Lin Ze pretended to think, remaining silent for a moment. He needed a plausible reason for his "wavering."
"I came from a ninja village in a small country."
Lin Ze spoke slowly, his voice dropping a little. "The village was caught up in the Second Shinobi World War and reduced to ruins overnight."
"I was the only survivor."
Konan's gaze shifted slightly.
Amegakure, too, belonged to a small country and had suffered terribly in war-those words could indeed stir her empathy.
"So I know very well that slogans alone won't bring peace."
Lin Ze raised his head, his gaze sharpening beneath his mask. "And I won't submit to the weak. If you want me to join, you'll have to show me you're worthy."
As his words fell, the atmosphere inside the temple abruptly froze.
The sheets of paper behind Konan stirred without a breeze, slowly floating into the air.
The presence outside the temple also revealed clear hostility at that moment.
But Konan raised a hand, stopping the person in hiding.
"Worthy?"
She looked at Lin Ze and said slowly, "Then let me show you."
Boom!
The moment she finished speaking, the temple roof suddenly exploded!
A figure descended from above, landing heavily between Lin Ze and Konan.
Short orange hair, cold Rinnegan, and black rods embedded in his face-it was Deva Path Pain!
"This is..."
Lin Ze took half a step back "at just the right moment," adding a hint of "shock and uncertainty" to his voice.
Deva Path Pain spoke coldly:
"The Rinnegan, the legendary eyes of the Sage."
"Am I worthy?"
Lin Ze "drew a deep breath" and fell silent for several seconds.
His performance was convincing-he displayed shock without appearing to lose too much composure.
"So that's it..."
He murmured to himself, then raised his head