No Way Out

Konan then spread her paper wings, scooped up Shiba Seika, and flew straight toward Kusagakure.

Along the way, Shiba Seika was still pondering what effects this sudden heart-to-heart with Konan would bring.

First, regarding the plan to turn Nagato, it would definitely need some tweaking.

Originally, he had intended to harshly provoke Nagato, let him witness the cruelty of the ninja world, then unleash a verbal barrage to lure him into darkness.

But now that plan had to change—he couldn't go that extreme anymore.

After all, he had just sung a hymn of friendship and bonds in front of Sister Konan; he couldn't tear up his own golden good-guy card so quickly.

How should he revise it?

On this leg of the journey, Shiba Seika hadn't yet figured out a new alternative plan, but over at the destination, the Grass Ninja had left themselves no room to back down.

By now, Nagato had secretly followed Kenjiro and the others into Kusagakure, rapidly searching for traces of the Uzumaki clan.

Soon, they noticed two Grass Ninja standing in front of a shabby, standalone brick-and-tile house.

Both Grass Ninja were male; one was puffing on a pipe, looking somewhat hesitant.

The other was cursing and grumbling, clearly impatient.

"Hey, have you made up your mind or not? What's so hard about this? If you've got your eye on that red-haired girl, just go take her! No one in the village will stop you!"

The man with the pipe still seemed to have a shred of conscience, hesitating. "I just feel like it's not right... Kayo doesn't seem to like me that much yet."

The other Grass Ninja sneered. "Since when do you care if she likes you? She's just a blood bag the village keeps around! If our village hadn't sheltered her, she'd be dead out there. Why bother with what she thinks?"

"Really... no need to care?"

The other Grass Ninja laughed even louder. "Haha! I think you're pretty dense. Don't you realize what kind of situation the Uzumaki clan is in across the whole ninja world? Would she dare leave our village? Whatever we do, she has to take it!"

With that, he patted his companion on the shoulder.

"I'm telling you, you'd better move fast. I've heard the leader plans to get that stupid woman pregnant—first, to trap her so she can't run, and second, to continue the clan's bloodline, so when she dies, the village's blood bag supply won't dry up.

If you don't step up, the leader will assign someone else. Don't say I didn't warn you."

Every single word was heard by the Akatsuki members lurking nearby, and by Nagato.

Let alone Nagato—even the unrelated Akatsuki members were burning with righteous fury.

"Damn it! How dare they treat Brother Nagato's family like this!"

Thanks to Shiba Seika's misdirection, they all now believed Uzumaki Kayo was Nagato's long-lost blood relative.

Hatred was maxed out!

This could only be called fate's cruel joke.

Shiba Seika had originally planned to take a gentler approach and give up on instigation, but he never expected the Grass Ninja to be such a talented bunch, moving with the wind, leaving themselves no way out.

After those words, the Grass Ninja who still had a shred of conscience slammed his pipe down hard, stood up, and viciously hitched up his pants.

"Fine! You're right! I'm not letting anyone else have her—that Uzumaki girl was mine first!"

With that, he stormed off, leaving his companion behind, and strode toward the house, roughly shoving the door open.

Soon, a woman's scream came from inside.

The Grass Ninja left outside smirked coldly, completely indifferent to the tragedy unfolding before him, even secretly pleased that his buddy had finally come to his senses.

He turned to leave, but didn't notice that the woman's screams inside the house kept going, not like someone quickly subdued.

Instead, his companion had gone silent since entering.

By the time he left, the screams had also died down.

A few Akatsuki members had no trouble taking out the Grass Ninja who entered the house.

But now, seeing Nagato, who had entered right behind them, they were all at a loss.

Only Kenjiro had gone to report; the other Akatsuki members didn't know Nagato had come, and they scrambled for an explanation.

"Leader Nagato, um... let us explain. We didn't mean to act on our own. This woman is actually your... your..."

They couldn't finish.

Because Shiba Seika had only hinted, never clearly stated what relation the Uzumaki orphan in Kusagakure had to Nagato.

Luckily, Nagato didn't press them or care much about the killing. Instead, he turned to look at the terrified Uzumaki Kayo, pointed at his own red hair, and said awkwardly, "You, don't be afraid. My name is Uzumaki Nagato."

Hearing Nagato say his full name, Uzumaki Kayo froze, then tears instantly filled her eyes.

In truth, Kayo was just shocked and relieved to see a living clansman in her lifetime.

But everyone else present, influenced by Shiba Seika's preconceptions, all misinterpreted it the same way—

She really knows Leader Nagato (me)? She really is Leader Nagato's (my) relative!

A beautiful misunderstanding was born.

And at that moment, no one present suspected Shiba Seika.

They all believed Shiba Seika had only told them to investigate—this was a truth they had uncovered entirely on their own, and they were utterly convinced of it!

But after finishing his self-introduction, Nagato kind of froze.

Pre-darkness Nagato actually had a bit of social anxiety—he rarely spoke, a far cry from the future boss who called himself a god and grandly carried rice before tens of thousands without flinching.

Faced with Uzumaki Kayo, who was covering her mouth and silently crying, he suddenly felt completely at a loss.

In the end, it was Kenjiro who spoke up to remind him, "Leader Nagato, let's bring your relative back first—this place isn't safe!"

Then he took over for Nagato, turning to Uzumaki Kayo and asking, "Miss Uzumaki, we're ninja from the Land of Rain. Are you willing to come with us? We'll protect you!"

Uzumaki Kayo was a bit dazed by his words.

Especially Kenjiro's phrase "your relative"—it left her deeply confused.

She didn't recall having a blood relative named "Nagato."

But seeing how adamant these people were, she didn't dare question it, and could only timidly nod, whispering, "I'm willing to go with you."

So they quickly slipped out the window and left with her.

However, Uzumaki Kayo had little talent as a ninja, and her body had been chronically depleted, so her mobility had severely declined.

Despite their caution, they inevitably made some noise along the way.

A startled Kusagakure ninja shouted, "Who's there?! Who's there?! Uzumaki Kayo?! Damn it, that Uzumaki blood bag is trying to run!"

With that loud cry from the Kusagakure ninja, the entire village was roused!

"Prepare for battle!" The Akatsuki members immediately drew their ninja tools and readied themselves for combat.

Nagato reached for his eyes several times, his expression deeply hesitant.

His eyes were disguised, normally not revealing anything unusual, and Yahiko had repeatedly told him not to use those eyes' abilities lightly.

But now, for the first time in his life, he felt the urge to defy Yahiko.

He was furious!

Every time those Kusagakure ninja contemptuously mentioned "blood bag," it made him want to tear them apart!

Just then, two voices rang out from the air—

"Dance of the Paper Person of God!"

"Lightning Release: Lightning Pull!"

Konan and Shiba Seika had arrived just in time!