Konoha: The thirty-year-old Uchiha lacks motivation.

"Crackling~ popping~"

Inside the cave, a roaring fire flickered in the stove. The three hastily formed master and apprentices sat in a circle around a spacious table laden with steaming hot food.

However, faced with these tempting dishes, Konan and Yahiko seemed uninterested, appearing absent-minded.

"What are you standing there for? Eat up!"

Uchiha Gin broke the silence first, placing two bowls of rice in front of the two, only to find them still unmoved.

"It'll get cold if you don't eat it soon!"

"Yin San San, don't you want us anymore?"

Xiao Nan slowly raised her head, her eyes already glistening with tears.

Uchiha Gin, who had just picked up his chopsticks, paused upon hearing this, gently put them down, and his languid expression gradually turned serious.

"As you just saw, battles between ninjas are no child's play. Kids like you will only be a burden to me."

"But."

Just as Yahiko was about to say something, Gin Uchiha raised his hand to stop him.

"There are no buts. I've said it before, I'm a wanderer, and I can't stay in one place for too long."

Uchiha Gin shook his head, his lifeless eyes gleaming with a profound light.

"You certainly wouldn't want to leave your hometown and live a life of wandering with me."

"."

Yahiko lowered his head, his small fists clenched so tightly the veins bulged. He really couldn't leave.

He also has his own ideals. He wants to use his own strength to change this suffering country and let everyone in the Land of Rain live a peaceful and harmonious life.

"I do."

Konan raised her head, looking firmly at Uchiha Gin.

"I'm willing to go with Yin San San."

Compared to Yahiko, who had lofty ambitions, Konan, being a woman, was more sentimental.

Although her time with Uchiha Gin was very short, she had developed some deep feelings for him that were hard to let go of—a teacher-student relationship, familial love, or perhaps other feelings of unclear significance.

"Stop fooling around. The outside world is dangerous. A brat like you could get eaten alive if you're not careful."

Gin Uchiha patted Konan's stubborn little head and sighed inwardly.

"Let's eat. Once we're full, we won't have any worries."

"I'm so naughty!"

Just as Konan was about to say something more, the quick-witted Uchiha Gin grabbed his chopsticks and forcefully stuffed a piece of sweet and sour pork into her incessantly chattering mouth.

"Do not speak while eating or sleeping."

After saying that, he started shoveling rice into his mouth. Seeing that Uchiha Gin was unwilling to say more, Konan and Yahiko wiped their empty stomachs and had no choice but to pick up their bowls and start shoveling rice into their mouths.

"Burp~"

Soon, the three of them devoured the entire table of food. After letting out a satisfied burp, Uchiha Gin turned his gaze to the two children, whose bellies were also round.

"Yahiko, the supplies we bought during the day should be enough for the two of you to live on for a long time."

The topic returned to the parting, and the two, who had just been beaming with happiness, were once again filled with grief.

Yahiko, who remained silent, placed the rolls of supplies from his backpack in front of everyone. The tons of supplies inside did not excite the two of them.

Compared to these material things, they wanted to stay by Uchiha Gin's side more, because he could provide the two orphans with the most important sense of security.

Even if they had to go back to their previous life of sometimes being hungry and sometimes full, Xiao Nan and the others would be willing, as long as Yin San San was by their side.

"Here you go, Xiao Nan."

Looking at the storage scroll on the table, Uchiha Gin hesitated for a moment, then took out another scroll from his person and placed it in Konan's dejected hand.

"Yin San San, this is..."

"Take out this little bit of money when you encounter a tough problem."

After presenting the scroll containing a tiny fraction of gold bricks to Konan and her companion, Uchiha Gin finally felt relieved.

With money and supplies, we won't go hungry anymore, right?

"Yin San San, are you leaving now?"

Clutching the scroll still warm from Uchiha Gin's body, Konan suppressed her grief and asked in a trembling voice,

At this moment, she knew that separation was an inevitable outcome.

