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The Land of Rain.
The most distinctive structure in Amegakure (the Hidden Rain Village) was an absurdly designed high-rise building, shaped like a giant humanoid figure sticking out its tongue while holding a smoking pipe.
Nagato sat alone on the extended tongue of the giant figure, the cold drizzle splattering tiny droplets against his robes.
"Nagato."
Konan emerged from the "mouth" behind him, stopping at the edge of the rain curtain.
"The forces from each shinobi village have begun mobilizing, advancing toward the Land of Rain from all directions."
Nagato closed his eyes, raindrops dripping one after another from his trembling lashes.
After listening to Konan's report, he asked in an eerily calm tone, "How long until they reach Amegakure?"
"The main forces move slowly, and the distances between each village vary. With their lack of unity, I estimate it will take them at least ten days to fully assemble," Konan answered cautiously.
"Hm." Nagato acknowledged before falling silent again.
"Nagato…" Konan stepped forward into the rain, standing behind him, her face betraying a trace of worry. "Are you… truly confident? Or should we strike first, ambushing them on their march to weaken their forces?"
Nagato turned his head and opened his eyes. "Don't be foolish, Konan. The Gedo Statue has awakened. There are no opponents left who can stand before me. And only by defeating them openly will they bow to my will."
Konan still hesitated. "But the incomplete Nine-Tails remains a potential threat."
Nagato stood up, turning fully to face her. He reached out, gripping her shoulders, then slowly leaned in until their faces were close, their eyes locked.
"Don't worry. I have a plan." He lifted one hand from her shoulder, gently brushing past the paper flower in her hair. "All you need to do is watch."
"Nagato…"
Konan stared at him blankly. For some reason, an overwhelming sorrow suddenly swelled in her chest, and tears spilled uncontrollably.
"I know. You're hiding something from me." She clutched his collar, her expression pained.
As the person who understood Nagato best, how could she not sense the shifts in his emotions?
But since he didn't want to speak, she hadn't pressed him.
Just like now—as she studied his expressionless face and emotionless eyes—she finally just said, "But it doesn't matter. No matter what you do, I'll support you."
Nagato's hand slid from the top of her head to the back of her neck, applying slight pressure to guide her head onto his shoulder.
From an angle Konan couldn't see, his expression flickered through several emotions before settling back into blankness.
"Don't overthink it." His tone remained icy.
Konan's voice was muffled. "I understand."
She gently pushed out of his embrace, her face hardening into the same detached coldness.
"I'll organize the evacuation of Amegakure's civilians."
With that, she turned and walked toward the passage inside the "mouth," stopping only when she reached the shadows of the building.
"You should rest, Nagato."
She didn't look back. After speaking, she disappeared completely into the dark corridor.
Nagato watched her figure vanish into the depths of the passage before turning back to stand in the rain.
He closed his eyes again, sensing everything within Amegakure through the endless downpour.
After a long while, he reopened them, gazing toward a distant rooftop where two figures stood separated from him by layers of rain.
Nagato stepped forward into the air, his body floating as he drifted toward them.
"Leader." Kisame grinned as Nagato approached, revealing his jagged teeth.
"Keh keh." He let out a strange laugh, his tone mocking. "How pitiful. The Akatsuki only has four members left now."
"It doesn't matter." "Tobi" also scoffed. "Like Deidara himself said—it's their own fault for being too weak."
Nagato landed in front of them, his feet touching the rooftop.
"Kisame." He stared directly into Kisame's eyes. "Can you capture Naruto under the current circumstances?"
"Naruto?" Kisame thought for a moment. "That's the name of the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki, right?"
"Correct." Nagato kept his gaze fixed. "The great shinobi villages have mobilized. Konoha's defenses are weakened, and Naruto likely won't be allowed to participate in the war."
"I see." Kisame shook his head. "But the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki is the Fourth Hokage's son, isn't he? I don't have confidence in snatching him away under the Fourth's protection."
Nagato shifted his attention to "Tobi." "What about you?"
"Tobi" also shook his head. "The Flying Thunder God Technique is too troublesome. If they want to escape, even I can't stop them."
"I can still try." Kisame volunteered. "Even if I fail, escaping should be possible—especially since the Fourth would prioritize protecting the jinchūriki."
Nagato gave a slight nod. "Then I'll leave it to you."
"Just completing a mission as a shinobi." Kisame grinned.
"Tobi" suddenly interjected, "The jinchūriki might not even be in Konoha. Hiding him would be the logical move."
"Then there's nothing to be done." Kisame shrugged. "Tracking people isn't my specialty."
"Which is why I'll provide you with assistance."
Nagato called out a name: "Sophon."
"I've always been here, Lord Nagato." A bizarre voice answered as a white humanoid figure slowly emerged from Nagato's body, its upper half now visible.
Its face bore a stiff, eerie smile as it fully detached from Nagato.
"Zetsu?" Kisame blurted out before realizing his mistake.
Studying Sophon's eyes—which held the same Rinnegan as Nagato's—and the black rods piercing its body, he corrected himself. "No… not Zetsu."
"So this is how you knew about the Eye of the Moon Plan." "Tobi" stepped forward curiously, examining Sophon. "You've been hiding many secrets, Nagato."
Nagato ignored "Tobi," speaking only to Kisame. "Sophon possesses the same abilities as Zetsu. He will help you locate Naruto."
"Understood. Then I'll be in your care, Sophon." Kisame's grin turned savage—he didn't care who his partner was.
"I shall fulfill Lord Nagato's every desire."
Sophon's unnatural smile remained fixed, its voice unnaturally rigid.
"Since the mission's clear, I'll set out now." Kisame turned and strode toward the edge of the rooftop.
"I will follow." Sophon's body gradually sank into the ground.
"Kisame." Nagato spoke again.
"Any other orders, Leader?" Kisame paused, glancing back.
"If the situation becomes untenable… inform Naruto that all-out war has already begun."
"Understood."
Kisame didn't ask why. He turned and leaped off the rooftop.
"Given Naruto's personality, he'd probably come running on his own."
"Tobi" suddenly laughed.
Nagato's body had already begun floating again. He turned, fixing his gaze on "Tobi's" single visible eye.
"Next, I will complete the Infinite Tsukuyomi. I hope you don't interfere unnecessarily… Tobi."
"Of course not. I've been looking forward to this."
"Tobi's" voice dripped with anticipation.
"See that you don't."
Nagato's figure drifted back through the rain, returning to the mouth of the giant humanoid statue.