A Beautiful Idea, A Foolish Execution

"Oh?"

Kyoichi narrowed his eyes.

The missions in the Land of Rivers had come to Konoha, but Konoha couldn't currently manage those that hadn't been issued.

Judging by Yahiko's words.

Was he going to the Land of Rivers to do volunteer work?

"We came to the Land of Rivers simply to eliminate the bandits there and bring peace to the Land of Rivers. We have no intention of attacking Konoha or competing with you for missions,"

Konan added.

Not to mention their connection to Jiraiya, Konoha's strength was not something they could provoke—the current Akatsuki was very weak, and Konoha was a towering tree to them!

"Our wish is peace, and we will absolutely not start a war."

Seeing that Kyoichi hadn't made a move, Yahiko knew there was a possibility for negotiation.

After all, Konoha had just experienced a great war and definitely didn't want to provoke another ninja village at this moment. Otherwise, it wouldn't be Kanda Kyoichi who had come, but Konoha's powerful Anbu.

He calmed down a bit more upon thinking of this.

Just as Kyoichi was about to speak, two chakra signatures approached.

One was to the north, and the other to the south.

Nagato and Minato?

Kyoichi understood.

After much deliberation, he realized the situation was complex and beyond his decision. Minato's arrival was timely; he would let Jiraiya's disciples discuss it themselves.

With this thought, he gathered his chakra to intimidate the two, while waiting for Minato to arrive.

"Yahiko..."

Konan was a little anxious, but Yahiko gently shook his head.

They couldn't make a move.

Even if they had to, it wasn't now. They had to wait for Nagato to arrive—he could sense Nagato approaching.

A brief stalemate ensued between the two sides.

After a short while.

Minato's shadow clone arrived. Upon seeing the situation, he was stunned for a moment, then instantly appeared beside Kyoichi and asked in a low voice, "What's going on?"

"Ninja from Amegakure, entering the country to eliminate bandits, free of charge."

"Ah?"

Eliminating bandits for free.

These Amegakure ninja...

Minato was taken aback, somewhat confused.

No wonder Kyoichi hadn't acted.

He would have been in the same predicament. The village certainly didn't want to stir up more trouble right now, but if these people weren't dealt with and were allowed to clear out the bandits in the Land of Rivers, those bandits would then flow into the Land of Fire.

Caught between a rock and a hard place!

His mouth twitched. He looked at the two and, after a moment of thought, asked, "What are your names?"

"Yahiko."

"Konan."

"..."

The names sounded familiar, he vaguely felt like he'd heard them somewhere.

Minato frowned slightly.

Konan wanted to speak, but Yahiko stopped her.

Yahiko knew Konan wanted to use Jiraiya's connection to get Minato to let them go, but he knew even better that Minato and Jiraiya were both Konoha ninja.

If she spoke, it would only make things difficult for them.

Kyoichi faced north, looking at the forest, his sword blade turning.

Nagato had arrived!

In the forest, his red hair was striking.

Moreover.

He didn't know what had happened, only that Yahiko and Konan seemed to be at a disadvantage.

Upon arriving, Nagato immediately threw several shuriken, and just as he was about to use a ninjutsu, he saw a flash of sword light, and his vision went completely white.

So dazzling!

He involuntarily turned his head to avoid it, but instantly, Nagato heard the sound of wind whistling.

Damn!

He tried to sense him, but Kyoichi was too fast.

Nagato had no choice but to preemptively use Almighty Push. At this moment, his vision returned, and he saw a figure entering his immediate vicinity, but...

Under Almighty Push, this figure was unaffected and gradually turned into afterimages.

Clone Technique?

No!

He leaped onto the trees, and sword light erupted from below.

Mind Destruction Technique!

Cold sweat beaded on Nagato's forehead.

So fast, such a troublesome opponent. No wonder Yahiko and Konan couldn't handle him.

However.

