I founded the "Bragging Cult" in Naruto.

Chapter 706 The advantage of having a legitimate reason is that even if you do something wrong, you can still find a way to justify it.

"Why hasn't Xiao Nan returned yet? It's almost time for our appointment. Could something have happened to her on her way to deliver the message?"

Inside the Akatsuki camp, Nagato appeared somewhat worried, frequently glancing in the direction leading to the Rain Village headquarters, which was also the capital of the Land of Rain, as if hoping to catch a glimpse of Konan.

But nothing came of it. The gloomy sky and the light rain made Nagato feel particularly depressed.

"It's possible that Konan was asked to stay by Lord Hanzo. After all, they're meeting today, and if Konan comes back, she'll have to make an extra trip. She might even be going to the meeting place with Lord Hanzo."

Although Yahiko also felt a little strange, he remained relatively optimistic. After all, given Konan's strength, it would be extremely difficult for anyone in the Land of Rain to capture her.

There may be many ninjas that Konan still cannot defeat, but she has used and developed the Shikigami Technique very flexibly, and can even fly using the Shikigami Technique, so escaping is not a problem.

Nagato nodded, hoping that was the case. Yahiko said, "It's almost time. We should set off. It wouldn't be good if we were late for our first formal meeting."

He turned to look at the worried Lao Zi and Han, and said, "Lao Zi, Han, I'm leaving the camp to you."

Old Zi nodded, but still advised, "Why don't you bring more people with you?"

"No need. That might make Lord Hanzo think we are hostile. Besides, if Lord Hanzo wants to harm us, it would be easier for the three of us to escape."

Yahiko smiled and refused, then looked at Nagato and said, "Let's go, Nagato."

After saying that, Yahiko started walking towards the agreed location. Regardless of whether Konan was invited by Hanzo to go to the meeting place together or if something unexpected happened on the way, they had to go to the meeting place first.

Even if Konan encountered an accident before notifying the other party, they still had to go to the meeting place first to confirm the movements of the Rain Ninja, or rather, the movements of Lord Hanzo, before they could do anything else.

Hopefully, this is just unnecessary worry.

Despite his seemingly optimistic face, Yahiko's eyes held a hint of worry. Instead of chatting with Nagato as usual, he focused on his journey.

Nagato seemed to notice Yahiko's emotions as well. He swallowed back the worries he had and the words he wanted to share with Yahiko, and also kept his head down as he continued on his way.

With their speed, the two quickly arrived at the meeting place, landing in the valley. Yahiko looked around and his brows furrowed.

Because there was no sign of Hanzo, nor even of the Rain Ninja.

"Could something have really happened on the way there?"

Yahiko murmured, but Nagato suddenly looked up at the location of the peak, pointed, and said, "There are people there."

Upon hearing Nagato's words, Yahiko quickly looked up, and at that moment, perhaps upon hearing Nagato's voice, the person who had been hiding there also revealed himself.

"Xiao Nan?"

Yahiko said with delight, and the worry on Nagato's face disappeared, replaced by a smile.

Konan had her head down, her hair wet and sticking to her face, making it impossible to see her expression. Her hands also seemed to be behind her back. Just as Yahiko and Nagato were about to climb to the top, Konan suddenly called out:

"Run!"

"??!!"

The two were first puzzled, then tense. The next moment, figures appeared on both sides of the peak, densely surrounding the two people in the valley.

"Thump~"

Konan suddenly stumbled forward and then knelt on the ground. Behind her, another person appeared—Hanzo, whom Yahiko had been longing to see.

"Lord Hanhanzo, why?"

Yahiko looked up at Hanzo, who was holding a kunai to Konan's neck, and spoke in disbelief.

"Yahiko is not just a Rain Ninja."

Nagato observed the people surrounding him from both sides. On one side were Amegakure ninja, some of whom he had dealt with before, but on the other side was a group of masked men, the leader of whom wore a vortex mask, revealing only one eye.

Judging from the markings on their clothes, they seem to be members of the Iwagakure Anbu.

