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Added 2025-02-18 02:31:44 +0000 UTC*Chapter 91: The Toad Sage*
In an instant, Jiraiya successfully escaped the battlefield and arrived in a lush, vibrant world filled with the melodies of birds and the fragrance of flowers.
This place resembled a primeval forest, with towering plants that seemed unnaturally large, and dazzlingly colorful leaves that left one feeling overwhelmed.
Savoring the rich, natural energy of this place, Jiraiya finally exhaled a deep sigh of relief.
"Little Jiraiya, you're looking quite battered. What on earth happened?"
A slightly raspy voice sounded. The speaker was a small green frog, standing just about 16 inches tall. Its hair and eyebrows were already streaked with gray, suggesting its advanced age.
Jiraiya looked at the frog before him and sat cross-legged on the ground.
"Ah, it's you, Fukasaku. I just ran into a rather troublesome enemy back there."
As he mentioned the enemy, Jiraiya's eyes instinctively narrowed slightly, a clear sign that the opponent had left a deep impression on him.
Hearing Jiraiya's words, Fukasaku furrowed his brows slightly.
"An enemy that even you, who’ve mastered Sage Mode, couldn’t handle?"
Fukasaku and Jiraiya had been friends for decades. From the first time Jiraiya stumbled into Mount Myoboku until now, their bond had remained strong.
As such, Fukasaku had a comprehensive understanding of Jiraiya's strength.
Though Jiraiya was lacking in genjutsu and only mediocre in senjutsu, he was undoubtedly the most powerful summoner Mount Myoboku had seen in decades. As one of the fabled Three Legendary Sannin, his Sage Mode placed him among the top-tier shinobi in the ninja world.
Seeing Fukasaku’s confusion, Jiraiya offered an explanation.
"I didn’t use Sage Mode."
"Hmm?"
Fukasaku’s look of confusion deepened. Why wouldn’t Jiraiya use Sage Mode against such a formidable enemy? Unless…
It seemed Fukasaku had thought of something.
Jiraiya nodded. "Even if I’d used Sage Mode, I doubt I could have defeated that guy. It would’ve only revealed my trump card unnecessarily."
He pulled out a scroll and said, "I’ve recorded his abilities and traits here. Still, I have a feeling that guy has plenty of tricks he hasn’t even shown yet."
"A truly troublesome enemy..."
Fukasaku knitted his graying brows, deep in thought.
Jiraiya stood up and brushed the dirt off his clothes. "Fukasaku, is the person I asked Gamato to bring back still here?"
"I’ve arranged for him to stay in a guest room. Do you want to meet him now?" Fukasaku asked.
Jiraiya shook his head. "No, take me to the Great Toad Sage first. I have something important to report."
After a moment of hesitation, Fukasaku finally nodded.
"The Great Toad Sage has been in a deep sleep lately. I’m not sure if he’s awakened yet."
Jiraiya was full of confidence. "Don’t worry, I believe he’ll sense my presence."
Soon, Fukasaku led Jiraiya to the grand hall where the Great Toad Sage resided.
There, a massive toad, towering several stories high, was resting on an equally enormous throne.
Its skin was reddish but carried a faded hue, as if the once-vibrant color had been dulled by the passage of time.
The Great Toad Sage wore a large hat atop its head and a necklace with a crystal bearing the kanji for "oil." Behind it loomed countless scrolls, each as large as a typical toad.
Facing this legendary being, who had lived for millennia and was said to be from the same era as the Sage of Six Paths, Jiraiya showed utmost respect, bowing deeply.
Shima, who attended to the Great Toad Sage, spoke up. "Great Toad Sage, Little Jiraiya is here."
"Hmm?"
The enormous, ancient toad slowly opened its eyes, its voice hoarse and weak.
"So, Jiraiya has come."
Awakening from the chaotic threads of destiny, it turned its gaze toward Jiraiya.
Knowing that the Great Toad Sage’s time awake was limited, Jiraiya got straight to the point.
"Great Toad Sage, I’ve come this time to—"
Before he could finish, the Toad Sage interrupted.
"No need to explain. I’ve already glimpsed the malice brewing in the ninja world. A sea of blood will rise from the abyss, and the shadow of war will once again fall upon us."
"A disaster looms."
The Toad Sage’s words instantly made Jiraiya, Fukasaku, and Shima tense.
They knew all too well the Sage’s abilities to foresee the future, a terrifying power.
