Chapter 61 Akatsuki and Nagato
Ayane's attitude, for the moment, is set aside because, even when she's angry, she only puts on a smile, making it impossible for people to know whether she's truly upset or completely indifferent.
Precisely because of this, to some extent, she is more dangerous than Rui.
Rui, on the other hand, is straightforward. Her joy and anger are both visibly expressed on her face.
At this moment, she is genuinely angry, and it's the kind of burning fury.
Without providing a reasonable explanation, Shiroshi can't predict what terrifying thing might happen.
The tiny Livy on Shiroshi's shoulder senses a heavy atmosphere, like a storm about to break, brewing in this house. In response, it begins to sluggishly move its body, crawling down Shiroshi's back and away from this battlefield filled with smoke.
The emotional life of Shiroshi is indeed colorful, thought Livy in its heart.
"Um, what's going on with you two? No need to welcome me back with such terrifying expressions," Shiroshi attempts to alleviate the oppressive atmosphere entrenched in this quagmire.
Upon hearing Shiroshi's clumsy defense, Rui snorts coldly, saying, "I'm sorry to be blunt, but you disappeared for over a week without a word. If you hadn't come back, I would have thought you were completely missing."
"Yeah, Shiroshi-kun, you suddenly left here. Do you know how much trouble you caused us? It messed up our work schedule, and we had to worry about your safety," Ayane scolds Shiroshi.
Shiroshi can probably imagine how much trouble Rui and Ayane had during his absence. After all, he usually manages things himself, with Rui handling security and extermination, while Ayane is in charge of supervising the work. Having them take over his responsibilities probably made them feel a bit overwhelmed.
"I'm not a child. You don't need to worry about my safety. But now that I'm back, I'll be more careful next time."
Mainly, his abrupt departure to the Forest was too sudden. After all, that was where Livy summoned him using the reverse summoning technique, and it had nothing to do with Shiroshi's own will.
His original plan was to summon a part of the Livy's avatar, understand the situation in the Shikkotsu Forest, and then decide whether to go there or not. However, after he signed a contract with Livy in a tricky way, it directly summoned him to the Forest. There was no time to explain things to Rui and Ayane.
Additionally, the natural environment for cultivating senjutsu arts in the Forest and learning Livy's healing-type senjutsu arts took a few days, making it impossible to return quickly.
"So, this is the...," Ayane looks at the silent slug.
Rui also shifts her gaze, showing great interest in the slug.
"Ah, yes, it's a part of the Shikkotsu Forest Slug Sage. It came with me this time for an important matter. You can call it 'Livy' in daily life; that's its name," Shiroshi introduces the slug to the two.
"Good afternoon, both of you," the Livy's soft and gentle voice echoes.
Since it's their first meeting and they're not very familiar, Rui and Ayane just nod in greeting.
"Did you two come here together for something?" Shiroshi asks.
The way they looked at him earlier with a confrontational expression did startle Shiroshi a bit.
"Mainly to check on your situation. Also, that batch of medical ninjas in training has safely arrived in the Fire Country via sea and should be entering Konoha now. In addition, the Third Kazekage of the Sand Village, after spy operations in various villages, has been confirmed missing before the start of the Third Great Ninja War. The reason for the disappearance is unknown, and the possibility of being assassinated is not ruled out," Rui explains briefly.
After all, the disappearance of one of the Five Kage is no small matter. Rui can't think of anyone who could silently take away the contemporary Kazekage, a situation she finds unprecedented.
"Has it been confirmed?" Shiroshi was slightly surprised. Initially, the Kazekage's disappearance was speculative from various sources.
Now that it's confirmed that the Kazekage went missing before the war, it implies that the nations have concrete evidence of the Kazekage's disappearance; otherwise, such a conclusion wouldn't be possible.
Of course, there's a possibility of a Sand Village plot, but it's not very likely.
"However, after the Kazekage's disappearance, Suna still has the audacity to wage war against Konoha. Quite courageous indeed."
Rui had personally experienced the strength of Suna's ninjas during the Second Great Ninja War.
In overall capabilities, they were not in the same league as Konoha. Konoha's prowess in bloodline ninjas was unmatched. While individual strength might vary, in terms of the intimidating power of a whole clan, they were more effective than powerful individual ninjas.
This reputation was especially true for the Uchiha clan.
Whether individually or as a clan, as long as they could serve as a deterrent, they held power.
After losing the top-tier ninja like the Third Kazekage, Suna still had the courage to launch a war against Konoha. It indeed made Rui look at them with a bit more respect.
"It's not just about courage. If the Kazekage didn't disappear, it was a long-planned move. If the Kazekage disappeared unintentionally, it would be a move out of necessity."
