Konan then spread her paper wings, picked up Shin, and flew towards Kusa.

On the way, Shin was still thinking about the possible effects of his sudden heart-to-heart conversation with Konan.

First of all, his plan to turn Nagato against the others definitely needed some adjustments. This would require a delicate touch, like performing surgery with a blade made of glass.

Originally, he intended to harshly provoke Nagato by showing him the cruelty of the shinobi world, then use persuasive talk to lure him into darkness. Simple, direct, effective.

But now, the plan had to change. It couldn't be that extreme anymore. After all, he had just sung praises about friendship and bonds in front of Konan. He couldn't tear down his good guy image so quickly, not when she was watching so closely.

How should he modify the plan?

Shin glanced at Konan as she focused on their flight path. "We're getting close," she said. "Can you sense them?"

"Yes, they're already inside," Shin replied.

While he was still pondering his alternative strategy on the way, in Kusa, the Kusa ninjas left no room for themselves to retreat.

---

At that moment, Nagato had secretly followed Tanaka and others into the village and was quickly searching for any signs of the Uzumaki clan members. How many of my clan are still out there? How many suffered like me?

Soon, they noticed two Kusa ninjas standing in front of a dilapidated brick house. The building's walls were stained with age and neglect, wooden boards covering what used to be windows.

Both Kusa ninjas were men. One of them was smoking a pipe and seemed hesitant. The other looked annoyed, cursing under his breath.

"I'm telling you, have you made up your mind or not? Is this really such a hard decision? If you want that red-haired girl, just go for her. No one in the village will stop you!"

The man smoking the pipe still had a trace of conscience, hesitating, fidgeting with the pipe between his fingers. "I just don't feel right about this. Kaori... she doesn't seem to like me that much."

The other Kusa ninja sneered. "Do you really care whether she likes you or not? She's just a blood bag the village is keeping alive! Without our protection, she would have died long ago. You really think you need to care about her feelings?"

"Do I... really not have to care?"

The Kusa ninja next to him laughed louder, "Haha! You're really confused, aren't you? Just think about it—what's the situation for the Uzumaki clan in the shinobi world now? Would she dare leave our village? She has no choice but to accept whatever we do to her!"

He patted his companion's shoulder.

"I advise you to act quickly. I've heard that the village leader is already planning to make this stupid woman pregnant, to keep her from escaping and also to continue the bloodline of her clan. That way, when she dies, the village won't lose its blood bag supply. If you don't act soon, the leader will arrange someone else, and don't say I didn't warn you."

These words were all heard by the infiltrating Akatsuki members and Nagato. Even without a personal connection, the Akatsuki members were all filled with anger after hearing this.

"Damn it! How dare they treat Nagato's family member like this!" one whispered. Another gripped his kunai so hard it left marks in his palm.

Thanks to Shin's misleading, they all believed Kaori was Nagato's long-lost blood relative. Their hatred exploded!

Fate had a way of messing with people. Sometimes the world provides better opportunities than any plan could create, Shin would later reflect.

He had intended to ease up and abandon his plan of incitement, but Kusa, full of talents and quick decisions, left him no room to retreat. The village was writing its own doom with every cruel word spoken.

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After a few more words, the Kusa ninja, who had shown a shred of conscience, angrily threw down his pipe. The clay pipe shattered on the ground. He stood up and fiercely tightened his belt, his last traces of humanity vanishing like the smoke from his broken pipe.

"Damn it! You're right! There's no way I'm letting anyone else take that girl. I saw her first!"

With that, he stormed towards the house and roughly opened the door. The wood cracked against the wall, the sound like a gunshot in the quiet night.

Soon, a woman's scream echoed from inside.

The Kusa ninja left outside smiled coldly, completely indifferent to the tragedy unfolding before him. He even felt smug that his partner had finally seen reason. Humans can justify anything to themselves, another observation Shin would later note.

He walked away, whistling a cheerful tune that made the moment even more grotesque. He didn't notice that the woman's screams continued, strange for someone who should have been subdued by now. His companion, though, had fallen silent after entering the house.

