(T/N: There is now a p.atreon for this work, and any new work I add will be dropped there first. check it out for an early release of up to 30 chapters edited smoothly. https://www.p.atreon.com/INeedRest)
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"What happened?" Colt demanded from the Anbu.
"The Konoha Intelligence Department was invaded, and the Akatsuki leader's body was stolen!"
Colt looked at Omoi.
"Stay here. We'll discuss the Cloud Village matters when I return."
Omoi nodded his head, as he didn't want to face Colt's anger anytime soon.
With that, Colt immediately activated the [Flying Thunder God Technique].
One of his in-laws, Yamanaka Inoichi, was the head of Konoha's Intelligence Department.
He had been in charge of researching Nagato's body all this time.
Colt was anxious because he worried about what might have happened to Yamanaka Inoichi.
When he arrived at the Intelligence Department's stronghold near the Hokage Building, thick smoke billowed from the entire structure.
"[Wind Style: Great Breakthrough]!"
Wind appeared and the thick smoke quickly dissipated.
When Colt reached the most important secret room, he found the ANBU guards lying unconscious on the ground.
However, he breathed a sigh of relief even though they were fallen.
These people were only stunned by drugs and not in life-threatening danger.
But Nagato, who should have been lying quietly on the bed, had disappeared.
Shortly after, Tsunade, Jiraiya, and the other high-ranking officials arrived.
Jiraiya was accompanied by Konan.
"Where's Nagato?" Konan asked anxiously, not seeing him.
Colt shook his head.
"He was gone when I arrived."
Konan's vision blurred, and she was about to faint.
Colt, quick-eyed and quick-witted, hurriedly caught her.
Colt also had a headache. This woman was a Kage-level powerhouse; how could she faint at this moment?
But, he could understand the importance of Nagato to her.
After asking two ANBU ninjas to help her out to rest, Tsunade ordered, "Search the guards' memories to see who did this."
Soon, Yamanaka Inoichi appeared unharmed and used his clan's secret technique to check the memories of the two ninjas.
His expression was grim.
"They saw no figure, only a snake."
"Snake!"
Simultaneously, a single name appeared in the minds of everyone present.
Orochimaru!
Jiraiya's expression turned serious.
"Why would Orochimaru take Nagato's body?"
When it came to matters concerning his old friend, he became very serious.
Colt suddenly said.
"I guess his target is the Rinnegan, and... [Impure World Reincarnation], right?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, both Tsunade and Jiraiya clenched their fists.
Previously, Orochimaru had used the [Impure World Reincarnation] to kill the Third Hokage and had also tried to use this jutsu to summon Nawaki, attempting to manipulate Tsunade into healing him.
Both were abhorrent to the [Impure World Reincarnation].
However, Colt didn't react much.
After the curse mark on Sasuke disappeared, he knew that Orochimaru had researched the White Zetsus and found a better option.
Colt's purpose was to leverage Orochimaru's talent for exploiting loopholes to see if he could develop a technique with infinite [Rinne Rebirth].
It was just a minor setback now; he hadn't expected Orochimaru to have designs on the Rinnegan so early.
But it wasn't a big problem.
No need to panic.
Now that Nagato's body had been lost, Tsunade and the others had no choice but to strengthen the village's defenses.
Orochimaru had always been unpredictable, and there had been no news of him recently.
Konoha could only defend passively; taking the initiative to attack would be like looking for a needle in a haystack.
They could only devise a plan to target him the next time he showed up to cause trouble.
After Colt returned home, he felt that something was off.
It wasn't until lunch the next day that he slapped his forehead.
"How could I forget about the Cloud ninja!"
When he returned to the conference room yesterday, Omoi's lips were pale with thirst and hunger.
"You... you're finally back."
Having rushed from Cloud Village, Omoi had only eaten two soldier pills on the road in the past few days.
Since yesterday until now, he hadn't had a drop of water.
Colt was also a little embarrassed.
Yesterday, he was afraid that Omoi would wander around and see something he shouldn't, so he had locked him up.
Unexpectedly, after dealing with the matter, he had forgotten about him.
"Come on, let's continue yesterday's topic. Where were we?"
"Uchiha... Sasuke," Omoi's voice was weak.
He just wanted to end the negotiation as soon as possible and then go for a big meal.
"Oh yes, Sasuke." Colt tapped his temple.
"I won't beat around the bush with you. According to what you said, Sasuke is acting with members of the Akatsuki organization of his own volition, it has nothing to do with us..."
"So, the Fourth Raikage couldn't find fault with Konoha even if he wanted to cause trouble."
"You're wasting your energy here. Why don't you go back and think about how to deal with the Akatsuki's remnants?"
Omoi was silent for a moment, then nodded.
Two days later.
The dark-skinned girl Karui had recovered from most of her injuries.
The two did not linger in Konoha much longer and immediately returned to the Cloud Village to bring the answer to the Fourth Raikage.
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Boom!
The desk in the Raikage's office suffered once again.
"Damn it!"
After venting his anger, the Fourth Raikage stood there and wept silently.
In the room, Darui and Omoi were present.
He knew that his 'sworn brother' Killer Bee had likely met with misfortune.
Although they were not biological brothers, they had cultivated their relationship for decades.
Apart from the village, the Fourth Raikage cherished his younger brother the most in his heart.
"Omoi, did Kamiyo Colt reveal more information about the Akatsuki organization?"
Forcing himself to regain composure, the Fourth Raikage decided to avenge Killer Bee.
And that target was Sasuke and the Akatsuki!
"Raikage-sama, the information about the Akatsuki organization has gradually become clear."
"Most of its members are composed of S-rank rogue ninjas from the major shinobi villages. Konoha was attacked by the Akatsuki organization a few days ago, and most of their members have been wiped out."
"The only ones known to have not been captured by Konoha are Uchiha Sasuke and Kisame Hoshigaki."
This information was what Omoi had gathered from the Konoha Village over the past two days.
He then reported on the other members of the Akatsuki organization.
The Raikage fell silent.
He remembered a letter Tsunade had sent him before, which had warned about the dangers of the Akatsuki organization.
It's just that at the time, he thought that the Cloud Village was impenetrable and wouldn't give the Akatsuki an opportunity to attack them.
He had thrown the letter in the trash can.
Now he felt a twinge of regret.
If he had agreed to Tsunade's proposal, the five great nations would have worked together to track down the Akatsuki's whereabouts.
Would Killer Bee and Yugito have been safe then?
"Darui, in my name, send invitations to the other four great nations."
"We will hold a Five Kage Summit!"