"Soon."

Looking at the dwindling countdown in his mind, Uchiha Gin nodded slightly.

"oh."

Knowing the answer, Konan remained extremely calm, which surprised Uchiha Gin, who had expected the girl to burst into tears.

"Yin San San, where's mine?"

On the other side, Yahiko, who also knew that the outcome could not be changed, regained his usual optimism and came over with a fawning look, stretching out his hands to ask for the storage scroll marked with the word "gold".

"Get out of here, I don't trust you to manage the accounts."

Gin Uchiha kicked Yahiko's butt and rolled his eyes dramatically.

This kid is too naive; he even believes Tibetan. If you give him money, he'll probably be tricked before he even gets a chance to enjoy it.

"Yin San San is biased!"

Yahiko, grinning and grimacing, hopped to the side, clutching his backside, his face full of resentment, but the sadness in his eyes was undeniable.

"Sorry, I just prefer girls to boys."

Uchiha Gin picked his nose, making no attempt to hide his preference.

"We still have some time, so I'll give you a little extra help."

Gin gestured for the two to come forward, and then began to use the little time he had left to answer their questions about cultivation.

Konan sat obediently to the side, her eyes fixed on Uchiha Gin, it was unclear whether she had memorized the important points.

Time ticked away.

"I have to go now."

Saying goodbye with a wave is actually more heartbreaking than leaving without saying goodbye.

"etc."

"Yahiko, is there anything else?"

"Yin San San, we'll meet again, won't we?"

"The ninja world isn't that big; if we're destined to meet, we will."

"Wait for me, I will definitely become a world-renowned ninja and surprise you, Gintoki!"

What should I eat?

Are you carrying rice?

Uchiha Gin waved to his two apprentices, picked up his black wooden sword, and turned to leave them with an unforgettable silhouette.

Even after stepping outside the cave, the light drizzle continued to fall. In Uchiha Gin's mind, the world had entered its final countdown.

[Countdown - 144s]

Da da da.

Suddenly, accompanied by a series of crisp footsteps, Konan, panting heavily, rushed out of the cave. Uchiha Gin stopped and turned his head in confusion.

"Yin San San, please put this flower on my head."

The girl, who had been silent for a long time, held up a pure white rose in both hands, her large, watery eyes filled with a hint of pleading.

The white paper flowers were already damp from the rain and were beginning to turn slightly yellow. Uchiha Gin couldn't bear to refuse, so he took the paper flowers from the girl's hand.

Gin Uchiha suddenly recalled Konan's tragic death in this timeline as he looked at the girl who was waiting with her eyes closed. His hand paused for a moment.

He's my disciple after all, so I should help him if I can.

Uchiha Gin immediately used paper ninjutsu to restore the paper flower in his hand to its original state as white paper, and then mobilized all of his available chakra.

As the light of chakra shone, a trigger-based ninjutsu was written on the white paper.

"Huff~ Huff~ Huff~"

After completing this series of actions, Uchiha Gin, whose body was instantly drained, almost collapsed. Fortunately, he had the wooden sword for support, which prevented him from making a fool of himself.

"Yin San San, what's wrong?"

After waiting for a long time, Konan heard Uchiha Gin panting heavily and immediately opened her eyes.

"It's okay, I'll put it on for you right away."

Forcing himself to stay alert, Gin Uchiha waved his hand and gently placed the refolded paper flower on Konan's head.

"Is it pretty, Yin San San?"

Feeling the warmth of Uchiha Gin's large hand, Konan's face flushed slightly. She bit her lip nervously and asked in a barely audible voice,

"Of course, our little Nan is the cutest in the world~"

Gin Uchiha affectionately patted the little head of the future White Tiger Angel, his smile radiant.

"Yin San San, come down a little, I have something to tell you in private."

Seeing Uchiha Gin's smiling face, Konan's cheeks flushed as if she were drunk. Mustering her courage, she waved to her teacher.

