Ichiki Uchiha frowned as the ANBU shoved him back, the sleet-white mask on their face giving him no descriptor to complain about to the Clan Head.
"Go home," the ANBU stated, voice a dreadful monotone. "This path is blocked off under orders of the Hokage."
"But isn't this Uchiha Clan property," Ichiki insisted. The boy was but a young Genin, recently graduated from the Academy. "I thought the Hokage just forced us to move back into the Compound?"
"All property in Konoha is the Hokage's property," the ANBU responded. He shoved the child back even further, this time Ichiki falling on his bottom. "Leave."
"That's quite enough," came the sturdy call. The ANBU member looked up to see Yashiro Uchiha approaching, the man walking over, leaning heavily on a cane. However, his presence was anything but weak. Red orbs spun in his eyes, and his chakra flared out wildly, leaving a heavy imprint on the air. Ichiki tensed, hardly able to breath under the weight of the killing intent.
"Go home young one," Yashiro stated, reaching out a hand to Ichiki to help him get up. "Let's not antagonize the ROOT shall we?"
If the ANBU member had any reaction, he did not indicate it.
Instead, Ichiki rose up, bowing to Yashiro before rushing off. He turned back, confidence brimming in him at the presence of the Clan Elder before he stuck his tongue out at the ANBU member before continuing on. The ROOT shinobi stood there, as still as a statue.
"You push our youth," Yashiro stated, knowing the shinobi was listening even if he got no response. "You push us."
The Uchiha's eyes stared directly into the slits on the ANBU mask. He knew better than to try to apply a genjutsu. ROOT masks were composed of a different material due to the tensions between the Uchiha Clan and the organization in the past. Basic ocular genjutsu would not work while the mask was still on the mystery shinobi's face. Trying to force the genjutsu onto the ROOT member would only serve to further antagonize Danzo and weaken his clan's position. That was not his goal.
"I would advise against that," Yashiro stated, before turning on his heel and walking off. He carried with him a sense of grace and serenity, but inside a storm raged. The desire to spill the blood of the Hokage was nigh overwhelming. How could it not be?
This was not an isolated incident.
Children younger than Ichiki had reported their Academy class and teachers isolating them, muttering 'traitor' and 'ingrate' under their breaths. Inabi Uchiha had reported that he was denied service at restaurants and weapons stores. They were not alone. Every day more reports of Uchiha being discriminated against by shinobi and civilian alike poured in, no doubt the effects of the release of the near coup and the subsequent Accords. It was straining morale amongst the clan, further isolating them.
Yashiro's cane clacked against the stone pathway.
This was becoming much worse than even the tension only two decades prior. That situation had almost resulted in a full-scale rebellion that would have doubtlessly crushed Konoha underneath its weight, and that was during peacetime. During a full-blown war, this had the potential to destroy the village entirely. Yashiro paused, leaping to the top of a building to look over Konoha, the village locked behind the prison gates that held his clan. For a brief moment he wondered if the village was too far gone to stop their discrimination against his clan. If the dream of Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju had been a failure.
If Madara was right to leave.
Because he knew that this would not end with Accords.
This would end in blood.
Yoshino glanced up at Inoichi, a frown on her face.
"You're sure of this?"
"Ibiki is positive," Inoichi stated. "These men, whoever they are, activated a jutsu of the own doing to do this damage to their eyes. It corroborates Itachi's story and the memories you saw. The thing is, Ibiki can't identify them."
"What," Yoshino whispered. "But all evidence says that the attacks are coming from inside the village. There shouldn't be anyone Ibiki can't identify."
"That's what I don't understand either," Inoichi responded. "For there to be people Ibiki cannot recognize in Konoha is nothing short of a miracle."
Inoichi glanced at Yoshino. The kunoichi frowned.
"I do not believe in miracles," the Nara responded.
"Neither do I."
Inoichi sighed, rubbing the back of his head.
"But I also have no clue where to even begin. There's no lead. And I can't search the memories of the dead. I'd need to take in one of the assailants alive for any further lead."
"What if we're looking at this the wrong way," Yoshino muttered. "We're looking at this as though it's an inside job based on the evidence, we've been given from the Hokage. But we also don't know who to trust."
"Careful Yoshino," Inoichi insisted, but the kunoichi continued.
"Let's review the only pieces of verified information we have. There are dead Uchiha, who show signs of assault. Their eyes have been stolen. A group of these assailants attacked Itachi, but on realization that it was him they killed themselves rather than engage. In doing so, they melted the Sharingan that rested in their eyes."
"Well," Inoichi stated, uncomfortable with the direction the conversation was heading but trusting in the Nara's judgment to continue it nonetheless. "We know Itachi's information is true. My memory scan and Ibiki's examination have borne that out."
"So, there are assailants, and they do have the Sharingan," Yoshino stated.
"They're also attacking more than just the Uchiha, but their targets in the village seem random," Inoichi contributed.
"No," Yoshino stated. "Not randomly..."
"What do you mean?"
"There's one other piece of information we have knowledge that's confirmed. The Accords."
"What about them?"
"Think of the assaults from the assailants on non-Uchiha targets. The first, a kill strike against the border team but that's all? Why? What's the goal there? Killing shinobi patrolling the walls won't lead to anything."
"They could have just gotten caught."
"I don't think so," Yoshino stated. "They can attack and retreat without disrupting the barrier, which means they're inside the village. So why target the wall specifically?"
"There isn't a reason."
"Not exactly," Yoshino stated. "There's no tactical reason for it. I think we can safely rule out an invasion or sneaking in foreign assets. Which means that the attacks weren't done for a military purpose but rather-"
"To get a response," Inoichi stated. "The meeting between Clan Heads and the Hokage."
"Exactly," Yoshino stated. "It put eyes on the Uchiha Clan. Then, the next attack occurs just after the Accords were leaked so conveniently? An agreement that was secret for decades until just now? How does something like that get leaked at the worst possible time?"
"It's intentional," Inoichi stated. "That's what you're implying. That there's someone in a position of power who is setting things up this way."
"I have no concrete evidence," Yoshino stated. "But if we can't trust anyone, we can't trust anyone. That includes those we wouldn't naturally expect. Think about it. The Uchiha Clan is now completely isolated, and all evidence points to them being at least partially implicated. But it's not convenient to you that the only location where there are barrier breaches are in the Uchiha Compound?"
"You're questioning Fuu."
"You're not," Yoshino stated, raising an eyebrow. "When was the last time you talked with your nephew? When his parents died?"
