"It's a pleasure doing business with you!"
Hanzo looked at Danzo with a pleased smile.
"Alright, let me see the intelligence on those guys!"
Danzo waved his hand, interrupting Hanzo.
Right now, the Rinnegan is more important.
"Certainly!"
Hanzo did not keep anything to himself and handed over the information he had collected and organized in advance to Danzo.
"These three guys are childhood friends who have relied on each other for survival."
"It might be easier to obtain the Rinnegan if we lure them out!"
As he spoke, Hanzo picked out the intelligence report containing headshots of Yahiko and the other two.
Seeing this familiar group of two men and one woman, just like those in Konoha, Danzo looked directly at Konan.
Bang!
A Kunai was stuck into Konan's intelligence report.
"She's the one!"
"Something's wrong! Chief! Sister Konan has been captured!"
In the drizzle, a figure stumbled and ran up to Yahiko, shouting loudly.
His voice was hoarse, seemingly due to fatigue.
After shouting these words, the man collapsed onto the rain-soaked ground, the water beneath him quickly turning red.
"What?"
Upon hearing the noise, Yahiko and the others came out one after another and hurriedly helped the person who had fallen.
Yahiko and Nagato were even more flustered.
The Akatsuki members were helpless when they saw the wounded man covered in injuries.
They no longer have any medical-nin!
If the injured die, they will lose track of Konan forever!
If they want to find Konan's whereabouts, the injured person can't die, but they don't have any medical-nin...
We're stuck in a vicious cycle!
"Everyone, make way, let me have it!"
Just when everyone was at a loss, a clear female voice rang out, attracting everyone's attention.
Uzumaki Rieko!
"Rieko!"
Nagato seeing Rieko, Nagato quickly pushed aside the Akatsuki members surrounding the injured person, giving Rieko ample space.
"Rieko, is it really okay?"
As he helped the injured man up, Yahiko's eyes were bloodshot as he looked at Rieko.
It's not just the recent fatigue, but also the worry about Konan.
"Don't rush!"
Rieko waved her hand, pushed aside the Nagato blocking her view, and grabbed the injured man's arm.
A faint light flickered, and to the disbelief of the Akatsuki members, the wounded man's injuries began to heal at a visible speed.
Under the expectant gazes of everyone, the injured person's eyelashes trembled slightly, and they slowly opened their eyes.
"Woke up!"
A member of Akatsuki exclaimed in surprise, and everyone turned to look at the injured man with a dazed expression.
"Quick! Boss! Konan has been captured by Hanzo!"
The injured man grabbed Yahiko's hand and said anxiously.
"Hanzo?"
The Akatsuki members' expressions changed drastically, and even Yahiko, who was mentally prepared, broke down in shock.
"How could it be Hanzo!"
Yahiko almost growled as he spoke.
Given the Akatsuki's strength, wouldn't sending a few Jonin be enough to solve the problem?
Why Hanzo just go straight in?!
At the same time, Rieko glanced at Nagato silently; the worst-case scenario had occurred!
Nagato's Rinnegan has been exposed. Can the Akatsuki and she still survive?
If Hanzo succeeds, will he eliminate them all to maintain secrecy?
"Are there any others?"
Seeing that Yahiko was acting irrationally, Rieko quickly interjected to ask about the injured person.
What if Hanzo's abduction of Konan wasn't actually for the Rinnegan?
Under Rieko's expectant gaze, the injured man nodded.
Yahiko's eyes regained their brilliance, his gaze fixed intently on the injured man's response.
"Hanzo said that if you want Konan to return safely, have Chief Yahiko, Nagato, and Rieko go to the north and he'll be waiting for you there!"
The injured man spoke slowly and deliberately, his gaze sweeping among the group.
These are Hanzo's exact words. What will these people do?
Not only him, but the other members of Akatsuki also looked at the three of them. What would they do?
"Nagato!"
Yahiko looked at Nagato, and in an instant, the two understood each other's choice.
I'm going!
We must go and rescue Konan!
As for Rieko, amidst Nagato's predicament, Yahiko remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking.
"Rieko, if we don't come back, 'Akatsuki' is in your hands!"
In Yahiko's mind, Rieko was not a member of his Akatsuki, and even if she was, he could not force her to go to a battlefield where she was almost destined to die!
Especially given that the other party's goal is likely the Rinnegan, and both he and Nagato will die, then Rieko, with her power and strength, is undoubtedly the last possible successor to the Akatsuki.
He had to consider the remaining members of the Akatsuki.
Yahiko looked up and surveyed his surroundings. The members, some familiar and some unfamiliar, all wore sincere expressions.
"Thank you all for your care over the past few years!"
"As everyone can see, I'm already overwhelmed by the current situation!"
"For the sake of 'Akatsuki's' future, please trust Rieko. She will lead everyone towards a brighter tomorrow!"
After saying this, Yahiko looked at Rieko with tears in his eyes.
"Then, there will be more numbness..."
Yahiko was still speaking when Rieko Teuchi.
"Leader Yahiko, as a member of Akatsuki, and given that Hanzo specifically requested that I go with you, how could I possibly abandon you!"
Rieko spoke, she placed her hands on Yahiko and Nagato's arms to relieve their fatigue.
"Rieko..."
Nagato spoke, she lowered her head, and two streams of hot tears silently flowed down her cheeks.
Rieko could have easily gotten away from this.
"It's all because I'm too weak..."
Nagato sobbed, overwhelmed with regret.
If he had been more diligent in his training from a young age, would things have turned out differently?
"Don't overthink it. I possess the power to heal and protect. If we work together, we can definitely save Konan!"
"I've heard that there were ancestors in history like me who, even after death, could burn their souls to protect their comrades. If only I..."
Looking at Nagato's appearance, Rieko suddenly had a flash of inspiration and said something, but was interrupted by Nagato.
"No way!"
Nagato looked at Rieko with fear in his eyes.
He doesn't want to lose any more loved ones!
"Miss Rieko..."
Seeing this, Yahiko's feelings were incredibly complex.
Nagato has finally found his family again!
"Alright, let's go!"
Rieko patted Nagato, exchanged a glance with Yahiko, and headed north first.
"Nagato, let's go too!"
Yahiko said something, and then followed closely behind.
When the three arrived at the location, what they saw was Hanzo holding Kunai to Konan's neck!