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Chapter 228 - Chapter 229: Konan's New Task

Amegakure.

Rain fell without cease throughout the year.

Even in autumn, nothing changed.

Inside a structure dominated by steel, a group of figures carried corpses toward the tallest tower.

Moments later, white paper drifted out from within the rain.

"Angelic-sama!"

All the ninja knelt and shouted.

The pieces of paper gathered together to form a young female figure with wings and long blue-violet hair.

Konan.

She glanced at the seven corpses on the ground.

All were ninjas.

From different hidden villages.

Including some from the Five Great Villages.

All had come as spies.

Though Amegakure was dismissed as insignificant by the Five Great Villages, its leader—known as "Hanzo the Semi-God"—was impossible to ignore.

Ever since the end of the Second Great Ninja World War, he had disappeared without a trace.

Every great village wanted to know what he was doing, so none ever stopped sending spies.

But it was all in vain.

Any ninja who entered Amegakure would be detected by the eyes of God.

Konan lifted her hand, and countless origami figures rose up, lifting the seven corpses. She turned and walked toward the tower.

"Nagato."

She stopped and spoke, "These seven are the latest intruders. They've all been dealt with."

Deva Path Pain turned his head, surveying the corpses with his Rinnegan eyes.

After a few seconds of silence, he emotionlessly pointed at two of the bodies.

"Keep them for reserve for the Six Paths."

Konan nodded. With a thought, those two corpses flew toward the top of the tower, where the bodies were stored.

As for the other five corpses, they would be moved to other towers.

This particular tower belonged solely to Nagato.

If any of the Six Paths of Pain got damaged, new ones could be made using the bodies here.

"Long as you've finished with the bodies," Nagato said after finishing with the corpses, "I received two reports about tailed beasts. I need your judgment."

"Go ahead," Deva Path Pain replied tonelessly.

Even when talking about tailed beasts, he remained indifferent.

In his mind, though the tailed beasts were scattered among various villages, they were destined to be his.

Right now, they were simply guarding them.

That was the confidence of a god.

"The Two-Tails jinchuriki from Kumogakure has died," Konan explained, "killed by Moryo—a foreign demon from the Land of Demons. Although White Zetsu didn't witness it directly, we interrogated an eyewitness thoroughly. It seems accurate."

"No problem," Deva Path Pain said without concern, still looking over Amegakure. "The Two-Tails will reincarnate quickly. It won't affect our plans."

"I see."

Konan nodded, then asked, "Yagura Karatachi, the Three-Tails jinchuriki, is going to die soon. Should we do anything?"

Three-Tails?

At this, Deva Path Pain paused.

He recalled the last man who claimed to be Madara Uchiha had suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of the Three-Tails.

When that man returned, he looked utterly broken.

He even reported encountering a mysterious Wood Release expert.

Though Deva Path didn't care much, anyone who could defeat Madara Uchiha must possess formidable skill.

Perhaps someone worth considering for recruitment into Akatsuki.

The current manpower wasn't quite sufficient, and profits weren't meeting expectations.

"Konan, personally pick two people and go on a mission," Pain's Deva Path ordered.

"If you encounter that Wood Release ninja Madara spoke of, bring him back."

Akatsuki mainly recruited members through combat or persuasive talks.

For example, Sasori had not yet transformed his body at the time—he was beaten up by Konan before being convinced to join.

Deidara was similar—cornered at his doorstep and invited by Itachi Uchiha, Kisame Hoshigaki, and Sasori together.

This time, sending Konan was because it involved Madara Uchiha.

Of course, beneath the surface was Obito Uchiha.

Konan had never truly trusted him.

After his humiliating defeat in Kumo, she suspected he was hiding something.

But without evidence, there was nothing she could do.

Deva Path Pain understood her well. Therefore, he simply sent her out directly.

If they encountered the Wood Release ninja, then perhaps they could finally clarify what had happened back then.

And if they didn't meet him, capturing San would still be a decent outcome.

"Mm."

A flicker of emotion passed through Konan's amber eyes.

She was indeed somewhat interested.

Not necessarily because of the so-called Wood Release ninja, but more because of Madara Uchiha himself.

She wanted to understand why he was so obsessed with Kumo.

Perhaps from that, she could glimpse his true identity.

"Then I'll head out first."

Konan turned and descended from the tower.

Standing at the entrance, staring into the endless downpour before her, she briefly pondered.

She already knew a great deal about Madara Uchiha's abilities.

A ninja capable of defeating him with Wood Release must naturally be no pushover.

"I'll bring Kakuzu and Hidan."

After thinking for a while, Konan made her decision.

Kakuzu was versatile—he mastered Five Elemental Releases and possessed five lives.

Hidan was a follower of Jashin, possessing an Immortal Body. As long as he obtained enemy blood, he could perform sacrificial rituals.

With strong teammates, his power became nearly unstoppable.

The day after the Moryo incident ended,

the news quickly spread throughout the ninja world.

Compared to Natsume and Shion jointly sealing Moryo, most ninja villages were far more interested in gossiping about Yugito Nii's death.

Of course, excluding Kumogakure, nearly everyone else was secretly delighted.

The death of a Jinchuriki meant the tailed beast would revive, which meant a major loss of combat strength for several years.

Kumo had always been arrogant in its actions, so many were happy to see this happen.

Still, with the Eight-Tails' Jinchuriki and the Fourth Raikage present, their power wouldn't decline too drastically.

Therefore, none of the villages tried to provoke war during this time.

