Land of Tea~
Nagato held Kana's hand as they strolled leisurely down a shaded forest path. The red-haired boy and girl looked just like any ordinary couple, enjoying a peaceful outing on a quiet day.
The atmosphere was serene and beautiful.
In truth, however, this so-called "couple" was planning to form an organization powerful enough to rival the Five Great Hidden Villages.
They had already begun taking steps to bring their plans to fruition, starting their journey to recruit allies.
Encouraged by Black Zetsu, Nagato had mustered the courage to propose the idea of creating the "Vortex/Whirlpool" organization to Madara Uchiha.
For the first time, he had put forth a request of his own to the legendary shinobi.
Nagato had spent most of his years under Madara training rigorously, absorbing vast amounts of ninjutsu knowledge and enduring harsh exercises—all based on the standards of shinobi from the Warring States Era.
As a teacher, Madara wasn't exactly patient. While his teaching skills were exceptional, his methods were direct and brutal.
Can't learn a jutsu? Then practice.
Still can't get it after one demonstration? He'd teach it again, albeit with strained patience.
Fail again? That's when Madara's Sharingan would come into play. Using genjutsu, he would force Nagato to study and practice within the infinite time of the illusionary realm.
Under the crushing mental strain, Nagato repeated each jutsu over and over until it became second nature.
Thanks to this strict, intensive teaching method, Nagato's combat abilities, techniques, and even his battlefield experience had advanced rapidly. At the same time, his mind grew more mature.
Compared to the version of Nagato who, in another timeline, received Jiraiya's academy-style guidance, the one trained by Madara had been shaped into a pure killing machine, honed with the most practical lessons of the Warring States Era.
As a result, Nagato held immense respect—and a degree of fear—for Madara.
Even with the legendary Rinnegan in his eyes, he instinctively dreaded his elderly but still formidable teacher.
To Nagato's surprise, however, Madara, who usually dismissed ideas of forming organizations, had easily approved his request without offering any advice or objections, giving him full freedom to act as he pleased.
This unexpected support was largely thanks to Black Zetsu. Having helped Madara overcome his inner demons tied to reviving Izuna, Black Zetsu had earned the older shinobi's trust and was now qualified to provide counsel.
Using its millennium-old expertise in reading people and its deep understanding of past Indra reincarnates, Black Zetsu perfectly played the role of the "influential advisor whispering into the emperor's ear."
It carefully laid out an analysis of Fuma's current forces and the potential threats he might face in the future. This analysis captured Madara's attention.
Madara had initially assumed that, with Nagato's Uzumaki lineage, abundant chakra, and mastery over the Rinnegan, the boy should be able to crush any "ordinary shinobi" in the ninja world.
A formal organization seemed unnecessary, as Nagato could simply bulldoze through his opposition.
Madara himself harbored a deep-seated disdain for such organizations due to his complicated history with the Uchiha clan and Konoha.
But with Fuma's growing strength and influence, there was now a real possibility that Nagato alone might not be enough to contend with the revived Uchiha clan's rise.
Fuma had led the clan to a resurgence, elevating it to new heights that hadn't been seen since the Warring States Era.
As a former clan leader, Madara understood the risks. If Konoha's Uchiha clan were to awaken multiple Mangekyo Sharingan users with unique abilities, even a prime version of himself might have struggled to handle them all.
From this perspective, building a group of disposable "pawns" to test the waters seemed prudent.
Moreover, Madara's current focus was entirely on preparing for Izuna's resurrection. His aging body and dwindling vitality left him struggling to even control the Gedo Statue efficiently, let alone focus on Nagato's growth.
Madara's obsession with reviving Izuna had evolved from initial resistance, to reluctant acceptance, to fervent devotion.
Day and night, he devoted himself to crafting a perfect set of Mangekyo Sharingan for his brother, channeling what little remained of his Senju vitality into maintaining Izuna's original Sharingan.
Once, Izuna had given up his light for his elder brother. Now, as the ultimate sibling, Madara was determined to surprise Izuna with the gift of another chance at life.
