The Heart Is Truly Too Cruel

The rain kept falling.

Just like the name of the Land of Rain, the entire country seemed to be weeping.

Tap, tap, tap...

The scattered sound of footsteps was swallowed by the continuous curtain of rain, leaving only a trail of Konoha-standard boot prints on the muddy ground.

"We are about to enter the Land of Rain."

Aburame Ryoma, leading the group, stopped and silently swept his gaze over the two people behind him. Raindrops slid down the brim of his black cloak, yet they did not dampen the eyes hidden beneath his goggles.

"The mission this time is to urge Salamander Hanzo to fulfill his agreement. Not only must he take the field himself, but he must also mobilize that rising star organization from Amegakure, the Akatsuki, to head to the front lines together and support Konoha. Of course, I am responsible for the formal negotiations. Your task is to provide security while we travel."

Aburame Ryoma's gaze lingered for a moment on the silent Hyuga Qinglan before he continued.

"The specific details have already been agreed upon by Danzo and Hanzo; we only need to execute them."

Hyuga Qinglan bowed his head slightly without a word, following Aburame Ryoma as they stepped back into the rain.

The deeper they ventured into Amegakure, the more shocking the sights before them became.

Dilapidated shacks were built crookedly along the mountain walls, and ragged refugees huddled in groups beneath the drainage pipes.

Hyuga Qinglan's gaze swept over the surrounding refugees, his expression blank.

It really only takes a butterfly effect to stir up the entire ninja world.

At this point in the original timeline, Salamander Hanzo did indeed cooperate with Danzo. But that alliance was formed because Hanzo feared the growth of the Akatsuki threatened his rule, leading him to collude with Danzo to drive Yahiko to his death and blow off Nagato's legs.

But the current situation was fundamentally different.

Konoha was on the verge of collapse.

The reports coming back from the front lines were nothing but routs and retreats.

Even with Sarutobi Hiruzen, now known as the "Strongest Hokage," personally holding the line, he could only struggle to hold on through his own individual prowess.

The list of casualties sent back from the front grew longer by the day, the stretchers for the wounded formed long lines, and the medical corps had run out of both medicine and chakra. Even Kakashi and Might Guy, who had returned to the battlefield, had been wounded one after another.

The war situation was so rotten it had reached the edge of a cliff.

It was precisely because of this that Danzo, stationed in the rear, was so desperate. While frantically stabilizing other defensive lines, he repeatedly urged Salamander Hanzo to send troops to contain Iwagakure.

Danzo didn't even pay much attention to the Akatsuki within Amegakure anymore.

No, he was paying attention, but he had chosen to use them.

Because...

The Root's hidden mission this time was to wait for Salamander Hanzo and the Akatsuki to finish supporting the Iwagakure front, and then sow discord between them.

To plunge Amegakure into internal strife once again.

And Konoha, under Danzo's remote control, would be relieved of its crisis.

Two birds with one stone.

Hyuga Qinglan's eyes flickered, masking the complex emotions surging in his heart.

He wasn't surprised that Danzo could do such a thing.

What made him feel a sense of lament was Orochimaru.

To reach the position of Hokage, Orochimaru was actually willing to go this far...

Hyuga Qinglan couldn't help but recall the movements of the smaller clans when he left the village...

If the Third Hokage hadn't gone to the front line to temporarily stabilize the situation, they probably would have been preparing to run away long ago...

The heart is truly too ruthless.

He sighed silently, his gaze piercing through the heavy rain and mist, locking onto the cold iron tower in the distance that soared into the clouds and was covered in pipes.

They had stepped into the heart of Amegakure.

"Halt."

Several Amegakure Anbu wearing black cloaks and gas masks appeared silently in front of them, blocking their path.

"Konoha, Aburame Ryoma."

Aburame Ryoma reported his name without expression.

"I am Heiji of the Rain Shelter, the right-hand man... of Hanzo-sama's right-hand man."

The lead Amegakure ninja gestured, his tone carrying the coldness unique to the Land of Rain.

Aburame Ryoma was silent for a moment, then took a tightly sealed letter with a lacquer seal from his robes and handed it over.

"A personal letter from Danzo-sama; please ensure it is delivered to Hanzo-sama."

Heiji took the letter and gave a gesture. One of his subordinates immediately vanished from the spot. A moment later, the man returned and whispered a few words into Heiji's ear.

"Hanzo-sama is waiting at the top of the tower." Heiji looked up, his gaze sweeping over Hyuga Qinglan and the others before landing back on Aburame Ryoma.

"However, this is a restricted area of Amegakure. Only you may enter."

Opposite the gloomy steel towers stood a slightly lower terrace.

The orange-haired young man stood quietly in the rain.

He spread his arms, letting the icy rain lash against his resolute face, as if he were trying to embrace the entire dilapidated village.

Yahiko looked down at the streets below. Yet, the light in his eyes was brighter than it had ever been.

"This country is still weeping..."

He whispered, then suddenly broke into a brilliant smile.

"But the rain will stop soon. The bridge to peace lies right beneath our feet."

Behind him, two figures, one red and one blue, stood in silence.

"Konan, Nagato."

Yahiko turned around, his lips curling with excitement: "Hanzo has agreed to an alliance! This means our cause has been recognized! It means Amegakure and Akatsuki will join forces to end this chaotic era!"

He strode up to them and pumped his fist into the air.

"We are going to end this chaotic era, not just for ourselves, but for all the children crying in the rain."

"..."

Konan remained silent for a moment before finally voicing the concern in her heart.

"But... Hanzo's condition is that we must coordinate with the regular Amegakure army to assist Konoha in repelling Iwagakure on the outer battlefield..."

She hesitated, her gaze drifting involuntarily toward the silent Nagato at her side.

Nagato's parents had died precisely because of an accidental killing by Konoha ninja.

And now, Hanzo's alliance proposal required them to become helpers to Konoha...

"If we do this..."

"People only grow when they understand pain."

Nagato slowly raised his head, gently interrupting the rest of Konan's words. Those pale purple Rinnegan appeared exceptionally eerie amidst the curtain of rain.

"And growth means being able to think for oneself, to experience pain, and to derive one's own answer from it."

He looked at Yahiko, a flash of determination crossing those mysterious purple pupils.

"I have already found my answer."

"For the sake of Yahiko's ideal, for the sake of a peaceful world where there is no more weeping, I am willing to pay any price."

"Hatred is insignificant in the face of such a future."

Yahiko pressed down firmly on Nagato's shoulder, his eyes slightly damp, his tone resonant and powerful.

"This is not just my ideal; this is the future for the three of us!"

"We shall become the dawn that tears through the night, until the day the sunlight finally shines upon this country!"