Uchiha Gin didn't refuse. He leaned down and put his ear close; he was genuinely curious about what Konan wanted to say to him.

"Silver Three Three"

The girl's breath was warm and carried a faint, pleasant fragrance. Uchiha Gin felt a tickle in his ears.

"I"

[3, 2, 1, 0 countdown ended]

Just then, the countdown ended, the clock struck, and Uchiha Gin's body began to become illusory, his consciousness fading into darkness.

Just before he disappeared, he seemed to feel a light tap on his cheek.

Just after Uchiha Gin was quietly teleported away, Konan was left standing alone in the same spot.

Unaware that Uchiha Gin had left, Konan kept her eyes tightly shut, her cheeks as red as a big apple, and her rosy lips pouting high.

However, the legendary sensation was fleeting. Feeling empty, she slowly opened her shy eyes, only to find that Uchiha Gin in front of her had vanished without a trace, as if he had evaporated into thin air.

"Silver Three Three? Silver Three Three!"

The girl's voice, like a cuckoo weeping blood, echoed in the misty rain, lingering for a long time.

Gin Uchiha's departure left Konan and Gin depressed for a long time, but one cannot dwell on the past forever.

"Xiao Nan, what are you going to do?"

Yahiko, who was concentrating on meditation, looked at Konan, who had put on a raincoat, with a puzzled expression. Since Uchiha Gin was gone, the two of them hadn't left the house for a long time.

"I'm going out for a walk to clear my head and also to find out some information about Yin San San."

Konan believed that an excellent ninja like Uchiha Gin could not have left no trace in the ninja world. As long as they could find even the slightest clue, they might meet again.

Xiao Nan indeed gained something from this trip.

"Xiao Nan, didn't I tell you not to bring back any strange things?"

"I just picked up a puppy."

Holding an adorable Shiba Inu, Xiao Nan said with a straight face,

"And what about him?"

A slightly sullen Yahiko pointed at the timid red-haired boy behind Konan. Isn't this the little boy that Gin San San once mentioned?

It came with the dog when I found it.

"Hello, my name is Nagato. Thank you for saving my life."

Nagato, who was saved by Konan with a piece of bread, lowered his head timidly, his thick bangs covering most of his face, and his exposed skin showing an unhealthy paleness.

"Nagato, is it? We don't need sissy men."

Yahiko walked up to Nagato, intending to lift his hair to check his looks, but Nagato nimbly dodged him.

"I'm not a sissy!"

Nagato, covering her bangs, spoke in a soft, weak voice.

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Yahiko frowned. If such a person were released, he would probably be subjected to extreme humiliation and death by a pervert with peculiar fetishes within a few days.

Realizing he had one last chance to achieve his goal, Yahiko shook his head, giving him a look that said, "You've hit the jackpot, kid."

"Hey~ what can I do? I'm Yahiko, the one who's always ready to help. You've really hit the jackpot."

Thus, the three members of the Akatsuki Creation Trio from the original work finally reunited.

"Ah Fei, I need a reasonable explanation."

Looking at Nagato joining Konan and Yahiko's team, a fierce glint flashed across Madara Uchiha's aged face. Had White Zetsu just ignored his words?

"I'm innocent, Lord Madara! I observed for a long time and made sure that the curly-haired guy left before I sent Nagato over."

The White Zetsu, sensing the killing intent emanating from Madara Uchiha, immediately protested its innocence.

"Left? Where did they go?"

Upon hearing the news of Gin Uchiha's departure, Madara Uchiha frowned every day.

"I don't know either. It's like he vanished into thin air. Maybe someone dug a hole and buried him."

The White Zetsu named Afei spread his hands, indicating that he was also powerless to help.

"Phew~ Forget it, you just keep an eye on them and find them a suitable teacher in the next few years."