If the Great Toad Sage declared it so, did that mean the ninja world was destined for catastrophe?
Jiraiya’s anxiety grew. He quickly asked, "Great Toad Sage, is there a way to prevent this calamity? Do you know who’s behind it?"
The Sage seemed to fall back into slumber, its consciousness traveling through the rivers of time, searching for a glimmer of hope.
Eventually, a familiar black mist appeared before its eyes.
"The Evil God… the source of all malice."
After a long pause, the Great Toad Sage’s deep, weary voice echoed once more. The mere utterance of these words seemed to drain it significantly.
Before Jiraiya could ask anything further, the Sage suddenly opened its eyes again and raised a massive hand toward him.
The next moment, an immense surge of natural energy washed over Jiraiya.
Under the assault of this energy, small black insects hidden in Jiraiya’s hair and body were forcibly flushed out.
They spread their wings, attempting to flee, but Fukasaku swiftly extended his tongue, swallowing them whole.
It was only then that Jiraiya realized he had fallen into a trap.
"Impossible! I thoroughly checked myself before coming here. There’s no way such things could’ve been inside me!"
"Those insects are ordinary lifeforms without chakra. It’s normal that you didn’t notice," the Toad Sage said indifferently. "I’m feeling tired. You may leave."
Though the Sage didn’t seem to blame him, Jiraiya felt deeply ashamed.
Clenching his fists tightly, he recalled the Sage’s words.
"The Evil God, the Cult of Jashin, and Tobi…"
His resolve hardened. "Just you wait. I’ll root you all out one day!"
Meanwhile, back in the Land of Hot Water, Kaneki had just sealed his Fear Apostle back into Baishisen’s body when he sensed the demise of the insects he had planted.
Still, the crucial information had been transmitted.
"The Toad Sage, huh?"
(End of Chapter)
*Chapter 92: An Interesting Future*
Although Kaneki didn’t manage to obtain extensive information about Mount Myoboku, learning about the Toad Sage alone was enough to excite him.
The Toad Sage, a being revered with the title of "Sage" just like the Sage of Six Paths, must surely possess extraordinary power.
Moreover, based on Jiraiya and the other toads’ reactions, it seemed this so-called Toad Sage had lived for a very long time and even had the ability to foresee the future.
This deeply piqued Kaneki’s interest.
“The Sage of Six Paths, the Toad Sage… what other sages exist in this world? Truly fascinating.”
Removing his mask, Kaneki adjusted his glasses with satisfaction, his eyes alight with curiosity.
The sealing technique on his other hand slowly dissipated, and the massive form of the Fear Apostle quickly shrank, transforming into a torrent of blood that Kaneki sealed into Mori's body. A sealing pattern appeared on Mori's abdomen as a result.
In a sense, Mori could now be considered a Jinchūriki.
But he was the Jinchūriki of the Fear Apostle.
Kaneki was quite eager to see where Mori’s path would lead after this battle.
With the sealing complete, a crow clone formed from Kaneki’s body, donned glasses, and resumed the persona of Mr. Crow.
Soon after, countless ravens descended from the sky, carrying Mori’s body away into the distance.
Kaneki didn’t leave immediately. Instead, he walked in another direction.
Lifting a stone slab, he finally found his target.
A young noble with blond hair.
The boy was unconscious, clutching a bloodstained long sword in his left hand.
Nearby was a severed arm, at the root of which an unusual kagune had grown.
Under normal circumstances, a kagune would enter a dormant state once detached from its host or after the host's death. It would only awaken upon being transplanted into a new host, becoming part of their body.
Thus, if the host’s will was strong enough, a kagune could theoretically be transplanted multiple times.
However, this particular kagune was different. Even after leaving its host’s body, it had remarkably survived by attaching itself to the blond boy's arm.
“As expected, only in life-and-death situations can the strongest potential of living organisms be unleashed.”
Though not necessarily a major breakthrough, Kaneki still felt a sense of joy.
Research, after all, often hinged on even the smallest results. What seemed insignificant now could one day become the critical turning point of a groundbreaking discovery.
After extracting samples from the blond boy and the kagune, Kaneki injected both with some life force to ensure these intriguing specimens survived.
“Such fascinating little creatures… let’s not let them die too soon.”
Kaneki glanced at the pair with interest. If the boy survived, he might turn out like Mori, relentlessly hunting down ghouls for revenge.
