The Uchiha Clan's Sun

"Although their ideas are too naive and immature, their original intentions are good!" Hanzo of the Salamander seemed to sigh, and then asked, "Their leader is called Yahiko, right?"

Tianyu replied, "Yes, but besides Yahiko, the Akatsuki also has two core members, Nagato and Konan!"

After a moment of contemplation, Hanzo the Salamander said, "Send someone to deliver a message to them. I want to meet with these three little guys!"

Tianyu was taken aback upon hearing this, feeling somewhat puzzled by Hanzo the Salamander's idea!

Logically speaking, Hanzo of the Salamander shouldn't have wasted his time on an organization like Akatsuki that's like children playing house!

Why did you suddenly change your mind this time?

Hanzo the Salamander seemed to sense Tenyu's confusion and, unusually, spoke up to explain, "Tenyu, although I hate to admit it, I'm already over sixty years old! How much longer can this village rely on me?"

"Although Yahiko and the others' ideas are too naive, their advantage lies in having ideas, and they are also able to put their ideas into practice!"

"This is really not easy!"

"It's time for our Amegakure to get some fresh blood!"

Upon hearing this, Tianyu trembled violently, staring blankly at Hanzo the Salamander, a feeling he couldn't quite describe filling his heart!

Hanzo the Salamander's strength has always made him overlook Hanzo's age!

Now in his fifties, Hanzo the Salamander's health has long been declining!

Hanzo the Salamander has truly shouldered so much for this village over the years!

"Hanzo-sama..."

Tianyu was overwhelmed with emotions, but the words stuck in her throat.

"Go!"

Hanzo the Salamander waved his hand, signaling Tenyu to step back!

"Yes!"

Tianyu's eyes were red, and she forced herself to suppress her emotions before turning and leaving.

However, what Tianyu didn't notice was that after he turned around, Hanzo's eyes quietly transformed into a pair of scarlet three-tomoe Sharingan!

Chapter 23 Naive!

The next day, in a room at the Akatsuki headquarters.

Akatsuki leader Yahiko and Konan stood by the bed, both of them wrapped in bandages stained with blood, clearly having just been through a fierce battle!

However, Yahiko and Konan had no time to care about their own injuries, and instead looked at Nagato, who was lying unconscious on the bed, with worried expressions!

They had just encountered an accident while rescuing some wounded Iwagakure ninjas, and were attacked by those ninjas, almost not making it back!

Fortunately, Nagato unleashed a powerful attack at the crucial moment, summoning a strange summoning beast that saved them from danger!

However, Nagato fell into a coma as a result and has not woken up since!

"How can it be repaired?"

Yahiko gritted his teeth and cursed under his breath, his face full of regret!

At this moment, besides worrying about Nagato's health, he felt mostly anger and guilt!

He was angry at his own lack of strength and ashamed that he had failed to protect his companions!

If we had been more careful and stronger, things might not have turned out this way!

"Yahiko, don't blame yourself. Nagato probably just overexerted himself. He'll be fine!"

Konan understood Yahiko's character very well and knew that Yahiko must be feeling extremely guilty right now, so even though she was worried herself, she still comforted him.

Yahiko did not answer.

The guilt in his heart was clearly not something that Xiao Nan could ease with just a few words!

Konan hesitated for a moment, then changed the subject, saying, "Yahiko, why do you think those Iwagakure ninja attacked us?"

Although it was a change of topic, Xiao Nan was genuinely very confused about the matter!

The Akatsuki organization has been active on the battlefield for quite some time, frequently rescuing Iwagakure or Konoha ninja who survived the battle!

Although they were often rejected and viewed with suspicion, the Iwagakure and Konoha ninjas never laid a hand on them!

But this time, those Iwagakure ninjas not only attacked them, but they also tried to kill them!

Moreover, looking back now, those Iwagakure ninjas didn't seem like they had just gone through a battle; rather, it seemed like they were deliberately ambushing them!

Yahiko understood what Konan meant, but he didn't want to speculate about other people's thoughts with malice!

Yahiko spoke up, "Perhaps those Iwagakure ninjas were planning to ambush Konoha. Our intervention disrupted their plans, so they attacked us!"

Xiao Nan remained silent and did not respond.

She wasn't as 'naive' as Yahiko, but no matter what, she was willing to support Yahiko unconditionally as long as it was his idea!

Sometimes it's better to see through something but not say it!

Konan changed the subject again, continuing, "Yahiko, don't you think the conflict between Konoha and Iwagakure has become much more intense recently?"

"Is this foreshadowing something?"

Yahiko frowned and said, "Perhaps some new factors have come into play in this war. We should find out these factors and then address them accordingly!"

Although Yahiko was naive, he wasn't stupid; he also realized that the situation on the battlefield was deteriorating!

If that new factor cannot be resolved in time, a major battle between Konoha and Iwagakure will likely be unavoidable!

Xiao Nan shook her head and said with a wry smile, "With our current capabilities, it's probably very difficult to obtain intelligence of that level!"

“We may not be able to, but Lord Hanzo might be!” Yahiko said firmly. “We can ask Lord Hanzo for help!”

Yahiko's parents died in the Second Shinobi World War!

At that time, because Hanzo the Salamander took the initiative to declare war on the three great nations of fire, earth, and wind, the Land of Rain was almost riddled with holes!

As a result, Yahiko hated Hanzo the Salamander for a long time for 'starting the war'!

But as Yahiko grew up and gradually learned about the situation in the Land of Rain, he also understood Hanzo's choice at the time, and his hatred for Hanzo dissipated!

Although Hanzo the Salamander did not bring peace to the Land of Rain, he at least made the Land of Rain's voice heard!

