The next day.
The leader of the Akatsuki organization, Yahiko, the deputy leader, Nagato, and Konan walked at the front. Ten people followed behind them. They had discussed it. This was a negotiation. Bringing too many people would make it seem like a fight. Moreover, Yahiko thought Hanzo of the Salamander was a good leader who cared about the Land of Rain.
Therefore, Yahiko believed Hanzo of the Salamander must be sincere. So, he also needed to show his own sincerity. Ten people was already a lot.
After they left their town, Hanzo of the Salamander received the news. He sat in the abandoned factory and knocked on the table. The sound of his knocking echoed in the spacious, abandoned factory.
"Pass the order. Have three hundred shinobi ambush their return route. The moment the signal flare rises, attack immediately and wipe out the Akatsuki members." Hanzo of the Salamander narrowed his eyes. Regardless of whether Akatsuki truly loved peace, or truly didn't care about political status, right now, Akatsuki threatened his position. Therefore, he must nip this threat in the bud.
The current Hanzo of the Salamander was old. Ten years of stagnation had transformed him from the hero who once declared war on the three great shinobi villages into a schemer, a politician. Long years of living in comfort and privilege had made him obsessed with power and status.
If anyone now threatened his power or status, even if it were his own son, he would not hesitate to strike. Let alone a mere Akatsuki organization!
"Yes!" An Anbu rain ninja bowed, then took the token handed by Hanzo of the Salamander and withdrew. Although he did not fully agree with Hanzo's methods in his heart, he was Anbu, serving Hanzo. No matter the decision, he must carry it out unwaveringly!
"Good, dismissed!" Hanzo of the Salamander waved his hand. The Anbu rain ninja disappeared to carry out the mission. Hanzo placed his legs on the table, one crossed over the other, put his hands behind his head, and looked at the ceiling of the abandoned factory.
"Don't blame me, Yahiko. Blame yourselves for being too conspicuous. So conspicuous that now the Land of Rain only knows your Akatsuki organization, and not its leader, Hanzo of the Salamander." Hanzo of the Salamander shook his head, feeling helpless. He naturally wanted the Land of Rain to become strong.
But there was a precondition: it must not affect his political status. Whoever crossed this red line, whether an organization or a shinobi, he would eliminate them.
Power is truly intoxicating.
Yahiko's group arrived at the abandoned factory in the Land of Rain. He knocked on the door. "Yahiko, leader of the Akatsuki organization of the Land of Rain, accompanied by deputy leaders Nagato and Konan, here to discuss important matters with Lord Hanzo."
After about ten minutes, the door slowly opened. A ninja emerged, bowing his head. "Lord Hanzo was handling important matters just now, so we kept you waiting. Please, come in."
After speaking, he made a gesture of invitation. Yahiko smiled and nodded. Nagato thought to himself, 'Isn't this just a power play?'
Konan observed everything around them. After the three of them entered, the large door closed again. Nagato's right eyelid kept twitching. He felt something major was about to happen.
The next moment, his premonition came true. Hanzo of the Salamander used the Body Flicker Technique. Whoosh. He bypassed Yahiko and Nagato, grabbed Konan by the neck. Konan, caught off guard, couldn't use any substitution technique before Hanzo lifted her up.
Then, Hanzo of the Salamander smirked. Goal achieved. Time to retreat. So, he used another Body Flicker Technique, returning to the high platform. One hand held Konan, one foot stepped on the railing, the other hand rested on his leg, leaning forward as he laughed. "Welcome, three leaders of Akatsuki, to the abandoned factory!"
"Hanzo, is this how Amegakure welcomes guests?" Nagato's face was dark. His killing intent was unconcealed. He moved his hands behind his back, already preparing to use Universal Pull.
"Hanzo of the Salamander, we demand an explanation. Did you lure us here just to capture Konan? What do you want?" After a moment of silence, Yahiko responded immediately. Unlike his usual carefree self, his eyes were now narrowed, killing intent swirling.
"What do I want? Your Akatsuki organization has been a bit too active lately, don't you think?" Hanzo of the Salamander murmured. Then, he tightened his grip on Konan's neck. Konan's face turned from white to purple, her eyes rolling back. In that instant, both Nagato and Yahiko panicked.
"Let Konan go!"
"Hanzo!"
Both voices were filled with panic, but the goal was the same: to make Hanzo of the Salamander release Konan.
Hanzo of the Salamander had experienced too much. Such shouts were nothing to him. "Fine. Your Akatsuki organization leaves the Land of Rain, and I'll let her go. How about that?"
His slightly mocking gaze fell on Nagato and Yahiko. Just as they were about to nod, they heard Konan's voice. "No... We founded this organization to give the people of the Land of Rain a better life."
"And for the ultimate goal of peace in the shinobi world. Everyone is fighting for it. You cannot agree. You cannot leave!" As soon as Konan finished speaking, Hanzo of the Salamander released her neck and punched her in the stomach.
