Konan spread her paper wings, picked up Shiba Seika, and flew straight to Kusagakure.
Along the way, Shiba Seika was still thinking about what impact this sudden heart-to-heart with Konan might have.
First of all, he would have to make some changes to his plan to turn Nagato against the world.
Originally, he'd planned to provoke Nagato harshly, make him see the cruelty of the Shinobi World, and then launch into some Talk Style to lure him down the path of darkness.
But now, he'd definitely have to change that plan. He couldn't go to such extremes anymore.
After all, he'd just sung the praises of friendship and bonds in front of Sister Konan. He couldn't tear off his good-guy mask so soon.
How should he change it?
On the way there, Shiba Seika still hadn't figured out a replacement plan. But at their destination, the Grass Ninja had left themselves no way out at all.
Nagato had already followed Kenjiro and the others into Kusagakure in secret, and was quickly searching for signs of the Uzumaki Clan.
Soon, they spotted two Grass Ninja standing in front of a rundown, detached brick house.
Both of them were men. One was smoking a pipe, looking somewhat hesitant.
The man beside him was cursing and swearing, clearly impatient.
"I'm telling you, have you made up your mind yet? What's there to agonize over? If you've got your eye on that red-haired girl, then just take her! Nobody in the village will stop you!"
The man with the pipe seemed to have a shred of conscience left. He hesitated. "I just don't think it's right. Xiangye... doesn't seem to like me that much."
The Grass Ninja beside him scoffed. "Who cares if she likes you? She's nothing but a blood bag the village keeps around! She'd have died out there without our village protecting her. Why should you care what she thinks?"
"Really... I don't have to care?"
The Grass Ninja beside him laughed even louder. "Ha ha! You really are an idiot. Just think about it: what kind of situation are the Uzumaki in throughout the entire Shinobi World? Does she dare leave our village? Whatever we do, she has to put up with it, doesn't she?"
As he spoke, he patted his companion on the shoulder.
"I'd get to it sooner rather than later. I heard the chief's thinking of getting this foolish woman pregnant. That way, she won't escape, and the village can keep the clan's bloodline going. Otherwise, if she dies, the village will lose its supply of blood bags.
"If you don't make your move soon, the chief will arrange for someone else to do it. Don't say I didn't warn you."
Every word they said was heard by the Akatsuki Organization members and Nagato, who had slipped into the area nearby.
It wasn't just Nagato. Even the Akatsuki members, who had no personal connection to Xiangye, were all seething with anger.
"Damn them! How dare they treat Nagato's family like this!"
Thanks to Shiba Seika's misleading hints, they all believed Xiangye was a blood relative of Nagato's, long lost to him.
Their hatred had shot through the roof!
You could only say fate had a cruel sense of humor.
Shiba Seika had been planning to take a gentler approach and give up on provoking Nagato. But who could have guessed that Kusagakure had such a talented bunch, acting with such speed and flair, they'd leave themselves absolutely no way out?
After just a few words, the Grass Ninja who'd still had a shred of conscience left slammed his pipe to the ground, stood up, and tugged his pants into place with a vicious look.
"Damn it! You're right! I can't let someone else get her. I spotted this Uzumaki girl first!"
With that, he left his companion behind and strode toward the house, aggressively pushing the door open.
A woman's scream soon rang out from inside.
The Grass Ninja left outside smiled coldly, paying no mind to the atrocity unfolding before him. He even congratulated himself for helping his partner finally see sense.
He turned to leave, never noticing that the woman's screams continued without pause, as if she hadn't been subdued quickly.
His companion, on the other hand, had fallen silent as soon as he went inside.
By the time the man left, the screams had also faded.
The Akatsuki members had little trouble killing the Grass Ninja who'd gone inside.
But now, as they looked at Nagato, who had entered the house right after them, they didn't know what to do.
Only Kenjiro had gone to report back. The other Akatsuki members hadn't known Nagato was there, and now they had no idea how to explain themselves.
"Leader Nagato, um... please hear us out. I didn't mean to act on my own. This woman is actually your... your..."
They couldn't bring themselves to finish.
Shiba Seika had only hinted at it. He hadn't said what the relationship was between the Uzumaki survivor in Kusagakure and Nagato.
Fortunately, Nagato didn't give them a hard time or dwell on the fact that they'd killed someone. Instead, he turned to the frightened Xiangye, pointed to his own red hair, and said awkwardly,
"Don't... be afraid. My name is Nagato Uzumaki."
The moment Nagato gave his full name, Xiangye froze. Then tears instantly welled in her eyes.
In truth, Xiangye was simply shocked and relieved that she could still meet a living member of her clan in this life.
But, because everyone present had been influenced by Shiba Seika's hints, they all misunderstood at once—
She really knew Leader Nagato (me)? So she really is Leader Nagato's (my) relative!
And so, a beautiful misunderstanding was born.
Not a single person there suspected Shiba Seika.
They all thought he'd merely told them to investigate, and that they'd uncovered the truth themselves. They were utterly convinced!
But after introducing himself, Nagato fell silent.
Before he'd fallen to darkness, Nagato had been a bit of a loner who didn't talk much. He was worlds apart from the future big boss who called himself a god and would passionately shoulder rice in front of tens of thousands.
Now, facing Xiangye as she covered her mouth and silently wept, he felt completely at a loss.
In the end, Kenjiro had to remind him, "Leader Nagato, we should get your relative out of here first. It's not safe!"
Then, speaking for Nagato, he turned to Xiangye and asked, "Miss Uzumaki, we're shinobi from the Land of Rain. Are you willing to come with us? We'll protect you!"
Xiangye was a little confused by what he said.
Especially the phrase "your relative" from Kenjiro left her utterly puzzled.
She couldn't remember having a blood relative named Nagato.
But the people before her all sounded so certain that she didn't dare question them. She could only nod timidly and say in a small voice, "I'm willing to go with you."
So they quickly climbed out the window and took her away.
But Xiangye had no real talent as a shinobi, and her body had been weakened by long-term deprivation. Her ability to move had deteriorated badly.
They were careful, but they still couldn't avoid making some noise along the way.
A Grass Ninja who'd been alerted called out, "Who's there?! Who's over there?! Xiangye?! Damn it, that Uzumaki blood bag is trying to escape!"
At the Grass Ninja's loud shout, the entire village was roused!
"Get ready to fight!" Seeing this, the Akatsuki members immediately drew their Ninja Tools and prepared for battle.
Nagato raised his hand several times, reaching toward his eyes, his expression filled with hesitation.
He'd disguised his eyes so they wouldn't usually reveal anything unusual. Yahiko had also told him more than once not to use their power lightly.
But now, for the first time in his life, he wanted to disobey Yahiko.
He was furious!
Every time the Grass Ninja around him contemptuously called someone a "blood bag," he wanted to tear them to pieces!
Just then, two voices rang out from above—
"Dance of the Shikigami!"
"Lightning Release: Lightning Pull!"
Konan and Shiba Seika had arrived just in time!
Before you continue