Imagining the possibilities of what might unfold, Kaneki was so exhilarated he felt like punching Hidan just for fun.
“Hatred, too, is a cycle.”
“All praise to Lord Jashin.”
---
“Father, Obito, Rin!”
Kakashi jolted awake from his nightmare, sweat streaming down his face as a knocking sound came from the door.
"Come in," he said hurriedly after grabbing a few tissues to wipe his face.
Jiraiya opened the door and, noticing Kakashi holding a fistful of tissues, wore a puzzled expression.
“Um… Kakashi, am I interrupting something?”
Kakashi followed Jiraiya’s gaze to the tissues in his hand, realized what it looked like, and quickly explained, “No, I’m not! It’s not what you think!”
Jiraiya waved dismissively. “I get it. No need to explain.”
“I really wasn’t—” Kakashi protested.
Jiraiya, still unconvinced, offered a knowing smile. “I understand. Everyone’s got their limits. But you’re still recovering—don’t push yourself too hard, alright? Once we’re back in the village, I’ll give you a copy of my latest book. You’ll love it.”
Seeing Jiraiya’s firm disbelief, Kakashi could only sigh in exasperation. “I just had a nightmare, that’s all.”
Although he had escaped immediate danger, Kakashi still felt uneasy. Every time he closed his eyes, he relived the moments of his father committing seppuku, stabbing Rin’s heart with Chidori, or witnessing Obito’s disappointed gaze before he disappeared.
During his recent battle, there had been a moment when Kakashi genuinely wanted to close his eyes and let himself drift into death, to atone to Rin and Obito in the afterlife and confront his father about abandoning him to face such burdens alone.
“Kakashi.”
Jiraiya’s hand on his shoulder pulled him out of his dark thoughts.
“That guy is strong, no doubt about it. But no matter how powerful the enemy, never give up so easily!”
Looking up, Kakashi saw Jiraiya flashing a wide grin and giving him a thumbs-up.
“I understand, Jiraiya-sensei.”
Kakashi rubbed his temples and let out a heavy sigh.
“For now, let’s head back to the village and report this to the Hokage.”
Jiraiya nodded. This incident was significant enough to warrant a full report to the Third Hokage.
With the help of the toads, Jiraiya and Kakashi quickly returned to Konoha.
“It’s been a while since I was last here,” Jiraiya remarked, stretching lazily atop a power pole.
Kakashi glanced at him tiredly. “You’re always traveling. Why were you at Yugakure this time, anyway?”
Scratching his head, Jiraiya admitted, “Well, I heard there was a top-tier bathhouse there where princesses from various nations go to relax…”
Before he could finish, Kakashi had already walked off, his eyes deadpan, heading straight for the Hokage’s office.
Clearly, expecting Jiraiya to handle serious matters was asking too much.
When Jiraiya eventually climbed through the window into the Hokage’s office, Kakashi had already organized and handed over the mission report to the Third Hokage.
“Jiraiya? Remember you’re still a Konoha ninja?” Hiruzen scolded sharply. Had it not been for Jiraiya’s timely assistance preventing a total disaster, his greeting might have been a furious tirade.
Faced with his teacher, Jiraiya didn’t dare get too cheeky and scratched his nose awkwardly. “I only went to Yugakure to investigate a possible threat. I thought I might uncover some intel for Konoha.”
Kakashi: ?
“That’s not what you said earlier.”
(Chapter Ends)
*Chapter 93: The Shackles Binding the Shinobi World*
"So, you're saying the chaos in the Land of Rivers was orchestrated by that masked man named Tobi?"
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, folded his hands together, his expression somber.
If that mysterious man could mass-produce those [Ghouls], the entire shinobi world might face unprecedented turmoil.
To most shinobi, the ghouls in the Land of Rivers were merely a band of 200 or 300 rogue fighters with the strength of low- to mid-level ninja.
For the powerful and resourceful Hidden Leaf Village, such a rebellion could easily be quelled by dispatching a few jonin.
However, Hiruzen Sarutobi, with years of experience navigating political intricacies, didn’t see it that way.
The current stability of the shinobi world was maintained because the Five Great Nations shared an unspoken agreement to keep advanced ninjutsu under tight control, ensuring it rarely spread beyond their borders.
At best, small ninja villages only possessed the most basic techniques.
Most smaller nations served merely as buffers or battlegrounds for the Five Great Nations.
