Chapter 84: Blocking the Way
Hidden Rain Village.
The High Tower.
Konan stood at the edge of the tower. Beside her sat a Orange-haired figure wearing the black cloak with red clouds.
"Is it really a good idea to let the new recruit manage the organization's funds?" Konan asked Pain.
"No problem. This guy is a ninja who has survived since the Warring States period. I think he should have a healthy awe of power," Pain replied indifferently.
Konan nodded. "Yes. We will definitely fulfill Yahiko's dream." A hint of nostalgia flickered in her eyes.
"Before you complete your plan, I think you should deal with a few rats from Konoha. This is a matter for your Rain Village, so I'll leave it to you," the Swirl-masked man said, suddenly appearing beside them.
"Rats?"
The two looked at him—the man calling himself Uchiha Madara.
The Swirl-masked man chuckled. "Yes. I originally came to discuss some business, but I happened to run into a few Konoha spies. They are likely on their way out of the Land of Rain as we speak."
"If you need help, I can lend a hand."
The two were taken aback, staring at the masked man.
Pain stood up. "It seems Konoha still has capable people. To go undetected for so long under such high-alert surveillance... impressive."
"I find it impressive too—that they could hide from your perception," the masked man teased. To evade the sensory abilities of the Uzumaki clan combined with the power of the Rinnegan and a village-wide search was a feat that even he found interesting. "Ha, I wonder if we should recruit them into Akatsuki."
Outside the Hidden Rain Village, near the border of the Land of Fire.
Whoosh!
Four figures moved rapidly.
Mibu Shinobu looked at the approaching border with a smile. "Sensei, you're amazing! To think you could stay hidden in the Rain Village for so long without being caught!"
Tonbo Tobitake replied, "We haven't reached the village yet. Don't be careless." He had a bad premonition that things wouldn't go smoothly.
Hearing this, Mibu and the other two teammates didn't argue. Mibu trusted his teacher implicitly, while the others trusted Tonbo's ability and his judgment as a Jonin.
Zip! Zip!
After a while, Tonbo suddenly stopped.
"What is it?" Mibu asked. The other two were even more alert, immediately entering a defensive posture.
Rustle, rustle, rustle!
"Since you've come, why bother going back? You shall be buried here in the Land of Rain; let it be your Pure Land."
In front of them, after a distortion in space, six figures appeared. Leading them was Pain. Upon receiving the masked man's intel, he had deployed all six paths to prevent any accidents.
Tonbo Tobitake sighed and pointed at them. "Hey, you six Orange-hairs. We're in a hurry. How about you move aside? You know, I hate 'Orange-hairs' the most."
Simultaneously, he made a secret hand signal behind his back, telling Mibu and the others to run while he held the enemies off. The three understood and shifted their weight, preparing to flee. Looking at these six enemies with identical hair, they knew this wouldn't be an easy fight—it could even result in total annihilation. Except for the leader and the one who looked like an older man, Tonbo had warned them about the other four: they were the primary force responsible for eliminating spies in the Rain.
"Orange-hairs?" Pain glanced at the heads of his various paths. "Are you trying to distract me so your companions can escape? Don't be naive. All of you will stay here today."
Tonbo scratched his head and said to his teammates, "You heard him. Go. I'll block them." He then looked seriously toward the Six Paths of Pain. He let out a long breath. Man, we were just about to make it back!
Pain asked, "Sacrificing yourself to save your teammates? Is it worth it?" He was reminded of Yahiko's tragic end. Yahiko had done the same. However, for the sake of Yahiko's dream, even if this man's actions were similar, he had to die today.
"Have you ever heard of the Will of Fire?" Tonbo asked.
Since the opponent asked such a question, he suddenly wanted to try "Talk no Jutsu." Naruto made it look so easy; surely he could do it too? With Naruto's clumsy social skills, Tonbo figured he was much more persuasive. If he succeeded, maybe there wouldn't even be a Fourth War. He would be the savior who silently rescued the ninja world.
Pain was confused, unsure of what the man was trying to say or how it related to his question. He had heard of the Will of Fire, of course; Jiraiya used to talk about it constantly. At first, he had been a firm believer, but Hanzo's broken promise and Yahiko's death had changed his mind.
In the shadows, the Swirl-masked man listened to the conversation. Another pathetic soul deceived by the Will of Fire. Tonbo Tobitake... I didn't expect you to be the leader. He recognized the man talking about the Will of Fire.
"Do you know him?" the playful voice asked from beneath the white mask.
"Yes. We were classmates at the Academy. I didn't expect him to actually become a Jonin." In their school days, Tonbo couldn't even keep up with him in combat practice.
"Oh my, a reunion! You're going to be moved to tears. Are you going to save him?" the playful voice teased.
"Konoha's affairs have nothing to do with me anymore. My current goal is to destroy this false world and create a real one."
"Ah, you're so heartless!"
"The height of a fountain will never exceed its source, and a ninja's strength will never exceed the conviction in their heart. The Will of Fire is the conviction that grants Konoha ninjas their strength. You must have a similar conviction, Orange-hair," Tonbo said.
"Captain." Mibu Shinobu was deeply moved. As expected of his teacher, his understanding of the Will of Fire was truly profound. Even Murakumo and Enkui were stunned.
Pain paused and looked at him deeply. "You are right. But that makes it all the more reason not to let you leave."
"What are you standing around for? Run!" Tonbo was speechless. He had given them so many hints, yet the three of them were still standing there?
"Yes!"
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The three used Body Flicker to escape.
"Universal Pull."
How could Pain let them escape? He raised his right hand. An invisible force erupted, and the three were instantly seized as if by an invisible grip, flying back toward him.
"What's happening?"
"What is this power?"
"Damn it."
As the three drew near, Pain pulled out black rods and instantly impaled them.
Argh!
The three screamed in agony, their eyes wide. Blood spilled onto the ground, a tragic sight.
However, their captain, Tonbo Tobitake, was smiling. He made no move to rescue them. He even clapped his hands and shouted, "What a fascinating ability! I've never heard of someone like you in Konoha. You've been hiding quite deep."
Tonbo's words made Pain pause. "They were your comrades."
"Ah, actually, they weren't. Look for yourself."
Tonbo pointed at the three fallen bodies. Where there should have been corpses, there were only three explosive tags burning away.
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