Madara Uchiha was already quite tired. The climate of the Land of Rain had given him rheumatism, so he decided to find a place to retire peacefully until Nagato grew into a suitable pawn before returning to the game.

"Mission accomplished!"

With a comical salute, White Zetsu slowly merged into the ground, continuing to monitor Nagato and the others.

"Black Zetsu, send a few White Zetsu to search for that person. Let me know as soon as you have any news."

After a long silence in the rain, Madara Uchiha suddenly turned around and spoke to the open space behind him.

"Is there anything special about that man?"

A half-black, half-white figure poked its head out from the ground, a faint look of confusion in its black eye.

Black Zetsu had always followed Madara Uchiha and had naturally met Gin Uchiha, but he didn't sense anything unusual from that curly-haired guy who looked a bit annoying; he was just an ordinary Jonin.

"You are merely an embodiment of my will; you do whatever I tell you to do."

Without answering Black Zetsu's question, Madara Uchiha turned and disappeared into the rain. Black Zetsu smirked, a flash of disdain in his eyes.

"Just a tool"

"Yahiko, you're a ninja too!"

The optimistic Yahiko quickly accepted Nagato's similar experience and even showed off his newly learned Three Body Technique in front of Nagato, which amazed Nagato.

"Oh, not at all, I still have a long way to go~"

After being showered with praise by his mother, Nagato, in a gentle and soft voice, Yahiko became a little smug.

"Then you must have a lot of powerful ninjutsu, right?"

"Oh, is that so?"

Before he could even feel smug for a few minutes, Yahiko was asked about his ninjutsu reserves. He became somewhat evasive, stammering for a long time without giving a coherent answer.

"He only knows the Three Bodies Technique."

Minami, who was playing with origami and teasing the dog nearby, mercilessly exposed Yahiko's true colors.

"Nonsense! I clearly know the Silver Three-Three Sect's exclusive ninjutsu!"

"So, have you learned it?"

"Um... it's still a tiny bit short of perfection."

Yahiko, who had just perked up for a moment, immediately deflated again.

"Excuse me, who is this 'Yin San San' you've been talking about?"

Having spent some time with Yahiko and Gintoki, Nagato had heard the name Gintoki mentioned from time to time, and finally couldn't suppress his curiosity.

"Silver Three Three"

Upon hearing this question, Xiao Nan's smile gradually faded, and she lowered her head, remaining silent.

"Yin San San is our teacher. Although he only taught us for three days, he is the best teacher in the world."

Yahiko raised his fist, his voice resounding, his eyes filled with unwavering determination.

After that, Yahiko, who had been thinking for a moment, suddenly spoke.

"Xiao Nan, let's go!"

"Um?"

Xiao Nan raised her head in confusion.

"We'll never make progress if we stay here. Let's go out and look for new opportunities, and we can also find out about Yin San San while we're at it."

Uchiha Gin left in a hurry, and in three days he didn't teach the two much. Yahiko knew that if they wanted to become stronger, they would have to study again.

"it is good."

Konan, who had originally intended to wait for Uchiha Gin in the same spot, brightened up when she heard the last sentence.

That's right. Instead of waiting around, it's better to take the initiative. Once I become an excellent female ninja, Yin San San will definitely come looking for me.

Then it will be her turn to protect Yin San San.

Lost in her beautiful fantasy, Konan immediately made the decision. Under Nagato's bewildered gaze, the two quickly packed their bags. After carrying simple luggage and a bunch of scrolls, the three-person team set off.

What followed was a long journey of wandering, but fortunately, with sufficient supplies, the three did not encounter any difficulties in their lives.

In addition, all the unstable factors on the road were eliminated by the White Zetsu following behind, so the three of them traveled safely through most of the Land of Rain until they encountered a kunai that fell from the sky.

"Lie down!"

A kunai with an explosive tag landed not far from Yahiko and his two companions. Seeing the tag radiating a violent aura, Yahiko roared, and the three quickly dropped to the ground.

"boom!"

