"Water..."
As soon as Konan uttered her first murmur, a glass of cool, clear boiled water was brought to her lips, moistening Konan that had been parched for days.
Although there was a map indicating the approximate location of Sunagakure, finding a village that covered only a few hundred square kilometers in the vast desert was no easier than finding a needle in a haystack. Naoki Senju was lucky enough to encounter a patrol of Sunagakure Ninja, which led him to the exact location of Sunagakure.
When that group of Sunagakure Ninja brought Naoki Senju into Sunagakure, Chiyo, the only remaining leader of Sunagakure, turned as black as the bottom of a pot.
Sunagakure... this time it's really in danger...
But this news was a rare treat for a brother and sister who were in a semi-imprisoned state.
The Fourth Kazekage was killed by Orochimaru, Orochimaru used the Fourth Kazekage's identity to trick Sunagakure. Someone has to take responsibility for this. If Gaara, the One-Tail Jinchuriki, were still alive, the people of Sunagakure would naturally have no objection, nor would they dare to.
But now Gaara is dead, Sunagakure has lost the One-Tail that has been passed down for generations. The combined guilt of these two crimes is something that this helpless brother and sister cannot bear. The fact that they are currently only in a semi-imprisoned state is due to the lingering influence of the Fourth Kazekage and Chiyo's small act of care.
Naoki Senju Naoki Senju become the last resort for the siblings, and he has not let them down. The first thing he did upon entering Sunagakure was to inquire about Temari's whereabouts.
Naoki Senju's actions undoubtedly put Temari and Kankuro on the opposite side of Sunagakure, or at least opposite the Sunagakure leadership. Fighting for their power was more painful than killing them.
But Temari wasn't reluctant at all, because this was their only chance to survive.
" Lord Naoki, who is this woman...?"
Although she hasn't fully developed yet, Temari can already sense the competitive pressure from other women, especially from this hot woman in front of her, who brings Temari unprecedented pressure.
Her delicate skin was as white as snow in legends... This was the most fitting description Temari could think of. Sunagakure was located in the desert, hot and dry, so it was impossible for it to snow. At least Temari had never seen snow. Only the older generation of Sunagakure Ninja had witnessed heavy snow, or they could only see snow in the Land of Iron or the Land of Snow.
The hot and dry environment, intense sunlight, and relentless sandstorms, coupled with the demanding nature of the Jonin profession, meant that the female ninjas of Sunagakure could not possibly have delicate, fair skin.
Temari inevitably felt jealous, and it had nothing to do with Naoki Senju; it was a competition between women!
" Konan is the member of the organization I fought this time."
Naoki Senju carefully wiped the water droplets from Konan's mouth, but he seemed to have been a little too rough, Konan didn't wake up for two whole days...
" Akatsuki?"
Naoki Senju looked up at Temari in surprise.
"You actually know about the Akatsuki? How did you do that?"
Temari a deep breath; she knew the time had come to show her worth.
" The Intelligence Division is the Fourth Kazekage's loyal subordinate, and it also houses information on the Akatsuki. If Lord Naoki wishes to learn more..."
"No need." Naoki Senju naturally understood Temari's intentions, but his target wasn't the Sunagakure's intelligence network; he wanted everything about the Sunagakure!
" The Akatsuki will probably cease to exist in the future, so there's no point in keeping that information. However, I've already witnessed your abilities. You managed to obtain this information while in a semi-imprisoned state. I have complete confidence in entrusting Sunagakure to you."
Temari's dejected mood vanished instantly, and she even felt like crying tears of joy. No one would willingly die in a political struggle without knowing why, and seizing this opportunity to gain benefits was the best solution Temari could think of.
"Thank you, Lord Naoki -sama. Temari and Sunagakure will not let you down."
Naoki Senju patted Temari's lowered head. Temari's ability was sufficient, but her strength was lacking. However, that didn't matter; they could simply eliminate all those stronger than Temari.
"Hmm~"
Perhaps it was the water that she was given that woke up Konan's drowsy mind. After being unconscious for two whole days, Konan finally opened her eyes and saw the face she had only recently come to know.
" Senju... Naoki..."
Konan managed to utter the name, but her body couldn't obey her brain's commands; she could only convey her intentions through her eyes.
"It seems you still need to recover for a while. Would you be interested in visiting Sunagakure?" Naoki Senju ignored the signal Konan was trying to convey.
What else could Konan mean but to go to Amegakure to rescue Nagato...?
However, Black Zetsu and Obito had probably already completely devoured Nagato by this time, so Naoki Senju had absolutely no reason to recklessly barge into Obito's stronghold.
"Rain... Amegakure... Save... Nagato..."
Konan was trying to express herself in a halting manner, but in her current state, she probably couldn't even leave the gates of Sunagakure, let alone save Nagato.
Two days were only enough to restore Chakra; the body's fatigue will require a longer period of rest.
Naoki Senju shook his head, wondering if he should let Konan faint again, otherwise Konan intense thoughts would seriously affect her recovery.
But Temari's eyes lit up. Naoki Senju had been wasting time traveling lately and knew nothing about the outside world, but she could freely enter and leave the Sunagakure Intelligence Division, so she knew what was happening outside.
" Lord Naoki, Amegakure no longer exists."
" Amegakure... no longer exists?" Konan murmured blankly.
Even Naoki Senju found this information hard to believe. She could understand Obito taking the Rinnegan, but why would he destroy Amegakure as well?
"Destruction? To what extent? Is it the core area of Amegakure destroyed, or... the entire Amegakure?"
Temari's breathing quickened; she couldn't believe the information she had seen, but it was a fact that had already happened.
"According to the intelligence report, all the buildings, land, and even the surrounding area of Amegakure were sucked into the air. Now, only a grotesque crater remains of Amegakure. However, since all the Amegakure ninjas were out on missions, there were no major casualties."
Although Temari wanted to express her regret with a sigh, the Akatsuki members whom Naoki Senju valued so highly seemed to be ninjas from Amegakure as well. Her instincts told Temari to be honest and not try to provoke someone who was in despair.
Alright, after hearing Temari's detailed description, there's no need to doubt the authenticity of the information anymore. Konan and Naoki both know that this is the ultimate Dōjutsu of the Rinnegan, and also Nagato's last trump card.
---- Chibaku Tensei!