Help from Her Master

A full week has passed since the battle in Konoha.

But for Konan, the scene of that day was still as clear as if it happened yesterday.

After that battle, Nagato was extremely weak due to continuously pushing himself beyond his limits by using Shinra Tensei and Chibaku Tensei.

Having witnessed firsthand Koko's terrifying power, akin to the descent of a god or demon, both she and Nagato had come to accept one fact—

They lost, utterly and completely.

Just as they were quietly waiting for Kou to find them and preparing to speak with him as the loser, "Ban" suddenly attacked them without warning.

For reasons unknown, Madara only sent a Shadow Clone Shadow Clone, which vanished before them after taking one of Nagato's Rinnegan.

Although there is no immediate danger, the area has been exposed.

To prevent Madara's true form from arriving at any moment, Konan had already decided to immediately retreat elsewhere with the immobile Nagato.

But Nagato's body had deteriorated to the point where he was unable to leave.

Just as Konan made up her mind to use the six hundred billion Explosive Tag to block Madara for Nagato, Nagato seemed to sense something and told her that an extremely powerful aura was rapidly approaching them.

The source of that aura was neither knocking nor spots.

Instead, it was a powerful being they did not recognize and who was completely unknown to them.

In Nagato's assessment, the mysterious person's strength was several times more terrifying than that of Kou, who had previously given them such a huge shock!

His target is very likely Nagato's remaining eye!

To save her, and to leave that last glimmer of hope for Rain Village's future.

In the end, Nagato entrusted the Rinnegan to Konan, letting her go while he remained to face the approaching enemy, whose name he didn't even know...

Nagato's fate is currently unknown.

He also bears the responsibility of protecting the only remaining Rinnegan that he is willing to risk everything to preserve.

She had considered seeking help from Konoha and Kokoro.

After all, at least for now, when facing Madara as a common enemy, their stance should be aligned.

On her own, let alone confirming Nagato's safety, even protecting the Rinnegan would be an impossible task.

But the thought had barely surfaced in her mind when it was quickly suppressed.

She didn't know where Koko was; the only way to contact him was through Konoha.

Given Ban's cunning, it's impossible that he wouldn't have taken precautions against this.

If we rashly set off for Konoha now, we'll most likely play right into Madara's hands!

Therefore, Konan was very clear that she must not easily reveal her whereabouts.

She needs time, she needs to find an opportunity to break the deadlock...

Thinking of this, Konan coldly looked Kakuzu Kakuzu's gleaming eyes, preparing to agree to his unreasonable demand for another price increase.

However, just before she could speak, a voice she knew very well rang out from the shadows behind Kakuzu.

"So you were here, Konan."

The moment that voice came, a cold glint flashed in the eyes of Kakuzu and Konan almost simultaneously.

Konan reacted extremely quickly; countless sheets of white paper poured out from her sleeves, like hundreds of startled cranes, tightly protecting her body.

Kakuzu turned half his face away with a gloomy expression, looking warily at the flock of crows that emerged from the darkness.

In the basement, a flock of entirely black Crow had appeared and gathered in the small open space between Konan and Kakuzu.

The black feathers surged like mist, and in just a few breaths, they coalesced into a figure they were very familiar with.

"Uchiha... Itachi."

Kakuzu gritted his teeth and called out his name, his eyes filled with deep wariness and anger.

"Tsk, is it Genjutsu? When exactly did it happen...?"

Itachi ignored Kakuzu's gloomy gaze and spoke calmly to the two of them:

"Long time no see, Kakuzu, Konan."

Konan didn't respond to him, but instead gestured for the surrounding papers to point at him, and said in a deep voice:

"Xiao has disbanded."

Itachi, what is your purpose in coming here?!

Itachi calmly faced the paper blades that had surrounded him from all sides, without even raising an eyebrow.

He looked into Konan's eyes and said calmly:

"Don't worry, I mean you any harm."

"I've come to find you on Lord Jiraiya's orders."

Upon hearing Itachi's words, Kakuzu and Konan were both startled and stared at Itachi in disbelief.

"So it wasn't just Uchiha Kuro, even you, with your thick eyebrows and big eyes, were a Konoha spy?"

Kakuzu said in surprise:

"No? I can barely understand if that brat Uchiha Kuro is an undercover agent, but how can you, who killed your entire family, also be an undercover agent?"

For a moment, the way he looked at Itachi became extremely strange:

"Uchiha Itachi, you're really ruthless."

Konan also looked at the young man in front of her, who had been in the same organization as her for several years, with disbelief.

Only today did she realize that she may never have truly understood him, not even a fraction of it.

Hearing Kakuzu's sarcastic words, Itachi's eyes twitched slightly.

He chose to ignore Kakuzu, looked solemnly at Konan, and slowly said:

"Lord Jiraiya has already learned of your disappearance through Kōji and has roughly deduced that Nagato has likely been murdered."

"He contacted me secretly, asking me to try my best to find you and then escort you safely to Konoha."

Upon hearing Itachi's words, Konan's pupils suddenly contracted. She suppressed her excitement and scrutinized Itachi before her.

After all, everything Itachi said was only his side of the story.

I myself cannot be certain how credible his words are.

You can rest assured.

Itachi seemed to have guessed what Konan was thinking, and said seriously:

"Lord Jiraiya did not issue this order to me in his capacity as the Fifth Hokage of Konoha."

He looked intently into Konan's eyes, which were trembling violently for a moment, and said firmly:

"He made this request to me in his capacity as your master."

"Please let me come... to save you."

Hearing Itachi's words, Konan fell into a long silence.

Her shoulders trembled slightly, and even the tattered robe she was wearing moved slightly.

At this moment, Konan was certain that Itachi was indeed the Teacher Jiraiya sent to rescue her.

"Now that things have come to this... do you still consider us your disciples?"

Konan murmured bitterly to herself, a hint of tears welling up in her beautiful, weary eyes.

"I'm sorry to have troubled you, Jiraiya- Teacher."

"... I see."

After a long while, she looked at Itachi again, and those eyes, which had always been cold and distant, were now filled with a clear light:

"However, before I head to Konoha, there's something I need Konoha to do first."

Itachi frowned slightly:

"What's up?"

Konan gazed at Itachi's Sharingan, which shone like Candle Flame in the dim light, and spoke earnestly:

"Contact Uchiha Kuro for me and have him sneak in here."

"I have something very important to tell him... in person."

There should have been another update today, but I was too busy during the day, and my body isn't feeling well tonight, so I'll have to postpone it for another day. Sorry everyone...

The next chapter will return to the place where I kowtowed.