As for Nagato? Madara had all but delegated him entirely to Black Zetsu's care.
Unlike Madara, Black Zetsu had a singular, straightforward goal: reviving its mother, Kaguya Otsutsuki. Anything that increased the chances of this outcome was worth pursuing.
Creating an organization was undoubtedly more effective than going it alone, which was reason enough for Black Zetsu to support Nagato's plans.
"Without war, the shinobi world really is a beautiful place…" Nagato mused, gazing at the lush green meadows in the distance. He bent down to pluck a vibrant wildflower and gently tucked it into Kana's hair.
Kana lowered her head shyly, allowing Nagato's hand to brush through her crimson locks. "Don't worry," she reassured him softly. "With our combined efforts, we'll surely change this flawed world."
Nagato managed a faint smile, lightly patting Kana's hand to signal his gratitude.
Still, he couldn't entirely shake the restlessness that had plagued him recently.
Kana and Nagato's first recruitment target was Hiruko. Despite Hiruko's skill at concealing his movements, White Zetsu's surveillance had made him as exposed as a spotlighted target.
Their relentless pursuit had taken the pair across the borders of the Land of Frost, through the Lands of Taki and Grass, and even to Nagato's birthplace: the Land of Rain.
While passing through the Rain Village, Nagato had shown Kana his old home. The visit had left him with a complicated mix of emotions.
Although he'd known from White Zetsu that the Rain had fallen, Nagato hadn't expected the village to have been utterly obliterated.
What was once a landscape of towering buildings—though weathered—had been replaced by a wasteland of ruins.
The ground was littered with rusted metal corroded by endless rainfall, interspersed with unburied skeletal remains, slowly rotting into blackened sludge beneath the constant downpour.
The Rain Village was gone—erased from existence in the ninja world.
Nagato led Kana through the desolate remains for an entire day, hoping to visit his family's grave. Yet whether due to poor memory or unforeseen changes, he failed to locate it.
For Nagato, the Rain held profound sentimental value.
It was the land where he grew up, and his father had been a respected village doctor, giving Nagato a childhood filled with relative comfort and many joyful memories.
Under Hanzo's rule, the Rain had enjoyed a semblance of dignity compared to other small nations, thanks to Hanzo's formidable reputation.
In Nagato's vision for the future, once he had unified the ninja world, he had hoped to give the Rain's survivors a peaceful, dignified life.
But before he could even take his first step toward realizing that dream, part of it had already been reduced to dust.
"Hey, Nagato," Kana interrupted his thoughts, "I just spotted a really strong guy hiding in that valley. Want to check him out?"
"He's fishing," she added with an amused smile. "It looks kind of fun!"
A White Zetsu emerged from the earth, flailing its arms wildly as it described a scene to Nagato with exaggerated gestures.
Nagato was perplexed. Despite White Zetsu's vivid depiction, he couldn't quite grasp the full meaning.
"Could this behavior indicate some extraordinary master of the ninja world?" Nagato mused aloud.
He glanced at Kana, who seemed equally puzzled. "Should we go and check it out? If it truly is a formidable individual, they might even become an ally."
Kana pondered for a moment, then exchanged a few words with White Zetsu before nodding slowly.
"It seems like we've stumbled upon a reclusive expert by chance. There shouldn't be any danger. Engaging with them could be worthwhile."
During their journey across the ninja world, though Uchiha Madara had let go of direct oversight, Black Zetsu had meticulously ensured their safety and offered numerous precautions.
Hidden within a radius of hundreds of miles around Nagato and Kana were thousands of White Zetsu, monitoring everything with precision.
This level of caution was specifically to prevent an accidental encounter with Fūma, which might lead to an unpredictable battle that could jeopardize Nagato's Rinnegan.
To Black Zetsu, nothing was more valuable than the Rinnegan, the key to reviving Kaguya Ōtsutsuki. Though Nagato was already powerful, until he fully mastered the Rinnegan, Black Zetsu would protect him with utmost care, eliminating any potential threats.
