444. Almighty Push

Under the sweeping and profound waves of reform in the Land of Fire, the entire shinobi world was plunged into an unprecedented era of upheaval and transformation.

Like a massive boulder thrown into a calm lake, the ripples not only reached the powerful nations of the Land of Water and the Land of Earth but also ignited the flames of revolution in the lands of numerous smaller nations.

Through the vigorous promotion of the *Shinobi World United News*, the oppressed masses, who had long lived in darkness, finally saw a glimmer of hope in the endless night.

They realized that the lofty nobles were not invincible gods.

As long as they united and worked together, they too could overthrow the detestable noble lords who had long ridden roughshod over them.

Thus, swept up in this revolutionary storm, nations deeply influenced by Konoha—such as the Land of Rain, the Land of Rivers, and the Land of Grass—were plunged into the vortex of civil war.

Among them, Amegakure was the first to raise the banner of rebellion.

The former "Three Little Ones"—Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan—had undergone countless trials and tribulations, tempered by time and hardship, and had now fully transformed into reliable leaders capable of bearing the fate of their nation.

With the strong support of Konoha and the efforts and leadership of Yahiko, Nagato, and others, the Amegakure forces were unstoppable on the battlefield.

Of course, this was also partly due to the inherent weakness of the Rain Country's nobility.

After all, the Land of Rain was a nation surrounded by major powers.

In the past, the Rain Daimyo could seek help from the noble factions of the Land of Fire, the Land of Earth, or the Land of Wind.

But now?

In the Land of Fire, under Danzō's relentless crackdown, the vast majority of nobles had been reduced to dust in the annals of history.

Those who survived either fled like frightened dogs to foreign lands, eking out a meager existence, or chose to reinvent themselves, pledging allegiance to Konoha or turning to commerce.

Who among them would dare to step forward and support the Land of Rain in such chaotic times?

Were they seeking death?

As for the Land of Earth, its daimyo was currently mired in a fierce war with Iwagakure, unable to extricate himself.

Although not yet at a life-or-death crisis, he was certainly in no position to spare any troops to support a nation as insignificant as the Land of Rain.

That left only the Land of Wind among the major powers.

Unfortunately, while it hadn't yet erupted into civil war, the atmosphere there was tense, with the potential for conflict looming at any moment.

It was said that the Wind Daimyo had secretly purchased a large quantity of weapons from Konoha, preparing for war.

Aside from these three major nations, the Land of Rain bordered only the Land of Rivers to the south and the Land of Grass to the northwest.

Coincidentally, Kawagakure, established under Konoha's guidance, was now closely aligned with Amegakure, joining forces to launch a fierce assault on the noble factions within their borders.

As for the Land of Grass, it was effectively blockaded by Konoha's forces under the pretext of bandit suppression.

Simply avoiding being attacked was a stroke of luck, let alone offering any support to the Land of Rain.

Thus, the Rain Daimyo found himself in an isolated and desperate situation.

His gaze swept over the airships in the sky, symbols of the new era's power, then turned to the well-prepared and high-spirited Amegakure forces outside the capital, and finally to the steel tanks standing tall and imposing even in the drizzling rain.

A look of despair involuntarily crossed his face.

At this moment, he couldn't help but long for the days when Hanzo of the Salamander had ruled the Land of Rain...

As the Rain Daimyo's eyes filled with despair, a figure slowly rose from the crowd.

This person's red hair fluttered wildly in the wind, his black sleeves billowing in the airflow.

His pale purple eyes swept over the capital from above, like a deity descending to the mortal world, exuding an awe-inspiring presence.

"It's Lord Nagato!"

Someone in the crowd was the first to shout, and in an instant, cheers erupted like a tidal wave.

"Is Lord Nagato finally going to make his move?"

"With Lord Nagato here, even the capital will fall easily!"

Indeed, the figure hovering above the capital, gazing down at everyone, was none other than Nagato, the second-in-command of Amegakure.

Over the years, he had operated in the shadows, silently eliminating countless enemies for Amegakure.

With his immense power and ruthless methods, he had deterred many who sought to undermine Amegakure.

For this, he had earned the special title of "The Darkness of the Rain."

For Nagato, being compared to the renowned Danzō was an immense honor.

In his heart, he had always regarded Danzō as his idol and the goal he strove to achieve.

The title "Darkness of the Rain" was a tremendous affirmation of his years of work.

Moreover, to prepare for this decisive battle that would determine the future of the Land of Rain, not only had Nagato come to the front lines, but Yahiko, the leader of Amegakure, had also personally arrived on the battlefield.

At this moment, Yahiko stood tall and proud atop a formidable tank, his gaze fixed firmly on Nagato high above.

"Finally, this moment has come."

Yahiko murmured, his voice filled with endless emotion. In this instant, memories of the past flooded his mind like a bursting dam.

The hardships of their younger days, the joy of training under Jiraiya-sensei, the struggles after forming the Akatsuki, and the pain of being betrayed by Hanzo...

Fortunately, with the help of Lord Danzo, they had managed to lead the Land of Rain through these trials and ultimately reach this point.

"Who would have thought that three children on the brink of starvation could rise to such heights?"

Konan's soft voice sounded beside Yahiko.

She too had appeared by his side, quietly accompanying him as they witnessed this pivotal moment that would change the fate of the Land of Rain.

High above, Nagato calmly surveyed the capital of the Land of Rain.

Below, countless curious citizens looked up at the sky.

Their faces, covered in dust and exhaustion, were filled with uncertainty about the future. Most of these people were dressed in rags, emaciated from long years of poverty and oppression, their lives plunged into an abyss of darkness.

In stark contrast, the central tower of the capital was a scene of opulence.

The noble lords were hurriedly packing their valuables, preparing to flee with their slaves and concubines.

This stark contrast filled Nagato's heart with an uncontrollable rage, but he quickly calmed himself.

"Let me end this."

He slowly and firmly spread his arms, as if embracing this long-suffering land, his gaze growing calm yet filled with compassion.

In the next moment, a vast and mysterious power erupted above the capital, a force that seemed to contain the energy to destroy heaven and earth, causing the very sky to change color.

"Almighty..."

"Push!!"