"They're coming for Nagato's Rinnegan. We need to be ready," Yahiko said, his gaze shifting toward Nagato, his expression turning serious.
But aside from that, there was no fear or anxiety on his face.
If they had learned this back when they were younger, the three of them might have panicked under the pressure.
Back then, just one Hanzo was enough to put their lives in danger.
But now… things were different. They were no longer the same as before.
To be blunt, even if Uchiha Madara were to return from the dead, the three of them had the confidence and courage to face him head-on together.
With Kagetsu's help, Nagato had already mastered the use of the Rinnegan and could now unleash almost all of its power.
As long as it wasn't a prolonged battle, the strain of the Rinnegan wouldn't overwhelm Nagato's body.
Though his strength hadn't yet reached Nagato's level, even among the Kage of the Five Great Shinobi Nations, Yahiko wasn't someone to be underestimated.
Konan was the same. Her Paper Release had been developed to its peak—she could now do incredible things with it.
Whether it was massive area bombardment or large-scale healing, her only real limit was her chakra.
But even then… who really knew how much she had stored up over all these years?
The reason Yahiko could stay calm now was simple—there were three Kage-level fighters on their side.
And if you included Kakuzu... that made four!
"Should we call that guy Kagetsu for backup?" Kakuzu glanced at Yahiko.
"No need," Nagato answered before Yahiko could speak, shaking his head.
"Our strength is nothing like it used to be. We can handle Zetsu's attack. There's no reason to get Kagetsu or Konoha involved."
"Are you sure we don't need it? You know how troublesome Hollows can be," Kakuzu reminded seriously.
"I'm not rejecting the help from Kagetsu or Konoha," Nagato replied calmly. "But if we run to them at the first sign of trouble, then what's the point of our own role in this plan?
Don't worry, Kakuzu-sensei. When I was with Kagetsu, I witnessed the power of the Hollows firsthand. I also learned how to deal with and guard against them.
The Rinnegan holds a portion of power that can affect them," Nagato nodded, offering more explanation to show he wasn't acting impulsively or carelessly.
"Nagato's right. We can't just call for Kagetsu and the others every time something goes wrong," Yahiko agreed, nodding along.
"Even if we reach a critical point, as long as we hold out for a while and send a message, Kagetsu and the others can still reach us—either by opening a Garganta or using some form of space travel."
"Do as you please," Kakuzu said indifferently, not even glancing at Konan, who had remained silent.
He knew that once Yahiko and Nagato had made a decision, the one he protected—Konan—would never raise an objection or go against them.
And he was right.
"Konoha has already sent us information about the enemy. Now that we know who we're dealing with, we just need to prepare accordingly.
Who knows, Kakuzu-sensei—maybe you alone will be enough to take care of all of them," Konan said with a gentle smile, her expression soft as she tried to please Kakuzu.
Over the years, Kakuzu had worked tirelessly for both Amegakure and the Land of Rain. He had poured his heart into training and guiding the three of them, helping them grow stronger.
Emotionally and practically, Kakuzu had become the most trusted and respected figure in the village—by Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan.
The entire economy of the village and even the nation had been entrusted to him, making him an indispensable presence.
And Kakuzu had lived up to that trust.
If he hadn't been managing Amegakure's finances with such precision, the village would've likely gone bankrupt long ago from the chaos stirred up by the three of them.
The only person—aside from the often-absent Jiraiya—who could be respectfully called "sensei" by Yahiko and the others was Kakuzu.
"Hmph!" Kakuzu snorted at Konan's flattery. "Don't fight inside the village. Amegakure isn't the same poor, broken place it used to be."
"Of course," Yahiko nodded in agreement with Kakuzu's suggestion. "We can contact that tracking specialist. Once we regroup, we'll intercept them."
From the information they had gathered, the enemy's strength wasn't fully confirmed, but if they dared to come after the Rinnegan, they clearly believed they had the power to take it.
Even with support from the Mist Ninja and the Hollows, it was certain that the enemy included at least one Kage-level ninja.
Fighting inside the village would be dangerous.
Especially those Hollows—once they entered Amegakure, it'd be like unleashing wild beasts inside a cafeteria.
If the village suffered too much damage, Yahiko, who had always managed the village's resources with frugality under Kakuzu's strict tutelage, would truly be heartbroken—and afraid.
Heartbroken for the loss Amegakure would suffer, and afraid of Kakuzu losing his mind.
Honestly, if the village's economy took a serious hit, with Kakuzu's obsession with money, there was no doubt he'd go berserk.
And when Kakuzu went berserk, none of the three wanted to be anywhere near him.
At present, the thing Yahiko feared most wasn't the enemy—it was having to sit down and discuss next year's budget with Kakuzu.
"Then get ready," Kakuzu said. "Once we make contact with Zetsu, the three of us will move out." He pointed at himself, Yahiko, and Nagato.
Finally, his eyes settled on Konan. "Konan, you'll stay behind to guard Amegakure and serve as the last line of defense.
If we don't return safely, you'll be the one to inform Konoha and Kagetsu."
"I understand." Konan nodded.
She wanted to go with Yahiko and the others—she truly believed she wouldn't be a burden in battle—but someone needed to stay and protect the village.
And in terms of ability and overall traits, she was undoubtedly the best choice to stay behind.
"Hollow appeared in the Land of Wind?"
In the Hidden Stone Village of the Land of Earth, Onoki looked up in surprise from his desk as the Anbu finished his report.
"Yes," the Anbu replied loudly. "Based on the intelligence we've gathered, traces of Hollow have been spotted in the oasis formed by the Ryūmyaku vein. Also, the latest update—Sunagakure's Kazekage has already requested help from Konoha. Konoha's reinforcements should have already arrived in the Land of Wind."
"Should we do something about it?"
Standing quietly nearby, Kitsuchi asked in a low voice as he watched his father's face darken with thought.
From his understanding of his father, these were usually the moments when he would start planning to probe the situation in his own way.
Allies?
In times of crisis, even written alliances could be torn apart if necessary.
The Land of Wind had always been a harsh, barren land—poor and not worth much trouble. But things had changed. Now, their economy wasn't any worse than the Land of Earth's. In fact, in some ways, it was doing even better.
"We'll send a support unit too," Onoki finally said, shooting a sharp look at Kitsuchi. He had clearly guessed what his son was thinking, but this time, he wasn't looking to take advantage of the situation.
No matter what, they still had to consider Konoha's reaction.
Besides, after living for so many years and developing a strong sense of caution, Onoki couldn't ignore the vague sense of crisis he felt from this "Hollow Disaster." It stirred something deep within him.
He needed to figure out where this unease was coming from.
Was it Sunagakure?
Was it Konoha?
Or was it… the Hollow?