Chapter 38: Talisman Master Konan

Root.

A spacious cavern hidden within the mountain, with rows of cells embedded in the cave walls like moss, dense and packed.

This is the village's secret base, and an independent organization separated from the Anbu with the special permission of the Third Hokage.

Root.

A Root ninja knelt on one knee before an elderly man with a lean build, his body wrapped in bandages.

"I didn't expect such an unexpected surprise; the Uchiha brat was actually chosen by the Samsara Game?"

Danzou remained expressionless, silently calculating in his heart.

Ever since Hiruzen Sarutobi decided to fully support Asuma and invest a large amount of funds into the Samsara Game, the rift between the two of them had grown wider and wider.

If he hadn't failed to step forward back then,

the teacher would surely have passed the position of Hokage to him, the one more suited to protecting Konoha!

Hiruzen is nothing but a vacillating, indecisive fool.

Danzou said in a calm voice: "Go, avoid the surveillance of the Anbu, and bring Sasuke Uchiha to see me."

The Uchiha are all cunning Laoshu; even an orphan who seems to have no threat could potentially threaten the foundation of the village.

He must be nipped in the bud.

Since Sasuke Uchiha has already come into contact with the Samsara Game, as long as he doesn't die, he is bound to become increasingly powerful.

By then, knowing some of the buried truths could very likely lead to a loss of control.

It would be better to pull him directly into Root, use methods to brainwash him, and make him a sharp blade completely loyal to Konoha.

"All of this is for the sake of the village!"

Danzou sighed inwardly; whenever he saw Hiruzen Sarutobi's uncomprehending gaze, he felt pained and heartbroken.

You are the branches and leaves bathing in the sunlight, enjoying the admiration and love of everyone.

And I am the root of Konoha, dedicating everything to the village.

The teacher will eventually understand who loves the village more; he will regret his decision.

"Yes."

The Root ninja knelt on one knee, and after receiving the order, vanished instantly, rushing toward the Uchiha compound.

Rain Village, where the Yin Rain falls incessantly.

The pattering rain, like a hole torn open in the sky, would never cease.

Konan stood in the rain with a dazed expression, letting her whole body get soaked.

After a long while, she slowly blinked her eyes.

She extended her somewhat pale palm, and countless sheets of paper scattered out.

Finally, they condensed into a piece of paper imprinted with flame patterns.

"It's not Genjutsu; it's all real."

Konan stared at the Fire Paper and flicked it away.

With a slight movement of her mind,

the flying fire talisman paper acted like ignited dynamite, and a violent, surging flame erupted, overturning an uninhabited, dilapidated house.

Fire Talisman, a type of low-level talisman paper.

It originates from Taoist priests in another world who fight against ghosts and monsters; one can consume mental energy to draw talisman papers and release all sorts of strange abilities.

"It's even more powerful than an Explosive Tag."

Konan thought to herself,

after she finished looking through the dazzling array of exchanges in the Game Mall, she found this ability that was very compatible with her own.

Talisman Master.

It can perfectly combine with Paper Ninjutsu to erupt with astonishing power.

For a long time,

she had been very troubled by her own strength; although she possessed an excellent talent for controlling Ninja Tools, she lacked the profound heritage of Sunagakure and could not control Puppets, and the strength of her paper was too low.

Even if she replaced the paper with Explosive Tags, she was still relatively passive when fighting against powerful ninja.

But the ability of a Talisman Master allows every sheet of paper she controls to become a lethal talisman paper.

Not only are there Explosive Fire Talismans and Ice Talismans, which are comparable to high-level Ninjutsu.

There are also defensive Iron Armor Talismans and Gold Armor Talismans.

Auxiliary Spirit Wind Talismans and Rejuvenation Talismans that increase one's own attributes, and talisman papers similar to summoning.

"I don't need to consider funds; as long as my level is high enough, I can directly exchange for skills."

Now that there is a better choice, she naturally won't waste funds drawing Explosive Tags.

Konan whispered: "To achieve peace, one needs not only powerful strength, but also the ability to dissolve hatred..."

She felt a stinging pain in her heart,

Nagato, who possesses the Rinnegan, has strength that absolutely stands at the pinnacle of the ninja world, but after talking with Fang Yi, Konan clearly discovered the problem with the Akatsuki.

They have powerful strength, but lack the power to dissolve hatred.

The Yahiko of the past possessed such an ability.

Gentle yet not pedantic, even though he was irrigated by the despair-filled rain of the Land of Rain, he was still as warm and enthusiastic as the sun, infecting everyone around him.

It was because Yahiko always made the most correct choices and could purify the gloom and hatred of those around him with sincerity that the original Akatsuki came to be.

It was also he who set the rules and studied the plans, letting the Akatsuki go from being unknown to being known by people day by day.

Konan realized: "Jiraiya-sensei, so this is what you meant by the Child of Prophecy..."

No one has decreed that the Child of Prophecy capable of bringing peace cannot be two people.

Nagato, who possesses invincible power, and Yahiko, who can touch people's hearts—the two of them are the true twin Children of Prophecy.

"Nagato, perhaps we were both wrong."

Konan said with a firm gaze: "The path of making an enemy of the ninja world might bring about a fleeting peace, but it is a castle in the air."

"Only by changing the status quo, completely overturning the system of the ninja world, and charting a brand-new path can we usher in lasting peace."

"Not just ninjas, but commoners, Nobles, and merchants; to straighten out these complex relationships, one must communicate with them. By remaining high and aloof in the posture of a God, one can never understand or eliminate hatred."

The rain was evaporated and brought to a boil by the high temperature.

Bursts of white mist shrouded the vicinity, and soon, ninjas from the Akatsuki arrived.

"Lady Konan?"

After seeing clearly who was releasing the strange Ninjutsu, the Akatsuki members immediately bowed respectfully.

In their eyes, Konan, who possessed an angelic appearance, usually helped commoners whose homes had been destroyed by disasters and injured ninjas; she seemed cold, but was actually gentle and powerful, truly the messenger of God in the Land of Rain.

Compared to the mysterious God, they admired and loved this angel even more.

Konan said casually: "It's nothing, I was just researching a new Ninjutsu."

The arriving Akatsuki ninja revealed a look of adoration, thinking to himself that she was truly worthy of being an angel.

Konan's gaze fell upon his face.

He was clearly still very young, yet his face was full of fine furrows, and traces of injury and illness could also be seen on his arms and legs.

In the past,

she had always ignored such adoring gazes.

This time, however, she could not help but ask: "Ichiro, if peace were to arrive, what would you want to do?"

This question caught the other party off guard, and he whispered: "Peace? I would probably continue to be a ninja, I suppose?"

Konan withdrew her gaze and suddenly smiled, her whole being like a blooming, swaying flower.

Even the members of the Akatsuki had never thought about welcoming peace; it seemed that she and Nagato had been very wrong all these years.

But fortunately, everything could still be changed.

"No matter what, I will always stand by your side, Nagato."

(End of this chapter)