Meeting Konan

After entering the Rain Country, the group immediately felt that its humid climate differed from that of other nations.

This country gathered moist air currents drifting in from three directions, only for the mountains to block their flow. As a result, those humid currents had turned the Rain Country into a nation that "wept" all year round.

When Uchiha members carried out missions abroad, they changed out of clothing bearing the Gunbai clan crest. As long as they did not reveal their Sharingan, no one could recognize them as members of the Uchiha Clan.

Amegakure’s management was extremely lax. As long as one did not cause trouble in the village, even Rogue ninja from other countries could openly walk its streets.

Yasunori Sakai’s group entered directly. His carriage was lavishly decorated, with twelve Guards stationed around it, making it obvious at a glance that he was an important figure.

After entering Amegakure, Yasunori Sakai had initially wanted to send word ahead. However, the Akatsuki’s presence in Amegakure was not public knowledge. The Villagers only knew that Pain was the village chief and that the Angel oversaw its actual administration.

But only a small number of Amegakure-nin knew how to contact those two. Moreover, the Angel generally appeared of her own accord to issue orders. Ordinary Amegakure-nin would never seek out the Angel or Pain.

However, there was another way to contact Pain directly. Yasunori Sakai lifted the carriage curtain, saw that the rain outside was quite heavy, and said to Uchiha Tekka, "Tekka-kun, please have your clansmen release some Chakra with you."

"Release Chakra? Yasunori-kun, what would be the point of that?" Uchiha Tekka activated his Sharingan and covertly scanned the surroundings, but he did not discover any enemies.

"It will let Amegakure know of our arrival more quickly. This rain is a ninjutsu with surveillance capabilities."

Yasunori Sakai pointed at the torrential rain pouring from the sky and explained to Uchiha Tekka.

"Pain may have already discovered us when we entered. If Tekka-kun releases Chakra as well, they will soon come looking for us, saving us the trouble of asking around bit by bit."

"A surveillance ninjutsu covering an entire village!?"

Uchiha Tekka looked stunned after hearing that. How powerful would someone have to be to accomplish something like this?

Although Amegakure appeared somewhat smaller than Konoha, Konoha’s barrier required several squads to maintain it together. And judging from Yasunori-kun’s words, it seemed that this ninjutsu had been cast by Pain of Amegakure?

"Captain, there really is Chakra, but it’s extremely faint. Even with the Sharingan activated, it’s difficult to see clearly," another Uchiha Jonin said to Uchiha Tekka after activating his Sharingan. The Sharingan could also see Chakra, though not as clearly as the Byakugan.

Given Uchiha Tekka’s understanding, he truly found it difficult to believe that someone this powerful existed. But Yasunori-kun had no reason to lie to them. After signaling to the clansmen beside him, Uchiha Tekka and the others gathered Chakra and released it outside their bodies.

There were eight of them, and even the weakest was a Chunin with a Two-Tomoe Sharingan. Standing together and releasing Chakra, they were quickly noticed by Pain.

"Konan."

Pain spoke. "There are several fairly capable Ninja at the village entrance, releasing Chakra where they stand. Go see what is going on."

This behavior made it seem as though they knew the rain in the sky possessed surveillance capabilities and were deliberately drawing them over.

Soon afterward, Pain stopped the ninjutsu, and the heavy rain above Amegakure ceased as well.

At the entrance to Amegakure, Yasunori Sakai’s group saw that the rain had quickly stopped, though the dark clouds in the sky showed no sign of dispersing. The Uchiha members guessed that the person who had cast the ninjutsu had noticed their earlier actions.

Uchiha Tekka walked over to the carriage and asked in a low voice, "Should we prepare for battle, Yasunori-kun?"

Yasunori Sakai shook his head. "There’s no need. We came to discuss business. Even if a deal cannot be made, goodwill remains. Besides, Amegakure has dealt with the Yasunori Trading Company before. They should not attack the moment we meet."

These few Uchiha Ninja were no match for the Akatsuki. They might be able to defeat one or two members, but three Akatsuki members could certainly wipe out all eight Uchiha Ninja. Furthermore, hiring them as Guards was only one purpose of Yasunori Sakai’s trip. If they were all lost, one of the trip’s objectives would have failed.

After the rain stopped, Yasunori Sakai left the carriage as well.

Before long, countless Paper Butterflies appeared in the sky. After gathering together, they formed a woman with Paper Wings on her back.

"So it’s you."

The moment Konan saw Yasunori Sakai, she recalled the information on him. The Medical Machine Nagato used had come from the Yasunori Trading Company. After a period of treatment, Nagato’s legs had at least gradually recovered, and he could now walk on the ground.

"Are you Konan-san? I am Yasunori Sakai of the Yasunori Trading Company. I came to Amegakure this time to discuss several business matters with your village."

Yasunori Sakai spoke with a smile, then introduced the Uchiha beside him to Konan. "These are the Guards I hired. It was on my orders that they released their Chakra earlier."

"Is that so…"

Upon hearing that, Konan fixed her gaze on Yasunori Sakai. The fact that he had used this method to draw her here showed that he knew of Pain’s Rain Tiger at Will Technique. This should have been their first visit, yet he already possessed that intelligence.

"What do you want to discuss with me?"

Yasunori Sakai looked surprised and asked, "Here? There are quite a few matters I need to discuss."

Konan asked calmly, "Whom do you represent? The Yasunori Trading Company, or Sunagakure?"

The Akatsuki also knew that the Yasunori Family had joined Sunagakure, and the Fourth Kazekage had died at their hands. The relationship between the two sides could not be called good.

"There is no difference between the two. If Konan-san is worried about the Fourth Kazekage, there is absolutely no need. The Yasunori Family had not joined Sunagakure when the Fourth Kazekage died."

A gentle smile appeared on Yasunori Sakai’s face. "Or rather, it was precisely because of the Fourth Kazekage’s death that the Yasunori Family was able to join Sunagakure."

To a certain extent, the Akatsuki was not only a blade of the Daimyo Manor, but also Hyuga Mirai’s blade.

"Come in."

After speaking, Konan gave Yasunori Sakai a deep look. For some reason, she felt that he was somewhat similar to Pain, like a puppet without a will of his own.

Konan led them near the High Tower in the center of Amegakure. There were no other Amegakure-nin here, and the surroundings were silent, with hardly anyone in sight.

"If you have something to say, say it directly." After bringing them over, Konan spoke at once. She did not seem particularly skilled at receiving guests. Yasunori Sakai looked around and found the place completely empty, without even anywhere to sit.

Seeing that they were about to discuss business, Uchiha Tekka said, "Yasunori-kun, do you need us to wait outside?" They were merely hired Guards. Whether they needed to remain at his side depended on their employer’s wishes.

"Then I’ll have to trouble you, Tekka-kun." Yasunori Sakai smiled apologetically. "Once the discussion is over, I’ll come out and inform you."

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