Chapter 395: God Loves All
"Wuwuwu ╥﹏╥, poor little handsome man~"
"He's so good-looking, yet heaven envies handsome men!"
In the political center of Kirigakure, the Fifth Mizukage, Mei Terumi, held Haneda's bounty poster in her hands, crocodile tears streaming down her face.
Beside her, Ao coughed and said,
"Mizukage-sama, Uchiha Haneda is an enemy of Kirigakure. He interfered with our internal affairs, and the elders are very displeased.
"If the Daimyo hears about your behavior, it could harm Kirigakure's position."
"Why should I care about that old man?" Mei replied nonchalantly. "As if I don't know that the Blood Mist policy was partly his doing."
She flipped Haneda's bounty poster over and over, then sighed deeply:
"At least another handsome guy isn't dead… Are there any other promising Uchiha hotties recently, Chojuro?"
Hearing the Mizukage call his name, Chojuro quickly adjusted his glasses, pulled out a dossier, and flipped to the pages on Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Shisui. He handed it to Mei for review.
"Mizukage-sama, there are indeed two. These are Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Shisui, currently the most celebrated Uchiha talents.
"Uchiha Shisui earned the name 'Shisui of the Body Flicker' during the Third Great Ninja War.
"As for Uchiha Itachi, his achievements are less clear, but he's the son of Uchiha Fugaku, the clan leader. He also serves in Konoha's ANBU, and there are rumors he's even a squad captain."
Mei completely ignored Chojuro's lengthy explanation. Her gaze locked onto the handsome faces of Shisui and Itachi, and she couldn't help but marvel:
"Looking closely, the Uchiha clan really does produce handsome men. But they're so young."
"Uchiha Itachi is nice, but he's too young—he lacks maturity."
"Uchiha Shisui isn't as good-looking as Itachi, but his strength is decent. Still, he doesn't measure up to that man."
After admiring the Uchiha's young talents, Mei's expression turned serious. She asked Ao,
"Are the other villages stirring?"
Ao replied, "Sunagakure and Kumogakure have already sent envoys to propose alliances against Konoha."
Mei said calmly, "They're courting humiliation. As long as Uchiha Haneda's chakra aura remains, no one can defeat him."
"Back in the day, wasn't the First Hokage, the God of Shinobi, Hashirama Senju, the same?"
"Let's wait and see. Kirigakure is far from the mainland, and there's no need for us to get involved in their conflicts. It's better to speak up only when the outcome is clear."
Hearing that Mei didn't plan to act, Ao instinctively touched the eyepatch covering his empty socket.
He vividly remembered how Kakashi had taken his eye, disregarding both him and Kirigakure.
Unwilling to let go of his grudge, Ao protested,
"The Daimyo has already agreed to support us, Mizukage-sama! If we don't join the alliance, we might—"
"Then you can lead the team," Mei interrupted with a faint smile. "As for funding, go ask the Daimyo. That's all."
Ao froze, momentarily at a loss for words. Just as he was about to speak again, Mei added:
"Chojuro, see Elder Ao out."
---
Once a nation that never stopped crying, the Land of Rain erupted into chaos when news of Haneda's terminal illness reached it.
In every street and alley, people prayed for Haneda. Temples were packed to the brim, their donation boxes overflowing to the point where new ones had to be crafted overnight.
Even underground cults used slogans like "Pray for the great leader Uchiha Haneda" to attract followers.
In the Land of Rain's new political and economic center, Amegakure, Pain stood atop a statue, holding the Konoha-issued newspaper. Rain dripped onto his head, soaking the paper until it disintegrated.
Only then did Pain snap out of his daze.
He looked up at the sky, where memories of his last meeting with Haneda seemed to play out among the clouds.
"Is our dream coming to an end?"
"Weren't you planning to ignite a grand war to create eternal peace?"
"Why?"
"What am I supposed to do now?"
Pain lowered his head, and the reflection in the puddle beneath him showed his pale purple Rinnegan.
He remembered a powerful technique granted by those eyes: the Rinne Rebirth Jutsu.
At that moment, Konan descended behind him on wings of white paper.
She silently approached and stared at Pain, who was fixated on the puddle.
"Haneda once wrote in one of his notes," Konan said softly. "When a person hesitates, it means they've already made their decision."
"Nagato, be honest. Are you planning to use that jutsu?"
Pain's face remained cold and indifferent, like a god's, as he said nothing.
Konan continued, "Do you know why those people are gathered below?
"What do they call me? What do they call you?"
Without hesitation, Konan answered her own question:
"They're seeking answers. They call us God and Angel."
Pain said, "If God loves all people, then let me be a true god just this once, Konan."
Konan fell silent. She knew what had kept Nagato alive all this time: Yahiko's dream, her companionship, and Haneda's ability to fulfill Yahiko's vision.
Pressing her lips together, Konan said, "Three billion paper bombs can win the war."
Pain replied expressionlessly, "But they can't defeat Uchiha Madara."
"Compared to Madara and myself, I trust Haneda more."
"Yahiko said he could change the world, and I believed him. I've watched him lead Konoha and the Land of Fire to where they are now."
"I've followed his footsteps."
"And I still believe Uchiha Haneda can achieve Yahiko's dream and bring peace to the world."
"Konan, forgive my selflessness, but the world needs a true god right now."
"This is a necessary sacrifice."
Suddenly, the clouds parted, and sunlight bathed the land.
Konan looked at Pain's figure, his familiar face, and in him, she saw Yahiko's shadow.
Without thinking, she kissed him.
For a moment, the ever-cold and indifferent Pain blushed.
He didn't understand why Konan had done that, but he savored the moment.
This was the woman he loved most. Once, he had given her to his friend, but now, he wanted her for himself.
The air around them was filled with sweetness.
It wasn't until Kakuzu arrived to report Akatsuki's finances that Konan pulled away from Pain.
"What are you doing here?" Pain asked, his tone colder than usual, tinged with a hint of irritation Kakuzu couldn't quite place.
"I'm here to report the monthly financials for Amegakure, the Land of Rain, and Akatsuki," Kakuzu replied dutifully.
"Leave them on my desk. I'll deal with them later."
"Yes, leader." Kakuzu's gaze lingered briefly on Konan's flushed face. Seeming to understand something, he turned and left without hesitation.
Once Kakuzu was gone, the tenderness between Pain and Konan vanished.
Pain said, "I'll attempt to revive Haneda first, then Yahiko. Be happy, Konan."
With that, Pain floated into the air, his figure growing smaller and lonelier as he drifted away under Konan's gaze.
A few drops of moisture, not from the rain, fell into the puddles below, creating ripples that spread across the surface.
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