Kirigakure, The Beginning of Another Game

On the sea heading toward the Land of Water, the waves were surging violently.

A merchant ship with tattered sails heaved amidst the wind and waves; inside the cabin, the atmosphere was even more stifling than the storm outside.

The newly formed Akatsuki organization had a truly bizarre dynamic.

Kakuzu sat in the corner, his abacus clattering loudly in his hands as he muttered, "This voyage should yield a decent harvest. If we complete the mission in Kirigakure, I should be able to rake in a bounty of several tens of millions. Joining Akatsuki truly puts this old man in a pleasant mood."

Opposite him, Sasori was meticulously wiping down mechanical parts dismantled from Hiruko. Hearing Kakuzu's words, a hint of impatience flickered across his delicate, youthful face.

"You reek of money, you noisy bastard."

"What did you say, brat?" The veins on Kakuzu's temples throbbed, and the black tentacles of Earth Grudge Fear flickered at his cuffs. "If you hadn't been recruited by the leader, your heart would already be part of my collection."

"Feel free to try." Sasori's fingers twitched, and several nearly invisible chakra threads connected to the scroll beside him. "I wouldn't mind trading your head for a hefty bounty."

The two were like needles against wheat, their killing intent instantly saturating the entire cabin.

Yahiko and Konan sat on the other side, their expressions complex. Watching these "teammates" ready to fight at the slightest provocation, they deeply doubted the organization's future.

Was this the so-called team that would "save the world"? It was nothing more than a concentration camp for lunatics and murderers!

How could they possibly achieve the grand ideal of permanent peace with a group like this?

Only Nagato sat in silence, his red Rinnegan fixed on the flickering candlelight, lost in thought.

"Enough."

Lin Feng's voice drifted from the deepest shadows. He did not open his eyes, maintaining his inscrutable, meditative posture.

The simple word carried an invisible, crushing mental pressure.

Kakuzu's tentacles instantly retracted, and Sasori's chakra threads quietly snapped. Both remembered the terror of being dominated by absolute power.

"Our destination is Kirigakure, known as the museum of Kekkei Genkai."

Lin Feng slowly opened his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the group.

"The current ruler there is the Third Mizukage, but..." A playful smile curled the corner of Lin Feng's mouth. "That place is very isolated, and it will serve perfectly as a whetstone for all of you."

"Kirigakure enforces a strict isolationist policy; it is very difficult for outsiders to infiltrate," Konan analyzed calmly. "Furthermore, their Anbu Hunter-nin squads are extremely troublesome."

"Infiltrate?"

Lin Feng stood up from the shadows as if he had heard a joke and walked to the cabin entrance.

The wind and rain outside rushed in, whipping his wild, black hair.

"In this world, only the weak need to infiltrate."

He turned his head to look at Nagato.

"Nagato, once we reach Kirigakure, I do not wish to see that indecisive look on you again. You are a god. When a god descends upon the mortal realm, he does not need to knock."

Nagato's body shuddered, and he nodded slowly. "Understood."

Two days later, off the coast of the Land of Water.

Dense fog shrouded the sea, with visibility less than ten meters. This was Kirigakure's natural defensive barrier; combined with special barrier ninjutsu, any unauthorized chakra fluctuations would be detected instantly.

"The barrier is just ahead," the old boatman said, trembling. "My Lords, I can only take you this far. Any further is just asking for death!"

Kakuzu put away his abacus and glared at the boatman with displeasure. "Who is asking for death?"

The boatman felt like crying but dared not argue.

Lin Feng stood at the bow, looking at the seemingly calm yet murderous fog ahead.

He vanished from sight in a flash, reappearing in a distant forest.

"Black Zetsu."

"I am here, Madara." Black Zetsu emerged from a gap in the forest.

"That brat should have reached the outskirts of the Land of Fire by now, right?" Lin Feng was referring to Obito.

"Yes. According to intelligence, the Uchiha youth named Obito has completely fallen into darkness following the death of Rin Nohara. He is currently lurking around the Land of Fire, seemingly plotting to seize the Nine-Tails and incite chaos," Black Zetsu chuckled sinisterly.

Lin Feng nodded.

In the 48th year of Konoha, Rin Nohara died by Kakashi's Chidori. After witnessing everything, Obito awakened his Mangekyo and, under the guidance of Madara, became determined to create a world where Rin existed.