"Necessity?"
"Instead of having our village's people fight head-to-head for the position of the Fourth Kazekage, causing internal conflicts and bloodshed, it's better to shift internal conflicts, gain merits by attacking Konoha, and use that to determine the candidate for the Fourth Kazekage. It avoids internal conflicts and ensures the previous plan isn't in vain. Even after losing the Third Kazekage, Suna's equipment should surpass Konoha's, hastily responding to them."
Shiroshi marveled at the talent within Suna.
Their ability to react so quickly showcased the sharpness of the high-ranking ninjas of the Five Great Nations. These individuals had their own criteria for understanding the direction of the war.
They couldn't be underestimated.
Even if Shiroshi didn't like the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen, he stabilized Konoha's situation. Although this balance came at the expense of other ninjas, it was still a stable environment.
Suna's idea was to let these people die together with Konoha's ninjas instead of internal strife, ensuring the selection of the Fourth Kazekage and weakening Konoha's strength, obtaining the desired benefits.
It's probably a decision made by Suna's sibling duo.
These two have been the right-hand men of the Kazekage since the era of the Second Kazekage Shamon. When the Third Kazekage took over, they spared no effort in assisting him and strengthening Suna's power.
Now that the Third Kazekage has disappeared, the duo, who are nearing their fifties, have missed the best age to contend for the position of Kazekage. Naturally, they won't compete with younger people for the position of Hokage.
Using war to gain merits as a path to the promotion of the Fourth Kazekage is also reasonable.
"Now, who is the candidate for the Fourth Kazekage?"
Shiroshi asked.
"According to uncertain information, it seems to be Suna's Jounin ninja, Rasa."
"Rasa? The high-ranking ninja who manipulates Magnet Release: Iron Sand? He's quite powerful and possesses a special ninjutsu to suppress the One-Tailed Shukaku. Barring any surprises, he would be the Fourth Kazekage."
Becoming one of the Five Kage requires overcoming certain obstacles.
Rasa has formidable strength, and his ninjutsu has a significant restraining effect on the One-Tailed Shukaku. He is also an Jounin ninja trusted and valued by the Third Kazekage. As long as he earns enough merits in this war to become the Fourth Kazekage, there shouldn't be any obstacles.
While Shiroshi couldn't claim to know these famous ninjas like the back of his hand, he had heard about some of their exploits.
Rasa and Pakura the Scorch Release ninja from Suna, and others.
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist from Kiri.
Kitsuchi, the son of the Tsuchikage, and the Explosive Release ninja from Iwagakure.
Killer Bee, the Third Raikage's son and a skilled rapper, from Kumogakure.
These individuals have risen to fame as powerful ninjas in recent years in the ninja world.
Compared to someone like Shiroshi, who was previously unknown among Konoha's chuunin, they are characters on completely different levels.
However, after becoming an S-rank missing-nin from Konoha, Shiroshi felt that his fame should be quite significant.
Although the rank of chuunin seemed a bit modest, no matter how you looked at it.
"Speaking of Suna, after some time, I plan to visit the Land of Wind."
After some contemplation, Shiroshi said to Rui and Ayane.
"Visit the Land of Wind?"
"Roran has an underground dragon vein, which contains a vast amount of chakra. I plan to make that power my own."
Shiroshi explained.
"Roran? The country within a country? I've heard about it," Rui naturally said. Because it's deep within the deserts of the Land of Wind, many people know little about it. However, the lack of attention is a fact.
"I heard that even Suna ninjas familiar with the terrain can get lost and die of thirst during sandstorms there. Shiroshi, I'll go with you; my Byakugan might come in handy."
Ayane volunteered to accompany.
Rui squinted her eyes, revealing a dangerous glint.
"Well... let's talk about it later because I don't know much about Roran. Before going, I will send investigators to infiltrate and understand the situation of the country. After that, we'll make a decision."
Shiroshi felt the tension in the air once again, filled with a hint of gunpowder. He decided to stabilize these two before making further decisions.
Finally, Shiroshi asked a question, pointing to the mountain with its top removed in the distance outside the window, "By the way, what's the matter with that mountain? Do you guys know?"
Ayane touched her lower lip with her finger, tilted her head in thought for a while, then smiled slightly, "I don't know. Maybe a meteor fell from the sky and happened to hit there. Don't worry about it, Shiroshi, it shouldn't be a big deal."
"Or it could be an earthquake," Rui added.
"...," Shiroshi was a hundred percent sure that these two had something to do with the mountain losing its top.
But speaking of which, what kind of ninja art could have caused that? Shiroshi looked at the mountain with a puzzled expression.