Inoichi frowned. That was a low blow. Yoshino knew it just as well, but she did not take it back.
"I'm not suggesting we should be suspicious of the Hokage or your nephew, at least not yet," Yoshino stated plainly. "I'm simply stating right now the only person with any evidence to their side of the story is Itachi. Either he doesn't know everything that's going on in his clan or-"
"Or he's right," Inoichi whispered. Yoshino raised an eyebrow.
"He's right?"
Inoichi glanced around. The duo were located in his office, but he too began to wonder if this location was secure enough. He lowered the curtains, before activating the silencing seals in the room. It would have to do.
"When I scanned Itachi's memory, I didn't reveal everything," Inoichi began. "But I did confirm it."
Yoshino raised an eyebrow.
"Itachi has this theory..."
Shadow clones were a boon for more than just training oneself. They were also extremely useful for training his students, as the blonde was coming to find out. Regular clones were beneficial but being able to truly know just how proficient his students were becoming with a ninjutsu or taijutsu technique when dispelled was something other clone techniques lacked. It also provided him with perfect target practice dummies that he could use to gauge the level of force they were putting into their attacks.
"You need more force Suiren," the blonde stated. She had quickly gotten the basics of the Suiton: Suidan no Jutsu (Water Release: Water Bullet Technique), however she was lacking in the raw power necessary to truly hurt anything that wasn't a clone. She could generate the speed, mostly due to the relatively small amount of water she could generate, but it lacked any sort of stopping power.
"You know what that means. Another twelve laps around Haryana."
The kunoichi groaned, but immediately began her sprint, sweat pouring down her brow in her exertion. Naruto smiled. It was good training. She could build up her speed and her stamina, in turn increasing her chakra reserves. It would not be a fast process, but he simply needed her to be able to have the capability to use the jutsu once for now. Of course, there was no way for her to generate larger jutsu with her sprinting around the city using her chakra to propel her and then stopping to immediately use ninjutsu, but that was the point. He was trying to drain her, push her limits. The blonde could already see her role on the team beginning to form, but she needed to be fast to avoid close combat until they had the time to drill her on the skills required to adequately defend herself until then. Her wounds from the Inuzuka had been proof of that enough.
Naruto turned to look at Midare, eyes narrowed as he saw the eager young shinobi struggling with the technique. A light dew coalesced around his umbrella, but that was all he was seemingly able to generate. The blonde hadn't expected that. Midare had already mastered the Hien (Flying Swallow). Applying his elemental nature to it was an additional complication, but nothing that should be stumping the Chunin so. He wasn't entirely sure why.
"What's the problem Midare," Naruto stated. He grabbed a kunai from his shinobi pouch, focusing briefly before a thin film of water swirled around the weapon. "Remember what I said, imagine you're swimming or submerged. Remember what it feels like to be surrounded by water."
"I'm trying!"
The Chunin threw his hands up, the frustration only growing with every failed attempt.
"But it's like no matter what I do it keeps slipping away. It's right through my fingertips. I'm close but...something's off."
Naruto tapped his chin, a frown on his face. His own training with Suition had been relatively straightforward. His own application of Suiton (Water Release) to the Hien had been difficult, but because he already knew how to apply Fuuton (Wind Release) to it, it was likely easier than it otherwise would have been. This was the first time Midare had ever attempted such a technique. Perhaps he was approaching it from the wrong angle.
"Maybe that's the wrong mental image for you," Naruto pondered. "When you were first learning how to utilize Suiton ninjutsu, what did you use as your mental image?"
"A water hose," Midare stated as if the answer was obvious. Naruto blinked, not having expected the answer. Then again, he supposed it wasn't too strange. His familiarity to large bodies of water would be limited, even more so if he hadn't gone to Cata. He had likely only seen or heard of rivers or oceans in textbooks.
"Try using that mental image instead," Naruto insisted.
"You think I haven't tried?"
Midare shook his head.
"Nothing is working. These vast shapes of water just aren't specific enough to me. I need something clearer. Sharper, almost."
"Sharper," the blonde mused before an idea came to him. "Maybe because that's what you identify with."
His words drew a curious look from his student.
"Suiton is more than flashy large-scale jutsu like you see Suiren, Kisame, or I use. They're the most common types, but that's limiting. Water has other properties than coming in an overwhelming flood. Specifically, when it's focused precisely, like that assassination jutsu of yours."
Midare's eyes widened before a smile came to his face.
"Pressure! If I increase the water pressure it increases cutting and piercing power!"
"And maybe that's just what you need. It's more in line with your style of jutsu anyway."
Midare nodded, instantly beginning to focus once more. Naruto watched with bated breath, eager to see a success. He wouldn't have to wait long. Water coalesced around Midare's umbrella. It was thin, but it was there, flowing with it. Midare grinned, waving the umbrella in every direction with a grin on his face.
"I did it!"
"Not yet," Naruto stated, getting a shocked look from Midare. The blonde formed a clone who quickly opened their hand. A kunai made of pure wind formed in it, causing Midare's eyes to widen.
"Not until you can maintain that in actual combat."
"How did you do that," Midare whispered.
"Oh, it'll take you some years before you're ready for this technique," Naruto stated, mirth in his voice. "Nagato taught me it himself, and it took me a while to learn. Now, enjoy."
The clone leapt at Midare, who hastily raised his guard to defend against an incoming assault. That was good. Naruto needed him to be the foremost expert in nin-taijutsu, at least for now. Midare would doubtlessly be the one who had to engage with Hanabi in close combat the most, which meant he needed to be the most skilled there. The Hien was only the first step. The teens skills needed to be improved. He did not have time to cover any of his student's weaknesses, at least not fully. But he could enhance their strengths while training their weakness.
As such, the blonde turned to his last student as the memories of his clone flooded back into his mind. A smile came to his face.
Kagari was doing great.
The Chunin had been capable of trapping his clone in a three-layered illusion. Of course, the genjutsu themselves were not particularly high level, and as such it didn't take too long for the blonde to break out of them, but it was a testament to his dedication that Kagari was growing so quickly. He was elevating beyond his current level much faster than the rest of the group.
Whether the motivation for it was healthy, Naruto was in no place to judge.
Still, that wasn't the only thing Kagari had learned. The Chunin had already managed to learn the Iwa Bunshin (Rock Clone). The blonde had expected it to take as long as it took Suiren to learn her own jutsu, perhaps longer considering her natural affinity for the technique, but Kagari had thrown himself into training with a fervor since their conversation. It made the blonde proud.