According to the original plot, Obito would control the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, and turn Kirigakure into a living hell.

But now, Lin Feng had arrived.

He had no intention of letting that "fool" Obito have this cake all to himself.

"Let's go."

Lin Feng flashed back to the ship, then stepped lightly onto the surface of the sea.

The members of Akatsuki followed, disembarking and walking across the water behind him.

When they touched the invisible barrier, no alarm sounded.

Because Lin Feng had reached out a hand.

"Preta Path: Absorption Seal."

The power of the Rinnegan surged, and the sensory barrier capable of halting an entire army melted away like snow beneath Lin Feng's palm, instantly torn open to reveal a massive gap.

The entire process was silent, not even stirring a ripple of chakra.

Sasori's pupils constricted slightly. No matter how many times he witnessed such absolute control over chakra, it remained chilling.

"Is this... the power of the Rinnegan?" he murmured.

Passing through the barrier, the mist gradually thinned, revealing a grim village nestled within a deep mountain canyon.

Kirigakure.

At this moment, the air in Kirigakure was permeated with a faint haze. The streets were bustling with pedestrians, and the passing ninjas possessed bright eyes, full of warmth and serenity.

"Head straight to the Mizukage building."

Lin Feng made no attempt to conceal his presence, swaggering down the main thoroughfare of Kirigakure with his group of five, all clad in black robes with red clouds.

Such arrogant behavior quickly drew attention.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Over a dozen Kirigakure Anbu wearing masks appeared instantly, blocking their path.

"Who goes there?! How dare you trespass in Kirigakure!"

The captain of the Anbu squad barked, his ninja sword already unsheathed, water-style chakra poised for release.

Lin Feng did not even glance at them, his pace never faltering.

"Clear them out."

He uttered the four words indifferently.

"Hmph, such small fry—perfect for testing my blades."

Kakuzu charged forward first, black threads surging from his back to instantly pierce the hearts of two Anbu.

"Don't steal my materials."

Sasori's fingers twitched, and the tail of his Hiruko puppet swept out, unleashing a cloud of toxic purple mist.

The battle erupted in an instant and concluded in an even shorter time.

Aside from Yahiko, who was slightly weaker, the members of the Akatsuki were all Kage-level or quasi-Kage-level monsters. Facing these dozen ordinary Anbu was nothing short of a dimensional strike.

In less than a minute, the ground was littered with corpses.

On both sides of the street, the Kirigakure villagers and ninjas who had been watching from the shadows shrank back in terror, their eyes filled with horror.

"What... what kind of monsters are these people?"

"That red-haired one... is he a wanted criminal from Konoha?"

Lin Feng stepped through the blood on the ground, walking step by step toward the Mizukage building at the highest point of the village.

Just as they were about to reach the plaza in front of the building, a vast and violent surge of chakra suddenly erupted from ahead.

BOOM!

A massive pillar of water shot into the sky, blocking their path.

As the water dispersed, a man of medium build with a resolute expression and a massive mace in his hand slowly stepped out.

Behind him followed seven ninjas with distinct appearances, all radiating murderous intent.

The Seven Ninja Swordsmen!

And that resolute-looking man was none other than the ruler of Kirigakure, the Third Mizukage.

"To dare commit such slaughter in my village..."

There was no emotion in the Third Mizukage's purple eyes, his voice as cold as the ice of the deep sea.

"Have you prepared yourselves for death?"

Lin Feng stopped, looking at the Third Mizukage before him and the seven legendary ninja swords behind him.

An ordinary person would likely have been terrified to the point of wetting themselves when faced with such a lineup.

But Lin Feng smiled.

He smiled happily, as if he were looking at a group of toys waiting to be inspected.

"Death?"

Lin Feng tilted his head slightly, his long hair sliding over his shoulder to reveal those soul-stirring Rinnegan.

"Are you even worthy?"

He raised his hand and pointed toward Nagato behind him.

"Nagato, I'll give you ten minutes."

"Let this Mizukage... wake up to reality."

Nagato took a deep breath and stepped forward.

His black robe with red clouds snapped in the wind as he raised both hands, the ripples of his Rinnegan vibrating violently at that moment.

Since Master "Madara" said to let the world feel pain.

Then let it begin here in Kirigakure.

"Shinra Tensei!"