For Nagato, this is the first time he's seen a country like the Land of Demons, which specializes in training such special ninjas, inevitably leading to a novel experience.
"Nagato, where have you been? I've been waiting for you here for a long time."
Gathering at the entrance of a hotel in Shion City, Nagato arrived late, causing Konan to complain.
"Sorry, this city is so prosperous; I got a bit carried away for a moment."
Nagato scratched his head and apologized to Konan.
"Honestly, we're not here for sightseeing."
"How's the medicine purchasing going?"
Nagato inquired about the medicine purchasing situation.
"It's all been acquired. As expected, the medicine prices in this country are much cheaper than elsewhere, saving us a lot more than anticipated."
Konan seemed quite satisfied, revealing a smile.
Though the journey was a bit arduous, being able to purchase such a comprehensive amount of medicines and still having some funds left over, this trip to the Land of Demons indeed proved to be a wise choice.
"That's great."
"Our Akatsuki's operational budget has always been tight, and now we can finally save some for unforeseen needs."
Looking at Konan's genuinely happy demeanor, Nagato felt a slight stir within.
—No matter what, I just need to protect this smile and everyone's dreams.
He silently vowed.
The weight on his shoulders grew heavier; Nagato felt ever stronger the resolve for peace and ending war within him.
"Konan..."
"What's the matter, Nagato?"
Upon hearing Nagato call her name, Konan looked up at him puzzled.
"No, it's nothing. I was just thinking that with our fruitful results this time, Yahiko and the others will surely be very happy."
"Of course they'll be happy, especially since we have so much money left. But Yahiko's gone to negotiate with the ninjas from Hidden Sand and Konoha; hopefully, nothing will go wrong..."
Saying this, a visible worry appeared on Konan's face.
Those are ninjas from the Five Great Nations, fundamentally different from those of their smaller nation.
Neither Konoha nor Hidden Sand are mighty powers to be trifled with.
"Even Lord Hanzo had to compromise with Konoha back then..."
The leader of Hidden Rain Village, Hanzo of the Salamander, is a legendary ninja renowned in the Land of Rain.
Even he had to compromise on the battlefield due to Konoha's might, making Akatsuki seem insignificant within the Land of Rain; it seems impossible to sway the wills of those great nation ninjas.
Konan suddenly thought that Yahiko's negotiation with the ninjas from Hidden Sand and Konoha was extremely risky.
"Yahiko will surely succeed! Even if this attempt fails, there's always a next time; as long as we keep fighting, Akatsuki's will shall be passed down through generations, eventually bringing true peace."
Nagato's eyes were resolutely firm.
Konan nodded as well; if they themselves admit defeat, it would be a shame too great to face their past selves.
"Let's hurry back to the Land of Rain. That's truly our home ground."
◎
In Roran, within the quiet room storing the Dragon Vein seal device.
The closed-eye device seeped out purple radiance, the color of Dragon Vein Chakra, distinct from ordinary Chakra hues.
Ruri alone appeared here, gazing at the Dragon Vein sealing device, seemingly deep in thought.
"You wouldn't be having any ideas about the remaining Dragon Vein power, would you?"
Ayane appeared at the door of the quiet room, holding freshly made pancakes while curiously asking Ruri.
"I just find things a bit odd."
"Odd? What's so odd?"
Ayane didn't fully grasp what Ruri was implying.
Handling the time disruptor who arrived from another realm and discreetly resolving Roran's crisis, they took half of the Dragon Vein Core, making its power incomplete, preventing people from other times from utilizing Dragon Vein power to disrupt this realm.
Just as Hakushi said, matters from other realms were beyond their grasp, but the order of the realm they inhabited must not be disturbed.
"The Dragon Vein taps into earth's force, a naturally formed earth energy. Unless the earth's Natural Energy is depleted, theoretically even now with half the core removed, it will only weaken the Dragon Vein for a while. Perhaps in ten or twenty years, it might recover, again possessing the power to traverse future or past."
Ruri's words made Ayane slow her pancake-eating gesture, revealing a thoughtful look.
After Ruri's reminder, there's indeed something strange about the truth.
"Maybe the situation was sudden, and he was a bit careless, so he neglected something?"
Ayane tilted her head.
"Neglect? That sort of man, I can't really imagine him making such a basic error."
Ruri showed a faint cold smile, disagreeing with Ayane's viewpoint.
Ayane glared at Ruri dissatisfied, feeling that this Sharingan woman seemed to have grasped significant secrets, while she herself was left in the dark.
"If you knew there's a power allowing time travel, what would you do?"
Ruri replied with a question rather than answering.
"Hmm... I'd probably use it during an insurmountable setback, to return to when things could still be salvaged. After all, such a convenient power shouldn't be wasted."
Ayane pondered for a moment, responding to Ruri's question.
That's how most people would think, or when regretting a matter, they wish to return to the past and change the history that has already occurred.