"Why are the ninjas from Iwagakure here? Why are they surrounding us with Hanzo and Daihanzo?"

At Nagato's prompting, Yahiko also noticed that Hanzo glanced strangely in the direction of the Iwagakure Anbu.

That Danzo is really something. Even though it was a sure way for the other side to die, he still had to pretend. I couldn't be bothered to explain for Danzo.

Danzo, wearing the vortex-shaped one-eyed mask, noticed Hanzo's gaze but felt no shame for his actions. After all, the Fourth Hokage had said that every action must have a just cause.

Taking action in the name of Konoha would put them in the wrong no matter what, but it would be different if it were Iwagakure. He looked at Yahiko and said:

"Yahiko! The organization you created illegally took in the Jinchuriki of my Iwagakure. Now I'm giving you a chance to return the Jinchuriki to my Iwagakure! Otherwise, I will have no choice but to take necessary measures to take the Jinchuriki away from my Iwagakure."

"You're talking nonsense!"

Upon hearing Danzo's words, Yahiko quickly retorted, "Roji and Han clearly left Iwagakure and joined us after peaceful negotiations with your Third Tsuchikage, Onoki!"

"You're talking nonsense! Do you have any evidence for what you're saying? This is just your side of the story!"

"this"

Yahiko gritted his teeth. He truly had no evidence; after all, it was the first time a ninja village had released a Jinchuriki, and Iwagakure couldn't possibly provide any proof. Danzo continued:

"Or perhaps you were deceived by Old Purple and Han? You easily believed their claims? Or did you know all along that they were fleeing Iwagakure, yet you insisted on protecting them?!"

"No matter what you say, I will never betray any member of our Akatsuki organization!"

Yahiko couldn't argue with Danzo, since he didn't have any evidence. He couldn't prove that Rōshi and Han were innocent, and he couldn't refute the Iwa ninja who insisted that Rōshi and Han were escaped from Iwagakure.

Danzo didn't continue questioning Yahiko, but instead gave Hanzo a look. Hanzo understood and immediately said, "So, you admit that you colluded with the Jinchuriki of the Tailed Beasts in Iwagakure?!"

"I"

Yahiko clenched his fists, speechless once again. Hanzo snorted and said, "Yahiko! You colluded with ninjas from other countries, developed a ninja organization, and seized the legitimate territory of the Land of Rain. Your crimes deserve death!"

Hanzo threw out another kunai, which landed in front of Yahiko and Nagato. He said, "One of you shall commit suicide on the spot, and the other shall go back and disband the Akatsuki organization and return the Jinchuriki of Iwagakure to Iwagakure. This matter is settled, and I will no longer pursue your crimes."

"What if I refuse?"

Yahiko gritted his teeth and asked, as Hanzo brought the kunai in his hand closer to Konan's neck, "Then I will have no choice but to kill you all here and forcibly dismantle your so-called Akatsuki organization."

"Think about it yourself. If the Rain Ninja and Iwa Ninja use force, what will become of the so-called sanctuary you've painstakingly built?"

When Yahiko heard that Hanzo was going to take action against the shelters built by Akatsuki, he was somewhat bewildered. He had worked so hard to build them, providing refugees with shelter from the wind and rain and a place to seek warmth and food. If they were destroyed because of war...

"Nagato."

Yahiko looked at Nagato, his lips trembling, and after a long while he finally said, "From now on... from now on, the Akatsuki organization will be in your hands."

After saying that, he picked up the kunai from the ground and stabbed it into his heart without hesitation.

"don't want!!!"

"don't want!!!"

Konan screamed in pain, oblivious to the bloodstains on her neck. Nagato, meanwhile, held the fallen Yahiko, trembling all over, his chakra surging within him.

From his vantage point high above, Danzo narrowed his eyes and murmured, "I didn't expect this outcome. This isn't what Tatsuma wanted. It seems I have to make my move."

He put his free hand behind his back and made a few hand gestures. While Konan and Nagato were immersed in grief, something seemed to emerge on the rain-soaked ground.

They were individual detonation tags.

"Boom! Rumble rumble~"

(End of this chapter)