But Konan suppressed the emotions stirring in her heart and began to analyze the situation rationally.
After all, Uchiha Hikaru's true identity still couldn't be fully confirmed. Up to this point, everything was just intuition and speculation.
She remembered clearly the advice left by the masked man and woman before they departed.
"Although your proposal is simple, I want to understand the real purpose behind Konoha doing this."
"Is it really just because you hope the civilians of our Hidden Rain Village can live better lives?"
During the Second and Third Great Ninja Wars, the Land of Rain became the central battleground. Years of conflict left its people in constant suffering and despair.
She had always harbored a deep distrust toward the Five Great Nations. Those villages fought only for their own benefit. She couldn't bring herself to believe that Uchiha Hikaru's proposal was sincerely about improving life in the Hidden Rain.
It sounded too unrealistic—too idealistic, like a fairy tale spun by someone who never lived through true war.
Saya, standing quietly beside Uchiha Hikaru, looked at Konan, her brow lightly furrowed in confusion.
"Is there something wrong with helping the people of the Hidden Rain live better lives?"
That simple, rhetorical question struck Konan like a blow to the mind.
Yes… there was nothing wrong with the goal itself. But could she believe it? Could she put her trust in one of the very villages that had caused them so much pain?
Konan hesitated, her voice subdued.
"There's nothing wrong with it, but…"
Just as she was about to continue, Uchiha Hikaru cut in, his tone dropping into something firm and weighty.
"But the tragedies the Land of Rain endured were all caused by the Five Great Nations."
"That's what you're trying to say, isn't it?"
Konan looked up at him and nodded. Because it was the truth.
Uchiha Hikaru nodded as well, acknowledging her point. But then, his expression sharpened.
"The First Hokage of Konoha, Hashirama Senju, founded this village alongside the Uchiha Clan to bring peace to the shinobi world. That was the beginning of the 'one village, one country' system."
"After Hashirama's death, Kumogakure launched the First Great Ninja War. The Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, was killed in battle."
"Then the rest of the Great Nations joined in. They waged war to seize survival resources—land, water, minerals, food. That's all it ever was."
"After that, the Second and Third Great Ninja Wars followed. And again, it was about resources."
"Am I wrong?"
Konan nodded solemnly. "That's right. Hanzo started the Second War because the Hidden Rain suffers year-round rainfall. There's barely any arable land."
"But the Hidden Rain was defeated…"
Her voice trailed off, heavy with sorrow. This was the cruelty of the shinobi world—small nations only existed to be exploited and used by the great powers.
Uchiha Hikaru looked at her, then spoke again, voice rising with subtle passion.
"No matter which war you name, Konoha is always the first to be attacked. Because we possess the richest land and the most abundant resources."
"In that case, if I can help the Hidden Rain live in abundance—if your people can eat well, live warm, and sleep safely—then wouldn't you become an ally of Konoha?"
"Of course, nothing is free. Konoha has its own needs. There's a wealth of iron and other ores buried in the soil of the Land of Rain."
"Exchanging resources, achieving mutual prosperity—that's the best solution."
At last, Uchiha Hikaru laid his intentions bare. What he wanted were the mineral resources of the Rain Country.
But instead of feeling threatened, Konan felt strangely relieved.
His logic was sound. And truthfully, under Akatsuki's leadership, the Hidden Rain had already become a city of steel. With constant rainfall, wood was useless for construction. Metal had become everything.
Still, a new concern began to take root in her heart.
She feared the Rain Country might turn into another Water Country—utterly dependent on Konoha for survival. If that happened, the Hidden Rain would essentially become a vassal state.
The realization hit her like a cold wind.
Could it be that Uchiha Hikaru planned to seize control of Kirigakure… and then Amegakure?
Was his real ambition to dominate the entire shinobi world?
That would be just like the other great powers. All of them eventually started wars, never caring about the lives of the smaller nations caught in between.
But she didn't confront him directly. Instead, she tested him, probing gently.
"Konoha… do you intend to expand your territory?"
"If I agree to your proposal too easily, won't the Hidden Rain end up just like the Hidden Mist is now?"
"Will both Amegakure and Kirigakure become vassals of Konoha?"
Uchiha Hikaru flinched inwardly at the words.
Damn… Those three months changed Konan more than I thought. She'd learned too much. Grown too much. I can't get the upper hand anymore. She's thinking on a whole other level now...
But then again—why not just lean into it?
"You know," he said with a sly grin, "your guess could be even bolder."
Konan's heart skipped a beat.
She almost lost her composure—almost assumed he really was the masked man's son and fell into his trap.
Thank the gods for the warnings they gave her before parting ways.
Her expression hardened instantly, like a cold, sharp blade in the pouring rain. The silent, ruthless angel of the Hidden Rain returned.
So he was hiding something.
All of them are the same. The Five Great Nations. And this Uchiha Hikaru—he's dangerous. Just like I feared.
Only the masked man and woman ever truly cared about us…
"So that's it," she said coldly. "You want to annex both Amegakure and Kirigakure."
"You think you can challenge the leader of the Hidden Rain?"
"Let me tell you something—Nagato's Rinnegan is even more terrifying than what you showed on the battlefield today. That eye can command life and death."
She didn't know exactly how powerful Nagato truly was. But she didn't hesitate to bluff, feigning absolute confidence.
Even if they couldn't match him, she had to make Hikaru hesitate.
"Your Rinnegan hasn't even fully awakened yet. If it comes down to it, we'll fight to the death. You won't get your alliance, and you won't get our land."
"So tell us what's really written on the Uchiha stone tablet. Then maybe we'll consider forming an alliance with Konoha."
Uchiha Hikaru fell silent.
For the first time, he didn't know what to say.
He looked like he was holding something back, restraining an urge or a revelation too dangerous to speak aloud.
Konan's eyes narrowed slightly.
So I was right.
He is afraid of Nagato's Rinnegan.
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Bonus Chapter at 150 Power Stone
Second Bonus Chapter - 300 Power Stones
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