"You know those are the Rinnegan too? If he really wanted to kill us, would he have waited until now?
He wanted to hear more news about Konoha. That's why he let me keep talking."
"Then why did you keep talking? That's betraying the village!"
"What betrayal? I already told you he's Senior Jiraiya's student. We're family."
Uchiha Yan waved a hand, looking as though he couldn't be bothered to argue.
He knew why Pain hadn't attacked. He simply didn't want a conflict with Konoha for now. Kakashi was a Konoha prodigy, after all. If he really died in Amegakure, it would certainly draw Konoha's Anbu.
When that happened, he might have to reveal himself to the Five Great Nations ahead of schedule. He wasn't ready yet and didn't want to expose himself early.
But if he didn't kill Kakashi, Konoha would inevitably learn about the Rinnegan, which might lead to the same situation. That was why he kept wavering.
With that in mind, Uchiha Yan looked at Pain with a broad smile.
"Senior Yahiko, we're just trying to complete our mission too. Why don't you find someone to transform into Hanzō and accept the letter? Then we can call it settled!"
"Uchiha Yan!"
Kakashi roared, his Three-Tomoe spinning furiously in his anger. "You coward! Are you that afraid of dying?"
"Are you stupid? Are you stupid?!"
Completely unafraid, Uchiha Yan pointed at the villagers in the street and shouted.
"Look at them! They finally have peaceful lives, with enough food to eat and clothes to keep them warm. Do you want to plunge them back into war?
War is coming. Once people learn Hanzō is dead, won't ninja from other countries invade?
If you don't hand the letter to Yahiko now, what will you say when the Third asks? Tell him the truth?
Don't you know what kind of man Danzo is? Can you guarantee he won't use this opportunity to get the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth to invade the Land of Rain, just to tie those two countries down?"
At that, Uchiha Yan turned his bright, intent gaze on Pain.
"Senior Yahiko, can your Rinnegan blur or seal memories?
Just seal our memories, then find someone to transform into Hanzō. We won't put you in a difficult position."
Uchiha Yan believed the Rinnegan had that ability. The earlier remark about having already seen the Rinnegan was proof enough.
For Pain to spread his reputation as a "god" in Amegakure, he must have appeared before people. Yet word of the Rinnegan's distinctive appearance hadn't spread through the Shinobi World. That alone was unusual.
Pain wasn't Nagato. He didn't have long hair to hide his eyes.
"Aren't you afraid I'll take the opportunity to kill you?"
"I already told you! We're family!"
Uchiha Yan answered without hesitation. "What kind of man is Lord Jiraiya? His students are all honorable, upright people. How could they do something like that?
And look at Amegakure's villagers. The lives they lead now must be thanks to you.
How could someone who works to protect the weak launch a sneak attack?
Go ahead! I definitely won't resist!"
As he spoke, Uchiha Yan closed his eyes and spread his arms, looking ready to bare his neck for the blade.
Pain looked at Uchiha Yan with a complicated expression. This was the first time he had met a ninja who would abandon his mission for the people of a small country.
"Uchiha Yan, what does a mission mean to you? What do the Hokage's orders mean?"
"Nothing! My ideal is a world united, where everyone lives peacefully on this land.
If a mission doesn't conflict with my principles, I'll do everything I can to complete it. If it violates my principles, that mission isn't worth a damn.
I don't like war, but sometimes I have no choice but to fight."
Pain paused slightly. Only after a long while did he slowly speak.
"Leave. Go back and tell the Third that I am in charge of Amegakure from now on. Amegakure will not take part in the great nations' war."
Uchiha Yan's eyes lit up. "Don't worry! I'll be sure to tell the Third that Lord Jiraiya's students are protecting the peace in Amegakure.
No one will be allowed to drag Amegakure into war.
Senior Yahiko, if you run into trouble, find Kakashi. He can notify Senior Jiraiya.
If that doesn't work, come to me. When it comes to rooting out darkness, the entire Uchiha Clan is duty-bound to help!"
"Huh?"
