In the Land of Fire, the base camp of the Freedom Fighters stood in Shinjuku Town.
Once desolate mountains had now become bustling with activity, as a massive city slowly took shape.
After Simu defeated the coalition of Amegakure, Sunagakure, and Iwagakure, the entire ninja world fell into a temporary standstill.
The Freedom Fighters seized the opportunity to grow rapidly.
While expanding their headquarters, they also sent women and wandering poets across the Land of Fire to spread their influence.
The situation had become dire for the Daimyo, as the country's reputation suffered, and tax revenues were expected to drop by more than half.
"Bansho Tein!"
Nagato stood still as reinforced concrete lifted effortlessly into the air and landed precisely in its designated spot. Yahiko, watching beside him, was amazed.
"Nagato, your ability is incredible! Since you arrived, our construction speed has tripled!" a worker exclaimed, giving high praise.
Nagato, a true prodigy, had awakened new powers.
With his Rinnegan, he could master nearly all types of ninjutsu, making him an invaluable asset to the construction efforts.
Compared to him, Yahiko's progress seemed slower.
As the sun set, the city continued to rise, brick by brick, under Nagato's power.
Konan stood at the edge of the construction site, holding a lunch box and calling out loudly,
"Nagato, Yahiko, come eat!"
At the mention of food, Yahiko was the first to rush over, eagerly opening the lunch box. Nagato followed with a slight smile.
As they ate, they looked around at the bustling construction site. Workers, drenched in sweat, labored tirelessly yet their faces shone with genuine smiles.
"Why are they so happy?"
Yahiko asked, puzzled. Back in the Land of Rain, villagers wouldn't even repair their own homes, let alone work with such enthusiasm.
Nagato replied calmly, "Because they know these houses will be their own. They don't have to fear them being destroyed by others."
"They won't be crushed by heavy taxes or live in fear of being tortured by nobles."
He sighed. In just a few days, he could already feel how different this place was from the Land of Rain.
Here, there was no oppression, no fighting, only ninjas using their abilities to build rather than destroy.
It was a stark contrast to the constant turmoil of the Land of Rain, where such a scene would have been unimaginable.
Nagato sighed, his voice filled with emotion. "Maybe we were wrong all along."
Yahiko, too, had undergone a profound change in perspective. He swallowed the last of his food in one gulp and leaned back.
"That's right. We focused only on giving medicine and food to the victims, but we ignored the real problem"
He clenched his fists. "The nobility."
"As long as those who caused the suffering remain in power, true peace will never come to the Land of Rain. The only solution is to eradicate them."
He paused, then admitted, "Maybe Hanyu Simu is right after all."
Yahiko had always seen things simply, right was right, wrong was wrong. He wouldn't dismiss Simu's actions just because they had once stood on opposite sides.
Besides, Simu had personally given them a document, a thick file filled with undeniable evidence of Hanzo's countless crimes over the years.
Faced with the truth, even they, who once admired Hanzo, could no longer see him the same way.
As the trio reflected on their thoughts, a lazy voice interrupted them.
Kakashi, wearing his signature mask, waved casually. "Hey, you three, Shikaku wants to see you."
Yahiko crossed his arms and smirked at the white-haired boy.
"Hey, Kakashi, by seniority, shouldn't you show me some respect?"
"Eh?" Kakashi tilted his head, looking genuinely confused.
"Doesn't matter."
And with that, he disappeared.
Nagato watched the spot where Kakashi had disappeared, his face look thoughtful. That kid's abilities were truly something else…
With his Rinnegan, Nagato could sense the huge power hidden within Kakashi.
Before long, the three arrived at Shikaku's office. Over the past few days, they had observed his work firsthand—staying up late, managing endless tasks.
Though he was strict with ninjas, he was undeniably kind to civilians.
All of this filled the three with deep admiration.
Shikaku glanced at Nagato and Yahiko, both covered in dirt from the construction site, and smiled approvingly.
"How have you three been? How's life here?"
Yahiko scratched his head with a grin.
"Mr. Shikaku, we misjudged you before. Life here is actually pretty great."
Nagato nodded in agreement, but his expression remained thoughtful. This wasn't the Land of Rain, after all.
Shikaku noticed his hesitation and got straight to the point.
"Simu wants me to ask you are you willing to fully commit to this cause?"
"If you are, the Freedom Fighters will support you, providing the strength needed to help you bring revolution to the Land of Rain."
The three of them were moved. They had no extreme ideals, no desire for endless war. Their only goal was peace for their homeland.
