Yoruha spoke calmly, "A lot has happened in the ninja world these past few months." "You're really lucky, Three-Tails." Yoruha's words left the Three-Tails bewildered.
"What do you mean by that?" the Three-Tails asked, puzzled. Yoruha smiled but didn't explain.
"I need to go back. I've been out here long enough. If I don't return soon, the village will be completely destroyed." With that, Yoruha disappeared from the Three-Tails' back without further ado. The Three-Tails was left confused, but knowing Yoruha's usual demeanor, it didn't dwell on it and sank back into the lake.
At this time, Konoha had already turned into ruins. During Yoruha's absence, many changes occurred in Konoha. Sasuke had killed Uchiha Itachi and learned the truth about the Uchiha clan's massacre.
This revelation had a profound impact on him, causing Sasuke to question whether his previous actions were right. Even after killing Itachi and upgrading his Sharingan to the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, he felt no joy.
He didn't return to Konoha but stayed away for a long time. He wanted to find Yoruha, to ask him what he should do, how he should choose, but no matter how hard he searched the ninja world, he couldn't find Yoruha.
During this time, he was extremely distraught, wandering aimlessly in the ninja world. In these few months, the two strongest people in Konoha, Yoruha and Sasuke, were both missing and nowhere to be found.
Because both Yoruha and Sasuke were absent, Konoha's fate mirrored that of the original storyline. It was directly destroyed by Pain's Almighty Push. The fact was, Yoruha's previous actions had significantly strengthened Konoha, but they also caused major changes in the Akatsuki's operations.
Orochimaru hadn't been killed by Sasuke and was stronger than at this point in the original story. He had even perfected the Impure World Reincarnation technique and could use the sealing technique given by Uchiha Obito to control the reincarnated Hashirama.
With both Yoruha and Sasuke absent from the village, Naruto, Sakura, and Tsunade alone couldn't ensure Konoha's safety. Moreover, during this attack on Konoha, Nagato brought several strong members of the Akatsuki, who were originally supposed to die in the original story.
For instance, Deidara, who had been killed by Sasuke in the original timeline, came to Konoha this time with Kisame Hoshigaki and Kakuzu.
With their assistance, even though Naruto had learned Sage Mode from Mount Myoboku and fully transformed into the Tailed Beast Mode, he still couldn't defeat Pain. Jiraiya's death remained unchanged, with the cause and manner of his death identical to the original.
If Sasuke had been present during Pain's invasion of Konoha, the outcome might have been different. At this point, Sasuke had upgraded his Sharingan to the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan and could use Ōtsutsuki Urashiki's power for up to ten minutes. In those ten minutes, Sasuke's strength far surpassed Pain's.
For Sasuke, Kakuzu, Deidara, and Kisame were nothing more than minor obstacles. However, due to the truth about the Uchiha clan, he didn't return to Konoha. In fact, things were already better than in the original story; Sasuke just hadn't returned because he wanted to find Yoruha.
If Sasuke had the power he possesses now, he would have already sought revenge on the Hidden Leaf Village. But he can't do that now. He knows that the issues of the Uchiha clan are not related to the other people of the village.
At most, he can only seek revenge on Danzo and the two Hokage advisors. However, these three are high-ranking officials in the village, and Sasuke is well aware that if he targets them, he will become a rogue ninja.
In the past, he wouldn't have cared. But now, there are too many people in the Hidden Leaf Village that he cares about. He wants to know what Yoruha thinks.
He trusts that Yoruha will make a decision that satisfies him. He also believes that Yoruha can resolve this issue. At this moment, the Hidden Leaf Village has already become a wasteland, turned into a massive crater, with most of its inhabitants dead.
Tsunade lies in the rubble, covered in blood, with Katsuyu by her side healing her wounds. Next to her, Sakura is in the same state, lying in the debris, covered in blood. Unlike in the original story, Sakura and Tsunade participated fully in the battle. However, due to the interference of Deidara, Kakuzu, and Kisame, they suffered a crushing defeat.
Kakashi is already dead, his body lying in the ruins. Naruto is barely clinging to life in the center of the crater. Even though he entered Sage Mode and fully transformed into his Tailed Beast form, he still couldn't defeat Pain.
The toads from Mount Myoboku also lie on the ground, barely alive. If this continues, the Hidden Leaf Village will become a part of ninja history. Tsunade lies on the ground, staring at the sky, muttering, "Yoruha, Sasuke, where are you?"
At this moment, Tsunade wishes more than ever that Yoruha and Sasuke were in the village. She doesn't yet know that Sasuke has learned the truth about the Uchiha clan's massacre. Of course, she doesn't know the truth herself.
She still thinks Sasuke is the same as before. Sakura, with tears in her eyes, mutters, "Sasuke, Yoruha, please don't come back." Unlike Tsunade, she knows Pain is too strong and doesn't want Sasuke and Yoruha to return and meet their demise.
Even the toads from Mount Myoboku were no match for Pain, and neither was Naruto, despite being fully transformed and having mastered Sage Mode. How much stronger could Sasuke be than Naruto? Sakura isn't quite clear on the difference in strength between Sasuke and Naruto at this moment.
After all, Sasuke has always protected her well. Whenever they encountered dangerous enemies, Sasuke would handle them, and due to his personality, he rarely talks about his own strength in front of Sakura.
Apart from often using Yoruha's strength as motivation, Sasuke seldom compares his strength to others. So Sakura doesn't know how much stronger Sasuke is compared to Naruto.
Because of Pain's overwhelming Shinra Tensei, Sakura hopes Sasuke doesn't return, and she hopes Yoruha doesn't either. Although Sakura believes Yoruha might not be weaker than Pain, if by any chance Yoruha isn't a match for Pain, wouldn't the entire Hidden Leaf Village be doomed? If Sasuke, who is currently focused on finding Yoruha, knew about Sakura's current state...
Pain would likely meet a terrible end. Although Sasuke has doubts about the Hidden Leaf due to the truth behind the Uchiha massacre, Sakura is his one untouchable weakness. Anyone who harms her will die. At this moment, Deva Path Pain approaches Tsunade.
Katsuyu watches Deva Path Pain warily. Deva Path Pain doesn't attack Tsunade but instead coldly says, "Do you feel it now? This is the pain we have endured, the pain you couldn't understand before." Tsunade glances at Deva Path Pain.
She doesn't respond.