Yahiko still holds Hanzo the Salamander in high esteem for protecting the Land of Rain for decades!

Xiao Nan hesitated for a moment upon hearing this, and asked, "But will Lord Hanzo receive us?"

"It definitely will!" Yahiko said with great certainty, "Because Lord Hanzo is also a person who pursues peace!"

Konan didn't reply, but silently prayed in her heart that Yahiko wouldn't be affected by this matter!

"Yahiko! Konan! Hurry! Hurry! Hurry..."

Just as the room fell silent, a figure rushed in excitedly, carrying something in his hand!

"Kyusuke, don't worry, what happened?"

Yahiko looked at the newcomer and tried to calm him down.

"A Rain Ninja just arrived. He said Lord Hanzo heard about our situation and wants to meet with you!" Kyusuke excitedly handed an envelope to Yahiko, saying, "This is the letter from Lord Hanzo!"

Yahiko trembled, somewhat taken aback by this sudden surprise!

They were just thinking of going to see Hanzo the Salamander, but before they could even take any action, Hanzo himself came to their door!

Konan reminded him, "Yahiko, take a look at what the letter says first."

"Oh, right, let's read the letter first!"

Yahiko snapped out of his daze and eagerly tore open the letter in his hand.

The letter was simple: it first praised the Akatsuki's ideals and actions, then affirmed the Akatsuki's activity on the battlefield, and finally invited Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan to visit and discuss the Akatsuki's future development.

"I knew it... I knew it..."

Yahiko read the letter over and over again, his body trembling uncontrollably!

Hanzo the Salamander is a demigod in the ninja world!

To receive such praise from a powerful figure is undoubtedly a tremendous recognition for Yahiko!

Yahiko is now even more certain that he is on the right path!

Konan also read the letter. While happy for Yahiko, she also said with some worry, "Yahiko, the letter said it invited the three of us to be guests, but Nagato is now..."

Yahiko then came to his senses and looked at Nagato on the bed with great hesitation!

Yahiko is now considering whether to take the unconscious Nagato with him to Amegakure!

Amegakure is, after all, a well-established ninja village with its own ninja hospital; perhaps they can revive the unconscious Nagato!

However, Nagato's body is somewhat special, and he has a secret that cannot be revealed!

Those are the eyes of the legendary Sage of Six Paths, what if...

Although Yahiko is naive, he can be anything but naive when it comes to the life of his best friend!

"Hmm~"

Just then, Nagato, who was lying on the bed, let out a low moan and slowly opened his eyes!

Chapter 24 Yahiko and his two companions enter Amegakure!

The next morning, Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan set off early and, after a morning of trekking, finally arrived outside Amegakure around noon.

"Hello, I am Yahiko from Akatsuki. I have come to pay my respects at the invitation of Lord Hanzo!"

Yahiko stepped forward and explained his purpose to the Rain Village guards at the main gate.

"Gentlemen, Lord Hanzo has prepared a luncheon. Please follow me!"

The guards, who had already been informed, were very enthusiastic. After confirming the identities of Yahiko and his companions, they sent someone to Hanzo's residence to report the situation, while leading the three into Amegakure.

Yahiko and the other two were somewhat flattered; they had never expected Hanzo of the Salamander to value them so much!

With a mix of nervousness and anticipation, Yahiko and his two companions, led by the guards of the Amegakure village, traveled through the village and soon arrived at the residence of Hanzo the Salamander.

After receiving the news, Tianyu waited at the entrance of the mansion early, and smiled when she saw Yahiko and the other two arrive.

"I am Tenyu, Hanzo's assistant. You three must be the founders of the Akatsuki!"

"I am Yahiko!"

"I am Xiao Nan!"

"I am Nagato!"

After the four introduced themselves, Tianyu led Yahiko and the other two into Hanzo's mansion.

On the way, Yahiko and his two companions felt uneasy and became even more nervous as they looked at the heavily guarded area, which was almost every three or five steps.

Yahiko hesitated for a moment before cautiously asking, "Senior Tengoku, has something happened in Amegakure recently? Why is Lord Hanzo's residence so heavily guarded?"

Tianyu smiled and explained, "You don't need to be nervous. These guards have nothing to do with your arrival! It's just that Lord Hanzo was assassinated the day before yesterday, so I strengthened the defenses here!"

"Assassination?" Yahiko was startled upon hearing this and quickly asked, "Is Lord Hanzo alright? Have you found out who was trying to assassinate Lord Hanzo?"

Yahiko's nervousness at this moment was genuine!

You must know that Hanzo the Salamander is the leader of Amegakure, and his safety is directly linked to the battlefield situation in the Land of Rain!

"Lord Hanzo is of course unharmed!" After a moment of contemplation, Tenyu finally spoke, "This matter is quite complicated. Lord Hanzo suspects that someone wants to reignite the war and has already reduced the strength of Amegakure!"

"You Akatsuki members had better be careful during this time and not be too active lest you fall into a trap!"

Because Tianyu sensed that Hanzo of the Salamander valued the Akatsuki organization, he didn't mind revealing some information to Yahiko and the other two to give them a heads-up!

Upon hearing this, Yahiko and the other two exchanged glances, all seeing the seriousness in each other's eyes!

Tianyu's words reminded them of the ambush they had suffered yesterday!

Even Hanzo the Salamander was assassinated; this matter seems to be much more serious than they thought!

"Thank you for the reminder, Senior Tianyu. We will pay more attention!"

Yahiko did not immediately tell Tenyu about the attack they had suffered the previous day.

He planned to wait until he met with Hanzo the Salamander and learned about Hanzo's attitude towards the matter before making any further plans!