Naruto: Wooing Tsunade from Day One!-Chapter 341: Reunion 1

As the four ventured deeper into the Land of Rain, the grim reality of their surroundings became undeniable. Yahiko's brows furrowed ever deeper with each step. What kind of human purgatory was this?

The villages they passed were desolate, almost devoid of life. Broken bricks and rubble littered the ground, a stark testament to destruction. In the shadows of crumbled homes and beneath rickety bridges, ragged groups of people huddled for shelter. Their faces bore no trace of vitality; hollow eyes stared ahead, brimming with despair. Yet even in this misery, small armed groups roamed, ruthlessly driving the refugees away like cattle, treating them as less than human. It was a harrowing sight, even worse than what the group had left behind.

Konan's instinct to help stirred within her, and she stepped forward several times, only to be stopped. Yahiko shared her sympathy but knew the harsh truth: they couldn't save everyone. To expose themselves recklessly would be a grave mistake.

"What, never seen this before?" Kakuzu's mocking tone cut through the somber atmosphere. His sharp gaze swept over the three younger shinobi. They were still far too inexperienced.

Kakuzu, who had traveled through countless lands and witnessed innumerable tragedies, remained unmoved. These scenes were just another page in the bloody history of the ninja world.

"Do you have any compassion?" Konan shot back, her voice edged with frustration.

"A flower in a greenhouse," Kakuzu sneered. "This isn't Konoha. Put away your ridiculous compassion. War is the main theme of the ninja world."

Konan bristled, anger flaring. "You—" she began, but her words faltered. Despite her outrage, she couldn't fully refute his cold logic. At this point in her life, she still carried a degree of naivety.

"You're right," Yahiko interjected firmly, stepping forward. "But we're not flowers in a greenhouse. Don't you want to know why we came to the Land of Rain?" He locked eyes with Kakuzu, his determination unwavering. "I can tell you now. We want to end the war here ourselves, to bring peace and contentment to these people."

Kakuzu's expression betrayed no surprise. "You people from Konoha really have big appetites," he said flatly. To him, this lofty goal was just another façade. The powerful always pursued their own interests, caring little for the lives of the weak.

"Big appetites or small appetites," Yahiko replied without hesitation, "isn't ending the war a good thing?"

What had once been a simple mission to honor Kawakaze's request had transformed into something far more personal for Yahiko. This land was their home, the place where their parents were buried.

"Do what you want, as long as I can make money," Kakuzu said indifferently. "There should be plenty of prey with big rewards here."

He avoided Yahiko's determined gaze, stepped past him, and continued walking. For a brief moment, something flickered in Kakuzu's eyes—a faint memory of once having a similar look of resolve.

"We can do it," Nagato said, placing a reassuring hand on Yahiko's shoulder. The bond they shared made them believe in their shared mission.

"Let's go, or we'll lose our wallets," Konan pouted slightly as Kakuzu had already walked far ahead.

The three of them exchanged smiles and followed after Kakuzu. They weren't worried about him fleeing. Running away wouldn't be a smart move for Kakuzu—not when his strength had yet to fully recover.

As night fell, they still hadn't found an inn. The idea of a comfortable hot spring inn was out of the question—business in the Land of Rain was completely at a standstill. The secret intelligence post they were heading to was still quite far away.

"We'll stay here," Nagato decided, glancing around. "We'll head to the intelligence post tomorrow."

They settled in a small, relatively secluded valley. With a few seals, Nagato conjured a small earthen house for shelter.

"I'll go find some wood," Kakuzu said, stepping outside with an air of detachment.

"Grab some for us too," Yahiko called after him, his casual trust catching Kakuzu off guard.

Kakuzu stopped and glanced back. "Aren't you afraid I'll run away with the money?" he asked, his voice tinged with curiosity. Were they too naive, or was he too cynical?

"You can try," Nagato replied with a calm smile that carried an unsettling confidence.

Kakuzu paused. This kid... He was the hardest one to figure out. "I'm just joking. I'll be right back." Without another word, Kakuzu disappeared into the rain.

"Are you really not afraid he'll run away?" Konan asked, genuine concern in her voice. Their secret stash of money was no small matter.

"Don't worry," Yahiko reassured her with a knowing smile. "He wouldn't dare gamble with us."

After just a few days together, Yahiko had already sized up Kakuzu's character. That insight was part of what made him a natural leader.

"It's ready."

Nagato quickly built a makeshift kitchen from mud, his precision and skill undeniable.

"I knew you were the best, Nagato."

Konan still believed in Nagato's strength, trusting him far more than she trusted others.

The three of them worked diligently, preparing the ingredients and pots while waiting for Kakuzu to return with wood. It wasn't long before he arrived, carrying a large bundle of wet wood.

The trio had succeeded in their first test of cooperation. That night, not a word was exchanged. By morning, as the rain subsided, the four of them set off again.

By nightfall, they reached their destination: an intelligence point. Following hidden markers, Nagato located a scroll concealed in a tree hollow. His hands trembled as he opened it.

"Are you that excited?"

This 𝓬ontent is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.

"You'll faint when you actually meet her," Yahiko teased, giving Nagato a light pat on the back of his head.

They all knew who had left the message, though the sender remained unaware of their identities. Nagato, ignoring the banter, steadied his hands as he recognized the familiar handwriting.

After reading the scroll, he tucked it into his cloak and pulled out a map to check the location.

"Is it far?" Konan asked.

"Not really, about a quarter of an hour." Despite his efforts to stay composed, Nagato's voice betrayed his excitement.

"Then let's go! What are we waiting for?" Yahiko exclaimed, sprinting ahead in the direction Nagato indicated. He was eager to ensure his brother's safety.

"It's obvious this is someone you know," Kakuzu remarked, his sharp observation slicing through the tension.

"What's it to you?" Konan snapped, her lingering grudge against Kakuzu flaring up. She never felt at ease unless she was arguing with him.

"Did I say I was talking to you?" Kakuzu replied with growing amusement. Konan's fiery temperament had become an unexpectedly entertaining part of their journey.

"Ah! You're so annoying!" Konan shouted, her immaturity showing as she vented her frustration.

"Alright, let's both calm down."

"She's someone important," Nagato interjected, his tone soft but firm, responding to Kakuzu's observation.

"I can tell. She must be a girl," Kakuzu deduced, his pragmatic tone laced with a hint of curiosity. While love wasn't a concept he embraced, he wasn't oblivious to its existence.

"Hm," Nagato murmured, while Konan glared at him, silently cursing him for not supporting her.

"The situation is good, but the location isn't," Kakuzu remarked, glancing at their surroundings. The bleak conditions in the Land of Rain were hard to overlook.

"Being able to see her makes it a good place," Nagato replied, his gaze fixed straight ahead, his eyes gleaming with determination.

...

In less than a quarter of an hour, they arrived. The destination was a dilapidated village, with a few scattered pedestrians moving about. Perhaps because it was near the territory of a major power, the conditions were slightly better here. People were living their lives, and armed forces were noticeably absent.