Even if it was Ayane's Gentle Fist Art One Blow Body used continuously, it wouldn't achieve this effect in a short period. It also didn't seem like the injuries caused by Rui's Sage Art: Fire Ninjutsu.
Was it caused by the two of them in a battle? Besides that, Shiroshi couldn't think of any other possibilities.
…
"Jiraiya-sama, the support troops sent from the village have arrived."
In the main tent of the Konoha camp, Jiraiya is stationed here.
Unlike Orochimaru, who is facing off against Suna-nin, Jiraiya is dealing with Iwa-nin whose strength is no less than that of Suna-nin.
During this period, he has had encounters with Iwa-nin like Akatsuchi and the Explosion Release ninja. The battles had their ups and downs, but compared to the attacking force of Iwa-nin, he has been forced to take a more defensive stance.
The reason lies in the significant difference in the number of ninjas.
Now, with the support arriving, the situation should improve considerably.
"Great job."
Jiraiya patted the shoulder of the ninja who reported the news.
"By the way, Jiraiya-sama, there is another important piece of information to convey."
"What is it?"
"It seems there's activity from Kumogakure."
The Konoha ninja reporting this wore a serious expression.
"Kumogakure?"
Jiraiya's voice revealed tension.
For some reason, the ninjas from Kumogakure, the Hidden Cloud Village, have always been known as warmongers in the ninja world. Kumogakure ninjas, enthusiastic about violence, are always searching for powerful ninjutsu, strengthening themselves, and focusing on military development. They closely follow Konoha among the Five Great Nations.
If they join the battlefield, the situation will undoubtedly become more complicated.
At a time like this, facing not only Iwa and Suna but also getting involved with Kumo, Konoha will have to carry out a three-front battle, increasing the pressure on Konoha.
"Who is their target?"
Jiraiya felt immense pressure.
He also regrets not being fully focused when learning Sage Jutsu at Mount Myoboku, resulting in being only half-skilled now.
If he could summon the two Great Sages of Mount Myoboku and enter the unique Sage Mode, the situation would undoubtedly improve.
"For now, we don't know. The ANBU only sensed the movements of Kumogakure, but the specific goal of Kumo is still a mystery."
"I see. You can go."
"Yes."
After the high-ranking ninja left, Jiraiya sat back in his chair, leaning against the back of it, and let out a long sigh.
"War..."
As the war unfolds, how many people will die this time?
A tinge of sorrow appeared in Jiraiya's eyes.
Moreover, the village has just experienced a shocking mass defection incident, involving two prestigious clans, the Uchiha and the Hyuga.
Even the Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails and his disciple Minato have been affected.
He also knew about Minato's resurrection. He didn't know that the drowsy toad sage had a treasure that could bring people back to life, but the side effects must be significant.
After the war, he must personally go to Mount Myoboku to thank the old sage.
Minato was his valued disciple, and the toad sage's efforts to save him made Jiraiya believe that Minato might be the prophesied child who could bring peace to the ninja world in the toad sage's dreams.
Thinking about Minato's usual style and the achievements he achieved at a young age, Jiraiya believed that Minato had the power to change the world.
"Chiba Shiroshi... could he be the terrifying presence that the toad sage dreamed of, the one who will destroy the ninja world?" Jiraiya thought of something far-reaching.
Chiba Shiroshi, a ninja with an ordinary name and rank in Konoha, had managed to hide in the village for over a decade without anyone noticing. Even Minato died at his hands, and if not for the toad sage, Jiraiya might have lost his excellent disciple.
For some reason, Jiraiya had a strong premonition that this person would be Minato's lifelong enemy. When he first met this person, it was through Sakumo. Later, he learned more about him through Tsunade.
No matter how you look at it, he was an inconspicuous Konoha ninja. Jiraiya recalled many things and could only sigh in resignation.
Sakumo died, Tsunade avoided the battlefield, and Sakumo's three disciples all defected, taking some Uchiha and Hyuga clan members with them, causing significant losses to Konoha.
"Speaking of which, I don't know how they are now... Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato. I hope they are safe during this war." Jiraiya remembered the three orphans he adopted on the battlefield in Amegakure.
Before, he heard that they planned to do something significant in Amegakure and even established a somewhat famous organization dedicated to the peace of Amegakure.
Jiraiya couldn't visit them because he needed to stay here to defend against Iwagakure ninja attacks. However, with the ongoing conflict between Sunagakure and Konoha, Amegakure would undoubtedly be affected by the war.
Jiraiya couldn't predict what would happen to the three of them; he could only pray that they would safely survive.
In this era, survival was more important than anything else. Only by staying alive could there be hope of realizing dreams.
…
With dreams in their hearts, they advanced, praying for peace to come to the weeping nation.
