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Thunderous sounds echoed~
The towering trees didn't break apart but the forest itself was filled with thunderous noises, as the accumulated snow on numerous dried branches was shaken off.
At this moment, Uchiha Yoru was gasping heavily, staring solemnly at the six paths of Pain surrounding him. Although he was well aware of the opponent's abilities, he had to pretend ignorance to probe.
Even so, the opponent was reserved this time, only revealing the abilities of Deva Path and Preta Path, especially the Deva Path, which is the strongest among the six.
The opponent was concealing something, and he too hid his Wood Release and the Mangekyō Sharingan. Even so, after this exchange, both were shocked by each other's strength.
"With such immense strength, what is your purpose in infiltrating the Land of Fire!"
Uchiha Yoru, pretending to be solemn, faced the Six Paths of Pain, who remained impassive. However, Nagato, hidden in the shadows, was truly shocked by his strength.
Such formidable power, similar to the body techniques of the Raikage of the Cloud Village. With strong defense and speed, and terrifying swordsmanship, had the opponent not been ignorant of the Six Paths' abilities, he might have had to reveal his trump cards.
As for Ninjutsu! It's all thanks to the Preta Path's support, and the opponent is aware of this ability, so Ninjutsu is only used at critical moments.
"You are strong!" Deva Path Pain said coldly to the man in front of him, worthy of a ninja who could write such a book, indeed having the potential.
"Three Tomoe Sharingan, powerful body techniques, and the snake-based Ninjutsu just now, plus your name, you must be the disciple of Orochimaru, one of the Legendary Sannin of Konoha."
Facing the praise from Deva Path Pain, Uchiha Yoru cautiously nodded, "Judging by your clothes, it seems you come from an organization, but."
At this point, Uchiha Yoru's lips curled up in a victorious smile, "Time's up, I hope you dangerous rogue ninjas won't cause trouble within the borders of the Land of Fire."
As soon as he finished speaking, under the smile of Uchiha Yoru, his body turned into a puff of smoke.
The Six Paths of Pain appeared simultaneously at the spot where he vanished, their Rinnegan coldly scanning the surroundings. Deva Path Pain casually remarked, "Shadow Clone Jutsu, huh! Truly worthy of a renowned ninja, managing to escape under our watch."
When did the opponent perform the hand seals for the Shadow Clone Jutsu? The Rinnegan indeed did not see it, but it didn't mean the opponent was too fast to be seen, but rather, he used this technique under some sort of cover.
Like the smoke bomb just now, exploding tags, and Ninjutsu explosions provided opportunities to execute this jutsu under cover.
"He escaped, huh? Or perhaps he never planned a fight to the death from the beginning."
Muttering to himself, Deva Path Pain, recalling something, surprisingly showed a slight smile on his otherwise cold corpse-like face.
"In order to cover for his companions, Mr. Yoru, your magnanimity is acknowledged by me. But it's a pity that Konoha, although not restricting your thoughts, has limited your actions."
After losing track of the opponent's chakra, Nagato, hidden in the darkness, revealed his Rinnegan, as if he could see through everything in the ninja world.
…
"Konan."
Deep blue stockings and long legs glided through, with white high heels constantly treading on thick branches as she swiftly moved through the forest. Under deliberate disguise, Konan feigned the speed of an average ninja.
At that moment, a faint call was heard. Although Konan already knew who was coming, she still pretended to be surprised and turned around.
A figure flickered past, causing a look of astonishment on Konan's cold face. The person picked her up horizontally and quickly moved through the forest.
With a stern and heavy face so close, she could even smell the other's warm breath.
"Is the opponent targeting you with great strength? A ninja?"
At that time, Uchiha Yoru's three-hooked Sharingan eyes continuously scanned the surroundings as he moved swiftly through the forest, asking his own question.
Although Konan was shocked by his Sharingan, she calmly shook her head, "No, Nagato and I, although missing-nin, have not taken any missions recently and have no enemies. The six people just now were also first-time encounters."
