In progress...

Taking advantage of Nagato being En no Gyōja the Nagato, Tōka immediately fled to chase after the injured Konan.

One minute later...

"Huh? We were definitely in this area just now. Could it be that I went in the wrong direction?" Tōka stared blankly at the large Lake in front of him.

Hidden in the mountains, the Lake is backed by two High Mountain. Streams flow down from the Mountain Stream and converge in the Lake, where the shimmering water reflects the sun's halo like a mirror.

Tōka stood by the lake, squinting as she surveyed her surroundings.

At that moment, a delicate little fish swam towards Tōka's location on the shore, its tail swaying in the misty lake water.

"Wait! There's murderous intent!" Tōka, who was about to activate his Eternal Tenseigan to enhance his vision, suddenly turned pale and felt a chill sweep over him.

Not around us, not in the sky, then it's right here... beneath our feet!

Tōka quickly lifted his leg and retreated. Just as he lifted his leg, a loud explosion suddenly erupted, and a powerful blast of air stirred up a huge column of water.

The water column transformed into countless highly penetrating water arrows that shot Tōka.

"Water Release? No, it's just the energy from Explosive Tag." Tōka stretched out one hand and slowly drew a circle in front of him.

A shimmering, Green Light formed in the air, and then the Green Light on the halo surged towards the center, forming a luminous Green Light barrier.

The detonation of the close-range Explosive Tag is quite powerful, as evidenced by the fact that even the splashes of water can be transformed into sharp arrows.

However, countless bursts of energy mixed with water arrows were shot out, but they were all blocked when they came into contact with the green barrier.

"Long time no see, is this how you greet an old friend?" Tōka slowly withdrew his arm and put it back in his pocket, a half-smile on his face.

On the Lake, a ripple of water rose and then transformed into a Paper Dance that gradually solidified in the air.

A stunningly beautiful woman with a Red Clouds on a Black Background Coat and light blue-purple hair appeared before them.

Those pale orange pupils indifferently reflected Tōka's figure. Konan teeth slightly, and the Lip Piercing at the bottom of her lips moved slightly.

"You really didn't die." The cold tone carried a hint of shock and intense hostility.

"What? You really want me dead?" Tōka raised an eyebrow and asked, not at all angry at Konan's words. Konan was cold to everyone except for Nagato.

However, he made no attempt to hide his hostility towards Tōka and Black Zetsu.

Perhaps it was because of a bad first impression, or perhaps Tōka's ill intentions were too obvious, or perhaps they were natural enemies.

"You killed Kakuzu, Hidan, Kazuma, didn't you?" Konan's figure stood on the lake, beautiful ripples spreading outwards from her feet.

Although it was a question, Konan's eyes told Tōka that she was very certain.

The reason I asked this was simply to hear him say it himself.

"Theoretically, yes." Tōka nodded in agreement. Since Kakuzu and Hidan had chosen to side with Nagato, there was naturally no reason to keep them around.

Kazuma has some mental issues and is an extremely unstable factor. Besides, Tōka doesn't even consider Kazuma.

So...

So what if he's dead? He's just a pawn, there are plenty more like him!

Having received an affirmative answer, Konan's expression remained unchanged. To her, Kakuzu, Hidan, Kazuma were merely objects to be used.

S-rank Rogue Ninja from various villages joined Akatsuki Organization with various motives; everyone was merely using each other, and there was no real affection between them.

For a moment, the scene fell into a deathly silence, and the atmosphere became eerily oppressive.

Despite being a place of beautiful mountains and clear waters, the air was thick with a sharp, murderous aura that seemed almost tangible as it swept over the two of them.

Sudden!

A gentle breeze swept across the lake, stirring up waves that surged toward the shore. Just then, Konan moved!

She spread her hands, and the pieces of paper fluttering around her quickly gathered between them.

The Paper Dance: Paper Spear!

Buzz!

Chakra condensed and poured into the paper, and two high-speed spinning, extremely penetrating spears took shape, stirring the air beside Konan and emitting a buzzing sound.

In her first move, Konan chose to use Explosive Tag to detonate continuously, testing Tōka's defensive capabilities with an area-of-effect attack.

When Konan saw Tōka easily form a green barrier to block the power of the Explosive Tag, she knew that a wide-range attack was too weak to break through Tōka's defense.

Therefore, Konan decided to use this Paper Spear with extremely strong penetrating power.

"Go!"