It was the promise the three of them made in the past. So, without hesitation, they embarked on this tumultuous path to achieve peace.
In order for peace to come, no matter how difficult or dangerous the path ahead, their determination could not waver.
Dreams were in front of them, but every step they took was filled with bloodshed and battles.
And despair and pain!
—On the battlefield drenched in rain, the clash of kunai and shuriken echoed.
The flash of exploding tags burst for a moment, bringing light.
Thunder resounded, and amidst the dark clouds, silver serpents slithered.
Ninjutsu struck ninjas, and in their final moments, they screamed.
Blood-stained weapons and craters created by ninjutsu and exploding tags dotted the battlefield.
The flames boiled in the rain.
Lightning pierced through the earth.
A water dragon, creating tumultuous waves, surged toward the enemy's camp, bringing destruction and death.
Sharp wind blades, accompanied by the rain and mixed with the scent of blood, emitted beast-like roars.
Ninjas from Sunagakure and Konohagakure clashed here.
Both sides wore grim and bloody expressions, filled with anger and hatred.
At this point in the battle, the reasons no longer mattered.
For survival, for their families, for their nations, and for avenging fallen comrades, they had to thrust their ninjutsu and blades into the chests of their enemies.
"Are these ninjas from the major nations crazy? This is a village where ordinary people live!"
On a cliff, a group of ninjas clad in black cloaks observed the battle between Suna and Konoha ninjas. They identified themselves as members of the organization called "Akatsuki" from the Rain Village.
The leading ninja's name was Yahiko.
Yahiko looked down at the battlefield in disbelief. Many civilians were desperately fleeing, crying out to escape this hellish war.
The ninjas didn't want to harm them, but the kunai, shuriken, and exploding tags thrown into the air were mindless tools of slaughter.
In that moment of projection, the fate of the civilians was left to chance.
"Damn it! Why are there civilians here? Weren't these people supposed to evacuate in advance?"
A member of the organization expressed his anxiety.
The civilians caught up in the battle were their compatriots, the civilians of the Rain Village.
"Stop them! If this continues, those civilians will..."
Among them were women, elderly, and children. Seeing this scene, Yahiko felt both anger and sorrow. He had to suppress his anger, knowing he couldn't act recklessly at such times.
Stopping the battle between Suna and Konoha was naturally the best outcome.
Therefore, Yahiko led the members of Akatsuki down from the cliff to the core of the battlefield, aiming to halt the confrontation between Suna and Konoha.
This was an accidental encounter, involving more than a hundred people.
At the beginning, ninjas from Konoha and Suna didn't anticipate the sudden onset of the battle.
By the time they regained their senses, the fight had already erupted.
"Wait, we are ninjas from Amegakure. There are civilians here. Please cease your fighting immediately!"
As Yahiko rushed over, he shouted loudly at the Konoha and Suna ninjas.
However, his shouts were in vain. The faces of the Konoha and Suna ninjas were filled with madness and ferocity. The scent of blood in the air numbed their bodies, almost blanking their minds.
Picking up their weapons and killing the enemy were their only thoughts.
Even though they were educated not to harm civilians during wartime, it was a rule to be followed only when they had the luxury to do so.
After all, it was war, and civilians being affected was a normal occurrence.
And Amegakure was not a powerful nation, with a corrupt and ineffective Daimyo. They couldn't possibly denounce the actions of these major nation ninjas.
Because they all understood that once their blades hesitated, they would meet death on the battlefield.
For these civilians, who were not from their own country, to stop their blades that could kill enemies without hesitation, they didn't need to think much to know the answer.
"No, they completely won't listen!"
Angry at their recklessness, but knowing that the weak were always at a disadvantage, Akatsuki didn't dare to intervene in this battle.
They might be jointly targeted by the crazy ninjas from Konoha and Suna.
"Let's go and get the civilians out first! Move quickly!"
Seeing that his words were useless against these ninjas, Yahiko quickly changed his strategy. Rescuing innocent civilians from the Rain Village was relatively easier.
After all, civilians who hadn't evacuated from the core of the battlefield had already perished, and there was no need to risk venturing there.
Akatsuki's members were all skilled ninjas. While battling with Konoha and Suna might result in a defeat, rescuing civilians was a relatively achievable task.
In Akatsuki, a red-haired youth named Nagato witnessed the scene Yahiko had seen. He clenched his fists with anger and sorrow in his eyes.
Among Akatsuki, he had rescued the most civilians, totaling over ten, including two children. One of the children had his right arm affected by the explosion from an exploding tag. Covered in blood, he cried in the rain, receiving medical treatment from the healing ninjas of Akatsuki.
