The Hidden Rain Village.
The downpour in the village was still torrential.
Since Konan became the Angel of the village, she began sweeping reforms of the Hidden Rain Village, establishing an orphanage and a Ninja Academy.
Kaguya Kimimaro and Haku just caught the last wave of age requirements. Even though they were gradually mastering Bloodline Ninjutsu, under Konan's orders, they had no choice but to enter the Ninja Academy to set an example for the younger students.
Today, Konan happened to be supervising at the Ninja Academy, simultaneously guiding the students in their training. She discovered a little girl among them who had quite a talent for spacetime techniques.
This little girl was named Ajisai.
A paper engraved with a seal emerged from Konan's palm, which she handed to Ajisai: "Try to unseal it and take out what's inside."
"Yes, Lady Angel."
Ajisai's voice sounded soft and tender.
Even though Ajisai was speaking seriously and firmly, it felt like a little girl was being coquettish. Even when she was performing Ninjutsu, it sounded a bit cute.
"Unsealing Jutsu: Kunai!"
Ajisai caressed the white paper, extracting the kunai from the sealing spell on the paper, eliciting a burst of exclamations from the surrounding students.
Konan raised an eyebrow, glanced at Ajisai, nodded approvingly, and said, "Well done, you have a talent for practicing Summoning Jutsu…"
Knock, knock, knock!
Someone knocked on the window of the ninja classroom.
The numerous ninja students and Konan in the classroom couldn't help but turn their heads to look, only to see a young ninja wearing a specially made black ninja uniform.
"Naraku!"
A hint of a smile appeared at the corner of Konan's mouth. Just as she was about to step outside to greet her returning disciple, Uehara Naraku opened the window and jumped in.
Uehara Naraku cast an inexplicable glance at Ajisai before looking at Konan and said, "Teacher, actually, I also have a talent for practicing Summoning Jutsu!"
"You..."
Konan was about to speak, but then she recalled how Uehara Naraku had ventured into danger alone, and the smile on her face instantly faded: "Do you still recognize me as your teacher?"
"Uh..."
Uehara Naraku looked embarrassed, quickly took out a scroll from his ninja pouch, and handed it to Konan: "I brought a gift back for Teacher Konan. I'm sure you'll like it."
"This is... a Ninjutsu Scroll, right?"
Konan's gaze was somewhat hesitant as she looked at her disciple.
Does this little guy Uehara Naraku even know what kind of gift is appropriate? Who gives a Ninjutsu Scroll as a gift? Even Jiraiya-sensei back in the day wouldn't do something so mind-numbingly stupid!
"Open it later when you get home; it's not suitable here."
Just as Konan was about to open it, Uehara Naraku grabbed her hand, shook his head slightly, and continued to smile, saying, "But I'm sure you'll like it, Teacher Konan!"
The Tandem Paper Bomb Jutsu is the most suitable jutsu for Konan.
Once she masters it, if Uchiha Obito wants to harm Konan, he must first consider how to escape the Paper Bomb Array.
"Alright, I won't delay your official business, Teacher."
Uehara Naraku released Konan's hand, leaped out of the window, leaving his voice behind: "I still have a gift to deliver to... Lord Pain."
The ninja students watched Uehara Naraku fly into the sky with eyes full of envy.
Only Ajisai pondered for a moment before suddenly speaking, "Lady Angel, was that ninja just now your disciple?"
"Yes, he's my only disciple."
Konan's eyes were a bit warm. She carefully placed the Ninjutsu Scroll in her ninja pouch and thought to herself that at least this gift, compared to the Blastsword Shibuki, looked more normal.
But this disciple's sense of aesthetics and emotional intelligence still needed improvement.
The Hidden Rain Tower.
Nagato resided here.
When Uehara quietly entered, Nagato was honing a chakra sensor. As if noticing something, he turned his head and smiled, saying, "Your teacher almost wanted to leave the village to catch you back. If you hadn't returned, I was about to be driven insane by her nagging."
"Ha, even Lord Nagato thinks the teacher nags?"
Uehara Naraku chuckled, walking up to Nagato, lowering his head to look at the man who, despite being at the prime of his life, could only live his days in a wheelchair, thin as a rake.
