Chapter 55: The Three "Akatsuki"

Chapter 55: Chapter 55: The Three "Akatsuki"

Facing the defeated, the Uchiha never resorted to complete annihilation. This was not out of mercy, but because such individuals had lost their worth to be killed.

[Defeated S-Rank target. Obtained S-Rank Card Pool Draw: 1]

As Hanzo of the Salamander’s figure completely vanished into the forest, the sound of a data notification echoed in Uchiha Xuan’s ears.

"Xuan!"

Watching Hanzo of the Salamander depart completely, Tsunade immediately rushed to Uchiha Xuan’s side, grabbing his wrist to examine his condition.

In Tsunade’s view, the terrifying power brought by that armor must have come at some cost.

However, after checking for a moment, Tsunade’s expression turned somewhat peculiar.

Uchiha Xuan’s body... was in far too good a condition.

Not only was he completely uninjured, but his Chakra was also in an abundant state. Although the Chakra was due to the activation of the Yin Seal, to have engaged in direct combat with an opponent like Hanzo of the Salamander and emerged without a single injury...

"Kid, just what level is your strength at right now?"

Releasing Uchiha Xuan’s wrist, Tsunade spoke with a strange expression.

Why did she feel that ever since Uchiha Xuan came to the Land of Rain, she couldn’t quite understand him anymore? Was this rate of improvement in strength really normal?

"It was just a clever trick. In a true test of raw strength, I’d still need some time to defeat him."

Gazing in the direction Hanzo of the Salamander had left, Uchiha Xuan withdrew Bi Yi and shook his head lightly.

The outcome of the battle with Hanzo of the Salamander was due not only to the 100% boost provided by the heavy rain but also to the fact that Hanzo had never harbored true killing intent toward him from start to finish.

Even when provoked, it remained the same. From the very beginning, Hanzo of the Salamander had been fully aware of the outcome of this war. What he wanted was merely to find a way out for the Hidden Rain Village.

And most importantly, Uchiha Xuan could see the fear in Hanzo of the Salamander’s heart. This fear did not stem from him or the Konohagakure behind him, but from the entire Hidden Rain Village.

This powerful warrior was fighting while bearing the weight of the entire Hidden Rain Village. He... did not dare to risk his life recklessly because he was now the sole pillar supporting the Hidden Rain Village.

.........

"We... won??"

Jiraiya walked up, his face filled with disbelief and shock. That was Hanzo, after all—the publicly acknowledged "Pinnacle of the Ninja World."

The next second.

"Hahahahahaha, looking at it this way, the four of us are pretty amazing."

Jiraiya’s hearty laughter rang out beneath the curtain of rain.

"Idiot."

Beside Jiraiya, Orochimaru crossed his arms and spoke coldly, though even someone as icy as him now wore a slight curve at the corner of his mouth.

"We finally won. This time, it should be completely over, right?"

Tsunade stretched lazily before slinging an arm over Uchiha Xuan’s shoulder and speaking with a smile.

"Not sure, but most likely we—or rather, you—will be pulled back to the Land of Wind battlefield. After all, things aren’t completely settled there yet."

Uchiha Xuan glanced sideways at Tsunade’s hand resting on his shoulder and replied softly.

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Do medical ninjas have no rights? Even oxen aren’t worked this hard! No, I must talk to the old man. Anyway, Sakumo-senpai is over there, and I’ve already completely neutralized Chiyo’s poisons. I don’t care anymore—this time, I’m definitely going back to Konoha to enjoy a couple of gambling rounds!"

Upon hearing this, Tsunade immediately exploded. Since the war began, she hadn’t had a single day of rest. After finishing in the Land of Wind, she rushed to the Land of Rain, and now they were telling her she had to return to the Land of Wind?

Unacceptable!!

.........

In a cave within the Land of Rain.

Around a campfire, Uchiha Xuan and the other three were chewing on compressed biscuits.

"By the way, what are your plans after returning? I don’t think I’ve heard you mention them."

In the quiet cave, only the sound of flames crackling against wood could be heard. Unable to bear the silence, Tsunade broke the ice, directing her question to Jiraiya and Orochimaru.

"As for me, I’ll probably travel around. Even though it’s still wartime, I want to broaden my horizons and gather more experiences to write better stories."

Jiraiya spoke cheerfully, and as he did, he couldn’t help but think of his disciple, Namikaze Minato.

’Minato... he must be the Child of Prophecy, right?’

"And you, Orochimaru... Huh?! Who’s there?"

Tsunade nodded at Jiraiya’s words, then turned to Orochimaru. However, noticing Orochimaru staring intently in one direction within the cave, she immediately realized something and shouted angrily toward the direction he was looking.

As for Uchiha Xuan beside them, he quietly continued munching on his compressed biscuit. He knew all too well who was hiding in the shadows.

But... Uchiha Xuan raised his head and cast a cold gaze toward a section of the wall.

This gaze made the White Zetsu hiding within the wall instinctively shift positions, yet Uchiha Xuan’s eyes followed his movement without fail.

White Zetsu: "..."

"A child?"

As Tsunade’s voice faded, an orange-haired boy dressed in what looked like a diving suit emerged from the darkness. With a calm expression, he walked up to Tsunade and extended his hand.

"Share some food with us."

The boy’s face remained placid, but his words were spoken with an unsettling calmness, as if it were the most natural request in the world.

Seeing Yahiko appear, Uchiha Xuan withdrew his gaze from White Zetsu’s location and turned his attention to this future "Deva Path."

’His body has reached its limit. It seems it’s due to hunger.’

With just one glance, Uchiha Xuan assessed Yahiko’s physical condition.

"Where are your parents?"

Beside them, Jiraiya stared blankly at Yahiko, whose expression was so calm it bordered on numbness, and asked softly.

"They were killed by ninjas in this war."

In response to Jiraiya’s question, Yahiko replied with the same detached calmness. The profound sorrow in his words only emphasized his numbness, delivered in such an emotionless tone.

Looking at the boy before them, the more empathetic members of the "Three Legendary Sannin"—Jiraiya and Tsunade—fell into a heavy silence.

"Here, take this to eat."

After a moment of silence, Jiraiya took out a compressed biscuit from his waist pouch and gently offered it to Yahiko.

"Nagato, Konan, come out. He doesn’t seem like a bad person."

Faced with the bread in Jiraiya’s hand, the boy who was clearly starving to his limit did not immediately take it. Instead, after carefully studying Jiraiya’s face, he turned and softly called toward the darkness from which he had just emerged.