After the violent explosion, the three dust-covered men shook the debris off their heads and stood up.

"Woof~"

Thanks to Yahiko's timely notification, the little dog that had been following them was also spared. The three people and the dog, filled with curiosity, cautiously made their way towards the distant battlefield, where the sounds of explosions were constantly reverberating.

"That's... Lord Hanzo!"

In the arena, an old man standing atop a giant salamander looked down at the disheveled trio of gamblers, drug addicts, and prostitutes, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

Unfortunately, we can't leave these three people here.

The mighty tree of Konoha is not something that small countries like theirs can shake. Let's forge a good relationship instead.

After bestowing upon Jiraito and the others the humiliating title of "Sannin," Hanzo turned and left.

"Yahiko, what do we do now? Should we go and follow Lord Hanzo?"

Yahiko and the others who witnessed the whole thing frowned. Nagato's eyes flashed over Jiraiya and the others' headbands, and his eyes were filled with resentment. He hated Konoha and spoke first, suggesting that his teammates team up with Hanzo.

"No, let's try to make contact with them first."

Yahiko shook his head. As a native of the Land of Rain, he naturally knew how terrifying Hanzo was. How could such a powerful figure possibly find the time to teach these orphans?

Moreover, under Hanzo's rule, Amegakure did not improve at all; on the contrary, it became even more devastated, and the number of orphans like him increased.

Yahiko doesn't dislike Hanzo, but he certainly doesn't like him either. His goal is to become a true god who surpasses even demigods.

That's why he abandoned Hanzo and instead went to find those younger ninjas.

The fact that they were recognized by a demigod means they have something special about them.

"They are Konoha ninjas, ruthless killers."

Nagato panicked upon hearing this; his parents had both died at the hands of Konoha ninja.

"How will we know if we don't try? I believe they won't stoop to the level of kids like us."

"All right."

Nagato, who had already begun to regard Yahiko as his pillar of support, finally nodded in agreement to the other's proposal.

"What if they get killed?"

Konan peeked out and saw the disheveled Jiraiya and the others. Their injuries were so severe that it was uncertain whether they could even make it out alive.

"Then let's find the people who killed them. As long as we can learn new knowledge and change the future of the Rain Kingdom, it doesn't matter who it is."

Yahiko raised his fist, his gaze unwavering.

Thus, the three began their mission to track down the three legendary ninjas. Along the way, they traversed mountains and rivers, encountering countless dangers, but they all narrowly escaped unscathed, almost making Yahiko believe that he was the chosen one.

After arriving at a dilapidated town, the three continued their search for the Three Legendary Sannin, only to encounter a localized battle. The three happened to be in the center of the battlefield.

At first, only a few kunai were shot out, which Yahiko neutralized with his substitution jutsu. However, as more and more kunai were launched, Konan's paper ninjutsu became ineffective in blocking them.

"Pfft~"

Protected by the two behind him, Nagato saw the kunai stuck in Yahiko's vitals and revealed his eyes for the first time. A halo of light instantly lit up, deflecting all the projectiles. However, the stone slab beneath their feet could not withstand the weight, and all three fell into the water at the same time.

Fortunately, the three of them were lucky after falling into the water and found a "brand new" piece of driftwood. Konan and Nagato used all their strength to pull Yahiko, who had a kunai stuck in his chest, ashore.

Not far from them, Afei, who had just left his post without permission for a few minutes, wiped non-existent cold sweat from his forehead with lingering fear.

"Minami, what should we do? Is Yahiko going to die?"

Seeing Yahiko's deathly pale face, Nagato broke down in tears, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Cough cough cough, you're still alive even though you're dead, you wimp."

Unexpectedly, Yahiko, with a kunai stuck in his heart, struggled to sit up and deftly pulled out the blood-stained kunai.

"!!!"

"Phew~ Thank goodness for Yin San San's unique ninjutsu, otherwise I might really be dead this time." (End of Chapter)