Still, his genjutsu work was the crux of the matter here, specifically applying them in the heat of battle. The Chunin was lucky to have Suiren and Midare cover him to apply them in combat currently, but there was no guarantee in the future he would get that luxury in the future. He needed to learn how to apply genjutsu on the fly with ease. It was the mark of a high level genjutsu wielder to be able to weave genjutsu into the battle against their opponent, especially when one could do so without the crutch of Kekkei Genkai.
But the blonde had faith. Kagari was pushing himself. The blonde could see the dedication in every thrust of the teen's kunai. He was desperate but not overreaching. He knew that he couldn't defeat the blonde's clones in close combat, but he didn't need to. The goal of the training was using genjutsu to get in a killing blow or escape. And at that he was succeeding.
Another clone disappeared in a puff of smoke and the blonde felt its memories flood back into him. Chained at the bottom of the ocean? Creative and painful. He would have to add that to his list of 'absolutely unacceptable ways to die' list, right next to falling or chakra exhaustion.
The blonde nodded, satisfied.
Yes, his team was growing.
For what he planned on doing next, they would have to.
Nagato watched the Ame fort, a small smile on his face as he watched his shinobi move through the fort with passion and fervor, despite the rain overhead. Their spirits were high. That was good. He had solidified Ame's border, effectively stopping the small raids done by Konoha shinobi. There were some raids that still occurred, but they were weak and easily put down. Ame shinobi were under strict orders to capture the perpetrators alive and bring them in as prisoners. The Uzumaki was hopeful that they could be used as bargaining chips to end this war before it truly began. The cells of the fort were overflowing, barely able to contain the amount of Konoha shinobi they had inside. With the deaths due to their previous losses, there were more Konoha shinobi in the fort than Ame shinobi. They could hardly feed the amount of bodies they had.
"Amekage-sama," Oboro stated, his body still heavily bandaged. "We can't hold any more prisoners. I know you wish for us to not kill the invaders in the name of a peace offering, but..."
"I understand the limitations we are under Oboro," Nagato stated. The wielder of the Rinnegan had already attempted to have Oboro simply refer to him by name, but the Jonin had rejected the idea on principle.
"Sir, if you would forgive my boldness, may I be honest sir?"
Nagato nodded.
"You have so many prisoners here. It would be...a simple matter to interrogate them. Find out what Konoha's plans are and crush them effectively. Those unwilling to cooperate could be...persuaded."
Nagato's eyes narrowed at the suggestion.
"No," the man stated. "Ame does not participate in torture."
Oboro raised his hands, his voice hasty.
"I did not mean to imply-"
"That's enough," Nagato stated calmly. "If you wish to stop Konoha's plans so badly focus not on the prisoners we already have but the man leading their attack force. Shikaku Nara will not take this affront lying down. Already his attempts to pierce our border have become more subdued. Do not think he is not strategizing on how to pierce our defenses."
"Of course sir," Oboro stated. "But Naruto-san has identified the location of their base. It would be childs play with our numbers now to overtake it, especially with your strength."
Nagato's eyes narrowed. Taking over the Konoha fort wasn't something he had originally intended to do, but Oboro brought up a valid issue. This assault would never end if Konoha did not realize the attacks were pointless. He had sent messenger birds to Konoha, but he had received nothing in response. Clearly, simply taking prisoners would not be enough. But could he bring Ame shinobi to the battlefield? It would surely improve their combat readiness, but what was the point when he himself could take the fort alone? It was best to not risk any lives lest one of his shinobi needlessly lose their own.
"You make a good point Oboro," Nagato stated. "Maintain the defenses here. I shall destroy the fort by the end of the day."
Oboro bowed.
"As you wish, Amekage-sama."
The Kazekage could not have been happier. His plans, delayed by Konohagakure forces as they may have been, had hardly been stopped by opposing forces. A slight delay had allowed Rivers and Fire to arrange more defenses than otherwise, but at the end of the day it was a paltry attempt at victory. With Temari holding back the bulk of the danger due to her constant pressure on Asuma Sarutobi he was free to press his assault.
And press he did.
Hirashi was a major trade hub in the south side of Fire. Typically, it was unassailable. Rivers was to its west, a loyal ally to Konoha, while the capital city of Fire, Shiranui, and Konoha lay to its north and east respectively, providing a layered level of defense. To the south was the Moon Gulf and just slightly east of that was the Land of Mountains, which enjoyed its neutral position far too much to allow significant conflict to blossom among its borders. Thus, the city did not spend much in the way of natural security against shinobi assaults.
Of course, that didn't mean the city or the powers that be in Fire were ignorant of its importance. During peacetime trade deals, money, tourists, bankers, and more travelled through the city. Even the black market. In wartime, the number of resources that surged through the area to fund Konoha's military and fuel the nations mighty war engine were unparalleled by any city, even the capital. It was key to their entire military operation. It would have defenses.
The issue of course was that Konoha could not spare defenses. Kankuro was not blind to the operations of the war globally. Kumo had pushed on Fire's eastern flank, razing the country as they went. Rumors circulated that Might Gai had already died in a failed attempt at stopping their assault, although it had not been officially confirmed yet. The presence of the Raikage and the Hachibi Jinchuriki would require serious resources from Konoha to stop, resources that could not be spent to halt their advance on Hirashi. Temari was keeping Asuma Sarutobi held still on their western flank, ensuring that he couldn't come stop their assault either. They could have sent out some of the Clan Heads to try to stop Suna's advance, but Konoha was being rather reserved with their deployment. Kankuro could not be sure of the reason, but it worked in his favor.
In short, Konoha's hands were tied.
Of course, there was one other problem Kankuro would have to account for.
The Twelve Guardian Shinobi.
It was unlikely that the group would make a move to defend Hirashi, their role was to protect the Daimyo who would not be visiting the city. However, it was not impossible. Ikkyū Madoka was a shrewd man, and not one that the Kazekage could underestimate. There were plenty of rumors that he was much more involved in the military than his father had been. While unlikely, it was not impossible that the man would be more proactive in defending his territory than his predecessor.
However, the Twelve Guardian Shinobi while powerful were not shinobi that were threats to him. They may prove a threat to his adopted son, but unless he was specifically targeted he was confident he could defeat any in single combat. Of course, the goal was to not have to deal with them in combat at all. Defeating his foes via strategy was his preferred method of combat.
