Konoha, reported by the Fourth Hokage at the start.

Chapter 213 Unexpected events always precede planning

"You might be mistaken. The ninjas from the three great nations have been attacking our Akatsuki members recently. It's very likely that they captured your brother and framed us," Nagato said.

Konan nodded in agreement and said, "That's right, it must have been done by ninjas from the three great nations. Our Akatsuki organization has always adhered to the principle of not killing, and everyone in the Land of Rain has known this for the past two years. It couldn't have been Brother Lee who did it."

The child looked at the excited Nagato and Konan, his expression suddenly changed slightly, and he slowly backed away, his body trembling as he stammered, "Uh...maybe...maybe I'm wrong, I'll leave now."

After saying this, the child immediately turned and left. He suddenly realized that these three people had a good relationship with the person who had kidnapped or killed his older brother. If he continued to question them, he would most likely be kidnapped or even killed.

"etc!"

Yahiko suddenly spoke, and the child froze. Despite feeling panicked and terrified, he dared not move another step. He took a deep breath, slowly turned around, and said softly, trying to appear calm, "Is...is there anything else?"

Yahiko's expression was serious as he said, "I don't know if your brother's matter has anything to do with Brother Li. Even if it doesn't, I will investigate and find out why your brother and the others disappeared, and give you an explanation. I promise."

The child paused, looking at Yahiko's serious expression and determined eyes, and felt a sense of relief. His fear subsided slightly, and a smile appeared on his face.

"Thanks."

The child left.

Nagato and Konan looked at Yahiko with a bad feeling in their hearts.

The fact that Yahiko hadn't spoken up for Brother Li from beginning to end made the two of them a little flustered.

"Let's go back."

After saying that, Yahiko sped up towards Xiyu City, keeping a silent face the whole way. Nagato and Konan didn't ask any more questions, as they also wanted to get back quickly to ask Brother Li what the truth was.

Li Yao and Xiao Yezi returned a day before Ya Yan and the others. After their return, they did not go on any missions but waited at the base for Ya Yan and the others to return.

The next day, Yahiko and the other two returned.

"Brother Li, come with me for a moment."

Yahiko called Li Yao to the rooftop, where the red tongue was sticking out. Konan and Nagato also arrived, and Koyoko, realizing something was wrong, followed them.

The original five members of Akatsuki have reunited.

"What's wrong?" Li Yao asked curiously. He could sense that something must have happened, and it was related to him.

"Brother Li..." Yahiko looked at Li Yao with a complicated expression, then recounted everything the child had told him on the way back. Finally, he stared into Li Yao's eyes and asked seriously, "Did Brother Li take care of those people?"

Nagato and Konan looked at Li Yao with nervous expressions. In the two years they had spent together, Li Yao had always sparred with them and taught them ninjutsu. In a sense, after Jiraiya left, Li Yao was their second teacher, the teacher who taught them to become stronger.

They really didn't want Brother Li, who was like a teacher to be the one to break their shared ideals of peace.

In fact, Li Yao could deny it, but he was certain that no one around him saw him kill those people, and his shadow clones were carrying out their missions in the village the whole time.

He also believed that as long as he denied it, Yahiko would trust him first and then investigate where the people he killed had gone.

As long as Yahiko is alive, he will continue to investigate and give that child an explanation.

During this period, Li Yao could remain in the Akatsuki organization until Yahiko died.

But... Li Yao suddenly smiled, a smile that sent a chill down Nagato and Konan's spines, as if they had been chilled to the bone by a bucket of cold water.

"I must say, Yahiko, your intuition is really accurate."

Li Yao did not deny it, because Yahiko's intuition already gave him the answer.

Intuition can sometimes be really unreliable.

After Yan heard what the child said, even though he didn't want to believe it, he had a feeling that what the child said was true.

Now that Li Yao has admitted it himself, Yahiko is silent, as are Nagato and Konan.

