Fleeing from Konoha

Like this, if Hidden Sand wants to gain the support of the other Kage, it’s probably going to be extremely difficult.

Could it be that, like the Land of Demons, we also have to abandon all mission commission activities?

That’s simply impossible.

"I need to consult the Daimyo."

Chiyo let out a sigh, not spelling everything out.

Before coming, although she had been granted authority by the Daimyo to make decisions on her own, things had developed somewhat beyond expectations, and Chiyo felt it was still better to ask the Daimyo for instructions.

At this moment Mifune said, "There’s a fast communications setup in the castle, you can contact the Daimyo’s Mansion of the Land of Wind directly."

Chiyo nodded, then looked at Hakushi and said, "How about I give you my answer tomorrow?"

Hakushi had no objection to this.

"I’m not going to quibble over a single day. Go ahead."

◎

Inside a silent, empty cavern.

A huge humanoid torso, its color and body very similar to dead wood, loomed there; behind the dead-wood giant, many pillar-like objects jutted up, ferocious in shape, its aura heavy and oppressive.

In front, wooden structures like fingers also protruded, breaking through the earth and standing upright.

On those dead-wood-like fingers, each person had a place to stand.

Kisame and Itachi were standing on the dead-wood giant’s fingers in the flesh, while the others stood there as rainbow-like phantom bodies.

Each person formed hand Seals with both hands, linking the Chakra in their bodies to the dead-wood giant—the Gedo Statue.

In the Gedo Statue’s mouth, a massive Chakra surged out in the form of a dragon, wrapping around a Ninja’s body, floating in midair.

From the Ninja’s body, a mass of red Chakra filled with an evil aura was continuously transmitted into the Gedo Statue.

As the last bit of red Chakra was drawn out of the Ninja’s body, the Chakra dragon shrank back into the Gedo Statue; the Ninja’s body lost all support, plummeting to the ground, convulsing twice in pain, then falling utterly still.

"Hoo..."

No one knew who let out a breath, as if they were trying to vent all the fatigue accumulated over these past days.

"Was it five days or six? My body’s already gone stiff."

Twisting his neck with crackling sounds, Kisame’s voice was full of complaints.

To Kisame’s grumbling, Nagato, who had manifested in person, paid no mind, merely saying, "With this, the sealing work on the first Tailed Beast, the Five-tailed, is complete. Well done, everyone."

"I expected it, but I didn’t think sealing a Tailed Beast would be this troublesome."

The one speaking was Orochimaru.

Nagato replied, "It’s the first time we’re using it; some lack of proficiency is inevitable. I’ll make a certain degree of adjustments afterward. Besides, as we collect more Tailed Beasts, the sealing time will shorten accordingly."

"In that case, I really want to see the scene after all nine Tailed Beasts are gathered."

Orochimaru’s lips split, revealing a smile brimming with malice, his eyes likewise full of interest.

On the road in pursuit of immortality, something this interesting was worth commemorating a little.

He very much wanted to know how far Akatsuki’s future could go.

When that future collides with the Five Great Nations, what new configuration of power will emerge?

To Orochimaru, the current Ninja Realm was nothing but a stagnant pond, devoid of any desire in him to stir it up.

"It will happen. And that future isn’t too far away."

Nagato answered firmly, strong confidence in his tone.

Right then, Black Zetsu, fused into one with White Zetsu, suddenly spoke: "The Tsuchikage has received word of the Five-tailed Jinchuriki’s disappearance and has left the Land of Iron. He’s now on the way back to Hidden Rock."

After hearing this, Nagato looked at Kisame and Itachi and asked, "You didn’t leave any loose ends, did you?"

Itachi remained silent, while Kisame answered enthusiastically, "Relax, Leader. So many days have passed; Hidden Rock only now thinks to investigate—already too late. And White Zetsu cleaned up the traces afterward. With Hidden Rock’s tracking capabilities, they won’t be able to trace anything back to us."

"Good. We still can’t afford to attract the attention of the Five Great Nations. This time was a test run, and overall, the result leaves me quite satisfied."

Nagato did not stint on his praise.

Then he turned his head and looked toward Black Zetsu and White Zetsu, continuing to ask, "How did the Five Kage Summit turn out?"

Black Zetsu answered, "No way to find out. If I get too close, I’ll be sensed by Chiba Hakushi’s Perception Ninjutsu. By the looks of it, he doesn’t want us to know the details of the Five Kage Summit."

"He’s really cautious. But for us, knowing or not doesn’t make much difference. The current configuration of the Ninja Realm is bound to change after the war between the Land of Wind and the Land of Demons. That’s an indisputable fact."

By comparison, Akatsuki still couldn’t come into the light, and that left Nagato quite regretful.

The impoverished Land of Rain simply couldn’t withstand too much upheaval.

And surrounded are three great nations—Fire, Earth, and Wind—and now there’s the Land of Demons as an exception. They won’t allow a second small Country to rise.

If it were just him, of course he wouldn’t be afraid, but sometimes he had to make compromises and concessions for the sake of the Land of Rain.

Anyone living in this world will always be attached to something, will always protect something.

Everyone has a forbidden zone in their heart that no one is allowed to violate.

"Yes. And what the Five Great Nations don’t know is that the Land of Demons has already secretly subjugated the Land of Snow and the Land of Shadow; most regions of the Land of Bear, including Hidden Star Village, are also under the Land of Demons’ control. When the time is right, these three Countries will all rally behind the Land of Demons. In the Land of Snow, there’s even a military production factory that not even I can infiltrate. In this recent war with the Land of Wind, the Land of Demons’ weaponry is likely still hiding a great deal that they haven’t brought out."