"Save your complaints for later. Let me show you my latest secret technique: Thousand Blades, Demon Sword Style!"
The words barely fell before Konan's flesh wings unfurled. Looking closely, they truly resembled a thousand blades. She became a black shadow in motion, leaving a trail of crimson light. Gale-force winds swept sand and debris along her path. Even Itachi, with his Mangekyo Sharingan active, struggled to track her movements. Urashiki Otsutsuki could barely keep up, yet her speed far exceeded human limits.
I must not get hit.
Urashiki thought, opening a spatial rift at incredible speed. Yet before stepping in, the entrance twisted and collapsed.
Obito shouted: "Go!"
Blood splattered across the snow.
The bright red against the pure white was striking.
Itachi used his Sharingan to record every move Konan made. Three strikes, cuts, slashes—but every one is unavoidable.
After a brief moment, Konan lowered her blade, breathing heavily. Her body was drenched in blood. The battlefield resembled an explosion site, scarred with vast red stains. Urashiki lay at the center, barely alive.
Her flesh wings retracted, the Cursed Seal faded, revealing her original form. She donned her bloodied clothing again and turned to the stunned onlookers.
"I thought I'd never get the chance to use this form in my life… but at least it was useful."
"Is that the Cursed Seal Orochimaru developed?" someone asked.
Konan nodded.
Konan muttered, "Suddenly, I feel Orochimaru living through all this is almost heroic."
"Let's deal with him first," Nagato said, stepping toward Urashiki. Only a single breath remained in the Otsutsuki.
"Is that all the Otsutsuki are capable of?" Nagato asked. Even after the intense fight, he only breathed slightly heavily. The victory belonged to Akatsuki.
"F-forced me to this extent!" Urashiki spat bravely, raising his palm to absorb Nagato's chakra with the Rinnegan. Nagato frowned, activating Shinra Tensei, blasting Urashiki's dying struggle away in one strike.
"This should be my line. To think you've pushed Akatsuki to this extent… impressive, Otsutsuki. But if this is all you're capable of, it's not enough to worry us."
Urashiki laughed, nearly hysterical.
"Stop joking! You're nothing but lower life forms! Even if I die, others will come! This place is our test field, our nursery! Don't think exiling the tailed beasts will make everything perfect! Stop joking—cough cough—"
"Is that so? You won't let this rest? I understand." Nagato said, raising his hand. His Rinnegan activated, extracting Urashiki's very essence. The floating mass of energy was absorbed into Nagato's body in an instant. He sighed softly afterward.
"I see… so that's how it is."
Konan, slightly surprised, asked, "What is it?"
Nagato ignored the dead Otsutsuki, looking at Konan and the exhausted members around him. After a long moment, he shook his head slightly.
"No, nothing. Urashiki's body is yours, Obito. Let's go back."
"I understand." Obito said, about to activate Kamui. Gaara called out: "Wait! The Five Kage Summit—"
But it was too late. In the blink of an eye, they returned to Amegakure, Urashiki's corpse in tow. Gaara, already gravely injured, collapsed upon landing, fainting. Nagato glanced at him and said, "Sakura, heal him. Don't let him die. Obito, find the captive immediately."
"I understand." Obito said, disappearing. Nagato turned to the others:
"Rest for now. Don't leave the village without my orders for the next few days."
Kakuzu frowned. "What exactly did Urashiki leave behind? What was his purpose? Why did he come here?"
These were questions everyone wanted to ask, but Nagato didn't answer directly.
"There's too much information. I need to organize it first. Rest for now."
With that, the others didn't press further. The battle had taken a huge toll, and Urashiki's body had been removed. Sakura and Gaara were taken for treatment. Once everyone dispersed, Nagato glanced at Konan and the others who hadn't left, giving a wry smile.
"Looks like we've really stirred up a big problem."
"Tricky?" Konan asked.
Nagato nodded. He reached out, and a chakra-like mass appeared in his hand. Konan stepped forward, grasping it. A torrent of information flowed into her, and after a long moment, she handed the blue mass to Konan.
The three stood in silence as the intelligence sank in.
Rain began to fall from the sky, starting as a drizzle and swelling into a downpour. Nagato let the water soak his clothes, lifting his face to the clouds. He stepped forward, feeling the chill on his skin, and spoke, as if asking both Konan and himself:
"If it were Yahiko… what would he do?"
Konan didn't know how to answer. She looked at Nagato and asked softly:
"Do you think this was worth it?"
"I don't know."
Amegakure fell harder, streaked with lightning and thunder. Nagato smiled faintly, turning to the companions who had stood by him for so long.
"I cannot choose where I was born, but I can choose why I fight. This place is a hell, but it's where I grew up. So I will fight for this land until my last breath. Konan, Kita, you are my most important companions, so this time—"
"I'll walk with you," Konan said, a smile in her eyes. "Thank you. I'm glad you finally told me your plan, Nagato."
Nagato shook his head with a gentle smile:
"I didn't want you to go through this. Konan, Kita, your journey hasn't been easy. I want you to live well."
"Now it's already good enough," Konan smiled. "Even as a substitute, I'm still Akatsuki's top fighter. Seems I gave up my dual-sword technique too early. Luckily, we prepared a spare."
Nagato laughed at her words, full of sincere gratitude.
"Thank you."
Konan smiled and turned toward home.
"Let's talk after everything is over. Give me time to prepare—the village needs arranging."
"Ah."
...
The complete fanfic (Chapter 261) is already available on P@treon(.)com/Crimson_Lore