Rain Village Incident

Yichen's proposal to meet with Fugaku was not approved at the High-Level Meeting. Ōnoki, Ikura, Sakawa, and Mei all stood up to oppose it immediately.

Even the Tsuchikage Assistant, like Kitsuchi, who had no say, looked conflicted, as if they really wanted to say something to advise Yichen.

After Yichen uttered those words, he never had another chance to speak, but the High-Level Meeting continued for another half hour because Yichen was criticized by everyone in turn for half an hour.

If Yichen knew that Tsunade had experienced the same thing as him a few days ago, he might have thought: Perhaps the Kage are meant to be criticized by the Advisor Group.

After the meeting, Yichen, exhausted and still preoccupied with the chaotic and didactic pronouncements of the Advisor Group, returned to his residence.

Just as Yichen was about to take a good rest, he suddenly sensed something strange about the ring on his hand. "What's this? Is Nagato contacting me?"

Yichen casually set up a Sensory Barrier around the house, and then began to respond to Nagato.

This wasn't the first time Yichen had entered the Phantasm Body Technique since joining Dark Akatsuki.

After a brief moment of disorientation, Yichen's mental form arrived at the River Ninja Village.

Looking around, just like before, Konan and Yahiko were there, along with Nagato. All three of them were in their true forms, except for Yichen, who was an illusory consciousness.

"Nagato, Yahiko, Konan, it's been a long time." Yichen greeted the three of them.

Before Nagato and Yahiko could speak, Konan eagerly asked, "Yichen, Nagato wants to attack Amegakure, do you agree?"

Yichen was taken aback at first, then thought about it carefully and said, "The idea of attacking Amegakure is not wrong in itself. Hanzo is already corrupt, and his existence is of no benefit to Amegakure or even the Land of Rain."

"If Hanzo were replaced by Nagato, I think both the Rain Village ninja and the common people of the Land of Rain would live better lives."

"But if we Amegakure, will Nagato have to leave the Land of Rivers and personally oversee Amegakure?"

Before commenting on Yichen's previous words, Konan immediately answered Yichen's last question, "Yes, Nagato's puppet control range is still not enough to reach Amegakure from River Ninja Village."

As expected, Nagato's current strength far surpasses that of his previous life, especially in his development of the Rinnegan. Previously, Nagato was able to keep his main body in River Ninja Village while his clones appeared on the border Kawa and Ame Countries. But that was already his limit, partly due to River Ninja Village's proximity to the border.

However, the distance between Amegakure and River Ninja Village is too great, and Nagato is not yet able to control the puppet from such a distance.

"Konan, whether it's Akatsuki Organization or Dark Akatsuki, their goal is the peace of the Ninja World. For the sake of Ninja World, some sacrifices are inevitable."

"Back then, Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha made great sacrifices to establish the ninja village. Madara Uchiha's younger brother Izuna Uchiha, even died at the hands of Hashirama Senju's younger brother Senju Tobirama."

"Konan, the path we're on is destined to make us enemies of most of the strongest Ninja World. Perhaps in the end, only one or two of us will survive, or perhaps none of us will survive."

"If you are among the survivors, we hope you can continue down this path."

Konan remained silent, knowing that Yichen was right. Yahiko also supported Nagato; only she was against it. She actually hoped that Yichen would stand by her side and not let Nagato and she be separated.

"I understand," Konan said softly, her head bowed.

After thinking for a moment, Yichen said again, "Nagato, now that Konoha is in trouble, Danzo and the others shouldn't have the energy to deal with Amegakure. Now is the perfect time. Moreover, if we launch an attack on Rain Village at this time, the other Great Ninja Village will be wary of each other and are very likely not to intervene."

Furthermore, I have an idea: Nagato, Yahiko, you could move the two ninja villages closer to each other. That way, Nagato could remotely control the puppets, right?

Yichen's idea was somewhat far-fetched, but Nagato and Yahiko thought about it seriously and both agreed.

Nagato said, "Yichen, you're right. I don't want to build a new ninja village on the basis of the existing Amegakure. I want to build a new ninja village in the Land of Rain."

"A ninja village composed entirely of ninjas with new ideas and concepts!"

Yichen was taken aback. He had only meant it casually, to give Konan something to hold onto, so she wouldn't be too heartbroken. What was wrong with Nagato and the others?

Before Yichen could even ask, Konan asked for him, "Nagato, Yahiko, why did you do that?"

Yahiko began, "The current River Ninja Village is built on the foundation of the original River Ninja Village. Although we manage this village, its members are the same as those in other ninja villages."

"They have no ideal of peace in the Ninja World, not even the thought of bringing peace to the Land of Rivers. They only want to become stronger, only want the River Ninja Village to become the Sixth Great Ninja Village."

"Their minds are corrupt. I want to establish a ninja village that belongs solely to Akatsuki. This time, I will eliminate all ninjas whose beliefs differ from ours. At the same time, I will also purge the ninjas within Akatsuki Organization whose thinking has changed."

"I will make Xiao rise from the ashes."

Nagato nodded and said, "Me too. I also want to build a completely new ninja village, at least not the original Amegakure."