The new poisons he had concocted using the Aburame's insects would be beneficial for that.
Fugaku sat back, listening as the report came back in. He had sent in Shiin Clan scouts to the area where Orochimaru's base was supposedly located, through the medium of the genjutsu-ridden Shiin Clan Head, but the reports were mostly nothing of worth. He had expected that. Orochimaru was perhaps the most wanted man in the entire continent, having done something to provoke every Great Power to anger, and that spoke nothing of the transgressions he had committed against minor nations. Having a well-hidden base was the bare minimum he had expected from the Snake Sannin.
That didn't make it any less frustrating.
The frustration was alleviated, at least in part, by the fact that there were plenty of oddities in the area. The lack of birds, or wildlife of any kind. That was completely unnatural. Additionally, the scouts had reported long, winding paths in caves that stretched through the mountains. That added up with what the informant had mentioned upon interrogation. The Uchiha had been hesitant to send in a full scouting party to avoid fully tipping off the Sannin, but the situation was proving unmanageable without it. He would find nothing of worth if he didn't fully commit, that much was clear.
His scouting parties had likely already peaked the Sannin's suspicions.
He was working under a timetable that would only grow shorter the closer he got to finding the location of the Sannin. Additionally, while the genjutsu he had in place over Hiraku was not straining, the genjutsu over Kakui was. The Kumo shinobi was more capable of fighting back against his abilities than he had initially expected. He had already had to reapply the genjutsu when he felt it growing work more than once. It wouldn't be long until the Kumo shinobi broke free and then either fought him, therefore revealing his deception to the rest of the Shiin Clan or escaped to Kumo. Neither option could be allowed.
The Kumo shinobi needed to die here, as did Hiraku.
That brought an idea to the Uchiha's Head.
It wasn't long until he planted the idea in the Shiin Clan leader's head.
Training wasn't the only thing the Ame shinobi were focused on. Haryana had been devastated in the attack, the blaze had destroyed a large swathe of the town, along with the stored iron. It was a miracle the mine hadn't been destroyed, but the resident Chunin were to thank for that. They had distracted Hanabi long enough for Naruto to arrive, and in turn, they had forced the Hyuga to flee before she could finish her task of destroying the mine.
But the city was scarred.
Twenty people had died and dozens more were injured. More were homeless. The residents had ignored the problem the night of, finding it simply too much to bear. But it was a new day. An unavoidable problem. The damage would take months, if not years, to fully recover from. The image of your family dying in the blaze as their house collapsed?
That would take a lifetime.
The shinobi could not help with the mental scars, but they could help with the physical ones. Naruto had put his team to work to assist the town with construction as much as possible. Suiren and Midare had been tasked with delving into the mine to look for anyone who had been trapped the day before and ensure it was still stable. Meanwhile, Kagari and he, along with an army of clones, worked on rebuilding houses and clearing debris. It was tiring work, but work that was necessary. Shinobi were more than weapons of war. They were integral to the way of life in many nations. Helping rebuild was just as important as destroying. His students had demanded they help before Naruto had even suggested it.
The fact that they understood that lesson well made him proud.
Their help wasn't always well received. The civilians had thrown them dirty looks, and Naruto wasn't deaf. He heard the conversations they had when they thought he wasn't around to hear them.
"These guys couldn't protect us from that attack."
"Useless bunch of shinobi."
"The Guide was right!"
The words were frustrating, but nothing he hadn't heard before. He had been on many a battlefield where he had tried and failed to adequately protect non-combatants. Anger at that failure was natural, albeit not pleasant to hear.
If only there wasn't someone agitating them all the more.
"Please tell me more," the man stated, writing down furiously in his notebook. Several members of the town congregated around the reporter, each telling their own separate stories of what had occurred. The reporter wrote all of them down so furiously the blonde doubted he missed a single detail.
"What are they talking about Naruto-sensei," Kagari muttered as he placed another plank of wood to serve as the skeleton of the building.
"He's a reporter," Naruto responded. "Trying to get news of the attack."
"So soon? Twenty-four hours haven't gone by yet."
"All that matters to him is getting his story out first," the blonde stated. "Delicacy doesn't matter."
The blonde nodded in the direction of some other members of the town, the people clearly irritated by the man's presence. They had just suffered a tragedy, and here this man was, capitalizing off of it.
"You're saying a group of masked shinobi did this! But I thought the Ame shinobi here oversaw protecting this village?"
"Bah, shinobi are useless, just like you all keep saying at The Guide! They protect their villages and the Daimyo's and forget about the common man like us!"
"These guys are pathetic, that's what I say!"
"Yeah, no more shinobi!"
"These shinobi saved our lives!"
The jeering of the reporter and his interviewees was cut short by a group of men who approached them. Suiren and Midare stood with them, covered in dust and soot. They had finished scouting out the mines.
"Yeah, if it weren't for them, we'd all be dead," called one of the miners they had saved yesterday. "There's only four of them here they can't do everything."
"I saw them fighting against one of those Konoha shinobi! They put up a valiant effort. I can't blame them!"
"Yeah, we should be blaming Konoha for this, not turning on our own!"
"Shut up," came a call from one of the interviewees. "If your Ame shinobi are so great why the hell didn't they stop the storage building from burning down. They didn't even save your daughter's life isn't that right Ichiji! She died when your house burned down!"
"Why you little!"
The two sides continued to yell at each other, close to blows until Kagari appeared between them. The Chunin held his hands out, desperation on his face.
"Please," he insisted. "Stop fighting! What we need right now is unity, not division! Our home was attacked. We have to work together to rebuild."
"Our home," one of the men spat. "You don't live here; you live up in that fancy city in the capital with the rest of the shinobi! Hogging all the food and technology for yourselves!"
Kagari frowned.
"You watch what you say to him," one of the miners called out. "This kid saved my life, and I won't tolerate you badmouthing him!"
"Stop please," Kagari stated. He was looking at the miner, a look of surprise on his face.
"I saved your life, and I'd do it again but...he's right," Kagari insisted. "I don't live in Haryana, I live in Amegakure. It isn't fair that this happened to you all. You were targeted because of that fact that we didn't have the ability to protect everyone. Not just you, but the farming villages on the outskirts too."
Kagari bit his lip, instead turning to face the group of disgruntled men.
"I'm from Oaxaco. My hometown...it was devastated by Konoha attacks. My parents..."
The mood grew somber.
"I know how you feel," Kagari continued. "I know what it's like to lose someone. So please, count on me to ensure that this doesn't happen again!"
