Yahiko's Death

"Forget it. As long as he's happy."

Kazan couldn't be bothered with what Uchiha Itachi had done.

Compared to the bitter, brooding person he would become, a little foolishness now was fine.

Fools were happier alive.

He kept an eye on his house and made sure the Golden Lion and the other beasts kept training.

Life wasn't boring.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Shinobi World...

The Land of Grass.

Yahiko and Nagato set out together, leaving Konan to hold down the village alone.

They had come to Kusagakure on an important mission.

They wanted to bring about cooperation between the two villages and their respective nations.

They wanted to forge a bond that could not be broken.

After much effort, Kusagakure had finally agreed to try their plan.

"Nagato, are you sure there are no mistakes in the proposal?"

"I checked it several times before we left. You're too nervous, Yahiko."

"Haha, am I? But this is a crucial step toward our dream. We have to succeed this time."

Yahiko was full of energy.

Since becoming the leader of Amegakure, he had devoted himself to building ties with their neighbors.

But talking about "understanding each other" felt too hollow on its own.

So he had come up with a way to strengthen economic ties between the villages and their nations, establishing Trade Relations.

Both sides would benefit. They could grow together without fighting and killing!

That was why he felt confident about these negotiations.

If they succeeded, they could eventually extend the plan across the entire Shinobi World.

In the end, economic ties would bind every Shinobi Village together.

Their dream would be halfway realized.

There would be no war. Shared interests would put every village in the same boat.

Under those circumstances, any village would have to