Only when he finally left did the screams cease.

It didn't take long for the Akatsuki members to finish off the Kusa ninja who had entered the house. The man never had a chance to scream—one moment he was reaching for Kaori, the next he was on the floor, blood pooling beneath him.

However, now that Nagato had entered the house right after them, they were at a loss for what to do. Only Tanaka had gone to report the situation, so the rest of the Akatsuki members were unaware that Nagato had arrived. They didn't know how to explain themselves.

"Nagato, um... let us explain. I didn't mean to act on my own. This woman, she's actually your... your..." one of them stammered, lowering his blood-stained kunai. How do we explain killing someone without orders? Even if the bastard deserved it.

Shin had only hinted, never explicitly stating what relation the Uzumaki in Kusa had with Nagato. Fortunately, he didn't make things difficult for them, nor did he care about the killing.

He turned his attention to the frightened Kaori, pointed to his red hair, and said awkwardly, "Don't be afraid. I'm Uzumaki Nagato."

Hearing him say his full name, Kaori froze, and tears instantly filled her eyes. She stared at his red hair as if seeing sunlight for the first time after years of darkness. She was simply shocked and relieved to see a living member of her clan. Her hands trembled as she reached out, not quite touching him, as if afraid he might disappear like a mirage.

But everyone else, influenced by Shin's misleading, all mistakenly thought—She really knows Nagato? She truly is Nagato's family!

Thus, a beautiful misunderstanding was born. Sometimes the best lies are the ones people tell themselves, Shin would later muse.

At that moment, none of them suspected him. The dead man's blood was still seeping into the floorboards, but no one paid it any attention anymore. They all believed Shin had only been investigating and that they had discovered the truth themselves—and they were fully convinced of it.

After introducing himself, Nagato found himself at a loss for words. What could someone say to family they had never known existed?

Before his turn to darkness, Nagato was somewhat socially awkward. He didn't talk much, and his personality was vastly different from the future god who would passionately address thousands.

Now, facing the tearful Kaori, he felt utterly helpless.

It was Tanaka who finally spoke up, breaking the awkward silence. "Nagato, we should take your family member and leave. This place isn't safe!"

He glanced nervously at the window, where torch lights had begun to appear in the distance.

Then he turned to Kaori and asked, his voice gentler than before, "Miss, we are shinobi from the Land of Rain. Would you come with us? We will protect you."

Kaori was confused. Especially by Tanaka's words 'your family', which puzzled her even more. She didn't remember having any relative named Nagato. But seeing how certain they were, she didn't dare question them, so she timidly nodded and said in a small voice, "I'll go with you." Anywhere is better than here, her eyes seemed to say.

So they quickly left through the window, taking her with them. However, Kaori, who lacked any ninja abilities, was physically weak due to long-term deprivation. Despite their caution, they inevitably made some noise along the way. Kaori stumbled over a loose tile, sending it clattering down the roof.

A Kusa ninja, startled by the commotion, snapped his head toward the noise. His eyes widened as he spotted the group. "Who's there?! Kaori?! Damn it, the blood bag is trying to escape!!"

With that cry, the entire village was alerted. Lights began appearing in windows, and shadows moved across rooftops as ninja emerged from their homes.

"Prepare for battle!" The Akatsuki members immediately drew their weapons, forming a protective circle around Kaori.

"No one touches her," one growled.

Nagato reached for his eyes several times, his expression conflicted. His eyes were disguised, and he had been repeatedly warned by Yahiko not to use their power unless absolutely necessary.

"Those eyes draw too much attention. We can't risk the wrong people learning about them," Yahiko had said.

But now, for the first time, Nagato felt the urge to defy his advice. He was furious!

Every time those Kusa ninjas mentioned blood bag with disdain, he felt a burning desire to tear them apart! Killing intent leaked from him. These people... treating my clan member like livestock... they deserve worse than death.

Just then, two voices called out from the sky.

"Dance of the Shikigami!"

"Lightning Release: Scattering Drops!"

Konan and Shin had arrived just in time!