Who allowed you to touch me with those dirty hands?

Swish, swish, swish!

Several figures darted through the dense forest.

They were Root ninja, but they were nowhere near as arrogant as usual; they were all fleeing in panic.

Looking at the lingering terror on their faces, it was as if a demon was chasing them through the dense woods.

"Faster, faster!" The Root ninja at the front was Terai. He roared, urging his companions to pick up the pace, glancing back occasionally, his fear growing: "Don't slow down at all! That... that brat is definitely still behind us!"

Heavy panting echoed nearby.

Every breath brought a searing pain, their lungs working overtime to supply oxygen, yet they still felt like they were suffocating.

But even if their lungs burst the next second, no one dared to slow down even a little.

How did things turn out like this?

Terai's mind was filled with fear, and memories from a dozen minutes ago surfaced involuntarily.

Their plan had been successful. They had unexpectedly kidnapped the child who was with Tsunade.

Everything was proceeding according to plan. Tsunade had been successfully lured away from Uchiha Sōgetsu, creating a good opportunity for Hanzo.

But then, events completely exceeded his expectations.

The little girl who had been kidnapped instantly displayed terrifying power. In just a few seconds, she tore the Anbu member holding her to shreds in front of everyone.

Then, the little girl calmly wiped the blood from her face, and a Sharingan, like a pinwheel, appeared in her eyes!

"I must... I must report this intel to Lord Danzo!"

Back in reality, Terai felt as if he could hear the killing intent trailing them like a shadow: "The Uchiha have a deeper conspiracy!"

However, the next second.

A small figure in black suddenly blocked their path.

In an instant, the dozen or so Root ninja seemed frozen in place, staring in terror at the small figure on the branch ahead.

"I hate it when people touch me."

Uchiha Hikari's face was expressionless, like a cold killing machine, striking fear into all of them: "Who allowed you to touch me with those dirty hands?"

Her tone was flat, without any fluctuation, yet it filled them with deep dread.

It was as if... a sharp steel blade was pressed against their necks!

The bone-chilling touch made goosebumps erupt on their skin, and all their body hair stood on end.

The air was so heavy it felt like it would solidify, the chilling killing intent lowering the surrounding temperature.

Fear spread uncontrollably, consuming their reason like a wild beast.

"Let's go! All of us!"

Terai knew they couldn't wait any longer, or their courage would be crushed by fear.

"Heh... hahaha... hahahahaha!"

Uchiha Hikari covered her eyes, laughing wildly and arrogantly, her entire being exuding a twisted, pathological aura: "I belong to him. Only he can touch me. As for you... a bunch of disgusting scum, daring to touch me with your dirty hands, you all deserve to die!!!"

"Attack!!!"

Sweat born of fear flew, everyone's faces contorted, and they roared ferociously as they charged at the girl.

Uchiha Hikari half-covered one eye, the scarlet light of the Mangekyo appearing. She parted her lips slightly:

"Fight each other to the death, scum!"

The sky was overcast, and the rain poured down.

Konan, enveloped in endless sorrow, let the heavy rain soak her.

Hanzo was dead.

He died by the hands of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, killed by an enraged Nagato.

But... this wasn't the outcome she wanted!

"Konan..." Nagato's eyelids drooped, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth. With his last ounce of strength, he said to her: "Take us back..."

After saying this, he fainted and collapsed to the ground.

The uncontrolled Demonic Statue of the Outer Path vanished into a puff of smoke.

"Nagato!" Konan, ignoring the mud on her body, stumbled over and picked up the unconscious Nagato.

She was shocked by what she saw.

The massive Demonic Statue of the Outer Path had absorbed a large amount of Nagato's chakra. If not for his Uzumaki Clan physique, he would have died long ago.

But even so, Nagato had paid a heavy price, becoming emaciated.

Moreover, the black rods embedded in his body had caused him severe damage, requiring immediate treatment, or his life would be in danger at any moment.

"Why... why did it turn out like this!"

Endless grief welled up in Konan's heart, tears mixing with the rain as they flowed down.

"It is I. Is this the punishment that descends upon me for attempting to change fate?"

"Why... must you do this to me!"

"You show me fate, yet you do not allow me to change it!"

"I hate this!"

Under the pouring rain, Konan curled up helplessly, sobbing uncontrollably.

If it weren't for her, for her unwavering belief in the prophecy from her dreams, for her insistence on dragging Yahiko and Nagato to the place from her dream to seek the truth, would all of this have happened?

But reality, as always, offered no "if only."

Yahiko was dead, just as the prophecy in her dream foretold, dying to save her.

Nagato was crippled, having forcibly summoned the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path to kill Hanzo.

Everything unfolded exactly as fate had decreed, no matter how much effort they made, the ending could never be changed!

"Yahiko. I'll take you home."

Konan, her face pale, covered Yahiko's body with white paper. She then lifted the unconscious Nagato and, lost in despair, walked towards the distance.

"We'll go home together, just like we promised back then."

The girl's steps were slow, as if each one required all the strength in her body.

As she passed the Konoha Anbu, she instinctively paused. Her kindness made it impossible for her to turn a blind eye.

The Uchiha Anbu, who had been struck by Hanzo, was unconscious but still salvageable. A gruesome scar, deep enough to reveal bone, adorned his chest, staining the surrounding earth red with blood. He looked as though he was on his last breath.

"Fortunately, it's not a fatal wound," Konan said as she bandaged his injuries. "As long as the bleeding stops, Tsunade should be able to heal you when she returns."

Then, Konan, her steps heavy, left the sorrowful place with the two of them.

Splash, splash.

Silence returned to the surroundings, broken only by the patter of the rain.

A moment later, Uchiha Sōgetsu opened his eyes. He slowly sat up and touched the scar on his chest. "Damage Transfer. The Magician's ability is truly useful."

He looked at Hanzo's desiccated corpse not far away, adjusted his glasses, and his eyes were devoid of emotion. "If there is a next life, remember my advice: be wary of the spectators."

This play was spectacular.

But even more spectacular was the manipulator behind the scenes who directed it all—Uchiha Sōgetsu!

Hanzo, Konan, Yahiko, Nagato. Everyone was merely a puppet on strings.

Following a pre-written script, they stepped one by one towards an ending that had already been planned.

"I regret this, Yahiko."

Uchiha Sōgetsu lowered his eyelids and murmured softly to himself, "In my future script, your existence is not required."

December 19th, Sunny

Mourning for the victims of the earthquake... Life is truly so fragile.