I Remember, Your Name is Yahiko

As these words fell, the side of Uchiha Itachi fell into a long silence.

"The true purpose of abducting Sasuke is something only the Akatsuki knows, isn't it? It is for Uchiha Itachi's Mangekyo Sharingan."

Kakashi's tone was steady, yet every word struck like a hammer, pounding heavily against everyone's nerves.

Far away, receiving the information on the other end, Itachi's expression was no longer as composed as before.

Because Kakashi's words left him at a loss for how to reply...

His silence was not an admission, but it was not a denial either.

For a moment, he truly did not know how to respond.

Those past events, those choices, those sacrifices—were they truly worth it?

And then there was Sasuke...

In fact, it was not just the Konoha side; even Nagato and Konan, upon learning the truth about the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, had concluded that this was Uchiha Itachi's doing.

Just as the atmosphere in the curtain of rain grew increasingly heavy, a dense ripple of chakra suddenly erupted from the outskirts of Amegakure.

Nagato quickly severed the connection with Uchiha Itachi...

He looked toward the village perimeter, his face grim: "Konoha's Anbu?"

The next moment, a large number of figures clad in black, wearing animal masks, appeared rapidly at the borders of Amegakure.

They moved with speed and in perfect formation; there was no doubt they were highly trained Root ninja from Konoha.

Nagato looked down at Jiraiya, a faint glow rising in his Rinnegan: "Is this Konoha's sincerity? We have just begun discussing cooperation here, and you have already sent your Anbu to surround us?"

Jiraiya also wore an embarrassed expression; he had not expected such a situation either.

He quickly looked at Kakashi, his voice laced with questioning: "Kakashi, what is the meaning of this? Didn't you come here only to retrieve me?"

Kakashi was also grave, his brows locked in a tight frown as he said in a low voice: "I was indeed only ordered by the Third Hokage to come and rendezvous with Lord Jiraiya. As for the actions of these Root ninja..."

"It must be Danzo..."

"Danzo?"

Hearing this name, Nagato, who suffered from PTSD...

His gaze turned icy, and his entire aura became extremely dangerous.

Rainwater gathered at his feet, trembling slightly in response to his emotional volatility.

Back then, Danzo...

In terms of supporting, subverting, and manipulating the internal affairs of Amegakure, Danzo had played a significant role...

He had even caused the death of Yahiko...

Black Zetsu, hiding in the shadows, had originally intended to maintain a wait-and-see attitude, but its expression shifted, and it secretly cursed.

What was going on?

I could understand Obito going crazy...

But what was happening on Konoha's side? Something felt wrong...

The timing of Danzo's appearance...

It seemed a bit off...

As an ancient monster who had lived in the Shinobi World for a thousand years, Black Zetsu possessed an exceptionally keen intuition.

At this moment, it instinctively sensed that the situation was sliding toward an uncontrollable direction.

Someone was definitely stirring up trouble...

But...

Who exactly was still causing interference when the Shinobi World was on the brink of destruction?

Especially since the instigator clearly understood the effect Danzo would have on Nagato...

It was truly a case of fearing what might happen, and then having it happen.

At this very moment, footsteps slowly pierced through the sound of the rain.

A figure leaning on a cane stepped slowly out from the ranks of the Root ninja, dressed in a dark gray robe, his eyes cold and his face as sinister as a snake.

Danzo had appeared.

The air seemed to freeze completely the moment he appeared.

Countless gazes were cast upon him in unison, but Danzo merely lifted his head slightly, scanning the people present with a cold gaze before finally letting his eyes rest on Nagato, making no effort to hide his interest.

"The Rinnegan... I have finally laid eyes on you."

Danzo spoke slowly, his voice low and hoarse, carrying a twisted sense of greed.

Murderous intent surged in Nagato's eyes, and a wave of chakra surged through the air!

Soon, the remaining Six Paths of Pain appeared... stepping forward in unison, their killing intent chilling.