For years, they had struggled to survive and grow in the Land of Rain, always facing obstacles.
If joining the Freedom Fighters meant gaining the support they needed to make peace a reality, why refuse?
They exchanged glances, silently confirming their decision.
"We're willing to join, but on one condition," Yahiko said firmly.
Shikaku raised an eyebrow. "Go on."
"Can the former members of Akatsuki join too?" Yahiko asked. He couldn't abandon his comrades.
Shikaku stroked his chin, considering it. "It's possible, but they'll need to pass a screening process first."
Yahiko waved off the concern, patting his chest confidently. "Don't worry, they're all absolutely fine."
Unlike the Akatsuki of the future, which would become infamous for hunting tailed beasts and spreading chaos, the current Akatsuki was more like a charity driven by pure ideals and a desire to help others.
They were the perfect candidates for the Freedom Fighters.
With the agreement in place, a joining ceremony was held.
Soon after, the three set off for the Land of Rain, accompanied by fifty revolutionary soldiers assigned by Shikaku.
Watching them leave, Shikaku sighed and rubbed his temples.
After the defeat of the Guardian Ninja troops, the ranks of the Freedom Fighters grew rapidly, swelling to thousands.
But with such rapid expansion came inconsistencies in skill and discipline, leaving Shikaku buried in endless work.
At the base, Kakashi had just finished dinner when Rin stood up.
"I'll be heading back now, Kakashi-kun."
"Oh, um," Kakashi mumbled, absentmindedly waving as she left.
Rin smiled and walked toward her residence, carrying her food box.
Along the way, villagers greeted her warmly, and she responded with the same gentle kindness.
As the Freedom Fighters' medical chief, Rin held a high position and was deeply respected.
With her angelic smile, she had become a symbol of hope, a goddess in the eyes of many warriors.
She entered her home, ready to relax, when suddenly, a wave of malice surged through her body.
Before she could react, her chakra was drained by something unseen—something lurking within her.
A dark white figure with green hair began to grow from her neck, feeding off her stolen energy.
"…What is this…?" Rin muttered, eyes widening in shock.
She quickly focused her chakra, forming a sharp Chakra Scalpel in her hand, and slashed at the figure emerging from her.
But before she could land a clean hit, the ground beneath her split open.
From the darkness, Black and White Zetsu emerged, their pitcher-plant-like form twisting unnaturally.
White Zetsu's arm morphed into a massive plant-like structure, and in a single swift motion, it engulfed Rin completely.
A thick anesthetic gas filled the space inside, and within moments, she lost consciousness.
"Hmm?" Black Zetsu's eyes flickered with curiosity as he sensed something outside.
"Have we been discovered?"
White Zetsu grinned. "Didn't expect someone here could sense us… Oh? It's Hanyu Simu's apprentice—Kakashi, right?"
His grin widened, licking his lips creepily. "Should we take him too?"
Black Zetsu shook his head. "That's not part of Madara-sama's plan. We're leaving."
Without another word, the two figures vanished into the earth.
"Rin!"
Kakashi arrived at the scene, his heart pounding as he took in the empty space where she once stood.
Outside Rin's residence, countless spores sprouted rapidly, morphing into a swarm of white figures that lunged at Kakashi.
"What the—?!" Kakashi's gut twisted with a sense of fear.
Lightning crackled in his palm.
"Raikiri!"
With a burst of speed, he tore through the enemies in an instant, slicing four or five White Zetsu clones clean in half.
But even as their bodies fell apart, he could barely sense the real White Zetsu slipping away.
Without hesitation, he pulled out his transponder snail and reported the situation to his teacher—Hanyu Simu, who was now Hokage and stationed far away in Konoha.
"I see," Simu said after listening, his expression darkening slightly.
"It looks like he finally made his move."
Across the room, Minato glanced up from his paperwork.
"What's wrong?" he asked, sensing the shift in Simu's mood.
"My disciple, Rin, has been captured."
"Captured? By who?"
Minato's expression sharpened instantly. Kidnapping the Hokage's disciple was nothing short of a declaration of war against Konoha.
"An old man," Simu replied calmly.
"The Flying Thunder God mark I had you place last time—it's still there, right?"
He had anticipated something like this might happen, so he had Minato prepare in advance.
By now, Obito was probably learning about it too.
Minato nodded. "Yes, but the distance is too great. My chakra might not be enough to transport us directly."
Simu smiled. "That won't be a problem."
With a few quick words, he explained his secret technique, then grabbed Minato.
In the next instant, they vanished in a flash, heading straight for the Land of Water.
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TO BE CONTINUED
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