Konan spread her paper wings, lifted Shinra, and carried him through the skies straight toward Kusagakure.
On the way, Shinra was still lost in thought about the impact of his sudden heart-to-heart with Konan.
First of all, his original plan to sway Nagato would now need a major adjustment.
Originally, he intended to provoke Nagato fiercely, forcing him to face the cruelty of the ninja world, and then take advantage of that despair to twist his path toward darkness.
But now, that plan had to be changed. It couldn't be that extreme anymore.
After all, he had just finished singing praises about friendship and bonds in front of Konan. It would be too ridiculous to rip off his "good-guy mask" so soon.
But how should he change it?
As they soared through the air, Shinra still hadn't worked out a new alternative plan. Yet at their destination, Kusagakure's actions were already leaving him no way out.
At that moment, Nagato had secretly followed Kenshiro and the others into Kusagakure. Together they were scouring the area for any trace of the Uzumaki clan.
Soon enough, they noticed two Kusagakure shinobi standing guard outside a crumbling brick house at the edge of the village.
Both men were in their thirties. One smoked from a crooked pipe, his face lined with hesitation. The other scowled, impatient and irritated.
"I'm telling you," the impatient one muttered, "why are you dragging this out? If you like that red-haired girl, just take her. Nobody in the village is going to stop you!"
The pipe-smoker shifted uncomfortably, his conscience gnawing at him. "I just… I don't know. Kaoru doesn't seem to like me that much…"
His companion sneered. "Why should you care what she thinks? She's just a blood bag the village keeps alive! Without Kusagakure's protection, she would've died years ago. You really think her feelings matter?"
The hesitant shinobi looked down. "Are you sure… we really shouldn't worry about it?"
His comrade laughed harshly. "You're hopeless! Look around. The Uzumaki clan is finished everywhere in the ninja world. Do you think she dares to leave Kusagakure? Whatever happens to her, she has no choice but to endure it."
He clapped the other man on the shoulder with a grin.
"Listen, you'd better act fast. I heard the chief already plans to get that stupid woman pregnant. That way she won't be able to run, and the village gets to preserve her bloodline. If she dies, our blood supply ends too.
So if you don't claim her, someone else will. Don't say I didn't warn you."
Every single word fell into the ears of the Akatsuki members hidden in the shadows, as well as Nagato himself.
The effect was immediate. Even the ordinary Akatsuki members who had no personal ties to her were shaking with rage.
"Unforgivable! How dare they treat someone from Nagato-sama's clan like this!"
Thanks to Shinra's carefully planted misinformation, they all now believed Uzumaki Kaoru to be Nagato's lost relative.
Their fury boiled over.
It was almost as if fate itself was steering everything.
Originally, Shinra had planned to soften his approach, to tone things down. He wanted to back off from pushing Nagato so hard.
But never in his wildest calculations did he expect Kusagakure to supply the perfect trigger on its own. Their cruelty left him with no way to retreat.
Just a few vile words later, the hesitant shinobi suddenly slammed his pipe to the ground, yanked his pants up roughly, and spat through clenched teeth.
"Damn it! You're right. I can't let anyone else have her. I was the first to fall for that Uzumaki girl!"
Snarling, he stormed toward the house and shoved the door wide open.
Moments later, a woman's terrified scream rang out.
The shinobi outside smirked, his expression twisted with cruel satisfaction. He didn't even flinch at the sound. If anything, he seemed pleased that his friend had finally made up his mind.
He turned away, ready to leave, completely oblivious to one chilling detail the screams behind him weren't fading. They weren't being silenced.
And the companion who had gone inside… had not made a sound since stepping through the door.
When the shinobi outside finally turned to leave, the screaming inside slowly faded.
It hadn't taken much effort for several Akatsuki members to deal with the Kusagakure shinobi who had entered the house. His body now lay silent on the floor.
But what came next left them uneasy.
They turned toward Nagato, who had entered just moments before them, unsure how to explain.
Kenshiro was the only one who had intentionally passed word along. The rest of the Akatsuki didn't know Nagato would come, and now they had no idea how to justify themselves.
"Chief Nagato, um… please listen to our explanation. We didn't mean to act on our own. This woman is actually your… your…"
Their words trailed off into an awkward silence.
After all, Shinra had only hinted at a connection without ever clearly stating what relationship existed between the Kusagakure Uzumaki orphan and Nagato.
Fortunately, Nagato wasn't looking to punish them. He didn't seem to care about their actions at all. Instead, he turned toward the terrified red-haired woman, his gaze softening.
"You don't need to be afraid," he said quietly, pointing at his own hair. "My name is Uzumaki Nagato."
Uzumaki Kaoru froze at the sound of her clan name. Then, tears welled up in her eyes.
To her, it felt like a miracle. She had thought she'd never meet another living clansman again. The shock and relief hit her all at once, breaking down her defenses.
But to everyone else present thanks to Shinra's carefully laid seeds her tears were proof of something else entirely.
She really did recognize Chief Nagato! She truly was his relative!
And so, a perfect misunderstanding bloomed.
No one present suspected Shinra. Not for a second.
They all believed Shinra's words that this had only been an investigation. As far as they were concerned, this discovery had unfolded naturally before their eyes, and they accepted it without doubt.
But Nagato himself was stuck.
Before he hardened into the so-called god of the Akatsuki, Nagato had always been quiet, reserved, almost shy. His social awkwardness was in stark contrast to the overwhelming figure he would one day become.
Now, faced with Kaoru covering her mouth, silently sobbing, he stood stiffly, unsure what to do.
Finally, Kenshiro stepped forward to fill the silence. "Chief Nagato, let's get your family out of here first. It's not safe to linger!"
Then, turning to Kaoru, he said firmly, "Ms. Uzumaki, we're shinobi from the Land of Rain. Will you come with us? We swear we'll protect you."
Uzumaki Kaoru's heart was spinning in confusion.
Family? Relative? She didn't remember having any kin named Nagato.
But the conviction on everyone's faces left her too overwhelmed to argue. She simply nodded timidly, whispering, "I… I'll go with you."
They wasted no time. Moving swiftly, they climbed out through the window, leading her away into the night.
But Kaoru was no shinobi. Her frail health, worn down after years of mistreatment, slowed her pace. Despite their efforts to stay quiet, the noise of their escape soon drew attention.
A sharp voice rang out. "Who's there?! Uzumaki Kaoru?! Damn it, that Uzumaki blood bag is trying to escape!"
The alarm exploded through Kusagakure.
In an instant, the entire village was stirred awake. Torches flared, and hostile shouts filled the air.
"Prepare for battle!!"
The Akatsuki members drew their weapons, ready to fight.
Nagato's hand hovered near his face, fingers brushing his eyes. Hesitation gripped him.
Normally, his eyes were hidden well, no abnormalities visible. Yahiko had warned him countless times don't use that power unless absolutely necessary.
But tonight, Nagato's restraint cracked.
Every time he heard these Kusagakure shinobi sneer the word "blood bag," his fury boiled hotter. He wanted to shred them all, to make them pay.
At that very moment, two voices cut through the chaos from above.
"Shikigami no Mai!"
"Lightning Release: Thunder Net!"
Konan and Shinra had arrived just in time.