By the lakeside.
Konan looked up at Uehara Naraku; her disciple had already surpassed her in height, inevitably reminding her of Nagato's advice and Jiraiya's teachings.
The anger in Konan's chest slowly subsided, and she reached out to tidy Naraku's clothes. "Naraku, tomorrow I will arrange your successor ceremony as the leader of The Hidden Rain Village. You are a ninja of the Land of Rain, so start learning to shoulder the responsibilities of a leader!"
Uehara Naraku's face suddenly fell, he weakly shook his head and said, "Teacher Konan, Pain is the most suitable leader for The Hidden Rain Village."
Naraku had already figured it out in his mind.
Konan didn't want Uehara Naraku to get involved in the current Akatsuki, but to follow the predetermined path she set and become the leader of The Hidden Rain Village. This was where the differences lay between Naraku and Konan, as well as between Nagato and Konan.
Perhaps because of too many hardships endured, Konan always wanted to arrange a bright path for him, but that's not what Naraku wanted!
Being confined in a small ninja village every day in the future, sheltered under the wings of Konan and Nagato—is this what a behind-the-scenes manipulator should do?
Uehara Naraku grasped Konan's hand, speaking solemnly, "Teacher, I've been practicing in the village for four years. I've developed many ninjutsu, and not even during my battle with Lord Jiraiya did I fall behind."
"I know, you are quite bold."
Konan slowly lifted her head to look at Uehara Naraku, speaking solemnly, "Moreover, this time you even assassinated the Third Hokage in Konoha. What if something happened to you..."
"Didn't it turn out fine..."
Uehara Naraku helplessly patted his forehead, speaking solemnly, "Anyway, I refuse to accept the position of leader of The Hidden Rain Village."
Konan slowly extended her hand, caressing his cheek, her hot breath fell on Naraku's neck, her voice growing lower, "Naraku, we wish to give you the best, why do you always refuse?"
"Perhaps our ideas have a generation gap?"
Uehara Naraku blinked, staring into Konan's nearly touching eyes. His soft orange pupils were somewhat beautiful, and he softly changed the subject, "Well... Teacher, I brought you a gift that you will definitely like!"
"Hmm?"
Konan's eyes showed some doubt.
Uehara Naraku quickly took out a scroll from his ninja pouch and placed it in Konan's palm with a light laugh, "Didn't I tell you before? After assassinating the Third Hokage, I contacted Danzo..."
This, of course, was a lie.
Actually, assassinating Danzo had taken place earlier.
Besides Yakushi Kabuto, others were unaware of the truth.
Konan's gaze suddenly showed hesitation, her expression somewhat indescribable as she looked at the scroll in her hand, "So what's inside is..."
Uehara Naraku nodded, his smile on his face a bit smug, "That's right, it is Shimura Danzo's corpse."
Uehara Naraku shook his head and sighed, continuing to explain, "Shimura Danzo seemed to have mastered a kind of kinjutsu; his body had transplanted a bunch of Sharingan, each time a Sharingan closed, he could be immune to any harm for a period, which was quite a hassle..."
This was also to sound a precaution.
In the future, when Konan or Nagato encounter Uchiha Obito, they must understand that possessing a Sharingan means having a period of invulnerability with Izanagi.
Uehara Naraku's face briefly showed a bit of regret and said, "Because of this, I couldn't bring him back alive, just his corpse."
"..."
Konan's expression showed a slight daze.
At this moment, her feelings were especially complex, unsure of what to do.
Every time her disciple went out, he would bring back some strange gifts, though these gifts fit the desires of some place, they always felt somewhat peculiar.
Yes, she indeed hated Shimura Danzo.
But more important than Shimura Danzo was Uehara Naraku's emotional intelligence.
No matter how you look at it, presenting a corpse as a gift, perhaps indicated slightly low emotional intelligence, was there something off in her teaching?
"Alright, I must go treat Lord Nagato first."
Uehara Naraku waved his hand shortly after, taking this opportunity to interrupt the chat with Konan, and turned to leave the place.
Konan hesitantly nodded, her gaze fell once more on the scroll in her hands.
Konan's eyes flashed with a sliver of hatred, only to see that the scroll carried a Paper Bomb on it.
Konan flung the scroll stuck with a Paper Bomb into the lake, swiftly clapped her hands together, "Summoning: Tandem Paper Bomb Jutsu!"
Countless Paper Bombs instantly exploded the scroll into pieces!
Evidently, both the scroll and its contents were completely shattered!
After doing all this, a sense of relief slowly flashed across Konan's eyes; a pair of wings unfolded behind her, leading her to slowly ascend into the sky.
Inside The Hidden Rain Village.
Atop the high tower.
Nagato was still refining the Asura Path Pain when he heard the door open. He turned his head with a smile and said, "So, is Konan still mad?"