"These heartless ninjas from the major nations! I really want to kill them!"
An Akatsuki medical ninja expressed his indignation, harboring strong hatred for the ninjas from the major nations.
However, he also knew that killing these ninjas from the major nations was not realistic. Moreover, if their actions were exposed, they would face the frenzied retaliation from the enemy.
At that time, the ones who would suffer would still be the defenseless civilians from the Rain Village.
Yahiko patted the shoulder of the angered ninja and turned to the red-haired youth, saying, "I'm counting on you, Nagato."
Nagato shook his head, indicating that it was not a big issue.
Yahiko approached a rescued civilian, picked up some of his own food, and offered it to him. They were now at a distance from the central battlefield, free from the worry of being caught in combat.
Yahiko looked puzzled as he asked the villager, "I remember that evacuation orders were issued earlier. Why haven't you left until now?"
The villager stared at Yahiko's youthful and vibrant face with lifeless eyes and uttered, "Evacuate? Where can we evacuate to? In this country, it's either ninjas fighting or bandits running rampant. Where can we go for shelter?"
It was the gaze of a person devoid of hope, displaying numbness and despair.
Yahiko stood in the rain, silently contemplating. The sound of raindrops echoed, seemingly falling on Yahiko's heart. He looked at the gloomy sky, surrounded by an endless sense of chill.
…
The sound of dripping rain reached the ears.
Rainy days were particularly loathsome.
Especially for the people of the Land of Rain, who detested their country where it rained throughout the year.
In Nagato's line of sight was a village devastated by the battles of Konoha and Suna ninjas, now in ruins and unfit for habitation.
Lying there were not only the bodies of ninjas but also the civilians of the Land of Rain, innocently caught in the calamity of ninja conflict.
Nagato looked up at the hazy sky, his face pale, biting his lips. The scenery before his eyes seemed to blur.
His expression turned from sorrowful and silent to perplexed and doubtful as he gazed at the bodies scattered on the ground.
Why did the battles of the major nations involve his own country?
Akatsuki had already advised against allowing the conflict to harm civilians. Why then did they ruthlessly bring pain to the innocent people of the Land of Rain?
Isn't it a rule of the major nations not to harm civilians in ninja battles? Why were they the ones breaking their own rules?
Where was their justice, discipline, and the superiority they claimed?
Extreme violence and power?
This wasn't the first time this had happened.
His parents had died at the hands of ninjas from major nations when he was a child.
Now, more people in this country had suffered the same fate.
And this chain of suffering wouldn't disappear; more people would die in future wars.
Nagato closed his eyes, recalling everything about this country.
Homeless wanderers and orphans were everywhere, emaciated and hungry, lying by the roadside, their bodies eaten by wild dogs.
Nagato suddenly realized something terrifying: since he could remember, the world reflected in his eyes was one of disorder, chaos, full of bloodshed and slaughter.
"You're here, Nagato."
A voice came from behind.
It was a young woman with blue hair.
"Konan, is there something wrong?"
Nagato turned slightly, revealing his profile.
"Seeing this scene, did it bring back memories of the past?"
Konan looked at the miserable state of the village, her eyes also showing sorrow.
"Yeah."
Nagato nodded without hesitation.
In front of his companions, he didn't need to hide the pain in his heart.
He had experienced this, but now, many doubts and confusion surged within him.
"Don't think too much. One day, we will succeed. Everyone is working hard for that."
"I know. I'm fine, Konan. How's Yahiko's side?"
Nagato asked about the main issue.
"He intends to negotiate with the Suna and Konoha ninjas."
"Negotiate?"
"To make them stop the war."
Upon hearing Konan's words, although Nagato supported Yahiko's approach, he felt uneasy.
After witnessing this incident, Nagato didn't believe that the ninjas from the major nations would heed their pleas, put down their weapons, and return home.
In the end, the Land of Rain, which suffered the most significant damage, remained unchanged.
Thinking about this, Nagato couldn't help but recall the words spoken by a guy from an organization calling himself "Chudan" three years ago when they tried to recruit Akatsuki.
He said Akatsuki would inevitably end in failure.
Recalling the incident, Nagato found it consistent with what the person called "Chudan" had said.
They scrimped and saved, sacrificing more resources for the impoverished people of the Land of Rain. They even offered their powers selflessly.
However, nothing changed.
The poor people remained in poverty, and their lives would still be a significant challenge after the aid.
"Before that, let's distribute the recently collected supplies to the remaining people. Yahiko asked you and me to go together."
"Alright, let's set out now."
Although Nagato was puzzled about why Akatsuki did so much, and in the end, nothing changed, now was not the time to dwell on such matters.