The leadership of these smaller ninja villages often had deep ties to the major nations. While not outright puppets, they posed little threat to the existing order.
When faced with real wars, they often ended up waving flags or becoming cannon fodder.
By monopolizing advanced knowledge, the Five Great Nations and their associated aristocracies had formed an ironclad system of governance.
At the bottom of this hierarchy, commoners lived their entire lives in mediocrity and fear, often at risk of being killed by powerful ninja.
This rigid system turned the shinobi world into a playground for the Five Great Nations and their noble allies, with the impoverished populace barely qualifying as part of the chessboard itself.
The appearance of this mysterious man threatened to upend the entire structure.
This was Hiruzen Sarutobi’s greatest concern.
One hundred, two hundred, even a thousand low- to mid-level ninja might not cause upheaval. But what about ten thousand? A hundred thousand? Or even a million?
At that point, the entire shinobi world would be turned upside down.
Of course, this was the worst-case scenario Hiruzen envisioned.
Even if the mysterious man had exceptional abilities, it was unlikely he could produce an infinite number of such entities.
“Moreover, according to the prophecy from the Great Toad Sage of Mount Myoboku, this mysterious man will plunge the entire shinobi world into a great war. Sensei, we cannot let our guard down,” Jiraiya said, his tone heavy with implication.
Hiruzen glanced at Jiraiya, his expression thoughtful. “A prophecy from Mount Myoboku?”
Hiruzen was well aware that his disciple had inherited the legacy of Mount Myoboku and formed a summoning contract with the sacred land.
He also understood the significance of the Great Toad Sage's prophecies.
While he didn’t completely believe in them, they were worth considering.
Coupled with the fact that this prophecy aligned with some of his own suspicions, Hiruzen felt an even greater need for caution.
“Did the Great Toad Sage provide any additional information?”
Jiraiya nodded. “The Great Toad Sage gave two key pieces of information. First, it confirmed that this mysterious man is a ‘bringer of destruction.’ Second, it mentioned that all of this originates from something called the ‘Evil God.’”
“Evil God?”
Hiruzen furrowed his brow slightly.
As the Hokage, he had access to the intelligence network of the entire Hidden Leaf Village and was somewhat familiar with the cult of the Evil God.
Initially, it had been a small, obscure sect. But after the events in the Land of Rivers, it was gradually gaining notoriety.
More recently, followers of the Evil God cult had annihilated the Hidden Hot Water Village, ensuring their infamy would only grow.
Watching his teacher’s expression, Jiraiya hesitated but finally made a serious suggestion: “Sensei, I recommend forming a special task force of jonin to thoroughly investigate the Evil God cult, locate the mysterious man, and eliminate him before he brings disaster to the shinobi world!”
As a seasoned politician, Hiruzen naturally couldn’t agree to such a proposal outright. He showed a hint of reluctance. “Jiraiya, you’re aware that ever since the Nine-Tails’ attack and the Fourth Hokage Minato’s death, the village has been under significant strain.”
“Moreover, this incident occurred within the Land of Rivers, which, strictly speaking, has no direct connection to the Land of Fire.”
“We lack the justification and resources to expend our energy on such matters.”
Ridiculous.
As the Hokage, Hiruzen would never waste the village’s precious jonin on this.
While the mysterious man posed a potential threat, it was just that—a potential threat. And any resulting disaster wouldn’t necessarily target the Land of Fire alone.
The Evil God cult hadn’t attacked the Land of Fire or nearly destroyed the Hidden Leaf Village.
Deploying jonin to investigate the cult would mean diverting them from missions, causing clients to take their business to other villages and strengthening those rivals in the process.
Simply put, Hiruzen Sarutobi had no intention of using the Leaf’s resources to solve a problem for the entire shinobi world.
Although Jiraiya understood this reasoning, his personality made it impossible for him to accept such inaction.
“Sensei, don’t you care about the survival of the shinobi world?”
Hiruzen tapped the table lightly and said sternly, “Jiraiya, of course, I care about the shinobi world. But first, the situation hasn’t escalated to that level. Second, I am the Hokage of the Hidden Leaf. My duty is to the villagers of the Leaf and the Land of Fire—then to the entire shinobi world.”
Under his teacher’s righteous rebuttal, Jiraiya could only concede defeat, as expected.
He was never skilled at winning arguments.
Still, Hiruzen didn’t completely dismiss Jiraiya’s concerns. With the village’s current lack of senior leadership, he needed his disciple to stay and support the Leaf.
