Nagato stood silently amidst the carnage.
The smell of blood and the silence of death filled the air, with broken bodies strewn across the field. His eyes, once filled with the resolve to achieve his ideals, now held only a quiet urgency. He needed to move quickly—before someone else arrived and disturbed his plan.
The battlefield had been swept clean. Not a single scroll, weapon, or scrap of armor remained. Everything had been looted. Before Minato had vanished, the last of their belongings had been collected.
There was nothing left to loot, except for the bodies.
Nagato's eyes narrowed.
His fingers weaved intricate hand seals with swift precision, and he whispered:
"Sealing Jutsu."
With a swift motion, he unrolled a large cloth. It glimmered faintly in the dim light, enchanted to absorb the souls and spirits of the fallen.
He began the process of sealing the corpses, his hands moving expertly to preserve what little could be taken. The bodies of the fallen were carefully wrapped and sealed, one by one.
He had no time to mourn, no time to think about the lives lost.
This was simply another step toward his ultimate goal.
Once every corpse had been sealed, Nagato lifted the cloth, storing it away in his cloak. He turned on his heel, eyes scanning the horizon one last time before leaving the battlefield.
There was no time to waste.
The world wouldn't wait for him.
Ten minutes later…
A dozen ninja emerged from the trees, led by none other than the infamous demigod, Hanzo of the Salamander.
His cold, calculating gaze swept over the desolate scene. His feet crunched softly on the earth as he approached.
Hanzo studied the area for a moment.
"There's nothing left here," he muttered, his voice a low growl. "Someone has already cleaned up. We can't see any signs of the battle."
One of his subordinates stepped forward, a scroll in hand.
"Sir, based on the intelligence we've gathered, it appears to be a joint operation between Konoha and Iwa. However, the speed at which they've withdrawn is... strange. Less than two days since we received word of the battle and they're already gone. It's impossible for Iwa to have retreated this quickly."
Hanzo's brow furrowed.
He knelt near a patch of disturbed earth, running his fingers through the soil.
"Hmm, yes. It's not typical of Iwa to move so quickly. Whoever was here, they had a purpose. But who?"
He looked over at his subordinates.
"Was there any sign of the Yellow Flash?"
Another ninja, one with keen insight, stepped forward.
"Yes, sir. Our intel confirms it. Konoha has a new prodigy—a ninja who specializes in space ninjutsu. They call him the 'Yellow Flash.' It's said that he single-handedly killed over fifty men on the frontlines during a recent engagement."
Hanzo's expression darkened.
The name echoed in his ears.
"Minato," he muttered.
His mind began to race, piecing together the puzzle.
"That's right," Hanzo finally said, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "It must be him. The flash of yellow, a new force from Konoha. It seems they're brewing something big."
One of the ninja spoke up again, clearly troubled.
"Sir, if Konoha is planning something, we may not be prepared for it. The intelligence we've gathered suggests they may be sending more forces. The Yellow Flash could be their spearhead."
Hanzo stood tall, his cloak billowing slightly in the wind.
"Then we move forward. If the Yellow Flash is indeed involved, we need to face him head-on. Prepare to move to the frontlines. Konoha is playing a dangerous game, and I intend to make them regret it."
The squad of ninja dispersed quickly, following their leader's command.
As they left, Hanzo's mind continued to churn.
The appearance of the Yellow Flash—someone so powerful that they could wipe out entire battalions on their own—changed the game entirely.
Konoha was up to something.
And he had to find out what it was.
Meanwhile, Nagato had already reached his secondary base.
His thoughts were racing. The mission was far from over. He couldn't afford to let Konan or Yakihiko discover the truth about the Human Path just yet.
The secret had to remain hidden—for now.
If they knew, it would only complicate things further.
He sighed quietly as he approached the hidden base.