Three Children Grow Up, Changing Amegakure

Blood splattered as the Stone Ninjas widened their eyes and crashed heavily to the ground.

The remaining three were terrified and began forming hand seals.

"Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!"

"Water Release: Water Chaos Wave!"

However, before their ninjutsu could take shape, three "Chiyos" suddenly appeared behind them.

These "Chiyos" were Shadow Clones he had created in advance.

"Swish! Swish! Swish!"

Three soft sounds rang out as the throats of the three Stone Ninjas were slit simultaneously. Blood gushed forth, and they fell with their eyes wide, unable to believe it.

In just a few seconds, all five Stone Ninjas were dead.

After dispelling the Shadow Clones, Chiyo flicked the blood from his Kunai and turned toward Konan and the other two.

He crouched down and checked their injuries.

Seeing that they were only superficial wounds, he finally relaxed.

Chiyo took out bandages and applied ointment.

He quickly and efficiently wrapped their wounds.

Fear still lingered in Konan's eyes, but the moment she saw Chiyo, her tears finally spilled over, and she threw herself into his arms.

"Chiyo-niichan..."

Chiyo gently stroked her head, feeling Konan tremble softly in his embrace.

It seemed this time, she had truly been frightened.

What had happened today was likely the closest they had ever come to death.

Yahiko clutched his aching chest, gritting his teeth.

"Those bastards... If Chiyo-niichan hadn't come, we probably would have already..."

Chiyo's expression turned serious.

"This place isn't safe anymore. We need to leave immediately."

Konan wiped her tears and calmed herself before stepping out of Chiyo's arms.

Chiyo glanced at the corpses of the Iwagakure ninjas. He knew that within Amegakure's borders, there were at least four or five hundred Iwagakure ninjas.

"Don't go back to that cabin for now. We'll find somewhere else!"

Hearing the command in Chiyo's voice, all three nodded seriously.

"I'll deal with these bodies. Go wait for me beneath that tree over there!"

The three nodded obediently and ran over.

Chiyo looked at the ninja corpses not far from his feet and instantly appeared before them.

He summoned five black body bags from a Scroll and packed them away one by one.

Chakra surged through his hands as he carried the five bodies to a deep section of the river.

After weighing them, he felt they still were not heavy enough.

He found several large rocks and stuffed them into the bags.

"Splash!"

Five splashes sounded in succession.

The five from Iwagakure sank with the current, and before long, no trace of them remained on the surface.

His scarlet Three Tomoe Sharingan activated once more.

After scanning the battlefield and carefully erasing their Chakra traces, he returned to the three children.

Yahiko and Nagato looked curiously in the direction Chiyo had come from.

"Follow me!"

Chiyo ignored their little movements.

He raised his head toward the gloomy sky. Before long, it would probably begin pouring again.

He headed forward at a brisk pace.

Konan followed closely behind with a determined expression.

Yahiko came next, with Nagato at the rear.

After walking for about half an hour, the group finally stopped before a cave.

The area around its entrance was covered in withered branches, and the surrounding dirt showed no signs of disturbance.

There was hardly even any droppings.

According to Chiyo's judgment, there were probably no large animals here.

Chiyo had the three wait at the entrance while he went inside alone.

There were only old paw prints from small animals in the cave, with no fresh claw marks, footprints, or other signs of animal activity.

"Come in!"

Only after making sure everything was safe did Chiyo call them inside.

"We'll rest here tonight."

Chiyo lit a campfire. Orange-red flames reflected on the four of their faces, driving away the damp chill from their bodies.

He took several pieces of rations from his ninja tool pouch and handed them to the three.

Konan accepted the rations, carefully broke them apart, and shared them with Yahiko and Nagato.

"Thank you..."

Nagato spoke softly. His red hair covered his eyes, concealing his expression.

Chiyo sat cross-legged, his gaze sweeping over the three.

"How have you been since I left?"