"You should not have come."

Kakashi quickly drew his short blade, his body tensed as he took a step toward Jiraiya: "Lord Jiraiya, I fear peaceful communication is no longer an option."

"Danzo!"

Jiraiya glared at him, his voice trembling with suppressed rage!

"What are you doing here? Are you here to sabotage the negotiations?"

"Negotiations? Mind your tone, I am still the Hokage's advisor..."

"Do you truly believe the Akatsuki wants to cooperate? They are merely lulling us into complacency to buy time for their schemes. The Shinobi World is on the brink of destruction; we need control, we need to consolidate all manageable power, not listen to the ghost stories of our enemies."

Jiraiya was nearly driven to laughter by Danzo's logic...

"So you brought a squad of Root operatives to forcibly barge into their territory?!"

"If we do not demonstrate the power of Konoha, how could they ever be willing to cooperate with us?"

Danzo retorted, his expression devoid of emotion.

In the air, it felt as if thin wires were being pulled taut; the slightest disturbance would trigger a thunderous explosion.

Nagato's killing intent grew increasingly palpable, his Rinnegan shimmering with a startling radiance as the Six Paths of Pain lined up, ready to engage at any moment.

In the rain, the very heavens seemed crushed by the heavy clouds, struggling to breathe...

Raindrops pelted the tiles and stone slabs like needles, a rhythmic, unsettling patter.

Amidst this cold, silent atmosphere, Danzo stood surrounded by his Root members, leaning on his cane, his gaze fixed directly on the man standing before him like a deity.

That pair of indifferent, ruthless Rinnegan made one feel as if they were falling into an endless abyss at a single glance.

The name of this person...

It seemed...

It seemed... to be Yahiko...

Danzo, who had originally failed to recall Yahiko's name, suddenly found his memory sharpened, locking onto it.

Suddenly, a meaningful smile curled the corners of Danzo's mouth, as if he held the other party in no regard, speaking with the casual air of one who had seen through everything:

"The Rinnegan... how did it come to be in your possession?"

"I recall, your name... is Yahiko, is it not?"

His tone was airy, devoid of anger or surprise, yet laden with a bone-deep contempt and provocation.

The moment these words were spoken, the taut atmosphere ignited like a spark hitting dry tinder, exploding into chaos!

Nagato's eyes narrowed sharply, and from those cold Rinnegan, a monstrous killing intent surged forth, as if even the rain had frozen in that instant.

The surrounding air grew heavy, as if invisible waves of pressure were slowly accumulating and boiling.

Standing beside him, Konan was overcome with emotion, her chest heaving violently as she couldn't help but cry out: "What... what did you say?"

Her voice carried an irrepressible anger and sorrow; it was a memory being trampled upon, a scar buried deep in her heart that she dared not touch.

Yet now, Danzo had laid it bare with a single sentence!

"Hanzo really was a piece of trash..."

Danzo's tone and demeanor were dripping with condescending arrogance.

The arrogance of a great nation looking down upon a small one...

The figure of Deva Path Pain moved in a blur.

The killing intent could no longer be contained!

"Shinra Tensei!"

A roar exploded like a thunderclap!

Deva Path Pain's fury had been completely ignited; he thrust his right hand upward...

The space around him distorted and buckled, and then, with him as the center, an irresistible repulsive force erupted!

The world roared!

The rain was shattered in that instant, countless droplets forced to surge upward against gravity, like a tidal wave reversing its course.

A powerful shockwave swept outward, sending the Root ninjas flying; they crashed into walls and the ground, blood splattering everywhere amidst cries of agony.

As for Danzo, he was forced back repeatedly by the violent force, his cane snapping in two, his figure stumbling back several yards in a pathetic display before he could barely steady himself.

"You dare to insult the name of Yahiko,"

"You are not fit to step foot on this land!"

Black Zetsu: ...

I am truly exhausted...