"Don't just count on him," came a call. It was Midare, approaching with Suiren.
"Count on us," Suiren continued.
"All of us," the Naruto finished, standing next to his students. "We won't let this happen again."
The disgruntled civilians looked amongst themselves, clearly uncomfortable with what had just transpired. Their anger had been subdued by Kagari, and their faith reaffirmed by the resolute promises of the four shinobi. They looked around, watching as the skeleton of the new storage continued its construction courtesy of the clones of their shinobi protectors. However, before they could say anything clapping broke out, as the reporter from before approached.
"My oh my, you're quite the sight aren't you," the man stated. Naruto narrowed his eyes at him. His skin was strangely pale. "Ame shinobi claiming to protect civilians? How can you say that when the villages on the outskirts have been ravaged by this war?"
The reported looked up at Naruto.
"All to protect you."
Naruto's eyes narrowed. This reporter...he was trouble.
"This war isn't about Naruto-sensei," Suiren interjected.
"Oh, but isn't it," the reporter countered. "He's the Kyuubi Jinchuriki. The son of the Yondaime Hokage. Student of Jiraiya the Toad Sage, and the Sandaime Hokage. For all intents and purposes, he is Konoha royalty! Pre-ordained to become Hokage. And yet, he is here. Serving Ame. A rogue. A traitor."
The reporter continued.
"Or perhaps he isn't! How do any of you know you can even trust him? Isn't it suspicious? Konoha shinobi attacking Haryana while he's here? Their inability to stop them? Almost like...he was planning it."
Murmurs broke out amongst the populace, only for them to be broken up by the voice of another.
"Do you buy the shit you're selling," Midare stated. His voice was filled with spite. "I mean, seriously, do you?"
The reporter cocked an eyebrow, so Midare continued.
"Ame has always been the buffer zone for the Great Powers. It's always been a victim of their wars. You think that Naruto-sensei being here is why Konoha is attacking? Please. They're attacking to relegate Ame to its rightful place," the Chunin said, spitting the last words from his mouth like they were a deadly poison.
"The Great Powers hated Ame for rising from its position. To becoming equal to them. This war isn't about Naruto-sensei. It's about putting us back in our place. And I say damn them. Damn Konoha and anyone else who tries to push Rain down. We're not their punching bags, or a battleground for their petty wars! The Amekage gave us the strength to prove that. Naruto-sensei is doing that as well. And anybody that does that is a loyal citizen of Rain to me."
Midare placed his hand over his heart.
"He's loyal. I stake my life on it. But are you? Who do you serve?"
The reporter grinned, raising his hands.
"My name is Kinzello. I am but a humble reporter of The Guide. Searching for truth is our aim."
"Well search for truth elsewhere," Midare spat. "Because you're not doing it here. You're just trying to rile everyone up. How do we know you're not a spy?"
Kinzello paused, a smile forming on their face. Something sinister filled the air for but a moment, so quick that none could detect it, before it dissipated.
"Forgive me for my crass words. It is a reporter's job to pry. I see I have worn out my welcome," Kinzello stated. Civilians were watching them closely.
"I'll be seeing you," the reporter whispered, before they turned, sauntering off. The crowd dissipated not long afterwards.
"Fucking creep," Midare muttered.
"He's the least of our worries," Naruto stated. "We need to figure out where Hanabi's next target is."
"They didn't accomplish their mission here," Suiren stated. "The mine is stable, no signs of explosive tags or anything to cause it to further collapse. They'll be back."
"No," Naruto said. "That's too obvious. They still did a major blow by destroying all the iron reserves here. They'll want to do something else. Something to keep their momentum."
"You think they'll attack Cata," Kagari questioned.
"That's the logical move," the blonde stated.
"So what, we pack up and head there to defend it," Midare questioned. "We can't just abandon these people."
"You're right," Naruto stated. "Ideally I'd like to ask for reinforcements to protect the town, but we don't have that luxury. Which leads me to the second option here."
The blonde's eyes narrowed.
"We're going to protect both with just us."
"How," Suiren questioned. "There's only four of us."
Naruto pointed to his clones. "No, there's not. It's risky, but we're going to split up. On my own I should be enough to guard one of the towns. The other town is up to you all to defend."
"What," Suiren insisted, eyes wide. "But Naruto-sensei you said our opponents are ANBU-level at least! We're not strong enough to defeat enemies of that caliber!"
"I have to reluctantly agree sensei," Midare called out. "If we're confronted with Hanabi Hyuga there's no guarantee we will come out victorious. It would be even worse if we encountered that ANBU squad you fought. The enemies we fought when ambushed are one thing but this..."
"Is above you," Naruto stated. "I'm well aware. I didn't say it's a thrilling idea, but it's the only method we have of protecting both towns. We can't afford for an attack like this to happen in Cata, and we can't afford to leave this place undefended either."
The blonde sighed.
"You're all much too young and inexperienced to handle this responsibility. I'll be honest with you...you could die on this mission."
"Then why don't we just go hunting for the Konoha force," Midare insisted. "We'll be together and be able to launch the offensive. Have the advantage."
"We don't know where they're hiding in these lands, and my sensory jutsu has limitations as you all are well aware. We'd be searching for ghosts and leave the towns vulnerable in the process. No, we stay in a defensive position where we know they're planning on attacking."
Midare and Suiren glanced at each other. Their nervousness was palpable. The two were confident, Midare especially so, but neither were blind. They had been confronted with the harsh reality of their skill gap compared to the Konoha contingent. They had only been able to hold off Hanabi, not overcome the kunoichi. There was an ANBU unit moving with her. They were proud, but they understood when they were simply outmatched.
"We'll do it," Kagari stated, getting the attention of his teammates. Their eyes met his determined ones, clothe that covered his eyes in his hands.
"We'll protect both cities' sensei."
His words seemed to inspire Midare and Suiren who each nodded with a determination not previously seen on their faces.
Naruto smiled.
"I'll be sending you three to Cata," the blonde stated. "The water there should make it easier for Suiren and Midare to use their ninjutsu without having to generate their own water. Overall, you should be more capable of handling threats there. My clones that are already there will assist and monitor the situation. If anything, too dangerous happens I'll be there as soon as possible. Besides, they'll be able to ensure you three are progressing in your training."
"You'll be staying here sensei," Suiren questioned. "Are you sure you can manage?"
"My clones can serve as a workforce to do jobs too dangerous for the civilians here."