They didn't know what to say next.

After a few breaths, Yahiko shakily raised his head and asked, "Are they... still alive?"

"He's dead." Li Yao shook his head and said, extinguishing the last glimmer of hope in Yahiko's heart. He closed his eyes, remained silent for a moment, and then suddenly opened them.

"Why?" Yahiko asked.

"What do you think it would be for?" Li Yao smiled and asked in return.

Upon hearing this, Nagato and Konan felt a glimmer of hope. If it was because their lives were threatened that they had no choice but to kill those people, then... it wouldn't be Brother Li's fault.

Yahiko initially thought the same way as Nagato and Konan, but he quickly realized that with Brother Li's strength and the fact that he was carrying out the mission alone, it would be easy for him to escape even if he couldn't win.

Moreover, those missing wandering ninjas were generally weak and posed no threat to Brother Li's life.

Brother Li... is there something you're having trouble saying?

But... even if there were some unspeakable reasons, they shouldn't have killed so many people, right?

"Do you want to kill me to avenge those people?" Li Yao suddenly said with a smile.

Nagato and Konan's expressions hardened, and they immediately looked at Yahiko.

call out!

Xiao Yezi had instantly appeared beside Li Yao, making her decision through her actions.

Seeing this, Xiao Nan quickly said, "No, no, Brother Li, you must have something you can't say. Tell me quickly!"

"Yes," Nagato said. "I know killing is no fun. I've accidentally killed someone before, but it shouldn't lead to a confrontation. You agree, Yahiko."

Nagato looked at Yahiko, but Yahiko remained silent. Just when Xiao Ye thought Yahiko was about to make a move, he suddenly took a deep breath and said to Li Yao, "Brother Li, you should go."

Brother Li is very good.

Really.

But he has already betrayed the Akatsuki's principles and is no longer on the same path as them. If he continues to stay with them, Brother Li will still kill people in the future.

The key point is that Yahiko knows that Brother Li has never agreed with his path of peace. Two years have passed, and he thought that their current achievements have changed Brother Li's mind.

But now it seems that's not the case; Brother Li is still Brother Li.

Therefore, they can no longer stay together.

If Brother Li kills again in the future, he will personally defeat Brother Li and stop him.

Yahiko made up his mind.

"goodbye."

Li Yao was also decisive. He and Xiao Yezi jumped off the tower together. In mid-air, Xiao Yezi conjured a large paper bird to catch the two of them and flew into the sky, flying into the distance.

"Brother Li!"

"Sister Ye Zi!"

Nagato and Konan called out from the tower behind them, but it was too late.

As the saying goes, plans can't keep up with changes, and that's exactly what this means.

Originally, Li Yao wanted to stay by Nagato's side and watch the drama unfold, but now it seems that's no longer an option.

But it's good that I can get rid of the freckles sooner.

"Uncle, where are we going now?" Xiao Yezi asked.

"Let's go to Amegakure Village," Li Yao said, his eyes flashing.

His mission to infiltrate Nagato's side and secretly protect him was a failure. He knew a little about Madara's personality; he was an extremely proud person, and the kind of person who meant what he said.

What will Madara do if he fails in his mission?

They will most likely kill him outright.

They might also let him live because of his strength, so that he can become one of the people who capture the tailed beasts in the future.

However, Li Yao felt that the latter possibility was unlikely.

Therefore, Li Yao needs to make some preparations before Ban makes his move.

The city of Drizzle is not far from Amegakure, where Hanzo lives. Both are located along the shore of this large lake. As the crow flies, it would only take half an hour to get there.

Arriving above Amegakure, Li Yao quickly flew down and found an Amegakure Jonin who appeared to be around twenty years old and had a chakra level of one ka. After controlling him with a Sensory Deprivation Technique, he lifted him into the sky and threw him onto a large paper bird.

The two then quickly flew away from Amegakure.

(End of this chapter)