"What's going on today?"
Uehara Naraku waved his hand helplessly and then set his eyes on the Asura Path: "Oh? Any new ideas for the Asura Path?"
"Hmm, didn't you advise me before? I've now turned the Asura Path into a disposable puppet that can self-destruct at a critical moment, capable of destroying everything within dozens of kilometers, as a last resort for Pain."
Nagato casually put away the Asura Path Pain and said softly, "From now on, when you go out, take the Asura Path with you! If it runs out of chakra, you can also use your healing method to infuse chakra into it."
"...…"
Uehara Naraku shook his head speechlessly and brought up the previous topic: "What's going on today? How did Kimimaro and Haku become official Akatsuki members? Hey, hey, hey, Lord Nagato, you promised me before, I also want to wear the uniform!"
"These two kids were raised by Konan, so naturally, they listen to her orders more. Didn't I happen to solve two people secretly monitoring you?"
Nagato glanced at him and sighed, "Uehara, if it weren't for you assassinating the Third Hokage this time, you could have been an official member of Akatsuki by the time you returned..."
"...…"
Uehara Naraku couldn't help but twitch the corners of his eyes: "But doesn't assassinating the Third Hokage prove that I've become stronger?"
"But your courage is too big!"
Nagato shook his head and said in a deep voice, "The Five Great Countries' Ninja Villages are not as simple as we imagined, don't do such dangerous things in the future. Even if you do, summon the Six Paths Pain in advance!"
"Got it."
Uehara Naraku waved his hand and said, "Why are you now like Teacher Konan, Lord Nagato? We two are supposed to be in the same camp!"
"Being in the same camp with you is too dangerous."
Nagato glanced at Uehara Naraku and continued shaking his head gloomily, "If I had known your courage was this big, I would have..."
"Alright, alright, that's enough."
Uehara Naraku hurriedly interrupted Nagato's words and loudly said, "Anyway, you promised me during the chakra communication, let me wear the Akatsuki uniform and become an official member!"
"That's just a small matter."
Nagato patted Uehara Naraku's arm and said in a deep voice, "Once I handle everything, you'll be the new leader of Akatsuki..."
Uehara Naraku: "..."
Konan and Nagato's thoughts are absurd. One hopes he'll become the leader of the Hidden Rain Village, the other hopes he'll become the leader of Akatsuki, but he just wants to wear the uniform and complete a mission!
"Quickly assign a task."
Uehara Naraku patted Nagato's arm and urged, "I'm worried that Teacher Konan will forcibly make me the leader of the village tomorrow. If that succeeds, it might be hard to leave the village in the future. I want to hide for a while today."
To be honest, Uehara feels a bit reluctant to return. Konan and Nagato have placed too many expectations on him, but he just wants to be a mastermind behind the scenes.
Of course, Nagato would not agree, shaking his head about to refuse him: "If Konan can't find you, she'll give me trouble..."
"Will you help?"
Uehara Naraku crossed his arms.
Nagato rubbed his forehead and said in a low voice, "Alright, I just happen to have a task for you. Go attack the Hidden Grass Village. This task was initially meant for Sasori and Deidara, but it will serve as your test..."
"Is there a reason?"
"Yes, a very sufficient reason."
Nagato nodded and explained in a deep voice, "The Land of Grass's area is just next to the Land of Earth and the Land of Fire. After the Hidden Grass Village is destroyed, the two countries are bound to dispute over the territory;
Moreover, without any armed forces in the Land of Grass, the personnel infiltrating the Land of Rain from Konoha and the Hidden Rock Village will be sent to the Land of Grass, reducing the chances of us being exposed."
Nagato slowly clasped his hands together, continuing in a deep voice: "The last reason, the Deva Path Pain heard from Karin that her mother was also an Uzumaki descendant but died under the torment of the Hidden Grass Village..."
Perhaps this reason is the most important.
As the relationship between Uehara Naraku and Nagato improves, Nagato becomes more human, gradually relearning gentleness, and also relearning anger.
Karin and her mother are Uzumaki descendants, in a sense, they're also Nagato's clansmen, so he naturally wants to settle this score.
"Alright!"
Uehara Naraku nodded solemnly, glanced at the Asura Path in the room, and said softly, "Once I get there, I'll summon the Asura Path for the mission!"
"Good."
Nagato seriously nodded and then added, "I heard that the Hidden Grass Village has been at war recently, so perhaps you can find evidence of them attempting to wage war against the Hidden Rain Village. That might make Konan think you're doing something proper..."
"Got it, I'll bring you gifts when I return!"
Uehara Naraku quickly left Nagato's room, with his expression already becoming grave!
If he remembers correctly, there should be a base where Uchiha Obito hides within the Land of Grass, a place where Uchiha Madara lived. I wonder if there are still some White Zetsu stationed there?