Only When You've Felt Pain, Will You Know the Preciousness of Peace

Itachi and Orochimaru's judgment of Nara Shikaku was correct.

While the Akatsuki Organization was in conversation, Nara Shikaku had already made the decision to retreat.

However, a sliver of hope still lingered in his heart, so he stepped out from the crowd, stood at the front of the group, and said loudly to Pain in the sky:

"Are you people from the Land of Rain?"

"Thank you for your help in sealing the Tailed Beast."

"We didn't intend to deceive you before; it was a matter concerning the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, so we had no choice. We ask for your understanding."

"The reason our companion crossed the line was because we didn't want the Tailed Beast to go out of control in Amegakure and cause damage to your village."

"I am willing to apologize to the Land of Rain for our previous concealment and pay appropriate compensation for the losses."

"However, this is our Konohagakure's Nine-Tails, and it cannot be revealed to the outside world. We hope you will allow us to take the sealed Nine-Tails back."

Pain, hovering high in the sky, looked down at him with cold eyes and slowly spoke:

"As expected of the shamelessness of the great nations!"

"Before Konan appeared, you didn't care at all about the lives of those in Amegakure!"

"The only reason you are willing to talk to us now is because you have lost your military advantage here."

"Indeed, those who have not experienced pain cannot understand the preciousness of peace!"

Hearing Pain's cryptic words, Nara Shikaku's brow furrowed, and he changed his approach:

"Is Hanzo of the Salamander here?"

"Please inform him that Nara Shikaku of Konohagakure requests an audience."

Compared to this strange and unfamiliar ninja, Nara Shikaku preferred dealing with Hanzo of the Salamander, whom he had interacted with before. Even though Hanzo of the Salamander was a powerful demigod, as a leader, he surely wouldn't act on impulse.

"Hanzo of the Salamander..." Pain did not answer, merely pondering as he looked down.

The Akatsuki Organization was not yet fully prepared to begin collecting the Tailed Beasts. Their personnel were not complete, their resources were insufficient, and they hadn't even fully identified the locations of all nine Tailed Beasts.

Starting a war at this moment would be too hasty and not a good choice.

However, the Nine-Tails had practically delivered itself to their doorstep, and it felt like a waste not to take it.

But after considering it, Pain realized this thing was a double-edged sword.

To revive the Ten-Tails, all nine Tailed Beasts must be gathered.

But once the collection of Tailed Beasts began, the operation could not stop.

Otherwise, the villages to which the Tailed Beasts belonged would constantly attack, wanting to reclaim them, and other villages would inevitably become vigilant, making the mission more difficult.

There was only one chance. If they failed, the Akatsuki Organization would become the public enemy of the ninja world, with no second chances, and the Land of Rain would inevitably be destroyed.

Perhaps they could first exchange the Nine-Tails for some resources, and then, once everything was fully prepared, gather all nine Tailed Beasts in one go.

Sensing Pain's hesitation, Nara Shikaku's heart leaped with joy. He quickly pressed further, his tone sincere:

"Konohagakure and Amegakure have always had an alliance. Our Hokage and Hanzo of the Salamander often exchange letters. We ask for your cooperation."

"Later, the Hokage will personally send a letter to Hanzo of the Salamander to express his gratitude."

Unexpectedly, as soon as he finished speaking, a strange laugh echoed from the side, like the screech of a night owl, exceptionally piercing.

"Heh heh... It is indeed an alliance!"

"It's not just Sarutobi Hiruzen who frequently exchanges letters with Hanzo of the Salamander!"

"There's also Shimura Danzō!"

"Speaking of which, Hanzo of the Salamander didn't intend to destroy the Akatsuki Organization back then, but Shimura Danzō sent people to instigate him, telling him that the Akatsuki Organization would eventually shake his rule and persuading him to annihilate them."

Nara Shikaku turned his head and saw "Uchiha Itachi" grinning sinisterly, a fierce light flashing in his blood-red eyes, emanating palpable killing intent.

He frowned and ignored it, turning back to try and persuade Pain again, but his heart suddenly turned cold as a killing intent pressed down from Pain in the sky.

"Haha..."

Uchiha An burst into wild laughter, completely unfazed by the killing intent emanating from Pain. Instead, he spread his arms wide, as if offering himself for slaughter, and mockingly sneered with a crazed expression:

"Hey, Pain, after all these years, you still don't know who was behind Yahiko's death?"

"Or perhaps you knew all along that Konoha was the enemy, but because the enemy was too powerful and you couldn't afford to provoke them, you pretended not to know?"

"Huh?"

"Haha..."

After provoking Pain, he turned to provoke Nara Shikaku.

"Ah, right, Nara Shikaku over there, you still don't know, do you?"

"The Land of Rain today is ruled by the Akatsuki Organization!"

"What a load of crap, Hanzo of the Salamander, he's long dead and gone!"

"What a load of crap, demigod, in front of the leader of the Akatsuki Organization who possesses the Rinnegan, the same as the Sage of Six Paths, he's not even as good as an ant!"

"What?!" This time, Nara Shikaku was shocked, his pupils contracting sharply, and the color drained from his face instantly.

He suddenly looked up at Pain in the sky, but only saw Pain's expressionless face, his Rinnegan filled with indifference. He knew immediately that things were bad.

When a village changes leaders, it's normal to inform the surrounding countries. But these people from the Land of Rain hadn't notified anyone, and had even completely sealed off information, not letting any news leak out. The hostility implied by this was already obvious.

And then there was the "Rinnegan, the same as the Six Paths Sage," which made it even more terrifying!

While cursing Danzo in his mind for messing things up again, he quickly retreated, shouting:

"Since the Amegakure has changed leaders, I shall return to the village to report this matter. In a few days, Konohagakure will send an envoy to negotiate with Amegakure."

"Haha... As expected, you truly are the mastermind of Konoha. You figured it out so quickly!" Uchiha An clapped his hands and laughed, leaping forward to block the path behind the Konoha group. "Unfortunately, it's too late!"

Nara Shikaku's brow twitched. He didn't charge forward to fight, but instead turned his head and shouted to Pain:

"New leader of Amegakure, are you sure you want to stop us from leaving?"

"You must understand, we represent Konoha. Do you want to start a war with Konohagakure?"

"Konohagakure is the foremost great nation in the ninja world, not a small country like the Land of Rain that can contend with it!"

"Even Hanzo of the Salamander, at his peak, was only on par with the Sannin!"

"But Konohagakure has far more powerful ninja than just the Sannin. If you rashly start a war, aren't you afraid the entire village will turn to dust?"

However, the more he threatened, the more resolute the killing intent radiating from Pain in the sky became.

"As expected, I shouldn't have believed the lies of the great nations!"

"Overbearing, arrogant, self-righteous..."

With each sentence, his tone deepened and his voice grew louder.

This was not only for the Konoha group below to hear, but also to reaffirm the conclusions he had reached through his long-term contemplation.

"So-called goodwill is merely a lie to placate others, a deceptive tactic to stall for time!"

"So-called peace is merely a flower in the mirror and the moon on the water, an illusory bubble that can be shattered at any moment!"

"Only by making you experience immense pain as well can you truly understand the preciousness of peace!"

"Only war is the only way to avoid war!"

Once again confirming the correctness of his beliefs, Pain spread his hands and pressed them down.

"Almighty Push!"