Naruto: Sasuke Uchiha Returns from Soul Society

“Yes, it doesn’t look like they were being coerced,” Xiao Nan continued to explain. “It looks more like they were leading the way.”

"But strangely, after they reached the border, they did not immediately enter the Land of Rain, but stopped there, as if waiting for something."

"Wait...?"

Payne finally turned around, a cold glint in his eyes. "It seems he has realized this is a trap."

"This is a bit troublesome." Xiao Nan sighed softly, a look of worry on her face. "If he doesn't come in, all the measures we've set up in the village will be ineffective."

"And..." she hesitated for a moment, but still expressed her concerns, "Our current situation is very passive."

"Hidan and Kakuzu have been captured, and Itachi..."

At this point, Xiao Nan's voice lowered.

Although there was no definite news about Itachi, everyone knew that he was probably in grave danger.

"And then there's the strength that Uchiha Sasuke displayed..."

Xiao Nan looked at Payne and said, "If we really start fighting, things could easily get ugly."

"It's alright."

Payne's voice remained calm, devoid of any emotional fluctuation. "Whatever he's waiting for, whatever his plans are."

"All schemes are meaningless before the power of God."

He turned around again and gazed at the gray horizon in the distance.

"Since he doesn't want to come in, then we'll go out. In terms of the outcome, it won't change much."

Just then, a series of heavy footsteps came from the steps below.

"Did Itachi really die at the hands of that Uchiha brat?"

Kisame Hoshigaki carried Samehada and walked step by step up the platform, his face grim.

“I didn’t actually see the body,” Konan replied. “But in that sea area, I did sense Sasuke Uchiha’s chakra.”

"Moreover, there are very obvious signs of a large-scale battle at the scene."

Kisame recalled his always taciturn yet unfathomable partner.

Even when facing tailed beasts, he was able to handle them with ease.

How could she lose to her ten-year-old brother? She must have done it on purpose!

"otherwise......"

Kisame suddenly raised his head, his voice hoarse, "How could such a thing happen?!"

"Mr. Itachi is Uchiha Itachi!"

"That brat is strong, and I admit he has some strange abilities, but to say he could kill Itachi-san..."

Kisame gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with astonishment and indignation. "I absolutely refuse to believe it!"

“That’s the truth,” Pain interrupted him coldly. “Believe it or not, Itachi is gone.”

"Then I'll go check it out!"

Kisame was somewhat agitated. He stepped forward and said, "Boss, let me go!"

"Since that brat is at the border, I'll go and ask him myself what he did to Itachi!"

"Kisame," Konan frowned, "Don't be impulsive, that guy even beat Itachi..."

"I do not care!"

Kisame rudely interrupted Konan, "Someone like Itachi could never lose to a brat who only knows how to bluff!"

He brandished the sharkskin in his hand, a ferocious murderous intent flashing across his shark-like face.

"I'm going to tear that bastard to pieces and make him regret ever being born!"

Payne watched him silently. This member, who was usually the most obedient to orders, was now like a wild beast that had lost its mind.

He could understand Kisame's anger.

For Kisame, a ninja who values ​​loyalty above all else, Itachi was not just a partner, but also the truth he recognized in this hypocritical world.

Itachi's death was undoubtedly a collapse of his beliefs.

"Do you want to go and die?" Payne's voice was cold.

"Even if I die, I want to die knowing why!" Kisame refused to back down.

"...Do as you please."

Payne remained silent for a moment, then finally closed his eyes.

"But remember, your task is merely to test the waters."

"If you find that things are not going to work, retreat immediately and do not make unnecessary sacrifices."

"The organization can no longer afford any more losses."

"understood."

Having received permission, Kisame didn't linger for a moment. He snorted coldly, turned around, and leaped down from the towering stone statue, disappearing into the vast rain.

Konan looked in the direction Kisame had disappeared, a hint of worry flashing in her eyes.

"Is it really okay to let him go?"

“He can’t win.” Pain opened his eyes, his tone certain. “Even Itachi lost, how could Kisame possibly be a match for that Uchiha Sasuke?”

"Then why...?"

Xiao Nan looked at Payne in confusion, "Since you knew it was a losing game, why did you still send him? This isn't like you."

"Because I need to confirm something."

Payne walked to the edge of the statue. "The Gedo Statue previously exhibited extremely strange behavior."

"At that time, Sasuke Uchiha was frantically collecting the Tailed Beasts..."

His eyes deepened. "This whole series of events is strange in every way."

Payne turned around, looked at Konan, and said in a low voice.

"This plan to collect the tailed beasts is the key to our ultimate peace, and we cannot afford to make any mistakes."

"It would be unwise to start a war before we figure out what that Uchiha brat is all about."

“So…” Payne raised his hand, palm up, to catch the falling raindrops.

"Let Kisame test his strength first."

"I will utilize this 'Rain Tiger Freedom Technique' that covers the entire Land of Rain..."

The raindrop spread across his palm, as if merging with the entire sky of the Rain Kingdom.

"Take a good look through Kisame and see if you can find the source of that strange feeling in Uchiha Sasuke."

..........

Meanwhile, at the border of the Land of Rain.

Two figures stood beneath a rock, not stepping into the rain.

"Hey, kid." Kakuzu crossed his arms and glanced at the indifferent black-haired boy beside him.

"Weren't you very confident before? Why did you stop here?"

His voice was hoarse, tinged with mockery, "Have you suddenly become scared? Don't dare to directly storm into the Akatsuki's headquarters?"

Sasuke ignored his provocation and pointed to the endless rain in front of him.

Did you see that shower?

"rain?"

Kakuzu followed his finger and nodded dismissively. "That's just how the Land of Rain is. It's rainy all year round. What's so strange about that?"

"The country got its name from the fact that it rains almost the entire year."

"Do not."

Sasuke shook his head, his voice soft, "That wasn't ordinary rain; it was a technique."

"A technique?" Kakuzu was taken aback, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

“Every raindrop carries chakra.”

Sasuke lowered his hand, his eyes piercing through the heavy rain. "As long as you touch this rain, the person who cast this technique will sense it."

"What?!" Kakuzu's expression instantly darkened. "That rain... it was all spells?!"

He spent a considerable amount of time in the Land of Rain, and could even be considered one of the founding members of the Akatsuki organization.

But he never realized that such an amazing secret was hidden in the rain that was falling everywhere.

"As expected of the leader..."

Kakuzu inwardly marveled, "To be able to maintain sensory ninjutsu on such a scale, covering the entire country, and do it so silently..."

This method is indeed worthy of the man who possesses the Rinnegan.

"For a ninja, gathering intelligence is the most important skill."

Sasuke ignored Kakuzu and said to himself, "The first thing is to avoid being discovered by the enemy."

"If even your whereabouts are constantly monitored by the enemy, then no matter how strong you are, you're nothing more than a turtle in a jar."

"Hmph, that's easy for you to say."

Kakuzu was shocked by Pain's methods, but he was still somewhat disdainful of Sasuke's caution. "So what do you plan to do? Just wait here until the rain stops?"

"The rain in the Land of Rain never stops."

"It doesn't matter."

Sasuke turned around, leaned against the rock, and closed his eyes. "We'll just wait for them to come out."

"..."

Kakuzu looked at his calm and composed demeanor and was speechless.