Nagato's mood seemed to gradually improve. Hearing Uehara Naraku's words, he hurriedly shook his head and said, "I wouldn't dare. By the way, how did your mission go outside?"
"Orochimaru escaped."
Uehara Naraku shook his head and sighed, "I fought a big battle with Orochimaru. His body seemed somewhat odd, but unfortunately, I ran out of chakra and had to let him escape."
"..."
Nagato was silent for a while, continuing to hone the chakra sensor in his hand: "That's still quite good. That guy Orochimaru is no longer of much use. Using him to prove you've become stronger might even be considered his luck."
"But it wasn't without other gains."
Uehara Naraku placed his hand on Nagato's back, a warm chakra and life energy flowing into Nagato's body.
In a brief moment, a bit of flush appeared on Nagato's face.
Nagato turned his head in disbelief, looking at Uehara Naraku with doubt: "What is this Ninjutsu? A Healing Technique? How could it restore chakra?"
"Well, sort of!"
Uehara Naraku softly explained, "I collected several scrolls from Orochimaru, some of which involve Medical Ninjutsu. I studied and came up with a jutsu from two jutsus, which is roughly considered a Ninjutsu experiment."
"What are those two jutsus about?"
Nagato's gaze changed immediately. He could clearly feel the changes in his body's strength and life energy. This wasn't something average Ninjutsu could achieve.
Even Medical Ninjutsu only accelerates human cell division to heal injuries!
In his condition, there's absolutely no Ninjutsu that could cure him.
"Well, just two useless jutsus."
Uehara Naraku touched his forehead, softly saying, "Anyway, I only know the basics. How does Lord Nagato feel?"
Nagato didn't answer Uehara Naraku, only gazing coldly at him: "Uehara, this is a Kinjutsu for Life Transfer!"
As a Ninjutsu genius, Nagato instantly realized the essence of the jutsu after thinking for a moment. Life energy transfer must be a kinjutsu.
One lives, another dies.
"No."
Uehara Naraku hurriedly shook his head, explaining: "It's only achievable with chakra, and I'll recover soon."
Nagato extended his hand, distrusting his claim: "Hand over the jutsu you learned."
"I can't."
Uehara Naraku only shook his head.
Yet, looking at Nagato's stubborn expression, Uehara Naraku helplessly took out two scrolls and placed them on the table: "I only developed a basic application myself, which can heal others but still can't bring back the dead."
"...One's Own Life Reincarnation, Healing Sage Art."
After watching the scrolls for a moment, Nagato tore them into pieces.
Nagato slowly turned his head towards Uehara Naraku: "This is a transfer of life span. From now on, you absolutely cannot use this jutsu; I don't need it."
"But we need it."
Uehara Naraku resolutely looked at Nagato and said solemnly, "Lord Nagato, our enemies are numerous, Uchiha Obito, Shimura Danzo, Konoha, Hidden Rock, Hidden Sand, Hidden Mist, Hidden Cloud. The ideals of Akatsuki have yet to be realized!"
In his speech, Uehara Naraku slyly slipped in his own agenda.
Whenever idle, he couldn't help but badmouth Uchiha Obito.
After saying that, Uehara Naraku added, "I tested it on someone on the way here, and it only exhausted my chakra. Even if I feel a bit weak, I'll regain vigor by the next day."
Nagato frowned and asked, "What's the principle behind your jutsu?"
"Uh, it's not easy to explain."
Uehara raised his hand, placing it over Nagato: "Roughly doing so and so, I can heal others, but it consumes a lot of chakra, and I can only use it a few times before exhausting my chakra."
"Let's hold off for now."
Nagato still didn't agree, only coldly stating, "From now on, refrain from attempting such dangerous jutsu. Spend more time learning from your teacher."
"Alright."
Uehara Naraku helplessly spread his hands, then used Star Infusion to send chakra and life energy into Nagato, making Nagato's face turn angrier and shoo him away.
Nonetheless, Nagato's body indeed appeared to improve.
At least, he no longer looked like someone who could be on the verge of death at any moment.
Uehara Naraku's gaze became a bit shifty. If his calculations were correct, Nagato's chakra must have exceeded ten thousand points by now, right?
Are the Uzumaki Clan descendants always this fearsome?