The rain fell softly, gradually extinguishing the smoke of gunpowder on the battlefield.
The scattered corpses of Iwagakure's Ninjas and broken weapons of Amegakure's Ninjas lay around, the air filled with the scent of blood and earth.
Setsuna stood quietly in place. Yahiko rushed forward, carrying the severely injured Konan: "Thank you for your help, but could we borrow a Medical-Nin?"
Although he vaguely suspected that the one who injured Konan was likely this very Setsuna, Yahiko remained very rational.
On the ever-changing battlefield, preserving their lives was already a great fortune. The core members of the Akatsuki were still alive… while other comrades were wounded, none had died. This was the best outcome he could have imagined.
Therefore, he was still grateful to Setsuna in his heart.
"Borrow a Medical-Nin?" Setsuna raised an eyebrow slightly, a flash of contemplation in his black eyes.
He pondered silently: 'Even without Danzo's intervention, events still developed along a similar trajectory, only with the instigator changing from Konoha to Iwagakure. Could it be Otsutsuki Agarwood manipulating things from the shadows?'
Setsuna reached out and took the barely breathing Konan. The girl was light as a feather, her paper flower-like hair accessory already soaked through with blood.
Before Yahiko could finish his words of thanks, Setsuna casually tossed Konan towards the giant serpent circling nearby.
Watching Titan open its abyssal maw to swallow the girl, Yahiko's eyes instantly turned red.
Although he had seen Titan swallow Konoha's Ninjas during the Chunin Exams and knew that being swallowed by the giant serpent didn't necessarily mean death, with Konan's current condition, even a moment's delay could be fatal.
"Konan!" Yahiko's Chakra erupted across his body, his voice almost hoarse. "Why did you do this?"
Setsuna glanced at the Nagato, who seemed to have lost his soul, and said in a deliberately cold tone: "A Ninja's existence is inherently that of a tool. She no longer has value. Better to make use of her final embers."
"Bastard!" Yahiko's Water Wave Technique surged forth like an angry tide, the water flow mixed with sharp senbon.
However, Setsuna merely waved a hand, scattering the violent water flow. The needles sharp enough to pierce rock fell, splashing in the muddy ground.
"A person's pain is, in essence, anger at their own powerlessness." Setsuna's voice pierced Yahiko's heart like a knife. "Unfortunately, it's too late for regrets now."
As he spoke, Setsuna glanced at Nagato from the corner of his eye and found him standing there dazedly, as if frozen.
'Huh? Still not fully awakened?' Setsuna was taken aback, 'Can't you give me some reaction here?'
Yahiko charged forward recklessly again. Setsuna willed it, lightly tapping Yahiko's heart with his fingertip.
Yahiko's body convulsed as he fell. He finally sobered up, realizing the enemy before him couldn't be defeated with mere rage.
His voice trembled: "Nagato, run, get as far away as possible-"
These words seemed to send an electric shock through Nagato's heart, finally jolting him out of his dazed state. The ripples in his Rinnegan swirled violently.
"Ahhh… Ahhhh! Summoning Technique: Gedo Statue!" Amid Nagato's agonized roar, a massive Gedo Statue erupted from the ground. A purple dragon condensed from chakra roared forth from the statue's mouth.
'Huh? Is this right?' Setsuna tilted his head, ''Killing' Konan got no reaction, but 'killing' Yahiko triggered an instant rage awakening. Your relationship definitely has some issues.'
"Finally appeared, the Gedo Statue!" Hidden in the darkness, Black Zetsu trembled with excitement. He thought the plan had already failed, but who knew this Chiaki Setsuna, whether his brain was broken or something, actually facilitated Nagato's awakening.
Wherever the Chakra Dragon passed, vegetation withered, life faded.
"What is that?" Konoha's Ninjas retreated one after another. Even Minato and Pakura revealed shocked expressions.
Just as the Chakra Dragon was about to dive down, Setsuna's hand chop precisely landed on Nagato's neck. The newly awakened Rinnegan instantly lost focus, and the Chakra Dragon dissipated like a bubble in the rain.
"Setsuna, what exactly is going on?" Minato looked puzzled. Although everything that happened was bewildering, he knew Setsuna wasn't the type to kill without reason.
"I just discovered a certain power of his was on the verge of awakening, so I gave him a little push." Setsuna said softly. "Titan, that should be enough."
The giant serpent obediently opened its massive maw. Konan, completely unharmed, was gently spit out.
The wound on her chest had actually healed completely, not even a scar remained. Only the hole in her clothing proved the wound had ever existed.
"This... what exactly?" The Akatsuki's members who had been shouting to avenge their three leaders were all stunned. The kunai in their hands fell to the ground one after another as they wondered what was going on?
"It seems the Therapy Tulip and Cactus Doctor planted in the garden within Titan's body are quite effective." Setsuna nodded slightly. He felt he could make a fortune if he switched careers and opened a hospital.
The Giant Serpent Swallowing Therapy Method… efficient, stimulating, and fun.
Konan just felt dizzy. She looked around in confusion, soon seeing Nagato and Nagato lying on the ground.
Setsuna's voice returned to its usual gentleness: "Don't worry, they're fine. I just used this incident to tell them that even the most beautiful dreams require strength to support."
Konan nodded hurriedly: "Oh, oh, thank you so much."
Setsuna began his recruitment pitch: "Come back with me for now. The Land of Rain is too dangerous for you right now."
Konan hesitated for a moment, then nodded lightly. They truly had nowhere else to go.
Only then did Setsuna have the mind to inquire about Iwagakure: "Minato, how are things on the Iwagakure's side?"
Minato sighed: "It was my mistake. Although we captured the Four-Tails' Jinchuriki and most of the Iwagakure's Ninjas, the Five-Tails' Jinchuriki escaped."
Setsuna didn't mind, smiling: "Don't blame yourself. Achieving such results is already very good."
"Let's go. We can head back now."
Seeing Setsuna actually take the entire Akatsuki with him, Black Zetsu, observing from the shadows, was flustered. He had no confidence in being able to manipulate Nagato under Setsuna's watchful eye.
'Damn bastard, why did he take Nagato away?' Black Zetsu was very anxious inside. If he couldn't control Nagato, then Nagato's full awakening was meaningless… it would just be wasting the Rinnegan's Ocular Power.
'I didn't want to deal with you originally. Why do you have to get in the way?' Black Zetsu gritted his teeth, thinking seriously about countermeasures. 'Unless there's a Mangekyo Sharingan, even Madara would find it difficult to deal with him. But where can I find such a pair of Mangekyo now?'
Black Zetsu racked his brains, suddenly having a flash of inspiration: 'Right, perhaps I can use that ancient demonic beast I saw in the Land of Grass when I passed by. If I recall correctly, that ancient demonic beast sealed by the Sage of Six Paths seems to be called... 'Satori'?'