Zetsu spoke quietly from the side. "Aren't the Uchiha the most evil?"
"Nonsense! Have you ever seen the Uchiha murder civilians? Have you ever seen an Uchiha jonin attack a genin?
Danzo is the most evil. The Uchiha Clan has been working to eliminate him all along. This time, to stop Danzo from taking power, the entire clan even voted against him."
At that, Uchiha Yan bowed to Pain and Konan.
"Seniors, Konoha loves peace. The Uchiha will keep a tight leash on anyone who likes war.
We need to return to the village as soon as possible to defend against the Land of Lightning's invasion. If the opportunity arises another day, we'll certainly invite you both to visit the Uchiha. Until we meet again!"
Pain gave Uchiha Yan a long look, then left with Konan.
"Yan, give our regards to our teacher. Tell him he doesn't need to look for us. We're doing well!"
"Senior Konan! Remember to write to Konoha and let him know you're safe!"
"All right!"
Once Pain disappeared, Uchiha Yan's taut nerves relaxed in an instant, and he collapsed limply to the ground.
He wasn't the only one. Hyuga Taichi also slumped straight to the ground. Kakashi looked at the two of them with undisguised disdain.
"Was that necessary? Is he really that strong?"
Hyuga Taichi gave a bitter laugh. "Captain, you don't have the Byakugan, so you couldn't see it. He had no less chakra than a Tailed Beast."
Uchiha Yan chimed in from beside him. "You haven't read the Uchiha records. You don't know what the Rinnegan can do.
Put it this way! Those eyes could bring Senior Obito, the Fourth and his wife, and everyone who died in the Nine-Tails' Attack back to life at any time. They could also destroy all of Konoha with a single strike.
You know the Byakugan? Its ultimate evolution is about on par with the Rinnegan. It can even split the moon with a single sword strike."
"The Byakugan can evolve?"
"I read it in the records! Don't ask me how it evolves. They didn't say. They only said the Sage of Six Paths' younger brother had the Byakugan's ultimate form, while the Sage of Six Paths had the Rinnegan.
If an Uchiha married a Hyūga woman, their child might have the Byakugan's ultimate form."
"Why not a Hyūga marrying an Uchiha woman?"
"Is that the point?"
"Oh, right! Do you know any Uchiha girls? Can you introduce me to one?"
"Ugly face, wild tastes! Cataracts plus pinkeye. How did you even come up with that?"
"Shut up!"
Kakashi really couldn't listen any longer. "What do we tell the Third when we get back?"
"The truth! The Third won't care whether Hanzō is dead."
"But the Akatsuki were responsible for killing our teacher!"
"The Akatsuki were wiped out ages ago. Didn't you hear? If we can impersonate the Akatsuki, other people can too!
Taichi even saw someone impersonating the Akatsuki just now, and they used Water Release Ninjutsu."
"How come I didn't notice?!"
"Hyuga Taichi! Did you forget I was knocked down by Water Release just now? It was obviously a Kirigakure ninja."
"Wasn't that Senior Kakashi..."
"Nonsense! Why would Captain Kakashi attack me?"
"Do you know what you're saying?"
"Fools really are a blessing to humanity!"
Uchiha Yan sighed softly. "Did the Byakugan affect your brain development? What matters isn't who the culprit is, but giving the villagers somewhere to vent their anger.
There was only one invader on the Night of the Nine-Tails: that one-eyed Uchiha. He knows Space-Time Ninjutsu, and the Fourth wounded him. Who knows where he's hiding and recovering now?
Using that anger to face the war now can greatly boost the morale of Konoha's ninja and reduce the losses the war brings.
As Hokage, the Third's first concern is Konoha's safety. Avenging the Fourth comes second."
"So as long as we give him a reason, this mission counts as complete!"
"Exactly! I imagine we were sent to deliver this letter to use the Nine-Tails' rampage to threaten Hanzō into staying out of the war, while also guarding against the Land of Earth and the Land of Wind.
If you don't believe me, you can open the letter and read it. It's no use anymore anyway."
Before you continue