“Here’s what I’ll do, Jiraiya. I’ll issue an order forbidding the spread of the Evil God cult within the Land of Fire, put the masked man, Tobi, on the wanted list, and direct the ANBU to monitor for information on the cult. If we find Tobi, we’ll send ninja to apprehend him immediately. How about that?”
Seeing his teacher make this compromise, Jiraiya sighed deeply.
He understood that continuing the argument was pointless. Even if his teacher agreed, the elders and Danzo would undoubtedly oppose such a move.
However, this didn’t mean Jiraiya would give up on pursuing Tobi.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter 94: Yet Another Level-Up!
"Congratulations on leveling up!"
A few days later, when Kaneki returned to the Akatsuki headquarters, he was greeted by this beautiful announcement.
Opening the panel:
[Cultivation Game of the Evil God]
[Level]: 4 (Next level requires 100,000 Reputation Points)
[Evil God Reputation]: 74,223
[Ability 1]:
[The Primordial Creator's Womb]
[Gene Pool]: Human Genes, Blood Pool Genes, RC Genes
[Currently Analyzing]:
Evil God Genes (20.9% progress)
Yang Release Ninjutsu (30.5%)
Yin Release Ninjutsu (21.5%)
Sage Genes (15.7%)
[Creatable Species]:
Harpy: Loyal apostles of the Evil God, praising His glory.
Blood Spirit Worm: Stores immense vitality and Yang Release chakra, capable of rapid wound healing.
Apostles of Desire: Those who offer their bodies and souls to join the glorious evolution of the Evil God.
Apostles of Fear: Sacrificing their bodies and souls to ascend into the divine kingdom.
[Ability 2]:
[Blessing of the Evil God]: Your body is blessed by the Evil God. Until His fall, you will remain immortal.
[Introduction]: "I will create a world for the Evil God!"
The destruction of Tanigakure had stirred public opinion, leading to the rapid spread of the Evil God religion across neighboring nations.
Not only small nations like the Land of Rain, Land of Grass, and Land of Birds to the north of the Land of Rivers, but even the eastern Land of Fire and western Land of Wind were affected.
Although the governments of these nations tightened their defenses, their long and porous borders made it impossible to fully contain the spread. At most, they could protect a few key towns from significant influence.
Even though only a small ninja village was destroyed, the fact that it was done using a power outside the ninja system—reportedly a power anyone could master—caused rumors to grow increasingly wild as they spread.
In the distant Land of Birds, for instance, the story had evolved to claim that simply believing in the Evil God could grant one the power to rule the world.
For those living in poverty, this message was a godsend. Many began secretly worshipping idols in their homes.
After all, a simple clay idol was easy to make and cost nothing. Why not take the chance?
Even if the Evil God didn’t manifest, what would they lose?
As a result, the Evil God's reputation skyrocketed to over seventy thousand before gradually stabilizing.
The mental strength gained from leveling up greatly advanced several of Kaneki's ongoing projects, particularly in the areas of Yin Release and Yang Release.
In simple terms, Yin Release represents the soul of humans and ninjas, while Yang Release pertains to their bodies and life energy.
Kaneki's research on the Apostles of Fear was rooted in these aspects, yielding significant data and deepening his understanding of both.
At the same time, his study of Sage Genes, particularly those derived from Jugo, also made progress.
Combining Yang Release Ninjutsu, Sage Genes, and the original Blood Pack Worm, Kaneki created a new species: Blood Spirit Worms.
Like Blood Pack Worms, they store large amounts of Yang Release chakra and can absorb a small amount of natural energy. Though minimal, this ability transforms their function.
Not only can Blood Spirit Worms heal wounds rapidly, but they also excite their users, granting enhanced power.
Most importantly, Blood Spirit Worms are only a tenth the size of Blood Pack Worms—roughly the size of a thumb—greatly expanding their usability.
“What’s this?”
Hidan squeezed in beside Kaneki, staring at the thumb-sized worm in his hand with a puzzled expression.
Kaneki raised an eyebrow and casually replied, “Candy. Want some?”
Hidan immediately gave him a disdainful look. “Damn you, Kaneki. You think I’m an idiot? That’s obviously a pill, not candy!”
Kaneki didn’t expect such a challenge to his intelligence just after leveling up. After a brief pause, he said calmly, “Hidan, you’re adorable.”
