I, The New Hokage of Konoha - Chapter 214
“Rest assured, I still understand the loyalty of the Uchiha clan,” Yuki comforted Shisui’s statement with a clear understanding.
“Both Danzo and Tobirama are not only traitors to the Uchiha clan but also to Konoha. Naturally, the Uchiha clan is willing to contribute when it comes to dealing with them.”
Yuki wouldn’t let the Uchiha clan face Danzo and Tobirama alone. While the Uchiha clan had grown significantly stronger with their frequent life-and-death battles, they were still like lambs to the slaughter when it came to dealing with the two.
Yuki’s words were meant to reassure the Uchiha clan and Shisui, who had been worried about them.
Upon hearing the Hokage’s words, Shisui felt considerably relieved.
Just as he was about to say something more to express his gratitude, Yuki raised a hand to stop him and looked into the distance with a hint of surprise.
“Why is she here?” Yuki asked, puzzled.
Shisui blinked and followed Yuki’s gaze into the distance.
After a few moments, his gaze sharpened slightly. “Is that… a member of the Akatsuki?”
With the powerful insight of his Sharingan, Shisui quickly identified the distant black dot as a figure wearing the distinctive Akatsuki uniform.
“It is indeed a member of the Akatsuki and one of the original members at that. However, things are still uncertain,” Yuki replied calmly.
Soon, amidst the watchful eyes of the Konoha ninja who had received their orders but hadn’t yet taken action, a woman in the black and red cloud-patterned Akatsuki robe, with blue hair and a paper flower on her head, descended from the sky with white wings.
The newcomer was Konan.
Accompanying her were two bodies completely wrapped in paper.
They were likely Nagato and Yahiko.
“You have quite the courage,” Yuki remarked as he looked at Konan’s arrival.
Whether it was when she helped recover Nagato’s body under his and Danzo’s watchful eyes or her current audacious appearance before the Konoha ninjas led by him, she was undoubtedly putting her life in someone else’s hands.
“For revenge, I can only do this,” Konan replied with a deep sadness in her eyes.
“Revenge? Is it against me?” Yuki asked calmly.
After all, he had destroyed Yahiko’s body, and if it weren’t for Tobirama’s intervention, he would have taken Nagato’s life as well.
“Not you!” Konan’s tone was firm, her face showing no sign of reluctance.
“It’s the man who used Yahiko as a tool and deceived him with malice under the name ‘Pain.’ The real Madara also forced Yahiko to sacrifice himself for Nagato’s revival!”
Everything that had happened today was too sudden.
The fake “Madara” with the spiral mask, the black Zetsu who controlled Nagato’s Rinnegan, and the real Madara who appeared using the Rinnegan’s power.
All of these events felt like the culmination of a long-running drama that was finally reaching its true conclusion at this moment.
After retrieving Nagato’s body and then collecting Yahiko’s body, Konan did not leave but continued to observe Yuki and Danzo’s battle from a distance.
Her main focus was on how Danzo was using the Sharingan, and during this time, she was also reflecting on her past.
For the longest time, she, along with Yahiko and the former Yahiko who had been Pain, believed that Nagato’s Rinnegan was a natural part of him.
But after witnessing Nagato’s Rinnegan being controlled by Black Zetsu and then seeing Madara, who possessed the Rinnegan’s power, use it to surpass Nagato’s abilities, Konan finally realized the truth.
Nagato’s Rinnegan didn’t belong to him; it belonged to the man named Madara.
As for why it appeared on Nagato, she couldn’t help but think about the Akatsuki’s original purpose, the plan for the tailed beast weapons, the Rinne Tensei no Jutsu, and the early days when the fake Madara appeared by Nagato’s side, instilling his ideals.
Clearly, Nagato had been manipulated by Madara for a long time.
It didn’t matter if it was Yahiko’s ideals, Nagato’s ideals, or even her own wishes; they were all nothing more than jokes to the mastermind behind the scenes.
Even without today’s events, sooner or later, everything Nagato had worked for, including himself, would have become someone else’s pawn.
So, Konan had no resentment towards Yuki for what happened, but instead, she wanted to thank him for helping her see through the conspiracy. Otherwise, she might have continued to be deceived, just like Nagato, until the very end.
Her true target of hatred was undoubtedly aimed at the Uchiha Madara, Tobirama, and the impostor Madara.
But her own strength was far from enough to avenge her dear friends.
Therefore, she chose to make contact with Konoha, even though they had been enemies until now.
Only by harnessing the formidable power of Konoha could she hope to achieve her goal of revenge.
At this moment, upon hearing Konan’s explanation, Yuki understood and nodded.