While he marveled, through his Rinnegan, he saw Kyoichi's speed double. Although his eyes could see clearly, his body simply couldn't keep up. He had just finished the hand seals for the Substitution Technique...

BOOM!

One kick sent him flying from the tree toward Minato.

"Hold back!"

"Don't..."

Yahiko and Konan were anxious.

Nagato's Rinnegan abilities had always been invincible, but now, they realized Nagato also had his match.

Speed—

So fast it left no time for reaction!

The kick had immense force.

But.

Nagato still managed to brace himself and stand up, cautiously preparing for the next attack.

Minato felt a bit helpless.

He was a Shadow Clone, and his assistance in a real fight was limited.

However.

Facing such a powerful enemy, if they didn't subdue him, things would be difficult later.

Nagato stood ready, retreating step by step.

Whoosh~

Kyoichi reappeared, now about a dozen paces in front of Nagato.

Nagato was terrified.

This speed...

It was too fast!

He threw a handful of shuriken. Kyoichi swiftly weaved through the gaps, but the next moment, he raised his hand...

Wind Release: Gale Palm!

A whirlwind howled, sweeping up the surrounding shuriken and instantly disrupting their trajectories. Many flew directly towards Kyoichi.

Kyoichi ignored them and drew his sword.

Now it was Minato's turn to worry.

Just as he was about to intervene, he saw an abnormal blackness appear on Kyoichi's body. He froze for a moment, and by then, the shuriken had already struck Kyoichi.

Clink...

After a series of crisp sounds, the shuriken fell to the ground.

Completely unharmed.

On the other hand, Nagato, seeing the Thunder God Sword slash towards him, panicked. He had no choice but to use Almighty Push again.

However.

With the Gate of Opening and Activation Technique stacked, Kyoichi's control over his body reached its peak, allowing him to move freely without any obstruction.

After the repulsive force subsided, he landed beside Nagato.

Chakra condensed in his hand, forming a ball of green light. Nagato struggled to break free, but soon, his eyes gradually became unfocused. Finally, his hands went limp, and he slumped into unconsciousness.

Subdued?

Minato's expression was strange.

Was that the Mystical Palm Technique just now? Can that thing make someone faint?

I've learned something new.

"What did you do to Nagato!"

Konan shouted sternly.

"It was the Mystical Palm Technique."

Yahiko breathed a sigh of relief. If Kyoichi had wanted to kill him, he could have simply drawn his sword and struck after dodging the Almighty Push; there would have been no need for such a complicated method.

"Nothing much, he was just too troublesome. We need to deal with everyone else first before we can talk."

Kyoichi pulled Nagato to the water's edge.

Minato turned and saw Nagato's head full of red hair, and was stunned for a moment. Then, a flash of inspiration struck him.

Sensei mentioned something...

A boy with red hair!

He took a deep breath and looked at Yahiko and Konan, saying, "I remember now. You're the three children Sensei met in Amegakure. Sensei mentioned you to me."

"..."

Konan was speechless.

They recognized us.

But.

Amidst her panic, she felt a touch of emotion.

Sensei still remembers us!

At this moment, Yahiko said, "Senior Minato, we bear no ill will towards Konoha. We just want to try and realize Sensei's vision, hoping for peace in the surrounding lands."

"But..."

Minato hesitated, wanting to say more. Sensei had told him about the three children, and in Jiraiya's words, these three carried a part of his hopes.

Although he didn't know the specifics, purely from a personal standpoint, he was very willing to believe their words.

However.

Their actions and the scale of their operations were something Konoha could not afford to underestimate.

Kyoichi glanced at him, then sheathed his sword with a smile, saying, "Do you want me to say a few words?"

The three looked over.

"If you ask me, your idea is beautiful, but your methods are foolish. You helped the Land of Rivers clear out bandits, but there are so many bandits you can't possibly kill them all. The rest will flee to surrounding countries, and then what?"