Candidate for the Asura Path!

In an unnamed land, deep underground in a sunless nest, White Zetsu's corpse lay on an experimental table... Complex formulas covered every part of its body, its head had been split open, and the incision was held in place with instruments.

Yakushi Kabuto carefully operated with chakra-infused tools. Sweat slid down his face, but he paid it no mind, only occasionally using his free fingers to push up the glasses on his nose.

Orochimaru sat nearby, propping his cheek on one hand as his vertical pupils watched the data flickering across the instruments. A knowing smile curled at the corner of his lips.

"Just as I thought, my hypothesis was correct. White Zetsu uses the soul as a medium of communication. Even when the soul is confined inside a container like this, it can still detect the mental waves constantly interweaving."

"It's just that without a living body serving as a relay station, the information cannot be vividly expressed."

"Hmm?" Orochimaru's expression shifted slightly. "This feeling... Nagato is summoning me."

—Phantom Projection Technique!

Whoosh! Orochimaru's rainbow-colored phantom appeared before Nagato and Konan.

"Yo, Nagato. It's been a while. Where is this?"

"Jizo Temple in the Land of Rice."

"Why not summon me directly with the Rinnegan?"

"I was afraid of interrupting your work, so I thought I'd give you a heads-up first. How is it going? Have you made any progress?"

"Heh heh... I think I'll be able to deliver my first answer sheet very soon."

"You've worked hard."

"Thanks for asking. How are things on your end?"

"I've already acquired four blood samples. Only the 'original owner' remains."

"What terrifying efficiency. Perfect—once I have results on my end, the Hashirama Artificial Body Cells on the Demonic Statue and your 'original owner' can be handled at the same time."

"About how much longer will you need?"

"Oh? Could it be that you have some unplanned business to attend to, Nagato?"

"Something like that. I want to see whether there's enough time."

"Three days. My results will be ready then."

"Three days... that's enough. Then we'll head north."

"Heh heh, the Land of Lightning? Your target couldn't be that man who died in such a shocking manner during the recent war, could it?"

"Do you know where his body is?"

"Heh heh heh, you really came to the right person for that... Nagato."

Whoosh!

After the phantom projection vanished, Nagato said to the person beside him, "Konan, I was planning to soak in a hot spring here, but it looks like we need to get moving first."

"It's fine. We can soak once we're done with the important business."

Konan had already formed the cultivation seal for the Night Netherworld Spider Lily. Today was the second night she had to endure, and she was still feeling fine.

Thus, the two of them did not continue resting and hurried northward.

Two unnamed small countries lay between the Land of Rice and the Land of Lightning. Even riding the Yata Crow through the air, the journey would take at least a day.

During that time... Fugaku and Shisui also returned to the village.

During the Third Shinobi World War, the renowned genius of the shinobi world, Body Flicker Shisui, had somehow lost an arm outside the village. The entire Uchiha clan was thrown into an uproar!

After returning to the village, Shisui was admitted to the Uchiha hospital. Members of the police force came rushing over upon hearing the news.

Fugaku leaned against the wall outside the ward, his arms folded across his chest, and calmly stated that Shisui had been injured after accidentally triggering a trap while carrying out a mission on Bellflower Mountain.

"Injured by accidentally triggering a trap? Hey, Captain, are you joking? Would Shisui make that kind of mistake?"

The explanation simply could not stand up to scrutiny, but with Fugaku insisting on it, they could not say much else.

"Damn it... why did this have to happen at a time like this? The village was just attacked, and now Shisui has suffered something like this!"

Fugaku frowned when he heard that. "You said... the village was attacked?"

"Yes. Two people even broke into the Uchiha clan's compound! We killed one of them, but the other was so strong it was simply outrageous!"

Fugaku asked in a low voice, "Did the enemies... have any distinguishing characteristics?"

After hearing the clan members' descriptions, cold sweat trickled down Fugaku's face... because both of those people matched the enemies he had encountered on Bellflower Mountain!

Even more terrifyingly, the intruder they said they had killed was also one of the enemies he and Shisui had encountered!

Did the enemy... even possess the ability to revive the dead?