Hidan blushed. “Damn it, Kaneki! Don’t think flattery will make me forgive you!”
Adjusting his glasses, Kaneki stored the Blood Spirit Worm and said, “You’re adorably dumb.”
“Damn you, Kaneki! So, you are insulting me!”
“Enough, stop yelling. I have experiments to conduct.”
With that, Kaneki casually decapitated Hidan, placed his head in a nutrient tank, and walked off to his lab.
Kaneki approached a test subject whose abdomen had been nearly obliterated and was on the verge of death.
Without hesitation, Kaneki shoved a Blood Spirit Worm into the subject’s mouth.
As the worm was swallowed, it began absorbing small amounts of natural energy, mixing it with large quantities of Yang Release chakra, and rapidly releasing it.
This chakra coursed through the subject’s meridians, healing his wounds.
In mere moments, the subject’s eyes snapped open, and his abdominal wound visibly began regenerating.
In just one minute, the wound was mostly healed. While not fully recovered, the subject was no longer in mortal danger and was even capable of limited combat.
However, the Blood Spirit Worm’s side effects soon became apparent.
Corrupted by natural energy, the subject entered a berserk state, howling and struggling against his restraints.
Kaneki was unfazed by the outburst and meticulously recorded the subject’s physical and life data.
In this state, the subject’s strength increased by approximately 30%, and his chakra reserves were significantly replenished.
The cost of this enhancement, however, became evident ten minutes later, as the subject collapsed into exhaustion.
After thorough examination, Kaneki concluded that the sudden surge in chakra had caused moderate damage to the subject’s meridians.
Moreover, the natural energy had inflicted damage to the soul, manifesting as mental fatigue. Whether this damage was reversible remained to be seen.
Adjusting his glasses, Kaneki committed all the data to memory. His next step would be to conduct further experiments and gather more data.
This data would guide improvements to the Blood Spirit Worm, leading to a second round of clinical trials.
[Analysis Progress]:
Evil God Genes (20.9%)
Ninja Genes (31.2%)
Orochimaru’s Genes (4.7%)
Living Corpse Reincarnation Technique (26.4%)
Clone Technique (80.2%)
Yang Release Ninjutsu (30.5%)
Yin Release Ninjutsu (21.5%)
Sage Genes (15.7%)
Gedo Statue Genes (1.4%)
Unknown Fungal Genes (1.7%)
[Creatable Species]:
Harpy: Loyal apostles of the Evil God, praising His glory.
Blood Pack Worms: Stores immense vitality and Yang Release chakra, capable of rapid healing.
Apostles of Desire: Those who offer their bodies and souls to the Evil God’s glorious evolution.
Blood Pool Clones: Clones made from the original body’s genes, possessing similar abilities and appearances.
Crow Clones: Clones created from crow genes.
This is the condensed system panel!
(Chapter Ends)
*Chapter 95: Controlling the Hidden Rain, Killing Hanzo*
At the Akatsuki headquarters, in the dim underground chamber before the Gedo Statue.
"Leader, you have to stand up for me! Senior Kaneki is too much—he actually impersonated me to do such outrageous things!"
Tobi, wearing his mask, rolled around on the statue's fingers, whining and accusing Kaneki of his misdeeds.
"You have no idea! When I go to the Land of Wind or the Land of Fire, those ninjas immediately try to capture me. I've barely escaped being caught several times!"
By the end of his rant, Tobi’s voice even carried a hint of tears.
However, no one present paid him any attention.
Anyone who had spent a few days with Tobi knew he was a walking act from start to finish.
Kaneki, in particular, was well aware of Tobi’s remarkable phasing abilities. With powers like his, being hunted by ninjas from the Land of Wind or the Land of Fire? If anything, they should be worried about being hunted by him!
Kaneki was about to offer a dismissive reply when Hidan beat him to it.
"I say, Tobi, so what if Kaneki used your name and mask? Why are you being so petty? Just switch to a different mask if you’re being chased!"
Hidan’s words left the usually sharp-tongued Tobi momentarily stunned.
"That... actually makes sense?"
After all, both Tobi’s name and his mask were fake. If he just swapped the mask, wouldn’t the problem be solved?
"But..."
Tobi seemed to want to say more but was interrupted by Pain, who stood at the center.
"Enough. Stop arguing over trivial matters."
As the nominal leader of the group, Pain’s words carried enough weight to command some respect.
