Nagato

One day later, Uchiha Akira had just led his squad into the Land of Rain.

"To think it was Konoha's Anbu disguised as ninjas from the various Great Nations, burning, killing, and looting in the Land of Rain!"

Deep within a massive tower, Nagato looked gaunt and withered, with black receivers protruding from his back. A cold glint flickered within his purple Rinnegan.

Not far from his feet, a ninja wearing a cat mask and Konoha Anbu attire lay on the ground, long since devoid of life.

"It was actually Konoha working with Hanzo to strike at us!" Konan's beautiful face was filled with frost, and the killing intent in her heart surged uncontrollably.

"Konoha!" Recalling Yahiko, who had met his death with such composure, Nagato's eyes were filled with murderous intent.

Konan looked at Nagato and asked, "Nagato, did the Human Path discover any other intelligence?"

"Konoha is making moves again. The Third Hokage has dispatched an elite squad into the Land of Rain, intending to assist Hanzo in wiping out our Akatsuki." As Nagato spoke, a cold, sharp smile appeared on his face.

"Konoha intends to assist Hanzo in wiping us out?" Konan's eyes were full of killing intent, her expression as gloomy as water.

"Who is coming?" Konan looked at Nagato.

"The leader is from the Uchiha Clan, named Uchiha Akira. Aside from him, there is no need to pay attention to the others," Nagato said indifferently.

"Uchiha Akira?" Konan nodded slowly and said, "I heard he made quite a name for himself on the battlefield between Konoha and Kirigakure. He single-handedly took down four of the infamous Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. This person's strength cannot be underestimated."

Nagato nodded and said, "His strength is indeed not weak. According to Masked Madara, the Six-Tails Jinchuriki of Kirigakure also fell at his hands, which led to the Six-Tails breaking its seal and subsequently falling into the hands of Masked Madara."

"Nagato, what should we do now?" Konan looked at the withered Nagato, her expression somewhat grave. "In your current state, can you deal with him?"

Just then, footsteps echoed from the direction of the tower's main gate.

Uchiha Obito, disguised as Uchiha Madara and wrapped in Tobi, appeared before Konan alongside Zetsu, who resembled a pitcher plant, and Deva Path Pain, who walked at the very front.

Pain spoke in an indifferent tone: "Konan, the people from Konoha have come at the perfect time. Masked Madara just passed on the Six Paths Technique to me; it is the perfect opportunity to test the effectiveness of the Six Paths Technique on Uchiha Akira."

"Is there really no problem? I heard that the Six Paths of Pain requires six bodies to be complete. With only the Deva Path, Animal Path, and Naraka Path, wouldn't it be too risky? The opponent is, after all, a powerful ninja capable of dealing with the Six-Tails." Konan looked at Nagato with concern.

"Konan!" Nagato raised his head, his expression unchanged. "Konan, rest assured. I have fully mastered these eyes of the legendary Sage of Six Paths. I have ascended from a mortal to a god. How could a mere mortal be a match for a god?"

"Nagato, I must remind you of one thing." At this moment, Uchiha Obito spoke up: "Uchiha Akira is likely not an ordinary Uchiha; he may have already awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan."

"Mangekyō Sharingan?" Nagato looked at Uchiha Obito, who was wrapped in Tobi. "Masked Madara, is it the same eyes as yours?"

"Heh~" Uchiha Obito let out a disdainful laugh and said, "Of course not. Mine is the supreme ocular technique of the Uchiha Clan, the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. It is not something a mere Mangekyō Sharingan can compare to!"

"So, the Sharingan also has levels of distinction!" Konan murmured in a low voice.

"That goes without saying." Uchiha Obito chuckled. "Although the Mangekyō Sharingan is inferior to the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, it is still extremely powerful and cannot be underestimated. Its strength is by no means below that of a village's Hokage."

As he spoke, his scarlet Sharingan stared at Nagato, warning him: "After awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan, one gains two incredibly powerful ocular techniques. Only the person who awakens them knows exactly what those techniques are."

"Nagato, you must not be careless," Uchiha Obito said meaningfully.

"Masked Madara, please rest assured," Nagato said calmly and indifferently. "No matter what the ocular technique is, it is not worth mentioning under the divine power of the Rinnegan!"

"Then we shall await your news." As Uchiha Obito finished speaking, his entire body vanished into thin air before Nagato.

Following Uchiha Obito's departure, Zetsu, who was beside him, spoke up: "Nagato, this time, I will provide the intelligence."

With those words, he also slowly sank into the building and disappeared.

Konan stared at the spot where the two had left for a long time, then turned to look at Nagato: "Nagato, I still cannot trust this so-called Uchiha Madara. Legend says Uchiha Madara is the Asura of the Shinobi World; I don't believe he would be such a person who hides his head and shows his tail, afraid to reveal his true face."

"It doesn't matter, Konan." Nagato shook his head and said, "Our relationship is merely one of mutual utilization; both sides are well aware of this. Once the capture of the Tailed Beast is complete, that will be the time for us to show our hands."

Nagato looked at Konan and said, "There is no doubt that this Masked Madara's goal is the Tailed Beast. He needs our help to capture them, and I need his Yin-Yang Release, his Six Paths Technique, and his intelligence-gathering capabilities."

Konan was silent for a long moment before saying, "Nagato, throughout our time together, I hope you will still keep an eye on this so-called Madara and not believe his words entirely."

"That goes without saying. From the moment Yahiko died, you are the only person in this world I can absolutely trust, Konan," Nagato said in a low voice.

Hearing Nagato's words, Konan wore a sorrowful expression. Yahiko's death was a pain that would remain in their hearts forever.

Seeing the sorrow on Konan's face, Nagato spoke solemnly:

"Konan, Yahiko's ideal will be realized by our hands. The reason people cannot understand each other is precisely because they lack similar experiences and have not felt the same pain; they cannot empathize."

"As long as we resurrect the Ten-Tails and let the Five Great Nations feel true pain, only then will they be able to understand us, the people of these small nations, and thereby achieve peace."

"Nagato..." Konan looked at Nagato with a bewildered expression upon hearing his words.

After Yahiko's death, Nagato's temperament changed drastically. Jiraiya's old theory—that mutual understanding between people could bring true peace—had undergone a completely new evolution in Nagato's mind.

Konan sighed inwardly. After experiencing true practice, she had long since understood how naive Jiraiya's theory was.

People understanding each other does not mean that various needs disappear, nor does it prevent them from drawing blades against one another, nor does it affect the birth of hatred, nor does it mean letting go of that hatred.

Konan collected her thoughts and looked at Nagato: "Nagato, you are currently inconvenienced in your movements. This time, I will go out with you."

Nagato did not refuse Konan's proposal; his own condition was indeed not very good.

Ever since he had forcibly summoned the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and used the Chakra Dragon to attack, most of his life force had been drained away by the statue, and he had been unable to recover it to this day.

Moreover, more importantly, his feet had been blown up by Hanzo's explosive tag formation, and his legs were already crippled; he needed someone to coordinate with him to move.

Nagato looked at Konan: "Konan, let's set off. According to the intelligence just received, the squad led by Uchiha Akira has already entered the Land of Rain."