After leaving the patrol guard area of the village, Reiki activated his full-hand ability.
"Gural, where are you now?" Reiki asked, speeding through the trees.
"I'm in the Land of Taki," Gural's voice replied in his mind.
"As soon as possible, head toward the Land of Rain," Reiki instructed. "If there are others with you, let them know that the alliance between the Land of Rain and Konoha has been broken. We're clear to act against Amegakure."
"The alliance is broken?" Gural repeated in surprise. "Understood. I'm already en route to the Land of Rain. They will pay for this."
Reiki cut off the connection, confident that Gural would act accordingly. Now, he just needed to watch how Konoha would respond. If Hiruzen Sarutobi continued to stay passive, Reiki would need to accelerate his plans.
Reiki's urgency stemmed from Jiraiya's severe injuries. If Jiraiya had suffered, then Yahiko, Nagato, and the others were likely in danger as well. Hanzo of the Salamander wouldn't stop at just breaking the alliance; he would hunt them down. Reiki hoped Yahiko was still alive—at least until he could get there himself.
Without rest, Reiki pressed on. At his current pace, he would reach the Land of Rain by late tomorrow night. However, he knew that even if he arrived, finding members of the Akatsuki would be no easy feat now.
---
The following night, Reiki finally crossed into the Land of Rain. Martial law was in effect; guards and patrols seemed to be everywhere. Fortunately, none of them detected Reiki, even in the relentless rain, which made navigation difficult.
As he moved stealthily, a sudden shout stopped him in his tracks.
"Who's there?"
A group of Amegakure ninjas had spotted him.
"A Konoha ninja!" one of them exclaimed, recognizing the forehead protector. "Lord Hanzo was right! Konoha plans to invade us! Kill him!"
The three ninjas charged at him, but Reiki quickly activated his space-control ability, teleporting behind them and dispatching them with precision. Cleaning his blade, he vanished into the night once more, avoiding further encounters. Hanzo wasn't his target this time; he needed to find the Akatsuki first.
After half an hour, he halted abruptly, sensing he was being watched. He was cloaked in invisibility using his spirit-haunting technique, so how…?
"Konan?" he murmured, remembering one of the three leaders of the Akatsuki organization. Known as the "Angel of Amegakure," Konan possessed a technique allowing her to sense even subtle changes in the rain. It seemed she had detected him.
Reiki deactivated his invisibility and took out a piece of paper, writing a quick note:
**[Sister Konan, where are you? Are you safe? I am Konoha's medical ninja. Master Jiraiya asked me to come here.]**
He held the note high before retreating into a dense forest, masking his presence entirely.
---
In another hidden location within the Land of Rain, Konan was relaying the information to Nagato.
"Nagato, Jiraiya-sensei has sent Konoha's medical ninja to us. It's the young one who trained with Tsunade-sama. He's waiting in the forest outside Changlong. Should we go to him?"
Nagato, nursing injuries of his own, responded with a troubled look. "A medical ninja? What we need now isn't medical aid, Konan—Yahiko has been captured. We need strong combat support."
"Let me at least bring him here," Konan said. "If a medic is here, it means Jiraiya-sensei will likely come soon, too."
Nagato nodded reluctantly, and Konan slipped out to meet Reiki.
---
Meanwhile, in the leader's mansion within Amegakure, Hanzo of the Salamander was visibly frustrated. Not only had he severed ties with Konoha, but the Akatsuki organization was growing in influence within the Land of Rain, threatening his authority.
"Yahiko, do you truly refuse to bring the Akatsuki under Amegakure's command?" Hanzo asked the injured young man before him, irritation clear in his voice. He had admired the Akatsuki for their ideals and talents; they were from the Land of Rain and embodied its hopes. But now, they had begun to challenge his power—a threat he could not tolerate.
Yahiko, although weakened, met Hanzo's gaze steadily. "Lord Hanzo, if you've already started doubting me, then I have no choice, do I? Even if I were to accept your terms, you wouldn't let me leave alive, would you?"
"As long as you agree to integrate the Akatsuki into Amegakure's ranks, I will grant you freedom and authority," Hanzo replied, ignoring Yahiko's accusation. "This is our Land of Rain, isn't it?"
Yahiko gave a faint, defiant smile. "Fine. Then, I accept. Now, will you let me go?"
"Naturally," Hanzo replied. "But your companions must come to retrieve you. I will return you into their hands."
With that, Hanzo forced a pill into Yahiko's mouth. "This poison, crafted from the venom of the salamander fish and special herbs, will keep you safe—so long as you don't betray the Land of Rain."
Hanzo ordered his men to spread the news that Yahiko was captured and allowed word to reach Konan and Nagato.
>>>>>
Up to Chapter 320 available on Patreon.com/c/GGFanfiction :)
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