"Hurry up, hurry up." Uzumaki Jun shouted at the group of researchers in front of him. "Do you want to live or not? Come here quickly."
After Uchiha Shin used a fire jutsu to blast open a crack, he had infiltrated the hidden cave where the Sky-nin were hiding. After dealing with all the Sky-nin, he now needed to quickly evacuate the researchers from the Sky Ninja Village. As for their loyalty, grudges, or whatever...
In any case, once these researchers were brought back to Uzushiogakure, they would be under strict surveillance. They wouldn't be granted freedom until they fully understood the core values of Uzushiogakure—patriotism, dedication, honesty, kindness, etc.
So...
Other matters could be dealt with later. Right now, they had to act fast. Otherwise, if Konoha-nin barged in for no reason or discovered something, it would be troublesome.
However...
The researchers looked at the Sky-nin lying on the ground and fell silent, not obeying Uzumaki Jun's words.
Seeing this, Uzumaki Jun narrowed his eyes. Were these people planning to live and die with the Sky Ninja Village? If so, then they absolutely couldn't be taken back to Uzushiogakure. Who knew what kind of trouble they might cause? After all, mad scientists were scarier than Kage-level shinobi.
Besides...
They had already obtained the technical research data. At worst, Uzushiogakure could take things step by step.
"Seems like you all want to die." Uzumaki Jun coldly stared at them. "In that case..."
"I'll grant your wish."
Just as Uzumaki Jun was about to act...
"I... I..." One researcher raised his hand fearfully. "I'll go with you!"
"I'm not from the Sky Ninja Village. I was just captured by them."
"Good." Uzumaki Jun nodded in satisfaction and snorted. "Come here."
Then, he glared at the remaining people. In this kind of situation, as long as one person gave in, the rest would follow...
"I surrender too!"
"Me too, I was also captured by them."
"And me..."
"..."
Uzumaki Jun nodded in satisfaction. Then, he looked at the few who remained silent. It seemed these were the die-hard loyalists of the Sky Ninja Village. Even in this situation, they stayed silent and even cursed those who betrayed them, saying things like, "The village fed you, sheltered you, and protected you, yet you still betray it?"
These people couldn't be kept. If that was the case, then...
...
"Fire Style..." Uchiha Shin dodged Pain's taijutsu, formed hand seals, and shouted, "Great Fireball Jutsu!"
A massive fireball shot toward Pain.
The Konoha-nin watching nearby were all stunned...
What an astonishing amount of chakra!
Especially the Uchiha clan members, who were so excited they were about to faint. This fire jutsu and the Mangekyō Sharingan undoubtedly belonged to an Uchiha. Even though the chakra was unusually vast, as long as he was from the Uchiha clan, it was fine. Once he returned to the clan, their family's rise would be assured.
Maybe even the Hokage position...
"Hurry, save him! He's one of the Uchiha!" one Uchiha shouted excitedly. "We must save him!"
Hatake Sakumo, however, remained silent. Seeing the massive fireball, he wasn't sure whether he should save this Uchiha. If he handled this poorly, it could lead to major trouble later.
Moreover, this kind of battle...
It was best not to interfere lightly.
Hatake Sakumo sighed inwardly. If only the Hokage were here now. Watching the two masked men with distinctive eyes fighting, he frowned. Who was this man called "Deva Path"?
To possess such strength...
"Damn it!" Hatake Sakumo's expression darkened as he saw where the fireball was headed. "This is bad!"
The enormous flames completely engulfed the hidden cave of the Sky Ninja Village.
The Sky Ninja Village leader let out a final scream, then...
No more sound came.
"What is this Uchiha trying to do?" Hatake Sakumo's face turned grim. Although his mission was to destroy the Sky Ninja Village, this Mangekyō user...
Every time he appeared, he wiped out an entire clan. This time, it was even worse—he annihilated the entire Sky Ninja Village.
Konoha's reputation would surely take another hit.
Was he really from Konoha? Why did it feel like he was digging a pit for Konoha?
Now, it was like mud stuck in their pants—even if it wasn't shit, it still looked like shit.
Other villages would definitely seize this opportunity to slander Konoha, especially since Konoha's forces were present at the Sky Ninja Village. To outsiders, it would look like the Mangekyō user led Konoha's troops to attack the Sky Ninja Village.
Just as Hatake Sakumo was lost in thought...
"Shinra Tensei!" Deva Path suddenly roared.
Then...
The Konoha-nin watched in confusion, sensing nothing.
There was no chakra fluctuation. Why had Uchiha Shin been sent flying? Had he been attacked?
"..."
Hatake Sakumo fell silent and turned to a Hyūga beside him. "Did you see anything?"
"No." The Hyūga shook his head solemnly. "I didn't detect any chakra fluctuation."
This technique was bizarre.
They hadn't seen anything, yet the Mangekyō user was sent flying.
"Could it be an ability of the Rinnegan?" the Hyūga wondered. "Otherwise, why..."
"The Rinnegan?" Hatake Sakumo frowned. They knew nothing about the abilities of this legendary eye. Was that strange jutsu really one of the Rinnegan's powers?
He would have to report this to the Hokage. They needed to be cautious about the Rinnegan.
Meanwhile...
"All who betray the organization must die!" Pain flew toward Uchiha Shin's position. He had no idea that their coordinated act—just shouting "Shinra Tensei"—had already made the Konoha-nin suspicious of the Rinnegan's abilities. Not that they were wrong, but...
This Rinnegan was fake.
As for the earlier "attack"...
It was just a shout, and Uchiha Shin had flown back on his own.
"Hah, how laughable." Uchiha Shin jumped up again, exchanging a few blows with Pain before sneering. "The organization? Just a bunch of naive fools."
"Naive?" Pain roared. "What's so laughable about achieving peace in the shinobi world? What's so naive about it?"
...
The Konoha-nin listening to the two distinctive-eyed men fell silent. Why did it feel like the Mangekyō user was the villain here?
Was he really from Konoha?
But...
The Uchiha clan didn't care. They were still desperately urging Hatake Sakumo to help save the Mangekyō user. "Captain Hatake, that's a member of the Uchiha clan! Our comrade. We should help him."
Seeing the Mangekyō user being overwhelmed, the Uchiha were frantic.
If this Mangekyō user lost...
The Uchiha's hope would... would be gone.
At this moment...
"That ridiculous peace." Uchiha Shin laughed. "Your method of 'if everyone gives a little love' won't work. Only war is the true path to peace!"
"I won't play with you anymore."
"I'll take my leave now!"
"Stop!" Seeing Uchiha Shin trying to flee, Pain shouted and immediately gave chase.
The Konoha-nin watching this fell silent again.
They weren't fighting anymore?
Only Hatake Sakumo frowned as he watched the direction they were running. Something felt off. "This direction..."
"Konoha??"