Rescuing the people of this country was the top priority.
In this era of constant warfare, time was of the essence.
This village, destroyed by the ninjas, was an example.
…
Nagato and Konan moved forward in the rain.
Both of them carried a not-so-light load on their backs, prepared to distribute to the citizens of the Land of Rain.
The leaky village had many buildings damaged, with most house roofs sporting large holes due to ninja battles.
The houses were filled with rainwater.
Yet, despite such dire circumstances, many citizens of the Land of Rain sought refuge here.
They would move to other places when the ninjas returned. If they couldn't escape in time, they could only await death.
Since it didn't matter where in this country they hid, the daimyo was preoccupied, and the nobles reveled in debauchery, attempting a final frenzy. No one cared about the life and death of these commoners.
"Why is there so little this time?"
A male villager, poking his head out from a dilapidated wooden door, seemed very dissatisfied with the meager supplies received this time.
"Sorry, the resources we've collected recently have been decreasing. Next time, we'll bring more things."
"Such a small amount won't last our family long."
The male villager estimated that the supplies received this time would last about half a month.
Then, he shifted his gaze to what Konan was carrying, revealing a greedy expression.
"There's still more there, right? Take that down for me too."
He made this request as if it were a matter of course.
"No! These are things prepared for others. This is all we have this time."
Konan took a step back, protecting the supplies behind her, preventing the man from coming to seize them.
"What does it matter? Our family has the most people in this village anyway. Taking a bit more is only fair."
"There's only this much."
Konan stood her ground.
The man, somewhat angry, walked into the house.
At the moment of closing the wooden door, he left behind some unpleasant words:
"At a time like this, why pretend to be philanthropists! A bunch of idiots!"
"You—"
Unable to hold back, Konan wanted to rush in and teach this man a lesson.
His words were just too offensive.
"If it weren't for the relief from Akatsuki, this family would have starved to death long ago."
Nagato extended his hand to stop Konan, shaking his head. "Forget it, Konan. Even if you beat him up, it won't change anything."
Konan reluctantly withdrew her hand, but the anger and frustration still lingered on her face.
She felt that the goodwill from them and others had been squandered by these people.
Nagato, encountering such a situation for the first time, didn't know how to deal with it. However, he understood that even if he gave this man a beating, it wouldn't change anything.
Even if they took away the supplies, his family still needed to survive, including two children.
Next, Nagato and Konan went to distribute the supplies to the remaining people. Fortunately, they didn't encounter any unreasonable incidents like before.
"Finally, it's all distributed."
Konan sighed in relief.
"But with the onset of war, collecting supplies will become more and more difficult. The organization's funds are also running low."
Nagato said this.
"Yeah, it's indeed a big problem."
Konan couldn't help but feel troubled.
Everyone in Akatsuki had worked hard to come this far and didn't want to give up and start over. They believed that under the leadership of their leader Yahiko, Akatsuki's ideals would gain more recognition, ultimately changing the country and the world.
However, it seemed that this responsibility, not to mention seeing future success, was incredibly challenging. Peace seemed to be a distant prospect.
Akatsuki had several responsibilities. Konan and Nagato were responsible for distributing supplies because of their more amiable nature within Akatsuki.
Although their leader Yahiko was also highly trusted, he had more crucial tasks. Whether negotiating with the ninjas from Konohagakure and Sunagakure or promoting Akatsuki's ideals in the Rain Country, it was his duty to make everyone recognize Akatsuki, gather more strength, and change the Rain Country and the world.
Even knowing that this path was extremely difficult and might cost their lives at any moment, the members of Akatsuki chose to walk this path without hesitation. They believed that hardship and disappointment at the moment were only training for their will and bodies, and the future would surely be better.
"Konan, where are we going next?"
Nagato asked.
"Next, we need to purchase medicines. Many of the villagers we rescued earlier have serious injuries, and our own members also need them. Hmm... I always feel that the budget is getting tighter."
Konan smiled wryly.
Akatsuki's economic sources mainly came from mission assignments. Although Akatsuki often helped others for free, there were also grateful villagers who paid them rewards or provided supplies. Additionally, the funds earned from clearing out bandits during missions would be converted into Akatsuki's activity funds.
In the past, Konan learned ninjutsu and believed that the world was vast, and there was no need to excessively pursue material wealth.
The ninja's will lies in endurance.
This is the principle taught to them by Jiraiya, one of the three legendary sannin.
Even in the face of adversity, with their ninja abilities, they can survive in the wilderness.
However, after the formation of Akatsuki, they realized that many things in this world cannot be changed solely by the power of ninjas.
Ninjas are also a part of reality, and in reality, many things require money.