Lying seemed natural for women; even though she was held in a stranger's arms, stiffening slightly, she did not hesitate to lie.
"Then the situation might be bad," Uchiha Yoru remarked gravely as he rushed through the forest, "This place has become unsafe recently, you should leave quickly."
Konan was well aware of the trouble in the area, especially since Nagato had just destroyed the Fire Temple, causing a seismic shift in the Land of Fire.
Hearing this, Konan nodded lightly but still feigned hesitation.
"Are your eyes the Sharingan?"
As if she had confirmed his identity, but for a missing-nin like her, there was a natural gap between them and ninjas from major countries or powerful bloodline clans, like that between commoners and nobility.
Uchiha Yoru, while hurrying, nodded solemnly and said, "My name is Uchiha Yoru. I was on a mission, but obviously, something major has happened here, and it won't be long before you find out. But don't worry, I will provide you a way out of here."
As they conversed intermittently, Uchiha Yoru, displaying the strength of an elite ninja, hurried along with Konan in his arms.
In the stranger's embrace, Konan, far from the naive girl she once was, felt no romantic stirrings. She was just playing her current role as best as she could.
His hand was respectful, yet the warmth from his palm on her thigh and waist forced Konan to wrap her arms around his neck. This posture helped save his strength and avoid awkwardness.
After all, as a newly escaped ninja, the slightest negligence in observation could reveal her identity.
Moving swiftly through the cold wind, Konan's blue-purple hair fluttered. Beneath her cold face, her heart slightly relaxed.
Though they had only met a few times, his actions in rescuing her in a crisis spoke to his character, showing he was not a cold-blooded, murderous ninja.
Especially the way he protected her as they left, it made her sigh softly in her heart. After so many years, she felt the warmth of care once again, even from a stranger ninja.
Short Book Street.
When they returned to the bustling street, Uchiha Yoru pretended to be relieved. Shadows kept leaping over the buildings until they reached the inn, where Uchiha Yoru finally put down Konan, who was light in his arms.
"In the town, the enemy wouldn't dare to make a move."
Seeing Nagato on the bed through the window, Uchiha Yoru again appeared relieved and said to Konan.
During the journey, being held in his arms for two hours while fleeing, especially his tense and solemn demeanor along the way, she knew in her heart there was no real danger.
Her mature mind wouldn't easily be moved, but that didn't stop her from appreciating such a rare quality.
The moment she fell from the warm embrace, Konan turned into a drama queen, hurriedly opening the window and calling out to Nagato on the bed, "Nagato."
"Konan, what's going on?"
A cold wind blew into the room, and Nagato pretended to be confused and doubtful, looking at the two as if he had just seen Mr. Yoru holding Konan and putting her down.
"Mr. Yoru?"
Seeing Nagato's confusion, Uchiha Yoru's Sharingan slowly receded in his eyes, and a serious expression appeared on his face, not giving the other party a chance to ask.
"Hurry up and pack your things, you need to leave here quickly."
"What happened?"
Seeing Uchiha Yoru's solemn expression, Nagato pretended to be unaware as if he had been staying in the inn all along, while Konan, looking nervous, began packing up in the room, saying, "Nagato, it's not safe here."
There were three people in the room, all pretending.
Each thought their acting was the best, but the biggest difference among the three was the disparity in information. Nagato and Konan were at a disadvantage from the start due to lack of information, while Uchiha Yoru knew everything about them from the beginning.
"This place is about to be under martial law."
At this moment, Uchiha Yoru helped pack up and explained to Nagato, "I won't hide it from you, I'm a ninja from Konoha. There's trouble at the Fire Temple, and this place will soon be under martial law. Although you are not involved, you are wanderer ninjas and will definitely be questioned."
Meanwhile, Uchiha Yoru went to the desk, pulled out a piece of paper and quickly wrote a travel pass, and finally took out his own seal to stamp it.
"Take this travel pass and leave from the north. That direction is under the Uchiha clan's responsibility. This pass has our Uchiha clan's emblem and secret code on it, they won't make things difficult for you."