"You said that jutsu was chakra intensive," Suiren pressed. "Can you handle that?"
Naruto smirked, a strange look on his marred face. "Don't you worry about me Suiren. I'll be better prepared to handle whoever comes to face me."
Naruto placed a hand on the kunoichi's shoulder, looking at each of his students.
"You three have made me proud during this mission. Whatever happens out there, I trust you all to watch each other's backs."
Naruto turned, looking at Kagari. The two shinobi's eyes met, determination meeting warmth.
"I trust your judgment."
The trio of Chunin smiled, clenching their fists at their sensei's words.
"We won't let you down, Naruto-sensei!"
Nagato Uzumaki did not know what to expect when he crossed the border into Fire. At first, he had anticipated a storm of shinobi to attack him, lying in wait for him to capitalize on what would undoubtedly be a numbers advantage in their favor. He was alone after all. Yet, no attack came. He had known it before he crossed the border of course, his rain was a foolproof sensory technique, but to witness it was something else entirely. The landscape was completely barren. There were no patrols, no scouts, nothing to give a forewarning of an attack.
The Amekage's nerves flared up. It was unnerving, anathema to how shinobi were meant to operate. Something was occurring, but he did not know what. His movements were slower afterwards, taking care to comb each area he came across as he approached the location of the fort. His ringed, purple eyes combed through the environment in more intimate detail than his jutsu, but despite his efforts he could find nothing. Not even a trace of chakra.
Eventually he pushed forwards, burying the feeling that something was deeply wrong. The enemies forces simply were contained at the fort, they had to be. Konoha couldn't have many troops left over after they had captured so many. It was simply a numbers game. Perhaps Shikaku Nara was preparing a deal for the release of their shinobi. Whatever lie he needed to convince himself of as he pressed onwards. Whatever thread he could cling to, to suppress the dark feeling the rolled in his gut.
It wasn't long before the Amekage arrived on the edge of the sparse woods that surrounded the Konoha fort. It had clearly been cleaned out, likely a defense measure created by the Konoha forces for easy sightlines. The Amekage sat behind a tree, using his sensory technique to scout the area. Thunder boomed in the air and rain pounded on the ground below, giving him a detailed vision of the place was empty. The rain smashed against the stone and steel that composed the building, the grass and dirt and trees, but no shinobi. There was no wave of chakra he could feel. Except one.
His eyes narrowed.
He stepped from behind the tree, looking up at the man who stood upon the highest roof of the fort. The man stared down at him, spiky hair and black eyes familiar. Yet it was the scowl on his face that solidified the resemblance for the man.
This must be Shikamaru Nara's father.
The Amekage walked forwards. He knew the duo were not alone. There were undoubtedly Konoha shinobi in the buildings, hiding. He refused to believe the man was truly here to seek recompense for his son's death alone.
"You knew I would come," Nagato called.
The man before him took his hands from his pockets. Delicately he placed a cigarette in his mouth before he lit it. Not a moment later he expelled a stream of smoke from his mouth. He said nothing. Then, the ground tore apart, ninja wire tearing through it as it rushed to bind the Amekage. The man didn't bother to stop it, letting it bind him. He raised an eyebrow at the Konoha shinobi before him.
"Is this your attempt at binding me?"
Shikaku took another hit.
"You killed my son."
Nagato bit his lip, feeling the shame of the incident weigh on him. Shikamaru's face lingered in his mind.
"I-"
"You killed my son!"
Shikaku spat the cigarette from his mouth, his rage burning hotter than the flame. Nagato could not meet his eyes. Shame weighed on him. Shame that could only come when one knew they had acted out in emotion, rather than rationality. The guilt of Shikamaru Nara's death had weighed on the Amekage for some time. Not because the man did not deserve it, but because he did not need to die. It was a cold realization, one that Nagato could only arrive at for one reason.
Because he knew he could have defeated the Konoha shinobi without it.
It was that shame that forced him to speak.
"I am sorry," Nagato stated, his words genuine. He tried to pack that feeling into his words, knowing it would fall flat regardless.
"I don't want your apologies. Apologies won't raise my son from the grave."
"A father should never outlive his son," Nagato stated. "I can sympathize."
"I don't want your sympathy either," Shikaku muttered. "I care not for your son."
Nagato frowned, feeling an annoyance burn in him. Still, he remained true to his sympathies.
"Your son...he should not have died that day."
"No," Shikaku stated. "You should have though. I'll rectify that here."
Nagato finally found the strength to look up at Shikaku.
"You know as well as I that I cannot let you kill me."
Shikaku responded by forming a handseal. Lightning suddenly coursed through the wires, lightning Nagato tried to absorb only to fail. The Amekage's eyes widened as the volts tore through his body, forcing him to hiss in pain. A moment later the assault was over, a wave of force blowing the ninja wire away from him.
"How," Nagato hissed, his body still tense.
Shikaku smirked, dropping from the roof without answering the question. Nagato frowned as the man disappeared, and not long after disappeared from his senses. The Amekage approached the entrance of the fort, eyes narrow. He pushed the doors open, only for his eyes to widen as he saw the doors hit a tripwire.
BOOM.
The front of the fort exploded, engulfing Nagato in the blast. A surge of fire wrapped around the entrance as rubble fell into the crater it had formed. Not long after water rushed in from on high, quelling the flames before another wave of force sent the rubble flying in every direction. Some shattered buildings as they crashed through them. At the center of the crater stood Nagato, singed and his top haggard but otherwise standing strong.
The Amekage's eyes narrowed.
"You cannot defeat me with this strategy!"
Nagato continued to walk forwards, rising to the top of the crater, and stepping forwards only for his foot to sink. His eyes widened as the ground beneath him caved, falling into a spike trap pit below. The trap failed, Nagato simply floating in the air above the pit with hard eyes.
"This will not work."
His words fell on deaf ears, and he knew it most of all. He looked around, eyes scanning the area. The fort was no longer a fort in his eyes but a weapon. It was clear the Nara had indeed left himself to be the only foe remaining, in the process turning the entire fort into a weapon forged to destroy him. It would be simple to simply remove the fort from the equation, but in so doing he left open the possibility that he would kill the Nara who had embedded himself within.
The Uzumaki refused to repeat the mistakes he had done with his son. He refused to kill the man who stood before him. That was not what Jiraiya would have wanted. That was not the solution to this war that he wanted.