Without money, Akatsuki's activities cannot be carried out, and they cannot help more people.
In short, it comes down to one word: poverty.
If Akatsuki's activity funds could be a bit higher, their efficiency would improve significantly.
However, Akatsuki lacks people with business skills, and wealthy merchants are unlikely to sponsor their activities.
Overall, Akatsuki's various activities are running at a loss.
Squeezing money from greedy merchants is simply a pipe dream.
Nagato sighed as well, feeling the weight of their mission.
After a brief moment of disappointment, the two regained their composure and headed towards the nearby prosperous town.
This place had never been affected by the war, although the economy might be in a downturn due to the war's impact. Nonetheless, it was still one of the few clean areas within the borders of the Rain Country.
Sand Village ninjas were visible everywhere here because they were temporarily in control of the area on behalf of the Sand Village.
The resources of Sand Village ninjas were self-sufficient, and they also extracted resources from the citizens of the Rain Country.
Although the Rain Country citizens were angry about this oppression by Sand Village ninjas, they dared not openly voice their grievances due to the legal status of Sand Village ninjas within the Rain Country. This order was personally issued by the daimyo of the Rain Country.
During the war, Sand Village ninjas were allowed to control certain cities in the Rain Country. They were responsible for the safety of these cities, and residents were obligated to provide services to Sand Village ninjas, such as handing over important resources to supply them.
In the city, there were only a few important buildings not under the control of Sand Village ninjas, mainly neutral establishments like pharmacies and weapon shops.
The Purple Orchid Company, based in the Land of Demons, had branches in various countries. The arms dealer from the Land of Iron saw the Rain Country as a lucrative land due to the ongoing war and came to sell weapons.
Weapons were not a concern for Konan; Akatsuki's arsenal was still well-stocked. However, medical supplies were a major concern for her.
Every time she had to purchase medicine, it was a considerable expense.
After buying the medicine this time, Akatsuki's activity funds were basically empty, leaving nothing behind.
In the coming period, they would need to live frugally.
The Purple Orchid branch pharmacy was located on the bustling street of the city, occupying a tall four-story building.
People hurried along the street, clad in raincoats.
Konan and Nagato entered the pharmacy, hung their raincoats on the rack by the side door, and went to discuss the purchase of medicines with the manager of this branch.
The person in charge of talking with Konan was a young woman who appeared to be in her thirties, with a somewhat plump figure, giving off a friendly and gentle impression.
She had some impression of Konan, the ninja from the Rain Country, because Konan had been here to negotiate the purchase of medicines a few times before.
"The price of medicines has increased by five percent!?" Konan was taken aback upon hearing the plump woman's quote.
The plump woman paid no attention to Konan's surprised expression and nodded, calmly saying, "The medical market in the Rain Country is currently in a state of high demand and low supply. The production at headquarters is also struggling to keep up, so naturally, the selling price has increased."
Although the plump woman explained the reasons, Konan still felt a bit unwilling.
The money she brought this time was just enough to purchase the batch of medicines. If the price increased by five percent, she wouldn't be able to afford these medicines.
She knew the reason for this increase. Sunagakure and Konohagakure were at war, and both nobles and civilians were buying in large quantities. In times of war, it was essential to be well-prepared. Moreover, the medicines produced by the Purple Orchid Pharmaceutical Company had proven to be more effective than those of other pharmaceutical companies.
Even the Five Great Shinobi Villages allowed them to establish branches. It was evident that the reputation and influence of this pharmaceutical company were widespread.
"But..."
Just as Konan was about to say something, the plump woman interrupted her again, "In addition, Miss Konan has delayed payments a few times during previous purchases of medicines. The outstanding balance is almost due. I hope Miss Konan can repay the debt sooner. Otherwise, you will be added to our company's blacklist. Things might get a bit unpleasant afterward."
Konan's face revealed a touch of embarrassment.
Because Akatsuki's funds had never been very abundant, she had sometimes delayed payments and signed IOUs during previous medicine purchases.
Considering the monthly interest she had to pay, it was not a small amount for her personally.
Nagato, listening nearby, glanced at Konan and noticed her avoiding his gaze.
Konan had never mentioned this matter to Nagato before. Even when she returned with the medicine, she didn't tell the rest of Akatsuki, planning to bear this burden alone.
"I'll give you some leniency. I hope Miss Konan can settle the outstanding balance by June of this year," the plump woman said.
"I understand. By the way, what will happen if it's overdue?" Konan asked.
"Overdue?" The plump woman frowned and then loosened up, saying, "Please rest assured, Miss Konan. Our company has specialized debt collectors for such matters. Their strength and methods should satisfy you."
Upon hearing this, Konan became increasingly uneasy.