Although Nagato had appeared during the battle, Pain's secret was far too unfathomable. Fugaku had thought about it all the way back, nearly breaking his head over it, yet he still could not make sense of it.

"Oh, right, Captain Fugaku... Itachi seems to know something about the situation, but no matter how much we asked, he refused to say anything!"

Fugaku's back left the wall, and his arms slowly dropped from his chest. He said in a calm voice, "Return to your respective posts."

When he returned home.

Itachi was sitting by the entrance, seemingly having waited for his return all along. "Father, Mother has just gone to sleep."

Fugaku glanced toward the bedroom. "Then let's talk outside."

Itachi nodded and changed into his shoes.

Father and son went out and sat down on the corridor outside the house.

"Father, the real reason Brother Shisui was injured wasn't because he accidentally triggered a trap, was it? It was because of those people with special eyes..."

Fugaku's gaze darkened. In the end, he chose not to hide it from his biological son.

"Yes. Facing beings like that, losing one arm was already a blessing. We nearly didn't make it back, Shisui and I."

"So, Itachi, you need to tell Father what you know."

Buzz! Itachi raised his head, and tomoe appeared in his eyes. "Let me convey it through my eyes. That way... it will be faster."

"!!" Fugaku stared at the tomoe in four-year-old Itachi's Sharingan... and was so stunned that he stood frozen for a long while, unable to say a single word.

After watching... what Itachi and Mikoto had experienced that night, Fugaku's back was drenched in cold sweat.

He had never expected... that the enemy's targets were not only Shisui and himself, but also his wife and child!

If the enemy had truly intended to kill them... he did not even dare imagine what the consequences would have been.

The Sharingan faded. Itachi clenched his fists and could no longer conceal his guilt. "Father... I failed to protect Mother. I let her get hurt!"

"Itachi, there is no need to blame yourself! At your age, you already did very well!"

"Afterward, the clan members who noticed something came to question me. I kept silent and did not report it to the village either. It was such a serious matter that I wanted to ask Father first..."

"You did the right thing..."

Knock, knock!

At that moment, someone knocked on the courtyard gate.

"Itachi, wait here for a moment."

When he reached the gate, a member of the police force reported to Fugaku, "Captain, the Fourth Hokage just went to the clan hospital to visit Shisui!"

"Then I need to go as well!"

"He has already left. He only left some gifts, and he asked you to get a good rest tonight. Also..." The police force member hesitated.

Fugaku asked, "Say whatever you have to say!"

The man said, "He also wishes to invite you to attend Konoha's emergency meeting tomorrow night to discuss the recent village intruders."

Fugaku said thoughtfully, "Understood. I will attend."

After closing the door, Itachi stepped forward. "Father, should we take this opportunity to tell them about the enemies..."

After pondering for a long time, Fugaku solemnly instructed, "Itachi, no matter who asks about what happened that night from now on, you must insist that you know nothing."

Itachi asked, "I want to know why, Father..."

Uchiha Fugaku, this man... did not even have the courage at this moment to use the Sharingan to show Itachi the images from Bellflower Mountain.

"It is not time yet. Wait until you are older, Itachi..."

Land of Lightning, Cloud Gate Valley.

Thunder rumbled oppressively, and the rain fell mournfully!!

"Waaaaaaaaah... Old man, rest in peace!!! One day, your son will lead the young ones of the village and grind that damned old bastard Ōnoki and those trash from Iwagakure into dust, to comfort your spirit in heaven!!!"

Fourth Raikage A knelt before the grave, weeping so fiercely that heaven and earth seemed to shake!

"Wuuuuuu... Lord Third Raikage!! We will never forget your heroic bearing! We will do everything in our power to assist the Fourth and make the Will of Lightning resound throughout the shinobi world!!!"

Behind him, the Hidden Cloud Village shinobi wept as though they had lost their own parents!

On the mountain peak above them, Nagato and Konan looked at one another, both caught between laughter and tears.

"Who would have thought... we'd arrive in time for such a grand funeral."

Yes... Nagato's preferred candidate for Pain's Asura Path was none other than the man who possessed the Strongest Spear and the Strongest Shield, who had fought ten thousand enemies alone during the recently concluded Third Shinobi World War, battled for three days and three nights without falling—Third Raikage A!