Konan's Despair

The sky over Amegakure today is red.

Every moment, villagers of Amegakure shed their blood on the ground.

This time, the Masked Man also brought the Hashirama's cells army. This can also be considered a military exercise to test the capabilities of the Hashirama's cells, so as to ensure that they can perform to their full potential when facing the Five Great Shinobi Villages in the future.

"Zabuza Lord Zai, those people will be even more cruel!"

Upon seeing the Hashirama's cells Legion, even those already fallen to the ground did not forget their broadswords. They completely carried out the Masked Man's orders, leaving no one alive.

"Bai, this is the cruelty of the ninja world. If you're weak, you're just fish on the chopping block."

Seeing the Masked Man Zabuza ruthlessly turn against his former partners, Zabuza wondered if he and Haku might suffer the same fate. At that moment, Zabuza contemplated many things. His only consolation was that they had chosen to go undercover. This was their only way Zabuza. Zabuza could only pray that Konoha would keep its promise. Otherwise Zabuza and Haku might have died in vain.

"Zabuza, stop standing there! Get to work!"

Seeing Kisame Zabuza on his shoulder, watching the Hashirama's cells army with great interest but not making a move, Kisame couldn't help but urge them on.

"Alright, alright, let's get started."

Zabuza doesn't want to break ties with Kisame yet.

Zabuza his Kubikiribōchō, cutting down one child after another. Slowly, the blood on the ground pooled together and seeped into the earth. This was something no one present noticed, since the rain in Amegakure had never stopped.

Unlike the younger players on the battlefield, it was basically a one-sided victory for Konan, who was suffering greatly. The Masked Man's attacks rained down on Konan like raindrops. How could Konan's frail body withstand it? She was already covered in wounds.

"Huff, huff."

Konan was panting heavily. It was already remarkable that she could hold out for so long in the Masked Man's Susanoo. However, Konan had also achieved her goal, leading the Masked Man step by step into his ambush.

"It's finally done."

Konan was overjoyed at this moment.

"Um?"

Seeing Konan's happy expression, the Masked Man suddenly had a bad feeling.

"Die, Madara!"

Konan pressed her hand to the ground. With a "bang," a huge summoning circle appeared on the ground. This summoning circle enveloped the entire Amegakure. Countless Explosive Tags came into view.

"This?"

The Masked Man was also shocked by Konan's extravagant spending. This woman was too wasteful.

This tactic was originally intended by Konan as a precaution in case the plan failed and the enemy attacked Amegakure, turning the Amegakure into a giant powder keg to blow up all the invading enemies. She never expected it would be used here.

"This woman is truly insane!"

This was the first thought in the Masked Man's mind: the entire Amegakure was clearly built on a massive powder keg. She wasn't even afraid that, with a single mishap, Amegakure would vanish without anyone even needing to attack.

Haku Zabuza Kisame, and the others dared not make any rash moves, as they were not confident of escaping from such an "Explosive Tags array."

"Let me and Nagato go, and you can live too."

Konan made a hand seal and resolutely addressed the Masked Man, as if she would make everyone pay for her and Nagato's deaths if the answer Masked Man gave did not meet her expectations.

"Even if you manage to escape this time, you will have no place in this Ninja World."

"You have to understand that Nagato offended all Five Great Shinobi Villages one by one."

"If you hand over the Rinnegan, I can let you both leave safely."

The Masked Man first explained Nagato and Konan's predicament, and then made his demands. Masked Man believed this was the biggest concession he could offer.

Konan knew the Masked Man was right, but in Konan mind, the Rinnegan originally belonged to Nagato. Now, it was being used to buy her and Rinnegan's lives, even when she had the Nagato. Just a day ago, he was the infamous leader of Akatsuki Organization; today, he was a pathetic dog, unable to even control his own fate. Konan's heart was filled with bitterness. She couldn't understand what was happening. Why were so many Nagato opposed to Nagato's pursuit of peace? Wasn't a world without war what everyone longed for?

"Hahaha."

"Don't even dream about it. If we were to Rinnegan to someone like you, you would drag the entire Ninja World into the abyss of war."

Konan scoffed at the Masked Man's wild idea. She knew Nagato's thoughts: he would rather die than hand over the Rinnegan.

"What a pity! You have once again betrayed my kindness."

The Masked Man inside Susanoo spoke calmly.

"Boss, don't provoke her! We don't want to die!"

If the Masked Man could hear Kisame and the others' inner thoughts, he would know that they were standing frozen in place, afraid to move an inch and be blown to pieces.

"Um?"

Konan Masked Man was still being stubborn.

"Then you can all die!"

"Burst."

Konan finished the last hand seal and spoke.

The anticipated explosion did not occur. The air was unusually quiet.

Unconvinced, Konan Hand Seals again.

"Burst."

It still had no effect.

"How could this happen? Why did this happen?"

Konan looked completely bewildered; she simply couldn't understand why her "Explosive Tags array" hadn't exploded.

"Hehe."

The Masked Man's mocking laughter rang out from mid-air.

"I gave you a chance."

The Masked Man thoroughly enjoyed the enemy's emotional shift from hope to despair.

"Black Zetsu, come out!"

The Masked Man called out, and Black Zetsu slowly emerged from the ground.

"Oh, it was you!"

The moment Konan saw Black Zetsu, she understood why she had failed. Someone who frequently travels underground could easily detect the Explosive Tags you buried underground.

Fire Release.

Wherever the Masked Man's Fire Release passed, the paper burst into flames. Seeing this, Konan knew her chances of winning were slim; she had no hope of turning the tide.

The Masked Man swung his flaming blade at Konan. Konan simply stood there motionless, not because she couldn't escape, but because she was completely immobilized. Black Zetsu had already planted a mark at Konan's location while underground.

"Nagato, I can't stay with you any longer."

As the flaming blade drew ever closer, Konan lingered for a final, wistful look at Nagato's location.

Shinra Tensei.