The room fell silent instantly, even silencing Tobi, who was always chattering.
Nodding slightly, Pain said, "I’ll now go over the Akatsuki's next plan. The time is right—I intend to launch an attack on the Hidden Rain Village and establish it as our base of operations."
Of course, his main motive was revenge.
This, however, was not something Pain planned to share.
Although Tobi and Zetsu were aware, Kaneki and Hidan remained in the dark.
"The Hidden Rain Village, huh..."
Instinctively, Kaneki adjusted his glasses.
Though not a major village, the Hidden Rain's strength was leagues above the Hidden Hot Springs he had previously destroyed.
Before the Second Shinobi World War, the Land of Rain had been hailed as the country most likely to rise as a sixth great power.
This was thanks to its terrifying leader, Hanzo of the Salamander, the chief of the Hidden Rain Village, known as the "Demi-God."
His Water Style, Body Flicker Technique, and deadly poisons were feared across the entire shinobi world.
Though not on par with the legendary Hashirama Senju, the God of Shinobi who ushered the world into the shinobi village era, Hanzo’s "Demi-God" title still made him a force to be reckoned with.
It was Hanzo who personally granted Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade the title of the "Legendary Sannin."
Unfortunately, even a Demi-God couldn’t withstand the simultaneous onslaught of three great nations.
No major power would allow a neighboring country to rise to rival their own.
In the end, Hanzo conceded defeat and sought terms from the Hidden Leaf, reluctantly granting the Sannin their title as a token of peace.
As a defeated nation, the Land of Rain’s fate was predictable.
Its people sank into despair, plagued by endless suffering. Ninjas from the three neighboring great nations roamed the country freely, while the Hidden Rain Village, under Hanzo’s leadership, adopted a reclusive stance.
Reflecting on this, Kaneki fiddled with the ring engraved with "North" on his finger and remarked meaningfully, "Even an old lion’s fangs are sharp enough to tear through its enemies."
Pain, unfazed by Kaneki’s cautionary tone, replied coldly, "I’ll handle Hanzo myself. What I need from you all is to clear out the pests surrounding the Hidden Rain."
He added with a sharp glare, "And make sure no foreign pests interfere with my plans."
Pain’s gaze turned icy as he declared, "I want them to know the Land of Rain is no longer the Land of Rain they remember."
The first to respond enthusiastically was, of course, the ever-energetic Tobi.
"Brilliant, Leader! I’ve always found that old geezer Hanzo annoying—nothing compared to your wisdom and charisma!"
Pain remained unresponsive to the flattery, as if expecting it.
Instead, he turned his attention to Kaneki and Hidan.
"Time to kill again? How exciting!"
Hidan licked his lips with a blood-red tongue, his expression twisted with sadistic delight.
Kaneki smiled. "I have a small request."
Pain showed no surprise. "Speak."
"I want Hanzo’s summoning beast, alive if possible, but its corpse will do. If I can, I’d like Hanzo’s body as well."
From the intel Kaneki had gathered, much of Hanzo’s legendary status stemmed from his summoning beast, the Salamander. Its potent poison was nearly impossible to neutralize, making it a prime experimental subject for Kaneki.
Pain gave Kaneki a flat look and replied, "You can have the Salamander, but not Hanzo’s body."
Disappointed, Kaneki sighed. "A bit of a letdown, but acceptable."
As for Konan, being Pain’s staunchest supporter, she voiced no objections to any of his plans.
Once he secured everyone’s agreement, Pain outlined the mission.
"Tobi, you’ll guard against threats from the Land of Fire. Eliminate any enemies you encounter without revealing the organization’s secrets."
"Understood!"
Tobi responded immediately, pledging his loyalty before adding cheekily, "Even if you ordered me to capture the Hokage, I’d do it without hesitation!"
Pain ignored the remark and continued, "Kaneki and Hidan, you’ll form a team to monitor the Land of Wind. The objectives remain the same as Tobi’s."
"Got it," Kaneki replied succinctly.
Hidan’s expression remained as deranged as ever.
"Black Zetsu and White Zetsu, you’ll handle threats from the Land of Earth."
"No problem, Leader," they responded in unison.
Pain nodded. "If there are no questions, we’re done here. Dismissed."
With that, Pain and Konan vanished on the spot.
Thus began the Akatsuki’s first major operation:
*[Control the Hidden Rain, Kill Hanzo]*
(End of Chapter)