At this moment, Uchiha Yoru looked genuinely concerned for them, and he also vouched for the two as a witness. After all, no one would believe that a disabled person could be involved in the annihilation of the Fire Temple.
"Uchiha!"
Looking at the travel pass, Nagato appeared contemplative and said to him, "I didn't expect Mr. Yoru to be from the strongest noble family in the Land of Fire."
In response to Nagato's words, Uchiha Yoru shook his head and sighed, "A noble family has its own pressures, but a wanderer ninja has the freedom they desire."
The ninja's efficiency is still very fast. During the conversation, Konan has already packed her luggage, and then even lifted Nagato's wheelchair onto the carriage.
Hurriedly returning in less than half an hour, she reappeared outside the town of Short Book Street. At this time, Nagato in the carriage looked immensely contemplative.
"After parting with mister this time, I wonder when we can meet again."
Holding a book with a red cover carefully in his hands, Nagato showed a hint of reluctance and let out a deeply curious sigh: "May I ask what are mister's aspirations?"
As the most terrifying mercenary ninja boss in the ninja world, Nagato always spoke with an imposing aura, except when in front of the author of this book, where he spoke in a more refined manner.
In response to Nagato's query, Uchiha Yoru couldn't help but lift his head to look at the sunlight in the sky and revealed a confident smile.
"Just like this book, I will strive in this direction, but the road must be taken one step at a time. My first goal is to become Hokage, to first change my own village and country."
"Hokage, huh!" Looking at Uchiha Yoru's confident smile, Nagato muttered to himself, while Konan, who was driving the carriage, looked at them both with a cool gaze.
Perhaps in the future, they might not become friends, after all, one's goal is to become the Hokage and the other's is the entire ninja world.
"Teacher, I have purchased everything you wanted." Just then, Uchiha Itachi's figure appeared. He had just returned to Short Book Street, and immediately received a shopping list from his teacher's summoned creature. Without stopping, he hurriedly went shopping and came here.
At this moment, a bundle was thrown over. Konan looked at the bundle in her hands in surprise, but Uchiha Yorujust laughed.
"This is the dry food for the road, and this is for you."
Pointing at Konan, Uchiha Yoru smiled and shook his head: "Sometimes being too beautiful is also a sin. Inside, I have prepared men's clothes for you, as well as some disguise makeup. You should know how to use them."
"First, make your face look a bit uglier, otherwise it's very dangerous outside." Uchiha Yoru, who rarely jokes, made a jest.
Hearing this, Uchiha Itachi, standing nearby, raised his head and looked at Konan's face, nodding firmly: "Teacher is right, a beautiful woman, especially a ninja, or even more so a rogue ninja, is the most dangerous in the ninja world."
"Thank you."
Konan, usually cool and aloof, uttered a thank you, put her baggage aside, nodded gently at the two, and then drove the carriage towards the north.
Watching the two leave, Uchiha Yoru squinted his eyes, thinking that, one way or another, one was fooled, and the other had gained some awareness, which might be useful in the future.
"Teacher, the mission failed. Should we go back?"
Just as Uchiha Itachi was about to ask, suddenly a swift hawk landed on Uchiha Yoru's shoulder.
After opening the letter, Uchiha Yoru revealed a bitter smile and shook his head: "It seems we can't go back yet. However, luckily, this mission shouldn't take long, but Itachi, you'll have to stay in Short Book Street a bit longer."
"Yes, Teacher Yoru."
At this moment, Uchiha Itachi displayed all the qualities of a mature ninja: a calm mind and a preference for thinking more than talking.
He never asked what shouldn't be asked, especially about the missions, as only the team leader or captain had the right to explain the mission details to them. They just had to listen.
Looking at the sensible and obedient Itachi, Uchiha Yoru couldn't help but feel emotional. No wonder everyone likes geniuses. Not only do they make training easier, but they also make everyday life easier. If it were a hot-blooded fool, he could already imagine the outcome.
Clearly, he didn't like trouble-making, hot-blooded fools, unless they had certain potential that made them worthy of his acceptance, despite some shortcomings.