After some time, Nagato and Kana arrived at a tranquil canyon. From a distance, they observed a mysterious figure from behind.
Within the canyon lay a crystal-clear lake, surrounded by lush tea trees. At one corner was a simple wooden hut, exuding a serene, otherworldly charm.
By the lake, a figure in a black robe sat quietly, fishing with a rod in hand. His demeanor was calm and unhurried, a stark contrast to the world of chaos around them.
Nagato furrowed his brow, activating his Rinnegan to observe the man more closely from a distance of a thousand meters.
"This chakra feels so familiar… I think I've seen it somewhere before."
Kana's expression turned serious. Though she hadn't awakened the Kagura Mind's Eye, her heightened sensory abilities, thanks to her Uzumaki lineage, allowed her to detect something unusual.
This unassuming old man's chakra carried a murderous aura, faintly reminiscent of Uchiha Madara's.
"Look, he's moving! He's moving!"
White Zetsu nudged the silent Nagato and Kana, craning its neck forward curiously. "This guy's been sitting there for hours. How many fish do you think he's caught?"
No one answered White Zetsu's question. However, the mysterious fisherman soon provided an answer through his actions.
The man rose slowly, casting a glance at the submerged fish basket beneath the lake's surface. He sighed softly, then, in stark contrast to his earlier leisurely movements, his fingers began to weave signs at an astonishing speed.
"Water Style: Exploding Water Colliding Wave!"
As chakra surged forth, the tranquil lake erupted violently, sending waves crashing like a tsunami.
Countless fish were swept into the air by the raging torrent, their shimmering scales refracting rainbows under the sunlight.
"What is he doing? Did he notice us?" Nagato wondered aloud, baffled by the fisherman's sudden use of ninjutsu during his fishing.
"Doesn't seem like it. The direction of the jutsu isn't aimed at us," Kana responded, equally confused.
Swish, swish, swish!
The fisherman's aura grew sharp as he swiftly grabbed a kusarigama from the ground. With a flurry of dazzling movements, he slashed through the airborne fish, skewering them into neat strings.
After picking a few choice fish, he left them impaled on the blade, sat down, and leisurely started roasting them over a fire.
"Ha! What a despicable guy," White Zetsu spat, clearly offended. "Can't catch fish with a rod, so he resorts to ninjutsu and weapons? What a bully, taking it out on innocent fish!"
Meanwhile, Nagato stared intently at the kusarigama, a mixture of surprise and suspicion crossing his face.
As someone who grew up in Amegakure, he recognized the weapon immediately. In fact, no one from Amegakure wouldn't recognize it—it was once the personal weapon of Hanzō, a symbol of the village alongside the salamander.
"So, Hanzō isn't dead? He's still alive!" Nagato exclaimed, turning to Kana with a mix of shock and excitement.
After the Second Shinobi War, Hanzō had vanished alongside the destruction of Amegakure, seemingly perishing in a devastating explosion. Though no one ever found his body, the ninja world had since lost all trace of him.
Over the years, all the major villages, including Black Zetsu, had removed him from their intelligence rosters, assuming him dead.
"Remember who you are, Nagato," Kana admonished, a sharp edge to her voice. "You're no longer that child from Amegakure who sought his protection."
"We are the pioneers of peace for the ninja world. Don't forget our purpose."
Kana's stern gaze silenced Nagato's excitement. She added, "If it really is Hanzō, recruiting him as the first member of 'Uzu' would be ideal."
Nagato scratched his head awkwardly before a hint of determination flashed in his eyes. "You're right, Kana. I was just surprised to see someone from Amegakure. But Hanzō… now that I think about it, his rule was only barely acceptable."
"If he refuses to join 'Uzu,' then we'll let him rest here forever. We can't risk exposing our plans."
Kana nodded approvingly, pointing to a different angle. "Let's flank him. That way, we'll have the advantage."
Just as they were about to move, Hanzō stood up, holding the kusarigama, and looked in their direction. His voice was low but carried a commanding presence.
"Guests from afar, why not come over and join me for a meal?"
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