Land of Birds lay wedged between the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth, with the Land of Bears and the Land of Rain on its other sides. Surrounded by four countries, it had little territory and no hidden village within its borders, so wandering ninja often came here to earn some extra money.
Northwest of the Land of Birds, in a scenic mountain valley, Konan wrapped Nagato's corpse in countless sheets of paper, creating a vacuum seal before burying him in the earth, allowing him to rest in peace.
"Nagato..."
Konan looked at the small grave mound before her, a faint sorrow appearing on her cool, detached face.
Then she turned to look at the surrounding mountains and waters, feeling her heart open up.
"Nagato, if you were alive, you would definitely like this place. You could never see such beautiful scenery in the Land of Rain. From now on, I'll live here with you."
But then Konan recalled Nagato's final words and murmured, "Before that, though, I need to deal with those people coveting your eyes."
Konan narrowed her eyes, remembering the countless Explosive Tags she had hidden within the Land of Rain.
She had secretly used Akatsuki's operational funds to buy those Explosive Tags from the Black Market. Aside from Nagato, none of the other members knew about them.
Before long, Konan came up with an excellent idea.
Countless white sheets of paper then swirled before her, gradually gathering together and taking Nagato's form.
If, just as Nagato had said before his death, someone truly intended to steal his Rinnegan, then...
A fierce glint flashed through Konan's eyes and vanished.
Secret base in the Land of Grass.
Kisame Hoshigaki sat with a gloomy expression, Samehada beside him, while Kaede remained unconscious.
"Zetsu, what exactly is