As soon as Tsunade announced her departure, the Fourth Raikage was the first to react, his voice sharp and direct.
"Hokage! Are you sure about this?" he asked, his tone carrying an edge. "Leaving now means you're withdrawing from the summit. We've all put aside valuable time for this meeting, and now you're walking away?"
The tension in the room rose instantly.
Tsunade met Raikage's glare with a calm but firm expression. Then, she dropped a bombshell.
"Akatsuki is preparing to attack Konoha. I have to return immediately."
Silence fell over the room.
Kakashi, Shizune, and Sakiya immediately moved to Tsunade's side.
Kakashi's expression darkened. "Hokage, what's happening?"
"There's no time to explain. We need to get back to Konoha as fast as possible."
Without another word, Tsunade leaped into action, heading for the exit. Kakashi and the others followed without hesitation.
The room erupted into murmurs as the remaining leaders processed what they had just heard.
Terumi Mei stiffened. "If Akatsuki is after the Tailed Beasts, then that means... Kiri could be next."
Her sense of unease deepened.
"Chojuro! Ao! We're heading back!"
The Fourth Raikage and the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, exchanged looks. The implications were clear—Akatsuki was striking now, taking advantage of their absence.
"Damn it! They waited for us to be away before making their move!" Onoki growled. "I have to return to Iwa!"
He quickly summoned Kurotsuchi and Akatsuchi before departing.
Raikage hesitated only for a moment. The secret location of Killer Bee should still be safe… but a nagging feeling told him otherwise.
"I'm heading back to Kumo!"
With that, he too vanished.
Now, only Gaara and Mifune remained.
Kankuro and Temari appeared at Gaara's side, both tense.
Kankuro clenched his fists. "So Akatsuki knew about the summit… and waited until now to strike?"
Gaara crossed his arms and nodded solemnly.
"Luckily, Shukaku is inside me. Even if they attack the Sand Village, they won't find it..."
But what if their goal isn't just the Tailed Beasts?
That thought unsettled him.
"We're heading back to the Sand Village too!"
---
A day passed...
Pain had arrived at a mountain overlooking Konoha.
From here, he could take in the full view of the village's prosperity.
The wind swept through the hills, rustling his black cloak with red clouds. His gaze remained fixed on Konoha.
"The Land of Fire… Konoha truly occupies a prime location."
The village was nestled in the heart of the most fertile and prosperous nation, a central hub of trade connecting north and south. It was this very advantage that made the Land of Fire the strongest among the five great nations, attracting talent and resources like no other.
In a cave within the mountain, Konan and Nagato remained hidden.
Nagato, his body frail and covered in black rods, looked almost skeletal. His voice was hoarse.
"So this is Konoha… It's almost a shame to destroy such a beautiful and thriving village."
Konan sighed.
"Nagato, this is too much of a risk. Konoha isn't weak, and your body won't hold up."
Nagato shook his head, his gaze unwavering.
"For peace, sacrifices must be made. Whether it's Konoha... or me."
Konan hesitated. "This is Jiraiya's village. If we encounter him..."
"Then we kill him."
She froze, her expression troubled.
"He will never accept our path. If Jiraiya must be sacrificed, so be it. We have nothing left to hold us back."
---
On the outskirts of Konoha, in a forest clearing—
Pain's six paths and Konan descended from the sky.
The Konan here was just a paper clone; her real body remained with Nagato.
Deva Path stood at the center, his eyes locked on Konoha. The ripple-like patterns in his gaze contracted slightly.
In the next moment, his vision took in the entire village—sky, land, and everything in between—trapped within a vast barrier.
"As expected, Konoha has a barrier. It's most likely a detection seal—any enemy who enters will be sensed immediately."
Konan turned toward the village, puzzled.
"Then how did Itachi and Kisame get in so easily?"
"Itachi was once in Konoha's Anbu. He knows the barrier's password, so they weren't detected."
Deva Path spoke in his usual calm tone.
"In that case, the Animal Path will be the first to break through from above."
Before that, they needed to divide their forces—
One team would cause chaos, facing Konoha head-on and eliminating as many ninja as possible. This team included Animal Path, Asura Path, and Preta Path.
Another team would focus on gathering intelligence, searching for the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki. This would be carried out by Naraka Path and Human Path.
Finally, one would handle the strongest threats, prioritizing the elimination of Konoha's key fighters—first and foremost, the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade.
Deva Path turned to Konan.
"You'll join the second team and focus on recon."
Konan nodded.
"Understood."
---
At the same time, in Konoha—
Tsunade had already returned using a reverse summoning technique and was overseeing the village's defense preparations.
Even Danzo and his forces had been assigned roles.
Unlike before, when Danzo stayed hidden and refused to act during Pain's attack, this time, Tsunade made sure he and his operatives were involved. As Hokage, it was well within her authority to order his forces to defend the village.
Danzo, knowing he couldn't openly refuse without damaging his reputation, had no choice but to comply. His original plan to let Tsunade's forces take all the damage while he swooped in later had completely fallen apart.
---
In the Hokage's office, Tsunade sat at her desk, coordinating the final defensive positions. Reports kept coming in—
"Report! Hokage-sama! Civilians have been evacuated!"
"Report! Special operations units are in position!"
"Report! Tactical traps have been set and verified!"
"Report! The medical team is ready!"
Tsunade nodded at each update.
"Good. Now, we just need to double-check everything to make sure nothing is overlooked."
---
Not far from Konoha—
The Asura Path grabbed the Animal Path and aimed toward the village.
Pain spoke calmly.
"Now… let Konoha feel pain."
The moment he finished speaking, the Asura Path's chakra surged. He gathered energy into his arm and launched the Animal Path like a projectile.
Boom!
With a sharp burst of wind, the Animal Path shot forward like an arrow, cutting through the sky toward Konoha.
As she descended in an arc, she pierced through the village's barrier, passing through undetected.
---
Inside Konoha's barrier control room—
A sensory ninja suddenly shouted.
"An enemy has breached the barrier! Only one!"
---
Above the village, the Animal Path was already forming hand seals midair.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
In an instant, summoning symbols spread through the sky.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The remaining five Paths of Pain and Konan appeared beside her.
The seven figures landed on the rooftop of a civilian house without a word.
The moment they touched down, they scattered in different directions, beginning their assault.
---
Back in the Hokage's office—
A report of the intrusion had just arrived.
Tsunade shot to her feet, her gaze locking onto the village outside her window.
"So… it's finally begun."
__________
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