Inside the Hokage's office in Konoha Village,

after Kurenai Yuhi left, the room grew silent.

Natsume casually picked up a report.

It was written by Jiraiya.

He had recently left Konoha to track down the person responsible for destroying Mount Myoboku.

Primarily, the Great Toad Sage had urged him urgently.

This deeply unsettled Jiraiya.

Therefore, he no longer felt certain whether Natsume truly was the Child of Prophecy and decided instead to find this Destroyer first.

Otherwise, if Mount Myoboku were destroyed, he would lose his life's purpose.

Natsume set the report aside and immediately headed toward Shikkotsu Forest.

"My lord Natsume."

His presence was sensed by Katsuyu nearby.

It was about half his height, yet still appeared quite massive.

Still, it was only a fragment of the Katsuyu Sage.

"I'm looking for the Katsuyu Sage."

Natsume gave a polite smile and bid it farewell, walking deeper into the forest.

Moments later, Katsuyu's endless, colossal body filled Natsume's vision entirely.

"Little Natsume."

Her tone was gentle, but her immense size made her voice thunderously loud.

"You said last time you needed to talk to me. What is it?"

Asked the Katsuyu Sage eagerly.

She still remembered what Natsume had told her when he summoned her at Yomagakure.

If it had been the Great Toad Sage, he'd likely have forgotten all about it by now.

Well—it must be loneliness that caused this.

"It's something really important."

Natsume looked directly at her and asked, "How are the relations between our Shikkotsu Forest and the other two Holy Places?"

Upon hearing that, Katsuyu faltered slightly, clearly not expecting such a question from him.

"Not bad."

Katsuyu thought for a moment before answering, "The Three Great Holy Places have maintained an alliance for over a thousand years. If you need help from them, I can convey your request on your behalf."

Unambitious, peaceful, and kind to contractees.

Natsume mused quietly—indeed, only Shikkotsu Forest was as pleasant to work with.

As for Mount Myoboku, there's no need to say more — they were always bossing their contractee around.

Ryuchi Cave was somewhat better, albeit temperamental.

Take Manda for example.

Orochimaru had to prepare sacrifices every time he summoned him.

And should danger arise, Manda wouldn't hesitate to abandon his contractee — he'd flee at once.

By comparison, Shikkotsu Forest felt like paradise.

Of course, this had much to do with Katsuyu's personality.

Having lived far too long and always been alone, she treated her contractees kindly.

At the very least, she regarded them as true partners.

"Is this alliance firm enough?"

Natsume smiled and asked, "If one day Mount Myoboku faced an enemy unlike any before, would you intervene in person?"

Upon hearing this, Katsuyu's eyes flickered with both surprise and solemnity.

Slowly, she asked, "You know about Gamamaru's prophecy too?"

"Jiraiya, the ninja from Konoha Village who serves as Mount Myoboku's contractee, told me."

Natsume casually explained.

"I see."

After a moment's pause, Katsuyu spoke again, "If that enemy targets only Mount Myoboku, I might choose self-preservation. But if he comes after all three Holy Places, then even I won't be able to run away."

Natsume raised his eyebrows slightly.

This response wasn't unexpected.

Alliance or not, when it came to risking their lives, things became complicated.

They'd all lived over a thousand years — they valued their lives.

Natsume believed Ryuchi Cave would hold a similar stance.

After all, those snakes were even colder-hearted.

No reason to risk life and limb for the Great Toad Sage.

Of course, this assumption only applied if the threat was limited to Mount Myoboku and not all three Holy Places.

"You're asking about this… Do you already know who the figure in the prophecy is?"

Instinctively, Katsuyu raised her head and looked down at him.

"Katsuyu Sage, do you still have your Heavenly Network Log-in Device?" 

Natsume met her gaze evenly, speaking in a composed tone.

"You… How could you possibly know about the Heavenly Network Log-in Device?!"

Katsuyu Sage shuddered violently, sending earthquake-like tremors through Shikkotsu Forest.

This secret was known by only one person.

The Tianzi of the Ancestral Country at that time.

Katsuyu Sage had never told anyone else, not even another living being.

After all, it was a betrayal toward the Three Great Holy Places.

She had thought this secret would die with her when Isshiki Otsutsuki and Kaguya Otsutsuki annihilated each other.

Now suddenly being brought up again, naturally she felt panic.

"Why don't you check it out?" Natsume smiled.

Upon arriving at Shikkotsu Forest, he had already sensed the Heavenly Network login device he previously gave to Katsuyu Sage.

Due to the disappearance of the God Tree, it had long ceased functioning.

But now the server had switched to Kaguya Otsutsuki.

He could bring it back online.

Katsuyu Sage's heart skipped a beat.

A chilling realization struck her.

If the Heavenly Network reappeared, that meant that woman had returned.

That was impossible.

The moon still hung peacefully in the sky.

Katsuyu Sage remained silent for a while, her body shuddering again.

Suddenly, the earth nearby split open, and a large black cube emerged.

This was the special Heavenly Network login device Natsume had given her.

She bowed her head and lightly brushed the black cube with her antenna.

"Happiness begins in the heart."

An activation prompt echoed.

Katsuyu Sage froze in place, her face twisting in terror.

How could this happen?!

In that instant, she finally understood whom Gamamaru's prophecy had pointed to.

Kaguya Otsutsuki.

She bore the most unique eyes in the ninja world—the Rinne-Sharingan.

And she had both the will and the power to destroy Mount Myoboku.

[Three Thousand Words]

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