The first mission was executed perfectly.
Uehara Naraku was extremely arrogant, which was exactly what Pain wanted.
Akatsuki's revenge is to be open and aboveboard; he will use god-like power to destroy Hanzo of the Salamander's rule and will.
As two people whose mortal enemy is Hanzo of the Salamander, Konan and Pain both know that Ninja Demigod's character well; his cautious and suspicious nature will certainly lead him to gather all his trusted followers to protect his own safety.
No matter how Hanzo of the Salamander thinks, he wouldn't expect someone to single-handedly destroy a Ninja Village after the times of Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara during the Warring States period.
Continuous rain.
Konan took Uehara Naraku to hide in a cave to avoid the rain.
In front of them was a bonfire with two grilled fish because neither of them could use Fire Release Ninjutsu to cook quickly.
Konan reached out to stir the fish rack and carefully tended to the fire, speaking softly: "It will probably take a while longer…"
"It's okay, I'm not very hungry yet."
Uehara Naraku didn't mind, simply watching her intently and asking in a low voice: "Teacher Konan, do you really like eating grilled fish?"
"..."
The woman fell silent.
After a long while, Konan nodded and said, "Back when Yahiko, Nagato, and I were training under Teacher Jiraiya, the war between the Land of Rain and the Land of Wind hadn't ended, food was scarce, and we often relied on grilled fish to satisfy our hunger…"
"One of the Konoha Sannin, Jiraiya?"
Seeing her interest in talking about the past, Uehara Naraku started the conversation: "He's a very famous Ninja, I've heard of him myself…"
In fact, he hadn't just heard of his name.
Uehara Naraku knew all about his life story, though what interested him more were Jiraiya's famous novels.
Unfortunately, the Ninja World's bookstore owners were mostly upright and refused to sell "Make-Out Paradise" to a twelve-year-old boy, and they didn't actually have any in stock.
However, the bookstore owners didn't mind recommending another book, written by Jiraiya, "Strong Willpower Ninja Chronicles."
As everyone knows, this was an unsold book.
Out of curiosity, Uehara Naraku bought this book too.
After reading a few pages, Uehara Naraku discovered this was actually a motivational book of the Ninja World, intending to soothe those who've experienced the pain of war.
Sadly, Ninjas don't like motivational books.
Compared to "Strong Willpower Ninja Chronicles," the more colorful "Make-Out Paradise" is favored by those bloodthirsty ninjas.
A generation of great authors went down the road of the Make-Out series that you can never return from.
Of course, Jiraiya's reputation as one of the Konoha Sannin, the Toad Sage from Mount Myoboku, a disciple of the Third Hokage, and teacher of the Fourth Hokage…
That white-haired man had a significant influence on the Ninja World.
"Teacher Jiraiya was indeed very famous."
Konan took down a grilled fish, handed it to Uehara Naraku, and quietly said: "He wasn't arrogant and ruthless like Orochimaru; it was precisely because we heard of his deeds that we sought him out and became his disciples."
"And then?"
"Then…"
Konan furrowed her brows, recalling every detail of the past, and said in a low voice: "Then we spent three years together, and every day was interesting until Teacher Jiraiya left."
"It seems you really miss those days, Teacher Konan!"
After Uehara Naraku spoke, he took a bite of the grilled fish.
Konan looked exceedingly serious and said: "Because they really are worth missing."
If possible, Konan would rather Nagato not have such powerful strength now, wouldn't want Akatsuki to appear, and would prefer to continue living those ordinary days.
"If there's a chance, I'd like to meet Lord Jiraiya."
Uehara Naraku chuckled softly and added: "I hope he's not difficult to get along with like Orochimaru in the organization."
That white-haired hero is worth meeting.
Moreover, his side missions often involve Jiraiya.
Although it's difficult to find Jiraiya now, in a few years, during the Chunin Exams held by Konoha, Jiraiya will appear in Konoha Village.
As long as we go to Konoha, a lot of missions can surely be completed!
"Yes, stay away from Orochimaru in the future, he's no good."
Konan patted Uehara on the shoulder, stared into his eyes, and seriously advised him: "Other than Pain and me, you must not trust anyone."
"..."
Uehara Naraku blinked, inwardly retorting a few times, nodded at Konan, and said: "Yes, I understand, teacher."
"Alright, after you finish eating, rest early."
Konan ruffled his hair and said softly: "Tomorrow, we have to attack another base, perhaps we'll encounter some tough guys."
Uehara Naraku was slightly puzzled. Given the battle capabilities of the Hidden Rain Ninjas he encountered, what could be so troublesome?
Even if there are a few Jonin, could they still defeat Konan?
Uehara's thoughts were too one-sided.
The Hidden Rain Village has long been one of the top small Ninja Villages in the Ninja World, just below the Five Great Countries. Even during its strongest times, it dared to declare war on the surrounding great countries, although it eventually got beaten down, its strength still shouldn't be underestimated.
The second Hidden Rain base that Konan and Uehara Naraku is attacking is on a mountain top, with a strategically advantageous position that is easy to defend but hard to attack. Moreover, the number of ninjas is numerous, and their alertness is higher than ordinary ninja bases.
As Uehara Naraku and Konan were climbing the mountain, he looked puzzled at this desolate mountain and asked: "Teacher, what's the use of building a ninja base here?"
"Because there is a Salamander here."
Konan raised her finger, a paper butterfly landed gently on her fingertip, turning back into a piece of white paper, melding into her body.
"A Salamander?"
Uehara Naraku lifted his head in surprise, surveying this inconspicuous barren mountain: "Isn't that the summoning beast of the Hidden Rain leader, Hanzo?"
As a Ninja Beast living in the deep mountains of the Land of Rain, the Salamander with its powerful physique and the lethal poison in its body has become a nightmare on the battlefield.
Salamanders are not part of the Ninja World's Three Great Holy Lands, yet their strength can rival them. Many ninjas have perished from the Salamander's poison; even the Konoha Sannin had been overpowered by it and Hanzo.
"That's right."
Konan nodded, took out a scroll, and whispered: "The Salamander's poison is very potent. During the Second Ninja World War, if ninjas didn't have gas masks, they wouldn't survive on the battlefield…"
"Fuinjutsu, release!"
After saying this, Konan took out two hideous gas masks from a sealing scroll, handing them to Uehara Naraku: "Wear them, we both are not Medical Ninjas, so we must ensure not to get hurt."
"…Okay."
Uehara Naraku took them with a strange expression.