Hidden Rain, Infiltration!

In the underground base, Riu released Yamato from the Kamui Dimension.

"I never expected this child to have survived, or for that old fox Danzo to have kept him by his side. Yu, you truly acted with lightning speed, taking this child away from Root territory..." Orochimaru remarked in his raspy voice.

"More importantly, what do we do next?" Riu asked indifferently.

Orochimaru walked before the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. "This enormous statue is the vessel for cultivating the Hashirama Clone. Placing the catalyst directly inside should complete the process..."

"Zetsu."

"Leave it to us!"

Gurgle, gurgle! Several White Zetsu emerged from the ground and dragged Yamato into the statue.

Hiss, hiss. Soon after, great clouds of smoke rose from the skin of the Hashirama Clone atop the statue, while countless trees sprouted from the surrounding rock walls!

"What incredible vitality. Subarashii!" Orochimaru's eyes gleamed as he licked his trademark long tongue.

Riu's gaze burned. He knew that this Hashirama Senju clone had reached absolute perfection, no different from Hashirama's original body!

Drawing back his gaze, Riu glanced at Orochimaru. "I've perfected the sample for you. You must hand me a satisfactory answer sheet—extract the most perfect Original Cells of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju!"

Orochimaru said, "Mm~ I have a feeling this will be the most perfect work in history—no, an unprecedented masterpiece! Of course, it will take time..."

"How long?"

"One month. During that time, I'll neither sleep nor rest, and I won't leave the equipment for even a step. The extraction process requires extreme precision; one mistake could ruin everything. There can't be the slightest carelessness, so... Yu, I can't be disturbed during this period." Orochimaru said.

Riu cast Orochimaru a sidelong look and said deeply, "So long as you don't get any crooked ideas, he definitely won't disturb you. As for Danzo and Konoha's ANBU, you have even less to worry about. I guarantee they won't find this place..."

Orochimaru smiled. "Ah, then I'll be relying on you, Yu~"

"The feeling is mutual." Riu withdrew his gaze.

The Hashirama Clone was peeled away from the statue and placed into Orochimaru's extraction apparatus.

After setting up another barrier around the underground base to ensure its safety, Riu stood before the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, lost in thought.

About three months ago, while Riu had still been training his ninja skills, the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path had vanished once midway through, only to return here a short while later...

"Summoning the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path... Nagato has awakened over there."

That was right. Though Riu had not intervened in the affairs of the Hidden Rain Village, what was meant to happen still happened...

Yahiko founded the Akatsuki and gradually expanded it, drawing the attention of the Hidden Rain Village's leader, the man hailed as a demigod—Hanzō of the Salamander.

It was the final stage of the Third Shinobi World War. The battle between Konoha and the Hidden Rock Village had reached a fever pitch, and the battlefield had naturally been chosen as an unnamed small country at the border of the Lands of Fire, Earth, and Wind—the very country where the Hidden Rain Village was located.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, attempted to end the war through negotiations, but Danzo did not want the conflict to end so soon. He obstructed it by every possible means, and the Akatsuki was used by Danzo...

At Danzo's instigation, Hanzō ultimately chose to strike ruthlessly against the Akatsuki.

Those assigned to assist with the cleanup were Konoha ANBU under Danzo's command.

In that battle, Yahiko died tragically, Nagato went berserk, and the power of his Rinnegan awakened further. He summoned the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, slaughtered countless Hidden Rain Village shinobi, and forced back Hanzō and Danzo...

Danzo's interference ended in failure. Konoha and the Hidden Rock Village finally reached a truce agreement, bringing the Third Shinobi World War to an end.

Deeply aware of Nagato's threat, Hanzō organized pursuit forces after escaping, searching everywhere for Nagato and the remnants of the Akatsuki.

Unlike before, without Obito to receive him, Nagato had been drained dry by the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and severely wounded. He had already been driven into desperate straits several times by the pursuit forces. If this continued, things would likely turn bad...

"Before my Rinnegan awakens, I still need Nagato and the Akatsuki to collect the Tailed Beasts. Besides, the Outer Path — Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique seems to require the price of one's life. In every sense, Nagato's Rinnegan must be put to my use..."

"So, we're going to the Hidden Rain Village? That village lies at the intersection of the three great nations. It's a long journey, so we should leave early..." Tobi said.

"No need. The Summoning Technique is also a type of space-time ninjutsu. When Nagato is truly driven into a corner and attempts to summon the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path again, I can resonate with it through Kamui and go there. As the saying goes, being early is no match for arriving at the right time..." Riu's gaze was profound.

Several days later, in the Hidden Rain Village.

Hanzō's pursuit force discovered another Akatsuki hideout.

After a chase, Nagato, Konan, Kyūsuke, Daibutsu, and the other Akatsuki members had their retreat cut off before the inland lake surrounding the Hidden Rain Village.

A massive Salamander towered there. Hanzō, the man called a demigod, stood atop its head, his cold eyes looking down at the few people by the lakeshore who had reached the end of the road.

"Konan, take Nagato and run! We'll hold them here!!" Daibutsu said.

Nagato's legs had already been crippled, and his body had become emaciated from synchronizing with the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. Konan was supporting him.

"No! You are the Akatsuki's last remaining members, our comrades. I don't want to see you die anymore!!" Nagato said.

"Nagato, you are the Akatsuki's hope and the inheritor of Brother Yahiko's will. We'll protect you with our lives!!" Kyūsuke shouted.

"Don't even think about it. Akatsuki remnants, not one of you will leave the Hidden Rain Village alive!" Hanzō said coldly, forming a hand seal with two fingers. Barriers rose on all sides, trapping them within.

The Hidden Rain Village shinobi all put on gas masks.

Hiss! The Salamander beneath Hanzō opened its massive mouth and spewed out a great quantity of Poison Mist, swiftly filling the entire barrier...

Water Release: Water Formation Wall!

Kyūsuke formed hand seals, creating a Water Formation Wall. As his seals changed, the Water Wall transformed into a solid wall of water...

After blocking the Poison Mist for a moment, it began spreading in from above.

"Raaahhh!!!" The massive hammer in Daibutsu's hands spun, kicking up powerful gusts that kept the Poison Mist from approaching...

"Futile struggling. Attack!"

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! The Hidden Rain Village shinobi threw countless kunai attached to Explosive Tags. Boom, boom, boom, boom!!

Amid the bursting flames, Kyūsuke and Daibutsu died horribly before Nagato and Konan.

"Aaaah!!!!" Nagato let out an earthshaking roar, and a powerful Chakra storm dispersed even the Poison Mist...

"Nagato, stop! In your current condition, if you use that move again, you'll definitely die!!" Konan cried anxiously.

Hanzō's pupils contracted. "That feeling... He's going to use that move again. We absolutely cannot let him succeed. Flash!"

Hanzō instantly vanished from atop the Salamander, his scythe flying toward Nagato...

But for some reason, the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path... did not appear.

And Hanzō's scythe was already upon him.

"It ends here..."

"That's not for you to decide."

Whoosh! A vortex suddenly appeared in midair, and Riu descended...

Clang!! He swung the Uchiha Gunbai and blocked the scythe. Beneath his mask, his Sharingan coldly stared at the man known as a demigod!