Instead, he floated over to the edge of the sinkhole, stepping onto solid ground. He could neither see nor sense the Nara. He sighed, beginning his walk through the fort. He would have to do this the hard way.
The buildings next to him immediately gave way, crumbling to reveal ninja wire neatly decorated on the stone before they were sent flying at him. The man grunted, slipping through the barrage of earth only for his eyes to widen as the combined rubble formed a neat circle around him. His eyes narrowed as the ground lit up beneath him, forming a sealing matrix. Then, lightning stormed down from the sky onto his position. His eyes only had time to widen before the bolt struck him, sending a surge of electricity through him. The Amekage hissed, weathering the blow. Pain shot through his body like lances of lightning. Thunder shook the ground.
Nagato saw another flash of light and reacted, not eager to withstand another blast. The lightning descended and he roared, a cannon erupting from his back that fired a beam directly at the bolt. The energies clashed before a titanic explosion ripped through the air. Nagato did not make the mistake of staying within the circle, instead smashing through one of the walls only for his eyes to widen as he felt weapons shred his right side. He hissed, the smoke clearing to reveal kunai and shuriken sticking out of his body. His right arm hung at his side.
The man's eyes narrowed. The Nara's vision was clear to him. Natural lighting was used so he could not absorb the chakra within, and the Nara was utilizing sealing matrixes to direct the lightning towards him. Then, he used dust as cover to blind his eyes and launch attacks. Using the cover of buildings to hide himself from his sensory technique. It was clear.
'I am being hunted. He came prepared to kill me.'
Nagato was unafraid to vocalize this realization.
"You've turned the fort into a weapon specifically designed to kill me. You've carefully studied my abilities."
He got no response, but that was what he had expected. The Nara was not foolish enough to give away his location using his voice. The Uzumaki suddenly felt very aware of the words Naruto had spoken to him not long ago. That the more opponents he let live, the more would learn the secrets of his techniques. The more they would learn to counter him, all to kill him.
The Nara had done just that.
A shadow leapt, only for him to absorb it with ease. His eyes narrowed.
'The Nara should know better.'
Soon it became clear that he did. Light devoured his vision, and a large boom was all he could hear, courtesy of a flashbang grenade. He stepped back, dazed. On reflex he utilized the Shinra Tensei (Almighty Push) to protect himself from any potential damage. As the disorientation ended, he saw a storm of weapons on the ground and buildings, deflected by the gravity he had just utilized. Likewise, shadows reached up at them, snatching them before they sent them hurling at the Amekage once more.
Nagato hissed, additional arms growing from his shoulders before he moved. He caught the weapons, hurling them in random directions to remove them from the Nara's reach. All the while his eyes searched the ground, looking at the direction the shadow came from. As he hurled the last weapon he spun in the direction of the shadow, a cannon forming out of the additional arms he had conjured before a massive beam of chakra speared through the fort. Buildings melted underneath the heat, the ground turning into a mess of sludge as his chakra surged forth. It blew a hole through the outermost wall, careening into the environment beyond. Nagato ended the attack, specks of chakra flickering through the air as a visible wave of heat filled the air.
Nothing.
He clicked his teeth, only to finally be met with the voice of Shikaku Nara.
"You really are dangerous," came the call. "You don't even look winded after that attack, and I've already wounded you."
"If you know how dangerous I am then come out and talk with me instead. Cease this pointless conflict! I have not killed your shinobi. There is no need for us to fight. Everyone can go back to their homes. I shall let the transgressions against our civilians lie. You were acting out of rage. I understand that. Our shinobi have responded in kind with the works of Naruto Uzumaki. There is no need for more bloodshed."
"Everyone can go back to their homes," Shikaku spat, his voice bouncing from wall to wall to make it more difficult to find his location. The rage in his words was palpable as he said them.
"Everyone except my son!"
Nagato stilled. He felt for Shikaku, truly he did. But at the same time, he was a parent himself.
"I was acting to protect my own son! Your son and his forces had captured him! What would you have me do?"
The words felt weak even in his own mouth.
"You just burnt down part of a fort with ease," Shikaku stated with cold calculation. "You could have put a stop to them without spilling a drop of blood."
"I could have," Nagato admitted, the words filling him with shame. "And I did not. And that shame is something that will stay with me for the rest of my life. It was a mistake I am not eager to repeat. Go back to your family."
"Are you threatening me?"
"I am explaining the logical conclusion here," Nagato stated. "You cannot win!"
"You won't kill me. I know you too well."
"You have only just met me."
"Nagato Uzumaki. Son of Uzumaki immigrants to Rain. Married to Fuka Uzumaki, father of Ashino Uzumaki. Kage of Amegakure, wielder of the Rinnegan. You killed Hanzo the Salamander when you were fifteen years old. You, Yahiko, and Konan were the leaders of a group called the Akatsuki, a rebel group in Amegakure against Hanzo's control that disbanded when you gained power. All other former members are deceased. You have an aversion to murder, despite the callousness in which you ended my son's life. At first, I thought you were easily emotionally manipulated, due to you letting Konohamaru Sarutobi, Sauske Uchiha, and Tsume Inuzuka live. This complimented the fact that you clearly have some desire to rekindle the dispersed Uzumaki Clan legacy, judging by your efforts to take in Naruto Uzumaki."
"Of course, then I realize that was inaccurate after your battles in the front lines here. You have an aversion to murder completely. But you still killed my son. Considering the circumstances, it's rational to assume this aversion is your base desires, but it can be overwritten when overwhelmed with emotion. You desire for Rain to remain unaffected by the war, as evidenced by Ame's lack of involvement until this moment. You are shortsighted about the things you care about, emotional. Otherwise, you would have known and prepared better for Konoha's eventual reaction to Naruto Uzumaki's presence here, further supporting the evidence that you wish for Rain to be neutral in the war. Perhaps it is due to Rain's lack of natural resources making it an easy target bar for a select few shinobi's individual strength, maybe it is due to your relatively small manpower compared to the other Great Powers or lack of foreign alliances. Any conclusion leads to the fact that you value your men's lives, a conclusion proved by your behavior when you reached the border."
Shikaku did not stop there.
"You possess some form of control over gravity, can absorb ninjutsu, can create chakra weaponry, including but not limited to cannons, and additional arms like the puppeteers of Suna, manipulate water to an extreme degree, and possess some form of sensory ability."
Shikaku ended his speech, some derision in his voice.
"Does that sound right to you?"
Nagato bit his lip.
"You read a file."
