"Well? Now that you've seen Amegakure with your own eyes, do you still need to search for Nagato's whereabouts?"
Avoiding the Amegakure who were undergoing reconstruction and cleanup, Konan and Naoki Senju looked down at the Amegakure of Amegakure.
Upon seeing the devastated Amegakure, Konan collapsed to the ground, utterly exhausted. Even without an enemy, Nagato would likely have fallen into a deep coma if he had used Chibaku Tensei with such range and power, let alone if the enemy possessed Space-Time Ninjutsu...
" Nagato!!!"
Konan's heart-wrenching cries attracted the attention of some people, but Naoki Senju waved his hand and created a water curtain that reflected all the light, so the Amegakure couldn't find anything.
If they were to discover that the noble and inviolable messenger of the gods was crying and sobbing, their last remaining support would probably crumble.
Naoki Senju's gaze sharpened as he spotted a 'familiar face' in the ruins below, or more accurately, a familiar enemy.
" Konan, that looks like someone you know. Should we say hello?"
Naoki Senju pointed at Pain's Deva Path, who was floating in mid-air. His appearance at the disaster site at this time was probably meant to comfort people, but it felt strange to think that the culprit who caused the disaster was trying to comfort people.
With tears streaming down her face, Konan looked up and immediately saw Pain's Deva Path, who was clocking in right on time. Her eyes widened instantly, and she was about to rush over without thinking, but she was pinned down by Naoki Senju the moment she stood up.
"Let go! Naoki Senju, are you trying to back out?"
Because of Konan's mistake, Naoki Senju had to act prematurely and clean up the mess for her. Therefore, Naoki Senju signed a betting agreement with her: if Nagato's death was confirmed, Konan would have to return to Konoha with him and record the complete Paper Release Ninjutsu training method.
Discovering Pain's Deva Path was tantamount to confirming Nagato's safety, Konan naturally couldn't tolerate Naoki Senju's renege on his promise.
"Calm down, Konan, are you sure he really is Pain? Is he really Pain's Deva Path controlled by Nagato? Have you forgotten that the Rinnegan's abilities, like the Sharingan's, can also be used by transplant recipients?"
Unable to move due to the immense Chakra, Konan finally calmed down a bit and looked up to carefully observe Pain's Deva Path, who was flying in mid-air.
In the heat of the moment, she didn't notice, but after calming down, Konan did discover many unusual details.
First, there's Yahiko's (Pain's Deva Path's) clothes. They're dirty, tattered, and clearly haven't been changed in a long time—something that would never happen to her or Nagato.
Moreover, Yahiko's aura was also very strange, not his usual aura. When he looked at the villagers of Amegakure, he also revealed a cold and distant feeling. Although Nagato did not have much contact with the villagers of Amegakure, he would never have such a sense of distance!
These clues lead to an absolute answer— Nagato's Rinnegan has been taken by the Masked Man!
" Madara Uchiha, Masked Man! I will not forgive you!" Konan's fingers dug into the ground, leaving obvious marks, her grief fueling her desire for revenge.
"Well, can we retreat now? I still have important things to do." Naoki Senju had anticipated this situation; from the Nagato and the others decided to protect Amegakure, this outcome was already predetermined.
To realize one's ambition to change the world, one should not be bound by a small Amegakure. Nagato, who is concerned about Amegakure, will never be able to achieve his goal of deterring other ninja villages.
"No, we can't leave now." Konan stood up resolutely. The flames of anger did not destroy her reason; instead, they made her even more clear-headed.
" Yahiko's body cannot be given to the Masked Man. Even if it means sacrificing Nagato's eyes, we must protect Yahiko's final remains!"
Konan's attitude was unusually firm, refusing to budge an inch. Allowing Yahiko's body to be manipulated by someone like the Masked Man was a betrayal of Yahiko and Nagato!
"Sigh... I really can't do anything with you. Pay attention to my signal, count to three and run, understand?" Naoki Senju sighed helplessly.
"Run?... Okay."
Konan responded in a daze, but Naoki Senju didn't care whether she understood or not and immediately began Hand Seals.
" Wood Release: Senju Hands Technique!"
Beneath the ruins of Amegakure, a Wood Release arm burst forth from the earth, grabbed the unsuspecting Pain's Deva Path, and retreated back underground.
"Run!"
Without the slightest hesitation, Naoki Senju turned and fled. This was the headquarters of the Akatsuki, as well as the headquarters of Obito and Black Zetsu. Even the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path was here. There was no battlefield worse than this.
Of course, more importantly, they hadn't even gotten their hands on Konan's Paper Release yet. If they were to fight Obito Uchiha to the death at this point, how could they legitimately demand benefits from him?
After a moment of surprise, Konan followed in Naoki Senju's footsteps and began to retreat towards the outskirts of Amegakure.
Akatsuki Base - Demonic Statue of the Outer Path
Obito, who was concentrating on sealing the Two-Tails 'Chakra, suddenly opened his eyes. White Zetsu, who was idle and didn't need to perform the sealing ritual, immediately asked curiously:
"Little... Madara Uchiha, are you short on Chakra? Do you need any help? Hahaha..."
The White Zetsu, who almost accidentally revealed Obito's true name, remained unrestrained, laughing wildly as if every White Zetsu possessed the 'courage' to face death (courtesy).
Obito had no time to deal with the reckless White Zetsu; what was really important was what was happening in Amegakure.
" Pain's Deva Path has been taken away."
"Oh?" Upon hearing this interesting news, Black Zetsu and Kisame opened their eyes almost simultaneously.
"Who has the capability to do it? Who would risk taking away a useless puppet?"
This was a question they all shared. Black Zetsu vaguely guessed something, and after much thought, only Konan would risk taking away the Pain's Deva Path created from Yahiko's remains...
But when did Konan acquire such strength?
Naoki Senju, who had taken Pain's Deva Path, fled with Konan out of the Land of Land of Rain, a small country sandwiched between three great nations.
However, the direction was not towards Konoha Ninja Village in the Land of Fire, but towards another small country not far from the Land of Rain — the Land of Waterfalls.
This country is not much larger than the Land of Rain, and Takigakure is not as strong Amegakure, but its fame is no less than that of Amegakure, and may even be greater, because Takigakure is the only ninja village outside of the Five Great Shinobi Villages that possesses Tailed Beast!
Aside from the One-Tail, Three-Tails, Eight-Tails, and Konoha's Nine-Tails that Naoki Senju had already sealed, the remaining Tailed Beast are the Two-Tails of Kumogakure, the Five-Tails Four-Tails Five-Tail of Iwagakure, the Six-Tails of Kirigakure, and the Seven-Tails of Takigakure!
Regardless of priority or difficulty of capture, the Seven-Tails of Takigakure is the most suitable at this stage. A competition to capture the Tailed Beast will begin between Naoki Senju and the Akatsuki.