However, she also understood that large companies like the Purple Orchid Pharmaceutical Company would inevitably be involved in some gray areas. Still, she didn't expect them to have specially trained debt collectors.
Without a doubt, those debt collectors were a ninja force responsible for collecting debts.
"If you're short on money, I can also introduce some special jobs to you, Miss Konan."
"S-special jobs?"
Konan's face immediately turned red.
"Please don't misunderstand. Our company is not involved in the adult industry; we engage in legitimate business. The jobs I'm introducing are also legitimate work," the plump woman clarified.
Konan finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Then, is there really no way to lower the price of these medicines this time?" Akatsuki is in urgent need of these medicines.
"Sorry, this is a decision from the headquarters, and I have no authority to change it," the plump woman helplessly shrugged.
She naturally had some understanding of the situation in the Rain Country, but it wasn't something she could decide. She was just a branch manager, and the decision to raise or lower prices was made at a higher level. As a mid-level manager, she only needed to follow orders.
"However, Miss Konan really wants these medicines; you can go to the headquarters in the Land of Demons. The medicine prices there haven't increased; on the contrary, they might be much cheaper," the plump woman suggested, providing Konan with a clear path.
After all, medicine prices were measured based on the situation in each country. Each region and country had different prices.
"The Land of Demons?" Konan rubbed her sore forehead. She had never left the Rain Country before. Moreover, the Rain Country was currently in chaos, making it time-consuming to travel to the distant Land of Demons to purchase medicines.
Leaving the Purple Orchid Pharmaceutical Company branch store with Nagato, Konan was now troubled about how to choose. Should she buy in the Rain Country or go to the Land of Demons... or should she go back and discuss it with the others?
"Nagato, don't tell anyone about the debt I owe. I don't want the rest of Akatsuki to worry about me," Konan reminded Nagato on the way back.
Nagato nodded but hesitated, "But continuing like this isn't a solution. How do you plan to repay that money? And how much do you owe?"
"Not too much." Konan looked away awkwardly.
"Not too much means how much?" Nagato's expression became serious.
Konan hesitated for a moment and finally held up one finger.
"One million?"
"Not counting the interest, it's probably ten million..."
"A... ten million!?" Nagato couldn't help but raise his voice.
This was much more than the annual operating budget for Akatsuki. Ten million ryō was a figure Nagato didn't dare to imagine.
"No wonder you always bring back a large quantity of medicines. I thought the medicine prices in the Rain Country had dropped significantly," Nagato said.
Because Konan was responsible for procuring supplies, the rest of Akatsuki didn't know much about these matters.
If it weren't for Nagato joining this mission, it's uncertain how long Konan would have kept it a secret.
After all, antagonizing a large force like the Purple Orchid Pharmaceutical Company would lead to troublesome consequences. Especially when the other party had a specialized debt-collecting ninja force. If Konan exceeded the deadline, they would surely bring various troubles to Akatsuki.
Nagato didn't know what to say to Konan.
But he was also somewhat moved. Konan did this for Akatsuki, for the sake of saving more people. If he blamed her, it would hurt her self-esteem too much.
However... how could they repay this ten million ryō?
After all, the so-called special jobs mentioned by the branch store manager... made people think of some unsightly adult industries.
"Go to the Land of Demons?"
In a cave, rain pouring outside, the members of Akatsuki held a brief meeting.
Konan didn't bring back any medicines but explained to everyone that she would go to the Land of Demons to purchase affordable medicines with the same efficacy.
"Yes, I've already decided. Akatsuki's funds are limited, so buying cheaper medicine from the Land of Demons will provide an ample supply. Moreover, if I travel alone, I can save on travel expenses," Konan said with a determined expression.
"But..." Yahiko hesitated.
It wasn't that he disagreed. Exchanging a little time for more medicine was a decision he fully supported. However, he was a bit worried about Konan going alone to the distant Land of Demons.
He was about to prepare for negotiations with the Hidden Sand and Hidden Leaf ninjas. As the leader, he couldn't easily leave the Rain Country.
"I'll go with Konan," Nagato volunteered.
Sending someone else would inevitably expose Konan's debt situation. Also, Nagato was the strongest member of Akatsuki. Even in dangerous situations, he could protect Konan.
"So, I'm counting on both of you. Konan and Nagato, be careful on the way," Yahiko said.
"Yes," Konan and Nagato nodded heavily, understanding that this mission was crucial for Akatsuki, and any issues were unacceptable.
After the brief meeting, Yahiko led the rest of Akatsuki to negotiate with the ninja from the major countries.
Meanwhile, Nagato accompanied Konan, heading towards the distant and unknown Land of Demons.
(Chapter End)