Konan hurriedly swallowed the food in her mouth and replied gently.

"Teacher Jiraiya came back once, but he only stayed for a few days.

"He said the fighting on the front lines was urgent and that the village had sent orders for him to return, so he left in a hurry."

Yahiko clenched his fists, his tone full of resentment.

"Teacher Jiraiya had planned to teach us new ninjutsu, but he left before he could. If we had learned those techniques, we wouldn't have been so helpless today..."

Chiyo glanced at him, then continued asking.

"Then why did you encounter Iwagakure's ninjas today? Had you met them before?"

The three looked at one another, then shook their heads together.

"We hadn't encountered them before. We only came out today to catch fish...

"Teacher Jiraiya had left, and we had already eaten all the food we gathered before, so..."

"Those Stone Ninjas suddenly appeared. When they saw me using Chakra Control on paper, they decided we were descendants of Amegakure ninjas. They wanted us to tell them where the ninja stronghold was and where the food was stored!"

"When will this war ever end?"

"..."

The three spoke one after another.

Chiyo listened carefully.

After hearing the general outline, Chiyo understood what had happened.

He looked at them, his tone gentle.

"This war will end soon. Both Sunagakure and Amegakure have already sought peace with Konoha. Before long, this place will return to peace."

Konan's eyes lit up.

"Really?"

"Yeah. When that happens, you can come to Konoha with me."

A trace of anticipation appeared on Konan's face, but Yahiko frowned.

"Go to Konoha?"

He shook his head, his voice resolute.

"No. I want to stay in Amegakure."

Chiyo looked at him.

"Why?"

Yahiko clenched his fists, determination shining in his eyes.

"I want to change this place! I want Amegakure to have no more war, no more hunger!

"If even we leave, then who will change it?"

Chiyo was slightly stunned. He had not expected Yahiko to possess such awareness.

He turned to Nagato.

"What about you?"

Nagato lowered his head, absently rubbing the rations between his fingers. After a long silence, he finally spoke in a low voice.

"I... I don't want to go to Konoha either."

His voice was soft, but Chiyo keenly sensed the resistance within it.

In that instant, Chiyo understood.

Nagato's parents had died at the hands of Konoha Ninjas.

In the original story, when Nagato was young, Konoha Ninjas had broken into his home, and his family had died beneath their blades.

Even though that hatred had not yet erupted, it was already buried deep within his heart.

Chiyo did not force him. He merely nodded.

"I respect your decision."

Konan looked at Yahiko, then at Nagato. After hesitating for a moment, she softly said,

"Then... I won't go either."

Yahiko froze and turned to her.

"Konan, you don't have to force yourself... I know you want to leave Amegakure with Chiyo-niichan."

Konan shook her head and revealed a faint smile.

"We're companions. I won't abandon you."

Chiyo looked at the three, his heart filled with emotion.

They were clearly still children, yet they already carried far too much.

Yahiko's ideals, Nagato's restraint, Konan's gentleness...

Perhaps this bond was the very prototype of the future Akatsuki.

"Since you've decided to stay, I won't force you."

Chiyo took out three Scrolls from his ninja tool pouch and handed them to the three.

"These contain some basic ninjutsu. You can practice according to them. At the very least, you'll be able to learn them quickly and protect yourselves."

Yahiko accepted the Scroll, gratitude flashing through his eyes.

"Chiyo-niichan, thank you!"

Nagato silently accepted his as well, speaking softly.

"...Thank you."

Konan clutched the Scroll tightly to her chest, her eyes slightly red.

"We'll definitely become stronger!"

Chiyo smiled faintly and reached out to rub her hair.

"I believe in you."

"And I believe you'll change Amegakure."

The campfire gradually weakened, and the night deepened.

Chiyo watched the three sleeping soundly, his gaze settling on Nagato.

His Rinnegan did not seem to have awakened yet. Should he...

Destroy those eyes?