"I'm about to enter the Land of Rice Fields. Start the operation."
Nagato stood at the border between the Land of Iron and the Land of Rice Fields, a slug clone resting on his shoulder.
"Got it."
"I've been waiting so long I could've grown flowers."
Yahiko held the slug clone in his hands, his grin slowly turning sharp and merciless.
"I'll get ready."
"I've put up with them long enough."
Konan spoke before dissolving into paper fragments, vanishing in an instant. She had been itching for this.
"I'll gather the troops."
Seeing this, Kakuzu also got up and left. His patience had nearly run dry over the past few days.
"Look at you all, acting like you can't wait."
Yahiko made a remark, though there was no real criticism in his tone.
"Drop the act. I can tell you're struggling to hold back too."
"Go on."
Nagato knew Yahiko too well. If they weren't talking over a summon link, he'd probably have bolted out faster than Konan.
"Me? Holding back?"
"I'm perfectly calm."
Yahiko put on an air of indifference, though in truth, he just wanted Nagato to hurry up and end the call.
"Oh? That so?"
"Then stay and chat with me a little longer."
Nagato smirked mischievously. Like hell Yahiko wasn't itching for action.
"It's not that I don't want to talk."
"But, you know, you don't have anything urgent right now."
"So why don't we—uh—catch up when you get here?"
Realizing Nagato was in the mood for a long conversation, Yahiko chickened out immediately.
The truth was, he was barely holding himself together. Just hearing about Kiri's spies made his anger flare up in an instant.
"Didn't someone just say they were perfectly calm?"
Nagato teased, the corners of his mouth tugging into a smirk.
"Oh, come on, this has nothing to do with my mindset."
"I'm just worried Konan might be too busy to handle everything alone."
"Anyway, I'm done talking. Bye!"
Yahiko abruptly cut the connection and dashed out of the room like he was escaping.
"Stubborn fool."
Watching the projection fade, Nagato finally let out a laugh.
"Why are you grinning like that?"
Nonō's voice carried a hint of jealousy. If reincarnation were real, she must have been born from a bottle of pure jealousy.
"Don't tell me you're jealous of Yahiko?"
Nagato's smile vanished instantly as he turned to Nonō, half amused, half exasperated.
"Hmph, none of your business."
Nonō turned her head away, mimicking Konan's signature pout with perfect accuracy.
"You're impossible."
"Alright, my bad. From now on, I'll only smile like that for you. Happy?"
Nagato leaned in closer, his voice warm and indulgent.
"That's more like it."
"You're forgiven."
Nonō tried to keep a straight face, but inside, she felt sweeter than honey.
...
While the two of them were playfully bickering, Yahiko was already making preparations for a bloodbath.
"Is everyone here?"
By the time Yahiko stepped out, a large force of Akatsuki had already assembled.
"More or less."
Konan didn't bother with a headcount. As long as they had enough people, it was fine.
"Then let's move out."
"Don't let a single Kiri spy escape."
With a wave of Yahiko's hand, the entire force set into motion.
It wasn't just him, Konan, or Kakuzu who had been feeling pent up. The entire Akatsuki force had been forced to lie low for too long.
Now, finally, they could unleash their rage. Their morale had never been higher.
"You, come with me."
Kakuzu casually picked a few subordinates and quickly split off from the main group.
"You handle things over there."
Yahiko gestured in Konan's direction.
"No problem."
With a flap of her wings, Konan took to the air, leading a squad of Akatsuki behind her.
Yahiko, Konan, and Kakuzu each set off in different directions. This time, they were determined to wipe out every last Kiri-nin Yagura had sent into the Land of Rice Fields.
...
"Where the hell did Akatsuki disappear to?"
"How is there no trace of them at all?"
Deep within an unnamed forest in the Land of Rice Fields, two Kiri-nin scouts moved cautiously.
One of them looked visibly frustrated. After days of searching without results, the pressure was getting to him.
"Who knows?"
"Maybe they've already run off."
"I don't get why the Mizukage is being so cautious."
"If you ask me, we should just send in the whole army."
His companion scoffed, his tone dripping with dissatisfaction over Yagura's strategy.
"Shh! Don't say things like that."
"It's not our place to question the Mizukage's decisions."
The frustrated scout instinctively glanced around, showing just how much he feared Yagura.
"What are you so afraid of? The Mizukage isn't here."
"No matter how powerful he is, he can't kill me from the Land of Hot Water, can he?"
The disgruntled scout continued his rant, his words becoming increasingly brazen.
"Watch your mouth."
"It's better to be careful."
His companion sighed, trying to warn him. If Yagura ever heard those words, the consequences would be dire.
Just as the scout was about to retort, a cold, unfamiliar voice rang out.
"You make a good point."
"Watch your mouth—because your time is up."
Before the two Kiri-nin could react, Yahiko appeared in front of them. In a single slash, their heads flew into the air.
"Consider this a lesson from your Mizukage."
"In your next life, learn to keep your mouth shut."
With a casual flick of his blade to shake off the blood, Yahiko slid it smoothly back into its sheath.
"Lord Akatsukikage, we just took down three more over there."
An Akatsuki member approached Yahiko and bowed, reporting their success.
"Keep searching."
Without another word, Yahiko continued forward.
...
Similar scenes played out all across the Land of Rice Fields. Konan and Kakuzu were making their own kills, eliminating Kiri-nin one after another.
By nightfall, nearly every Kiri-nin in the region had been wiped out. Only a few lucky ones had managed to slip away.
...
"That was satisfying."
The moment he arrived at their new camp and saw Nagato, Yahiko clapped a hand heavily on his shoulder.
"We couldn't even find a proper place to stay. Where the hell were you hiding?"
Nagato couldn't help but chuckle. He had traveled all this way, only to find they were still scrambling for a campsite.
"Don't even mention it."
"If it weren't for those damn Kiri-nin, would we have ended up like this?"
Konan still seemed frustrated. Just hearing Nagato ask about it reignited her anger.
"Alright, alright."
"At least we don't have to hide anymore."
Yahiko tried to console her, though deep down, he was hoping the Kiri-nin would retaliate soon.
If Yagura didn't show up, he'd personally go looking for trouble.
"That doesn't mean I'm not still mad."
Konan pouted. She had always been quick to anger, which was why any Kiri-nin unfortunate enough to cross her path died in particularly gruesome ways.
"Where's Nonō?"
Yahiko, unsure how to respond to Konan, quickly changed the subject. Kakuzu, too, suddenly realized she hadn't appeared yet.
"Yeah, where is she?"
Konan looked around, then turned to Nagato.
"She's preparing medicine. Go find her."
Nagato pointed in a direction, and Konan immediately dashed off.
She figured Nonō, as another woman, would understand her frustrations.
...
"I heard you lost two hearts. Have you replaced them yet?"
Nagato's sudden concern caught Kakuzu off guard.
"Just did today."
It was the truth. Since retreating from the Land of Hot Water, today had been his first real fight.
The Kiri-nin he encountered weren't particularly strong, but something was better than nothing.
"Good."
"Yagura's debt to you—I'll make sure he pays it back."
Nagato smiled as he spoke, but the cold killing intent in his voice was unmistakable.