With a flick of Konan's two arms, which were bent backward, two Paper Spear that spun rapidly and buzzed were launched out with a whoosh.

It moved with incredible speed, like an arrow shot from a bow.

The powerful force split the calm lake surface below, and the splashing water bounced off to both sides, like the trails left by two water snakes swimming at high speed.

Before the Paper Spear even reached him, Tōka could feel two powerful energies rushing towards him.

"It uses high-speed rotation to enhance its penetrating power, and the speed is so fast that it's difficult for people to react and avoid it in a short amount of time."

Tōka objectively analyzed Konan's technique, how she used a thin piece of paper as a deadly weapon.

It has to be said that in this world of ninjas, Konan is a genius!

However, such power is nothing but a joke to Tōka!

One Flash Ice Blue halo appeared in those cool, confident eyes. Suddenly, the space itself seemed to tremble, and an invisible Repulsive Force radiated outwards from Tōka's Original Body.

The burst of short-range force struck the incoming Paper Spear.

Buzz!

An unpleasant buzzing sound rang out, and the Paper Spear swayed, actually grazing past Tōka's side.

The sharp force of the air made his robes flutter loudly.

In a short while, two loud bangs rang out, and two large Big Tree, each several meters in circumference, were pierced through in the Forest behind Tōka.

Two holes emitting bluish smoke are clearly visible...

"Missed it? Impossible!" Konan's expression changed slightly, and she immediately rejected the conclusion that it had missed. Her technique had never missed.

The fact that the Paper Spear failed to hit Tōka can only be explained by one answer.

Tōka's Original Body moved; Tōka himself dodged the attack trajectory of the Paper Spear.

Konan's eyes flickered slightly. The wide-range explosion was not enough to break Tōka's defense, and the Paper Spear attack with its strong penetrating power was too one-dimensional and easily avoided.

Should we use that move?

In the instant Konan hesitated, Tōka moved.

Like a ghostly shadow, Tōka appeared directly behind Konan, a section of grayish-white Withered Bones growing out from his slender hand.

The cracking sound of bones breaking sent chills down your spine.

A look of shock flashed across Konan's eyes. She subconsciously looked in the direction of the sound and saw a ball of emerald green light flickering in Tōka's outstretched palm.

Is that the light barrier that blocked the barrage of Explosive Tag just now?

Within the Green Light, a section of decaying Ash Bones was wrapped, Konan clearly recognized as Tōka's All-Killing Ash Bones.

Its ability to kill with a single blow is so potent that even plants and trees cannot escape its effects.

Get out of the way!

The only thought that flashed through her mind was that Konan's pair of white wings flapped, instantly creating a huge gust of wind.

Konan's body soared into the sky, and Tōka's hand went empty. He then looked up at the angel taking off.

"Fly?" Tōka sneered, stretching out his left hand, his five fingers making a grasping motion, aiming at the figure in the sky.

Get down here!

A tremendous Attractive Force suddenly erupted, and Konan, who was flapping her wings to continue widening the distance, suddenly froze. Then, she was instantly pulled down by Tōka's gesture.

It was as if an invisible, thick iron chain had bound the angel's wings.

The wind howled in her ears, the light and shadows on both sides rushed past, and Konan's figure plummeted downwards.

However, at this moment, she was not focused on her own fall, but on Tōka's eyes.

Against an icy blue background, nine jet-black Tomoe floated silently within the flickering, flame-like pupils.

Konan had seen Nagato's Rinnegan countless times, and every time she looked directly into Nagato's eyes, she could feel a tremor in her soul.

At this moment, the impact of Tōka's eyes on her was unprecedented.

One gets the feeling that, under those eyes, the world is insignificant, let alone a tiny human being existing between them.

"Don't be so nervous, it's just a small gift."

Tōka's right hand pierced Konan's chest without any resistance, and the Green Light in his palm entered her body.

It uses Yang Release to envelop the All-Killing Ash Bones, suppressing the destructive power of decaying energy.

The green orb is controlled by Tōka's Original Body, and Tōka can dispel the Jutsu Formula in just a moment.

Without the green orb blocking the attack on the sand Ash Bones, Konan's body will be immediately devoured by the power of decay.

The result was only one...

Tōka placed his palm on Konan's head, erasing Konan's memory of meeting him today. With a splash, Konan, who had lost Tōka's grip, collapsed onto the water's surface after losing consciousness.