“So, Konan, you’ve come here to cooperate with Konoha against Madara. Is that correct?”
“Yes!” Konan nodded firmly.
“In that case, what is your role? Are you still with the Akatsuki? This organization, notorious for gathering S-rank missing-nin from all over the ninja world, may not be acceptable,” Yuki inquired.
“The Akatsuki… It wasn’t like that at the beginning. It was founded by Yahiko, Nagato, me, and many like-minded friends from the Hidden Rain Village. We created it to find warmth and a way out of the eternal darkness under which the Rain Village cried.”
Konan reminisced with a warm smile on her face.
Then, she looked at the prominent red cloud on her Akatsuki uniform and shook her head with a heavy heart. “Unfortunately, after that fake Madara joined, the Akatsuki changed and can never return to what it was.”
“Now that Nagato, the leader, is dead, Akatsuki members may scatter or gather under Madara’s banner. As for me, I won’t be a part of it anymore. But since I’m cooperating with Konoha, I have my own bargaining chips.”
At this point, Konan looked at Yuki with utmost seriousness. “I now control the Hidden Rain Village and, by extension, the Land of Rain. I understand Konoha’s ambitions. As long as you help me with my revenge, the Rain Ninja and the Land of Rain are willing to join Konoha.”
“Rain ninja?” Yuki’s interest was piqued.
Excluding the five major nations, the Hidden Rain Village, which had the reputation of being able to stand up to the Fire, Wind, and Earth nations during the Second Great Ninja War,
was, in fact, stronger in actual combat power than the more isolated Land of Water, with its skilled Mist ninja.
Though they had been turned into tools later on, under the leadership of Nagato and Konan, the Hidden Rain Village had quietly rebuilt and grown significantly in strength, unbeknownst to outsiders.
Having such an unexpected force join his camp, especially with Konan accompanying them, would indeed be a great asset for Konoha.
Despite Konan’s earlier defeat at Tobirama’s hands, it was due to a lack of information and Tobirama’s abilities being a perfect counter to hers.
In terms of true combat power, Konan, who had personally recruited many members of the Akatsuki, was no weaker than the other four Kages.
After some thought, Yuki clarified, “Konan, you should know that even without your help, Konoha would still deal with Madara and the others.”
“I understand. But for Nagato, if there’s a chance, I’d prefer to contribute my strength to this matter,” Konan nodded.
With her two dearest friends no longer alive, her only remaining purpose for living was revenge. And this couldn’t be achieved without Konoha’s help.
As for the original wish of the three friends for the Hidden Rain Village’s stability and prosperity, perhaps becoming a part of the future Land of Fire could be an effective way to achieve that.
As for the power she possessed, it was inconsequential to Konan.
At this moment, seeing Yuki deep in thought, Konan felt a slight nervousness she rarely experienced.
In the end, she didn’t have to wait long.
Yuki soon smiled and extended his hand. “A fruitful cooperation.”
Seeing this, Konan hesitated for a moment but then awkwardly extended her hand in return, relieved. “A fruitful cooperation.”
It was clear that Konan, the angel of the Hidden Rain Village, had never performed such a gesture before, and Yuki didn’t make it difficult for her.
Soon, he made one more request as he pulled his hand away. “I’ve heard that Orochimaru, an S-rank missing-nin from Konoha, has been hiding in the Hidden Rain Village for a while. Since our alliance has been established, I hope you can take care of him as soon as possible before the news spreads.”
A declaration, perhaps?
“I understand. I’ll have Orochimaru’s body sent to Konoha soon,” Konan agreed without hesitation.
Once she had chosen to stand on the same side, she would not waver. In the times to come, as the two leaders of the Land of Fire and the Land of Rain discussed important matters related to their alliance, Yuki added, “The details of our alliance must remain confidential for now. After this, I will send Jiraiya, one of the Legendary Sannin, as an emissary to the Hidden Rain Village to establish contact.”
“Jiraiya-sensei?” Konan’s departing figure trembled slightly.
Seriously speaking, the only person she had been close to in this world was her former enemy, Jiraiya.
“That works as well.”
The present circumstances were no longer the same as in the past, and the current Konan longed to meet her memories of Jiraiya.
“Thank you!”
With gratitude, Konan bid farewell to Yuki, who had helped retrieve Nagato and Yahiko’s bodies.
“Just a small favour. By the way, the man who has been following you and goes by the name ‘Madara’ is actually named Tobirama Uchiha,” Yuki reminded her one last time.
“Tobirama… Uchiha? I’ll remember that!”
Konan imprinted the name deeply in her heart, and she departed with paper fluttering around her like an angel.
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