Prolonged oxygen deprivation had left Konan's brain dizzy. She couldn't use any ninjutsu to evade, and took the punch squarely.
Pfft! A mouthful of blood sprayed out. Konan was bent over like a shrimp, body forward, back curved backward. Hanzo of the Salamander grabbed her hair. "I've changed my mind now. Your name is Nagato, right?"
He suddenly looked at Nagato, smiling. An evil and bold idea formed. "I won't kill you, because your relationship with Ryun Uchiha is deep."
"Do you want to save Konan? I can see your feelings for this girl aren't just concern. So, do you want to save her? If you do, then agree to one condition!"
Hanzo of the Salamander's voice Nagato. Nagato looked up at him. "Tell me. If it's something I can do, I will do it!"
"Good. Then I want you to kill Yahiko! Then I will release your beloved. How about that?" Hanzo of the Salamander laughed heartily, then looked at Nagato. Nagato shuddered all over. He looked at Hanzo with hatred-filled eyes, then looked at Yahiko with a expression.
For a moment, he was tempted. A voice inside told him that to protect Konan, killing Yahiko would be okay, right? Yahiko would probably be willing, right?
Yahiko now looked at Nagato. "Nagato, do it. I'm telling you to do it! Konan is like a sister to me. Even if I die, she must not be harmed in the slightest."
Nagato's mouth opened, then closed. He gritted his teeth, his whole body trembling. At this distance, he wasn't confident he could rescue Konan completely unharmed. But Yahiko was his brother, his leader. If he did it, what kind of person would he be!
As he hesitated, unable to decide, Yahiko spoke. "What are you waiting for! Nagato, do it! Konan must not be harmed! After I die, you two must carry on our ideals together!"
Nagato remained silent. He couldn't bring himself to do it. Although he loved Konan, he couldn't strike down his own brother!
Hanzo of the Salamander's plan was undeniably vicious. With Yahiko dead, the spiritual leader of Akatsuki would be gone.
Even if Nagato and Konan worked together, they could never do as well as Yahiko. Yahiko had an inexplicable affinity.
This was why, initially, Hanzo of the Salamander had strongly supported Akatsuki. Because Akatsuki understood the people better, could unite the people better.
The Land of Rain, just after the Second War, needed an organization like Akatsuki to help soothe the people's hearts for him. But now, the wounds of war had healed.
So Akatsuki's usefulness had diminished. Yet their reputation grew daily. Therefore, with some provocation from Kumogakure, he resolved to eliminate Akatsuki.
"Nagato, what are you still waiting for? Hmm?" Hanzo of the Salamander tugged at Konan's blue hair. Konan cried out in pain, shouting, "You two, run! Don't worry about me!"
Nagato examined his heart. Hearing these words seemed to solidify his resolve. He pulled out a kunai. His hand trembled slightly. He looked at Yahiko.
But Yahiko still smiled, closed his eyes, and prepared for death. He felt no resentment, only a sense of release. Just as Nagato walked up to Yahiko, raised the kunai, but for a long time couldn't bring himself to strike,
Yahiko suddenly opened his eyes. His right hand grasped Nagato's hand holding the kunai, and stabbed it into his own chest.
"No!" Nagato suddenly realized. Killing Yahiko was meaningless. It would only bring pain to those who cared and joy to the enemy! But Yahiko was stubborn. He directly grasped Nagato's hand and drove the kunai into his own chest.
Pfft. The sound of flesh being pierced by the kunai was heard. Nagato pulled the kunai out. Blood spurted out, staining Nagato's cheeks.
Then, Yahiko's body, with a smile, slowly fell. "Take Konan and go quickly. Don't come back." After speaking, he closed his eyes.
"Why? Why did it have to be like this! Why... Why! Damn it, why!" Nagato seemed to go mad, roaring loudly.
Hanzo of the Salamander's lips curved upwards. Good. His goal was achieved. So, he kicked Konan, sending her flying towards Nagato.
Nagato hurriedly caught Konan. His eyes were tearful. "Konan, it wasn't me... I didn't kill him. Yahiko did it himself..."
Konan pressed her lips together. She understood. Yahiko was just that kind of person, so kind that he would sacrifice himself rather than let his friends get hurt.
"Nagato! Waaah..." Konan cried heartbreakingly. Yahiko was a companion she had known since childhood. Now, to save her, he was willing to die by Nagato's hand.
Konan beat Nagato's chest. "It's all my fault. It's all because I wasn't careful. Nagato, let's go. Take Yahiko with us. We... we can't defeat Hanzo of the Salamander."
Nagato took a deep breath. He slowly stood up. "Konan, you go. I will avenge Yahiko!"
After speaking, violent chakra erupted instantly. He used the Body Flicker Technique to charge at Hanzo of the Salamander. Hanzo of the Salamander took out his sickle and chain, ready to block this kid.
However...
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
📖 Like the story? Read 120 chapters ahead!
🔗 patreon.com/atomelectron
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━