Could he have drowned?

Just as Tōka was hesitating about whether to throw Konan onto the shore, he suddenly noticed that the sounds of fighting in the woods had stopped.

"I underestimated Nagato's strength, or rather, I overestimated the power of the Six-Tails Jinchuriki and the En no Gyōja."

The battle appears to be over.

Knowing that Nagato would come looking for her immediately, Tōka abandoned the idea of moving Konan and disappeared from the spot in a flash.

On the mirror-like calm lake, only a slender figure lies in the water, rising and falling with the waves stirred by the breeze.

In the Forest, Black Zetsu, who was responsible for monitoring Nagato, had his lower body hidden in the ground, leaving only a Pitcher Plant covering his head sticking out.

Under the Tree Shadow of a nearby tree, a black Vortex suddenly began to spin.

Black Zetsu was slightly taken aback, and shifted his gaze to the side, only to see Tōka walking out while taking off his Coat.

"Did you succeed?" Black Zetsu asked curiously, because he couldn't see joy or frustration in Tōka's expression.

"Of course." Tōka didn't hide anything from Black Zetsu, nodding before asking in return, "How are the Six-Tails and that old guy?"

"The Six-Tails Jinchuriki was captured alive," Black Zetsu recounted in detail. "That Old Man was quite strong, but he was old and didn't understand Nagato's abilities; he's already dead."

"They were captured alive? Didn't you tell Nagato about his abilities?" Tōka was somewhat surprised, as he had thought the battle would last much longer.

"You'll see for yourself." Black Zetsu raised his chin, gesturing for Tōka to look towards the depths of the Forest and the direction of the Plain.

Chakra surged into his eyes, instantly opening up his vision.

Following the direction Black Zetsu pointed, Tōka gazed into the distance and noticed a figure floating away in Utakata. Was this little girl the En no Gyōja's Granddaughter?

I see...

"The Seed has been planted; now it's just a matter of the Tailed Beast." Tōka pondered for a moment, then changed the subject, saying, "Notify Sasori and Deidara to deal with the Three-Tails as soon as possible, and also tell Kisame from the Land of Earth not to hinder Itachi; the Four-Tails Jinchuriki is quite powerful."

"No problem." Upon hearing this, Black Zetsu became excited.

Hidden in the darkness for a thousand years, wasn't this the moment he had been waiting for? Having captured all Nine Tailed Beasts, he summoned the Ten-Tails.

Revive Uchiha Madara, and use him as a vessel to welcome Mother's return!

After the battle, Nagato led Konan and Utakata away, and the Forest once again fell into a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere.

Only the fallen Big Tree and the ravaged land bear witness to how fierce the battle was.

The sparse light fell on Tōka's figure, making him look somewhat hazy and unreal.

Black Zetsu was lost in his dream of Kaguya's Resurrection when he suddenly heard Tōka's voice.

"After Sasori and Deidara capture the Three-Tails, seal it as soon as possible, then have them go directly to Sunagakure and bring out the One-Tail."

"Nagato was thinking the same thing. Sasori and Deidara will head to Sunagakure immediately after capturing the Three-Tails," Black Zetsu said, frowning slightly.

"Where is the Seven-Tails? Where is it?" Tōka asked, rubbing his chin.

"Huh? You're planning to take action yourself?" Black Zetsu glanced at Tōka in surprise, his eyes darting around, seizing the opportunity to assess Tōka's strength!

Over the years, Tōka has grown too fast, Black Zetsu feels that he can no longer control him.

"Isn't Akatsuki Organization supposed to be short-handed?" Tōka countered.

With the Pain's Six Paths now deployed, and the sealing of the Tailed Beast looming, Nagato will have no chance of leaving the Land of Rain again.

Since that's the case, Tōka decided to bring Seven-Tails back personally, and also check on his few cheap disciples, whose strength should have increased in recent years.

Black Zetsu took out a Scroll from his robes; it contained information about the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki.

Tōka glanced at the Scroll casually, and after confirming the location where the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki had recently appeared, he stuffed the information Scroll into his pocket.

"Send a message to the Land of Snow, instructing Kimimaro, Karin, Yakumo to go to the Land of Waterfalls and wait for me near the Takigakure."

"Understood." As Black Zetsu finished speaking, his body slowly sank into the earth.

A gentle breeze swept by, dispelling the tranquility of the forest and scattering two dark shadows among the Tree Shadow...