Itachi and Orochimaru had judged Nara Shikaku correctly.
While the Akatsuki Organization members were talking, Nara Shikaku had already decided to retreat.
Yet a sliver of hope still remained in his heart, so he stepped out from the group and stood at the front of the formation. Raising his voice, he addressed Pain in the sky:
"Are you people from the Land of Rain?"
"Thank you for helping seal the Tailed Beast."
"We didn't mean to deceive you earlier. This involved the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, so we had no choice. We hope your country will understand."
"Our comrade crossed the line because we didn't want the Tailed Beast to run wild in Amegakure and cause damage there."
"For concealing the truth earlier, I'm willing to apologize to the Land of Rain and pay appropriate compensation for the damages."
"However, this is Konoha's Nine-Tails, and we can't let its existence become known outside the village. We hope you'll let us take the sealed Nine-Tails back with us."
Pain hovered high in the air, looking down at him with a cold gaze. He slowly spoke:
"Just as I thought. The great nations are shameless!"
"Before Konan showed up, you couldn't have cared less whether Amegakure lived or died!"
"You're only willing to talk to us now because you've lost your advantage in force here."
"Indeed. Those who have never experienced pain can't understand the preciousness of peace!"
Nara Shikaku frowned at Pain's strange, rambling words, then changed tack:
"Is Hanzo of the Salamander here?"
"Please let him know that Nara Shikaku of Konoha requests an audience."
Compared to this strange, unfamiliar ninja, Nara Shikaku preferred dealing with Hanzo of the Salamander, whom he had encountered before. Even if Hanzo of the Salamander was a powerful demigod, as a leader, he wouldn't act on impulse.
"Hanzo of the Salamander..." Pain didn't answer, only lowering his head in thought.
The Akatsuki Organization wasn't ready to begin collecting the Tailed Beasts in earnest. They didn't have enough people, their supplies were insufficient, and they hadn't even fully identified the locations of all nine Tailed Beasts.
Starting a war now would be too rushed. It wasn't a good choice.
But the Nine-Tails had practically been delivered to their doorstep this time. It seemed a shame not to take it.
Yet after taking it, Pain realized that it was more trouble than it was worth.
For the Ten-Tails to be resurrected, all nine Tailed Beasts had to be gathered.
But once they started collecting the Tailed Beasts, there could be no stopping.
Otherwise, the villages that owned them would keep coming to attack and try to take them back. The other villages would also become wary, making the mission more difficult.
They had only one chance. If they failed, the Akatsuki Organization would become the enemy of the entire Ninja World, with no chance to try again. The Land of Rain would inevitably be destroyed, too.
Perhaps he could trade the Nine-Tails for some supplies first, then collect all nine Tailed Beasts once they were fully prepared.
Noticing Pain's hesitation, Nara Shikaku was overjoyed. He quickly pressed his advantage, speaking earnestly:
"Konoha and Amegakure have always been allies. Our Hokage-sama and Lord Hanzo often correspond by letter. We hope your village will accommodate us."
"When we return, Hokage-sama will surely write to Lord Hanzo personally to express his gratitude."
But as soon as he finished speaking, a strange laugh rang out beside him, shrill as an owl's cry.
"Heh heh... We certainly are allies!"
"Sarutobi Hiruzen isn't the only one who often exchanged letters with Hanzo of the Salamander!"
"Shimura Danzō did, too!"
"Come to think of it, Hanzo of the Salamander hadn't planned to wipe out the Akatsuki Organization back then. But Shimura Danzō sent people over to egg him on, telling him the Akatsuki Organization would eventually threaten his rule and urging him to destroy it."
Nara Shikaku turned his head and saw "Uchiha Itachi" grinning mockingly. His blood-red eyes brimmed with killing intent, so tangible it seemed to flow from them.
He frowned and ignored him, turning back to try to persuade Pain. But then a chill ran through him as killing intent from Pain in the sky pressed down on him.
"Haha..."
Uchiha An threw back his head and laughed. He paid no mind to the killing intent coming from Pain. Instead, he spread his arms and struck a pose as if inviting them to kill him, his expression crazed with mockery.
"Hey, Pain, don't tell me that after all these years, you still don't know who was behind Yahiko's death?"
"Or did you know all along that Konoha was your enemy, but pretend not to because they were too powerful to provoke?"
"Huh?"
"Haha..."
After provoking Pain, he turned to taunt Nara Shikaku as well.
"Oh, right. Nara Shikaku over there, you don't know, do you?"
"The Akatsuki Organization rules the Land of Rain now!"
"That damn Hanzo of the Salamander has been dead for ages!"
"That damn demigod is less than an ant before the Akatsuki Organization's leader, who has the same Rinnegan as the Sage of Six Paths!"
"What?" Nara Shikaku was stunned. His pupils shrank abruptly, and the color drained from his face.
He snapped his head up to look at Pain in the sky, but Pain's expression was utterly blank, his spiral eyes cold and indifferent. Nara Shikaku immediately knew things had gone wrong.
When a village changed leaders, it would normally inform the surrounding countries. But the people of the Land of Rain had not only failed to announce the change; they had also tightly sealed off all information and let nothing slip out. The hostility implied by that was plain to see.
And the claim that they had "the same Rinnegan as the Sage of Six Paths" was even more alarming!
Cursing Danzō in his heart for causing trouble again, he hurriedly backed away and called out:
"If Amegakure has a new leader, I should return to the village and report this. In a few days, Konoha will send an envoy to negotiate with Amegakure."
"Haha... You really do deserve to be called Konoha's greatest mind. You figured it out so quickly!" Uchiha An clapped and laughed, then sprang forward to block the Konoha People from behind. "Too bad it's too late!"
Nara Shikaku arched an eyebrow. Rather than fight, he turned and called out to Pain:
"New leader of Amegakure, are you sure you want to stop us from leaving?"
"Understand this: we represent Konoha. Do you want to start a war with Konoha?"
"Konoha is the greatest power in the Ninja World. The Land of Rain is a small country and can't stand against us!"
"Even Demigod Hanzo of the Salamander, at the height of his power, was merely on par with the Three Legendary Sannin!"
"But Konoha has far more powerful ninjas than just the Three Legendary Sannin. If you start a war recklessly, aren't you afraid your entire village will be reduced to dust?"
But the more he threatened, the firmer the killing intent radiating from Pain in the sky became.
"Indeed. We shouldn't have believed the lies of the great nations!"
"Overbearing, arrogant, self-righteous..."
With every sentence, his voice grew heavier and louder.
He wasn't speaking only for the Konoha People below. He was also reaffirming the conclusion he had reached after years of contemplation.
"Your so-called goodwill is nothing but a lie to placate others, a deception meant to buy time!"
"Your so-called peace is nothing but a flower in a mirror, the moon in water—a fragile illusion that vanishes at a touch!"
"Only when you experience immense pain yourselves will you truly understand the preciousness of peace!"
"War is the only way to prevent war!"
Having once again confirmed the correctness of his beliefs, Pain spread his arms and pressed them downward.
"Shinra Tensei!"
Before you continue