Hanzō of the Salamander's True Face

Yahiko did not hesitate in the slightest when he heard that. He immediately ordered Konan and Nagato, "You stay at the camp. I'll go help that kid get out!"

After speaking, Yahiko vanished from the town without waiting for the others to respond.

Konan and Nagato exchanged a glance, then briefly gave their companions a few instructions.

They followed after him as well.

Their opponents were a squad of Hidden Rain jonin. They were worried about Yahiko's safety.

In a forest somewhere along the border of the Land of Rain, Qian Yun came to a stop. Opposite him stood twelve Hidden Rain jonin.

They stood atop the trees, each looking down their noses at Qian Yun below as though gods gazing upon ants.

Water Release, Poison Rain Technique.

Without saying a word, they opened with a combined ninjutsu that covered a radius of roughly ten li.

It seemed as though they feared Qian Yun would escape, yet also feared interference from ninja of other nations.

Qian Yun hurriedly pulled out a gas mask, but three jonin suddenly fired a volley of needles.

In an instant, Qian Yun was pierced into a pincushion. He looked beyond saving.

When Yahiko arrived, the Hidden Rain jonin squad was preparing to inspect the body.

Ah...

"Damn it! Die!"

With a roar, Yahiko immediately began unleashing ninjutsu like mad.

Wind Release, Gale Palm!

Water Release, Water Wild Wave!

Bang! Bang!

After the Hidden Rain jonin used the Body Flicker Technique to evade, they immediately began surrounding Yahiko.

Yahiko flickered about while attacking with all his might.

Just as Yahiko was on the verge of collapse, Konan and Nagato arrived.

When they saw Qian Yun's corpse, their eyes widened as well. Then they coordinated with Yahiko in battle.

One plus two was not merely three. Their teamwork was as though all three shared one mind.

Within moments, over half the Hidden Rain jonin had been killed. However, one of them suddenly unleashed the Explosive Flame Formation, binding the three beneath their feet.

Just as the three were about to perish, a string of raindrops suddenly struck every explosive tag with perfect precision.

Plumes of smoke rose one after another as the explosive tags failed. Only then did Yahiko and the other two realize it had been a false alarm.

Their anger had clouded their minds just moments ago, but thinking back on it now, they could not help feeling a lingering chill of fear.

"Y-you... are you human or a ghost?"

One Hidden Rain jonin suddenly spoke in terror. Yahiko and the others followed his gaze and turned around, only to see the supposedly dead Qian Yun standing not far away.

Meat Release, Great Hemorrhoid!

Urgh...

Three Hidden Rain jonin wailed as they fled for their lives like madmen.

Bang! Bang!

Yet they had not run far before collapsing headfirst onto the ground. They had been drugged earlier, but had never noticed.

It seemed the gap between ordinary jonin and ninja on Granny Chiyo's level was truly enormous.

As Qian Yun collected the corpses, he said with a cheerful grin, "Thank you for coming to save me, Brother Yahiko, Brother Nagato, Sister Konan!

If I had been alone, I would probably have been killed!

That prosthetic puppet from earlier could only fool them for a while. It couldn't drive them back!"

Yahiko scratched his head and replied casually, "Don't worry about it. It's what we should do!"

Yahiko might have been careless, but that did not mean Nagato and Konan lacked brains.

Nagato questioned him, "Yahiko was surrounded just now. Why didn't you help?"

Yahiko finally realized the issue and turned an inquisitive gaze toward Qian Yun as well.

"It wasn't that I didn't want to help. I was using the Hidden Mist Technique to block off the scent in the forest!

By the time I was ready to act, Sister Konan and Brother Nagato had already arrived!

In my view, if word gets out that Akatsuki fought against Hidden Rain ninja, it won't just be the three of you who die. Your companions will be implicated too!"

Nagato lowered his head, unable to find any reason to refute him.

Konan asked again, "When you watched the three of us fight, you should have already had time to act, shouldn't you?"

Qian Yun smiled. "That's right! The way you three worked together was like the art of battle. I truly couldn't bear to interrupt, so I could only gather chakra and prepare to rescue you at any moment!"

Konan pouted. Why could she not find a reason to blame this guy?

What a smooth talker.

Yahiko waved a hand. "Enough, Konan, Nagato! Stop blaming Qian Yun. He's our companion!"

But Qian Yun ruined the mood by retorting, "No, we're friends, not companions. There's still a difference!

I'm a poor ninja from Konoha. I grew up digging through trash cans for food!

But you are already renowned figures in the ninja world. I don't think I'm qualified to be your companion yet!

And because of our identities, we can only be friends. We can never be companions!

Otherwise, Lord Hanzō will grow suspicious of you, and I'll be interrogated by my Konoha comrades!"

The three fell silent.

After a moment, Yahiko solemnly declared:

"Digging through trash cans for food is no big deal. We used to dig through trash too, and didn't we still make a name for ourselves in the ninja world?"

Qian Yun stared blankly at Yahiko. A moment later, he broke into a grin.

"No wonder we can be friends. We've had similar experiences!"

Konan suddenly muttered with a blush, "Y-you... can't you come back with us?

What's so good about Konoha? Wouldn't it be better to stay with us?"

The moment Konan finished speaking, Yahiko suddenly bristled. "Hey, Konan, why did you suddenly confess to Qian Yun?"

Qian Yun froze. Nagato froze. Konan was so embarrassed that she wanted to crawl into a crack in the ground, yet she did not answer Yahiko's question.

Yahiko was shrouded in gloom, looking as though all hope had left him.

After quite a while, Qian Yun looked solemnly at Yahiko.

"Let's put personal matters aside for now. I have a serious warning for Akatsuki!"

At those words, all three turned to look at him.

"Lord Hanzō wants to kill me not because I'm a Konoha ninja, but because I revealed the antidote to his poison!

Once more and more people in the ninja world learn the antidote formula, his deterrent power will be greatly diminished. I only figured this out just now!

And Lord Hanzō ordered the slaughter of poor civilians for the same reason!

When you return this time, don't reveal the antidote formula again. You should also be wary of Lord Hanzō!"

Konan and Nagato's eyes widened. The explanation did seem reasonable.

However, Yahiko suddenly pointed at Qian Yun and roared, "Bastard, so you really are trying to drive a wedge between us!"

Qian Yun paused, then gave a bitter smile.

"See? You'd rather trust Lord Hanzō, who massacres poor civilians, than trust me, a Konoha medical ninja who saved them!

That's why we can't be companions. At most, we can only be friends!"

Yahiko was rendered speechless. Every word Qian Yun said was true. He truly had no rebuttal.

Still, Yahiko forced out one sentence. "Akatsuki will never fight among ourselves, no matter how convincing your reasons are!"

Qian Yun looked helplessly at Konan. "Sister Konan, I'll leave this matter to you. Just guard against Lord Hanzō making a move. There's no need to fight!"

"Enough! Damn it!"

Yahiko was furious. He turned and left the forest.

As Konan left, she looked back at Qian Yun, but she said nothing more.

Qian Yun was preparing to leave as well when he suddenly noticed a strange presence in the forest.

No body heat, no breathing, not even a heartbeat.

Yet it could indeed move, and it was peeking around to observe Qian Yun.

That form... it was White Zetsu!