"No," Shikaku stated. "I only read a file for the basics. Everything else was what I surmised after observing you for quite some time. I've been preparing for this day Amekage. Because at the end of this day, you will rue my name."
Nagato frowned.
"You can't kill me," Nagato stated.
"I can do much worse."
Shikaku's voice bounced, as if it was coming from every direction. And it was growing louder. Nagato grimaced, slightly uncomfortable.
"I do not wish to kill you. We can stop this battle and settle this peacefully."
The lone response he got was deafening. A screeching noise filled his ears, forcing him to drop to the ground and grab at his ears. The noise shook the ground. Nagato's eyes reddened in pain.
'Sound!'
Meanwhile Shikaku appeared before him, toting a sealing matrix on his arms. A smirk covered his face as he traced his hands against the walls of another building, feeling the vibrations. His mouth moved, but Nagato could not hear it. Nonetheless he could read his lips.
"I wish to kill you."
Nagato's eyes narrowed. He was sick of this. This man believed he knew him simply from the lines of a page and analysis. He had never even had a conversation with him! His chakra burned and his eyes flashed with otherworldly power. He raised his hands, ignoring the bleeding from his ears. Shikaku's eyes narrowed. Nagato grinned. He had been hesitant, but with the man in his sights he was sure he could ensure his survival.
"Shinra Tensei!"
The world exploded in a wave of gravity. Dust, earth, stone, and steel filled the air as Nagato's wave of force ripped apart everything in sight, completely eviscerating the fort and in turn the seals etched into it that emitted the wave of sound designed to bring him to his knees. A crater formed where the fort once was, Nagato standing in the center. He panted as the attack began to clear, shaking his head. He felt the urge to hurl.
He had never expected a sound-based attack. Had the Nara been talking to him to buy time for the seals to accumulate the necessary energy to harm him? Was that why he had suddenly decided to talk to him?
Was everything with this man some type of trick?
Nagato grunted, feeling the Nara's general direction thanks to his rain. He walked forwards; eyes narrowed as he saw the Nara collapsed against a pile of rubble. A piece of stone shot from his arm, and shirt had been completely torn off from the force. Blood trickled from his mouth and a dazed look covered his face. Still, he was smiling. Laughing even.
"What a monster you are," Shikaku eventually said. "There really was no way I could have defeated you."
"If you knew that, why did you fight," Nagato stated.
Shikaku smirked, blood trickling from his lips.
"My goal wasn't to kill you, you idiot. I knew I could never accomplish such a task."
"Then what was it?"
Shikaku grinned.
"Why would I tell you?"
"I could kill you."
"You won't," Shikaku stated plainly. "You're not tired even after unleashing that cataclysm. If you had wanted to make it more powerful, if you had wanted to kill me, you would have."
"Maybe my mind has changed."
"I don't doubt it will," Shikaku stated, a smirk on his face. "After all, if you're here...who's defending that precious border?"
Nagato's eyes widened.
The Amekage was a blur as he moved back to the border, leaving Shikaku there to handle his own injuries. The Nara was no longer his concern. His men were. He moved as fast as he could, the landscape nothing but a blur to him. Fear and panic filled his heart. Suddenly everything began to click into place. Why the Nara had been alone. Why the border had seemed so still. Why he had tried to draw the battle out.
How he had known to hide from his sensory technique.
It wasn't long before he reached the fort in his speed. A trip that would take days for civilians to travel he had traveled in a fraction of the time. And then he saw it.
His fort in flames.
Dead bodies littering the ground.
The hole in the earth.
Tears burned in Nagato's eyes as he stared at the destruction. All the Ame shinobi he had rescued from being slaughtered by the Konoha forces lie dead. The man walked through the fort, unable to find a spot not riddled with destruction. The scars of flame. The smell of charred human body. The pools of water. The towers of earth, unnaturally created by ninjutsu. The prison cells of the fort swung open. There, in the prison, he found the body of Oboro, the man still holding a kunai despite the several puncture holes in his body.
Nagato stumbled back outside the fort, looking at the hole in the earth, revealing a tunnel that went on for miles in every direction. A scream pierced the air, his scream. A scream of anguish. A scream of rage.
And his eyes burned.
He arrived back at the scene of the Konoha fort, blood pumping hotly through his veins. His breath was heavy, not out of exhaustion but out of rage. His eyes were like lasers, burning through the area looking for the man responsible.
For the man to kill for this outrage.
But Shikaku Nara was gone, no doubt having fled the moment Nagato had left in such a rush.
Nagato roared, feeling the urge to pursue the man almost overwhelm him. It would have had he not known what his duty was as the Amekage. There was a group of rogue Konoha shinobi running loose in Rain. A large contingent of them.
He had to strike them down.
It took a day for Midare, Kagari, and Suiren to arrive in Cata. The city was dissimilar to Haryana. Where that city was stone, this city was predominantly wood. The buildings were also smaller, more modest. But there were still signs of prosperity. Small fish markets were all over the city, along with a surprising amount of crab. Enough to feed the city and other smaller towns. In Fire it would be a small city, but in Rain it was a basin of food. A paradise, where the hunger that devastated the rest of the country couldn't reach.
The sight only affirmed to the trio that they must protect it.
The group slowly settled into a routine, taking shifts to watch over the city and do patrols. They had been sure to use the streets rather than patrol through the rooftops. Newspapers of The Guide had already gone out, flooding the town. They didn't want to incite a panic after what had occurred in Haryana. The first day nothing occurred, the trio left to train and practice their abilities in their off time with the respective clone that accompanied them. The only news that reached the city was that of Kanpeki Fort being slaughtered.
Tensions mounted after that. Citizens rarely left their homes. Fishing boats remained tied up at the docks. Everyone was preparing to flee the city at a moment's notice. Kanpeki Fort falling, and Haryana being attacked was disturbing news. Rain was vulnerable. Konoha was ripping them to pieces with guerilla warfare. Panic grew. The whispers of distrust of Ame shinobi began to spring up in Cata as they had in Haryana.
And then the next day it came to a head.
A/N: You may notice I said that the Land of Mountains is to the east instead of the west of the Moon Gulf in this chapter. That's because I accidentally said west in Chapter 32. Edited that.
Also, I think this chapter showed a very good distinction of what I want everyone to remember with Nagato's power. He is extremely difficult for most people to touch, much less defeat, but only when it's A) a straight fight or B) Nagato doesn't want to just go scorched earth. His strength, much like Naruto's in some ways, is limited by the fact that they're not cruel people.