorrow flickering in her eyes.
"After this… we might have to rebuild the village. Everything we worked for may be gone."
Hearing the sadness in Konan's voice, Nagato's pupils shrank slightly.
"You mean… Amegakure will be destroyed?"
"I don't know. Maybe it will. Maybe it won't."
Konan lowered her head, clutching her sleeves tightly as she bit her lip.
"The worst outcome… might be that Amegakure gets completely wiped off the map."
The constant rain veiled the village in grey, and as she looked down at the streets below, her heart clenched.
This place—they had grown up here. They had rebuilt it piece by piece after everything was lost.
Now, it might all be reduced to ash once again.
"That's why… I have one last request for you."
She turned to Nagato, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Evacuate the civilians—by any means necessary. Even if the village is destroyed… it can still be rebuilt. But if the people die, there will be nothing left."
Nagato's expression darkened. He understood.
"How much time do I have?" he asked.
"I don't know," Konan replied. "Maybe a day. Maybe just a few hours."
She shook her head slowly, sorrow weighing down every word.
"Either way, you need to disappear soon. Begin evacuating immediately."
"…Alright. I understand."
Nagato didn't waste another moment. He gave her one last look, then stepped out into the rain.
It was cold. It soaked through his cloak, sliding down his face like tears.
With every step, memories rose like mist—memories of when they were just children, hiding in the rubble, watching their loved ones die in the madness of war.
And now, the flames of war had come to Amegakure once more.
More lives would be lost. Again.
It felt like nothing had changed. And yet… everything had.
Even with the power of the Rinnegan, even as the so-called "God of Pain," he still felt powerless.
"No… not this time."
His fists clenched as his chakra stirred violently.
"I swear it won't be like last time."
In the depths of his Rinnegan, something burned.
"No matter the cost… I will protect Konan. I will protect our village."
He would not allow anyone to destroy the fragile peace they had fought so hard to build.
Pain's Six Paths, wearing the black cloak with red clouds, cut through the sky above the Rain Hidden Village like a sharp arrow.
Evacuating the civilians must be done carefully, cautiously, and secretly.
They absolutely cannot evacuate recklessly, or it would only alert the enemy—Nagato understood this very well.
They had to do everything possible to buy time for Konan!
*******
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