NOVEL NEXT Chapter 7: ch7
Yuyue fell asleep, but some people's thoughts lingered through the night.
In the timeline of the Forty-Eighth Year in the Hidden Leaf Village (Konoha), even though it was late at night, the lights in the Hokage's office remained bright.
Namikaze Minato sat behind his desk, frowning as he carefully recalled every detail from the video shared in the group chat.
"The Nine-Tails Rebellion happens on October 10, the day Naruto is born. That's just a few months away."
"Should we take the initiative, or prepare an ambush in advance?"
"At this point, Obito should be secretly controlling the Mizukage in the Hidden Mist Village."
"In three years, the Mist Village will purge a large number of ninjas with bloodline abilities."
"Should we send the Anbu to investigate the Hidden Mist?"
As his thoughts raced, Minato's gaze fell on a photograph of him and Jiraiya on his desk.
At that moment, as if struck by lightning, a more pressing thought came to mind.
Jiraiya had once taken three disciples in the Land of Rain: Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan.
The Akatsuki Organization, which would become infamous across the ninja world, was created by them.
But at this moment in time, Akatsuki was just a group of passionate young people united in their pursuit of world peace.
It was far from the organization that would one day pursue tailed beasts through ruthless means.
The catalyst for this transformation was a despicable scheme orchestrated by Shimura Danzo.
Danzo wasn't a normal person. He secretly sent agents into the Land of Rain to kidnap Konan, a member of Akatsuki.
While Danzo didn't take further liberties, his actions directly led to Yahiko's death, driving Nagato into despair.
In his grief and anger, Nagato became "Pain," a self-proclaimed god determined to conquer the ninja world by force.
After committing countless atrocities, Danzo walked away unscathed while Hanzo, the leader of the Hidden Rain Village, suffered the consequences.
Hanzo lost most of his men and was ultimately killed by Pain a few years later.
Meanwhile, Danzo continued to evade justice until Sasuke ended his life before the Fourth Great Ninja War.
After watching Yuyue's video about Danzo's decades of manipulative deeds, Namikaze Minato's urge to kill him grew stronger.
But doing so openly in Konoha would bring chaos.
"This time, Danzo must not be allowed to harm them again."
On a personal level, Nagato and the others were Jiraiya's disciples and, thus, Minato's juniors. Knowing this, he couldn't stand by.
Strategically, Nagato had control of the Rinnegan, a power originally belonging to Madara but now wielded by Nagato. Such power could not be ignored.
"The video indicates this happened shortly after I became Hokage... likely very recently."
Determined, Minato pressed a button on his desk.
Moments later, an Anbu member appeared before him.
"Lord Hokage," the Anbu greeted respectfully.
"Investigate Elder Danzo's movements. I need to know if he has left the village," Minato ordered.
"As you command," the Anbu replied, disappearing swiftly.
Sometime later, the Anbu returned with news.
"Lord Hokage, Elder Danzo secretly left the village early this morning with more than a dozen Root members."
"What? When did this happen?" Minato's frown deepened.
"It's recorded as happening early this morning," the Anbu confirmed.
"Damn it," Minato muttered, a sense of urgency washing over him.
In the blink of an eye, Minato's figure transformed into golden light and vanished.
---
At the entrance of Konoha Village, the guards on duty were stunned to see their Hokage.
"Lord Hokage?!"
Minato nodded briefly before using the Flying Thunder God technique to streak across the night sky, leaving Konoha behind.
"I have to catch up," he thought.
His mind raced with determination.
When Obito died, he wasn't there in time. When Rin died, he failed to prevent it.
This time, he couldn't allow another tragedy.
---
Land of Rain
The perpetual rain painted the valley between two mountains with a cold, oppressive atmosphere.
The area was surrounded by Hanzo's forces and Danzo's Root members, forming a tight encirclement.
Hanzo stood atop a hill, looking down at Yahiko and his group with disdain.
"Leader of the Akatsuki Organization, today is your end. This valley will be your grave."
Convinced by Danzo's manipulative rhetoric, Hanzo believed Akatsuki was a threat to his rule in the Land of Rain.
Thus, they captured Konan and used her as leverage, intending to force Yahiko and Nagato into submission.
Hanzo sneered, throwing a kunai near Nagato's feet.
"The red-haired one—kill Yahiko! Do that, and this woman and you will go free."
Nagato trembled, his heart torn apart by the ultimatum.
"You want me... to kill Yahiko with my own hands?"
"Don't listen to him, Nagato! Yahiko, leave me behind and run!" Konan shouted in desperation.
Seeing Nagato hesitate, Hanzo pressed coldly, "Do you really not care whether this woman lives or dies?"
Yahiko finally broke the silence, speaking in a low voice:
"Nagato, do it. Live on and carry my ideals forward."
Nagato's body shook as his gaze darted between Yahiko and Konan. Trembling, he raised the kunai...
Just as the tragedy seemed inevitable, a sharp whistling sound pierced the air.
Clang!
A kunai struck the ground near them, stopping Nagato in his tracks.
In an instant, a flash of golden light appeared.
The Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, stood between them. His blonde hair shimmered in the rain as his Hokage cloak rustled in the wind.
"Minato Namikaze?!" Hanzo and Danzo's faces twisted in shock.
Their surprise turned to unease.
For Hanzo, time had dulled his strength. Against Minato, a ninja in his prime, his chances of victory were slim.
Danzo, suppressing his growing frustration, glared at Minato.
"Minato Namikaze! Are you here to escalate war between the two nations?" Danzo accused, his tone sharp.
"You secretly lead troops into the Land of Rain. If war breaks out, the blame will fall squarely on you!"
Danzo's accusations were met with calm defiance.
"And you, Elder Danzo? What excuse do you have for your actions?" Minato countered.
"You left the village without the Hokage's approval, entered foreign territory, and interfered in their internal affairs. What is your true goal?"
Danzo's heart tightened at the pointed question.
Could Minato have discovered his plan to seize the Rinnegan?
"No... only I know of this. There's no way he could know," Danzo thought, clenching his fists.
---
Minato's arrival marked the turning point. Yahiko and Nagato felt hope returning as they stood behind him, ready to fight for the future of Akatsuki.