The next day.
"The offensive part of this jutsu is complete... Yuto."
In the vast training ground, Nagato Uzumaki rubbed his sore arms, emerging from the pile of rubble and slowly straightening up.
In front of him were two deep trenches, nearly a hundred meters long, the marks left by his feet when he was pushed back by the immense force.
Even though he had used the Rinnegan's unique jutsu, Shinra Tensei, to block the attack, he couldn't completely negate the massive impact.
Lion's Fang Bite, this was a move that could make its user famous throughout the ninja world!
Hyuga Yuto gasped for breath, his hands once again covered in blood:
"Thank you..."
"Are your hands alright?"
"Almost useless, thankfully I know medical ninjutsu." Hyuga Yuto said with lingering fear. After completing Lion's Fang Bite, the burden on his body increased several times. Although its power was exceptional, it also fractured the bones in his arms.
"I'm leaving today. I've been away from the village for too long, it wouldn't be right to stay any longer." While healing himself with Mystical Palm Technique, Hyuga Yuto said to Nagato Uzumaki:
"Until my teacher figures out a way to reduce the backlash of this jutsu, I have to minimize its use. With the current version of Lion's Fang Bite, using it three times in a row will tear my own arms apart."
"Great power inevitably comes with a great price." Nagato Uzumaki sighed:
"We ninjas, in the end, are just a bunch of miserable people. We become strong because of chakra, and we die because of chakra."
Hyuga Yuto smiled:
"Being overly sensitive isn't a good thing... Nagato, I'm leaving."
"Alright... Hopefully, the next time we meet, we won't be enemies."
"If that happens, there's nothing we can do. Ninjas can never decide their own fate."
The branch family boy returned to his room, tidied up, and packed his luggage.
But he didn't leave immediately. Instead, he continued to heal himself with medical ninjutsu in his room.
When traveling, one's physical condition must be at least at a level where "one can fight against someone of the same rank".
...
As the sky darkened, the rain continued to pour relentlessly on this land.
In a residence outside the base, Asano Kaoru was grinding seeds.
The oil for sharpening blades was time-consuming to make. Many steps couldn't be replaced by ninjutsu and had to be done using ancient techniques.
To make the blade oil for Takeshita Seigen's "Flying Wings", Asano Kaoru had been secretly working hard for two months. Before leaving, she wanted to finish this task.
Black palm flowers, such things might not exist in the Land of Water.
As a Konoha spy about to escape the Land of Rain, Asano Kaoru certainly couldn't pack her bags as openly as Hyuga Yuto.
Yahiko had left Takeshita Seigen to deal with Asano Kaoru himself. As long as it didn't harm the organization, he could do whatever he wanted and wouldn't interfere.
"Running away with a female spy" wouldn't cause serious harm to Akatsuki and could be considered a somewhat acceptable solution.
But sneaking away was one thing, making it known to everyone was another.
Takeshita Seigen and Asano Kaoru couldn't go too far, making things difficult for Yahiko and the others. Making things easier for others meant making things easier for themselves.
More importantly, Asano Kaoru knew that at this time today, she had to be in this room. Being absent or arriving at the wrong time could have serious consequences.
Because today was the day she had agreed to meet with her superior.
Creak—
After a while, the door opened.
The footsteps were rhythmic, a secret code.
"Darkness." The man who entered the room closed the door and spoke Asano Kaoru's codename in Root.
"Lord Owl." The kunoichi put down the stone pestle, turned around, and knelt on one knee, her head bowed low.
"The rain in Amegakure is always so bothersome." Owl wore a bird-faced mask, completely concealing his face. His black robe tightly wrapped his body, and outsiders could only see the outline of his knotted muscles.
"Darkness, regarding Takeshita Seigen, do you have anything you want to tell me?"
Asano Kaoru's heart felt like it was being squeezed by a hand. At this moment, she was so nervous that she could barely breathe.
But fortunately, since her parents' death and being sent to Root, Asano Kaoru had overcome countless difficulties and crises. She wouldn't collapse from a casual probing question.
The moment she closed her eyes slightly, the kunoichi suppressed her nervousness and fear, and said calmly:
"The assassination of Takeshita Seigen will take place in five days. At that time, he will escort a wealthy merchant from Amegakure. In the wilderness, far from the Akatsuki base, will be our best opportunity to strike."
"I heard that you have a good relationship with Takeshita Seigen, Darkness. Are you wavering now?"
Asano Kaoru sighed inwardly. She knew what "heard" meant. Besides her, there must be other Konoha spies in Akatsuki.
The kunoichi raised her head, her beautiful eyes betraying no emotion, only a chilling indifference.
Owl reached out and pinched Asano Kaoru's chin, forcing her to look at him. His fingers dug into her fair skin without mercy, and only after a while did he let go with satisfaction.
What Root needed and liked most were subordinates who lacked excessive emotions and had nothing else on their minds except for their missions.
"Tell me, Darkness, what level of strength is needed to assassinate Takeshita Seigen?"
"He is skilled in Water Release. The most noteworthy thing is his two chakra blades, 'Flying Wings'. Other than that, he is just an ordinary Tokubetsu Jonin."
"Then I'll give you four teammates. Including you, that's five people. It should be enough... If necessary, I will also take action."
Asano Kaoru replied calmly:
"No need, Lord Owl. If it's an ambush, I can handle it alone. Takeshita Seigen trusts me very much."
"Good. You will be fully responsible for this assassination. I will temporarily leave the Land of Rain to handle other matters."
Asano Kaoru's heart felt relieved. She subconsciously wanted Owl to stay away from her. He was a dangerous man.
"Scapegoat, the narrative after the successful operation, your promotion after... Ah, forget it, there's no need to say these things. Darkness, you are already an excellent ninja."
Owl glanced around the room. The discarded cardboard boxes were filled with black palm flower seeds that had been squeezed dry of their oil.
"Very good. A spy needs to fully immerse themselves in their role... After the Akatsuki matter is settled, Lord Danzo will give you a more important task."
By the time his voice faded, he had already vanished.
One minute, two minutes, five minutes...
Asano Kaoru remained kneeling on one knee, motionless.
After an unknown amount of time, she suddenly collapsed to the ground.
Finally... I've overcome the last hurdle... Owl... you terrifying man, you surely don't know that that was the last time we will ever meet.
Asano Kaoru sat on the ground for a long time. When her tense nerves completely relaxed, she got up and pushed open the window.
Outside the window, the rain continued to pour down. The steep steel buildings pierced the night sky, seemingly rising from the ground like deep wells.
Oppressive, gloomy, chaotic, the atmosphere of Amegakure had always been like this, never changing.
However, at this moment, the kunoichi was desperately breathing in the air, greedily swallowing the raindrops that fell into her mouth.
This was the taste of freedom.