Konan glanced at Nagato, then at Yahiko, and finally fixed her gaze on Yichen's mental form, asking, "Yichen, you're the Fifth Tsuchikage now, are you facing the same problem as Yahiko?"

Yichen:...

Yichen could only nod awkwardly.

Konan understood, feeling that she had finally caught up with the three people's way of thinking.

Then, Yahiko excitedly chatted with Nagato and Yichen for a long time about how to rebuild the ninja village.

Next, Yichen offered to help if Nagato were to attack the Land of Rain.

Finally Yichen and Nagato made a pact to attack Amegakure together seven days later.

Phantasm Body Technique, Yichen suddenly lost his sleepiness. Nagato once again chose to take over Amegakure, which made Yichen marvel at the powerful inertia of the plot.

The next day, Yichen summoned the high-ranking officials of Iwagakure once again.

"Third Hokage, I'm leaving the village tomorrow to go to Amegakure." Yichen spoke up as soon as Ōnoki and the others sat down.

Without giving them a chance to object, Yichen continued, "I have an agreement with the Akatsuki Organization to conquer the Land of Rain."

Ming, who was about to launch into another lecture to Yichen, paused for a moment, then said, "You want to kill Hanzo?"

Yichen nodded.

Saka said, "Hanzo has been restless lately, getting very close to Konoha. Rain Village is also showing signs of preparing for war. I don't object to attacking Amegakure. Should we summon the Anbu to support you?"

Yichen shook his head and said, "No need. This time I plan to bring all fifteen of my students along so they can broaden their horizons."

"Won't there be any danger?" asked Ikura.

Yichen shook his head. "All three members of Akatsuki Organization will be involved. Including me, that makes Three Kage-level and one quasi-Kage. Unless Hanzo escapes before the battle begins, he's doomed this time."

Ōnoki nodded and said, "Go. The Akatsuki Organization has great potential, and it's necessary to be on good terms with them. We can give up the Land of Land of Rain, but we must bring back a copy of the Ninjutsu we obtained from the Land of Rain."

Yichen nodded.

After the meeting, Yichen led a large group of people away from Iwagakure.

Originally, Yichen only intended to bring his fifteen disciples, but a large group of people ended up joining him.

First, Tomoko was the first to arrive at the village entrance, brought her three disciples.

Then, Ikura also brought in his three disciples.

Then, when Uchiyama Takuhiro arrived, he brought with him his classmate and his current teammate in the Anbu, Akio Wada Akio.

Finally, just as Yichen and his group were about to depart, Ōnoki brought Deidara and the other two over.

Looking at his twenty-five subordinates in front of him, Yichen rubbed his head wearily.

If the entire expedition to Amegakure is wiped out, then Yichen's efforts over the past seven years will be wasted by at least half of them.

Kawakita, you're the strongest here. I'll give you five minutes to get everyone in order. We'll set off in five minutes.

Over the years, Kawakita has Elite Jonin handling things independently, so this matter is a piece of cake for him.

The group quickly set off.

Because many of the members of the group were Genin who were leaving the village for the first time, their pace was not fast. Along the way, the senior genin who had become Jonin would occasionally give pointers to their juniors.

Seeing that his own work was being done by others, Yichen didn't sit idle. Whenever he had free time, he would discuss the future paths of his disciples Jonin Yichen.

After a journey of stops and starts, Yichen and his group finally arrived at the outskirts of Amegakure before the agreed time.

Because he had too many disciples to take care of, Yichen didn't overstep his bounds. He first set up a Natural Energy Seal on the spot, and then entered Sage Mode.

Yichen's Sage Mode has improved significantly compared to before. He can now enter Yichen Sage Mode independently in areas rich in Natural Energy without relying on liquid Natural Energy.

This level is roughly equivalent to Jiraiya's Senjutsu Mode level when he fought Six Paths of Pain in the original story. At that time Jiraiya needed the help of two Sages to enter Sage Mode, mainly for two reasons: first, it was difficult to maintain balance in battle, and second, the Natural Energy in the Ninja World was much thinner than that of Mount Myōboku, Jiraiya needed the two Sages to provide him with Natural Energy.

Yichen is in this situation now. If it weren't for the limitations imposed by the concentration of Natural Energy in the outside world, Yichen would have truly mastered Senjutsu.

The progress in his Senjutsu can also be seen in the Sage Face Markings on Yichen's face. Now, there are only a few stripes left on Yichen's face, and it is no longer the same as before when it covered half of his face.

After entering Sage Mode, Yichen used the Phantasm Body Technique to re-establish contact with Nagato.

Soon, Yichen and his twenty-five subordinates joined up with Yahiko and the others. Yahiko and his two companions shared the same idea as Yichen, as they had also brought along many young but resolute ninjas.

Judging from their expressions, Yichen knew that these people were genuine Akatsuki Organization members chosen by Yahiko and his companions who shared the same ideals as them.

Yichen and Yahiko discussed it and decided to act together. Nagato would control Six Paths of Pain to clear the way, while Nagato's main body would stay with Yichen, Yahiko, and Konan to protect the children they had brought.

Considering that there weren't many people coming this time, even if Yichen and his group were strong, they couldn't possibly annihilate all the ninjas in the entire Amegakure. Therefore, after launching the attack, Yichen and the others didn't bother with the fleeing ninjas.