Naruto: Starting with Snatching the Mangekyō Sharingan

Three days later, in a secluded valley within Kumogakure, two parties met.

On one side stood the towering Fourth Raikage, Ay, flanked by his personal guard. Opposing them were two enigmatic figures clad in black cloaks adorned with red clouds, their faces partially obscured by wide-brimmed hats with small bells hanging from the edges.

Nagato removed his hat, his gaze calm and courteous as he addressed the Raikage.

"Raikage, it's an honor to meet you. I look forward to working together."

"So it's true—the Rinnegan," thought the Raikage, carefully observing Nagato from several meters away. Internally, he was astonished. This man… his chakra rivals mine. He's no ordinary opponent.

The Raikage's sharp eyes shifted to Nagato's companion. His deep voice rumbled, "If we're going to collaborate, there's no need for such secrecy. Hiding your face reeks of insincerity."

Uchiha Hikaru, standing beside Nagato, removed her hat as well. Her Sharingan glimmered a vivid crimson as she scanned the Raikage. With a faint sneer, she remarked, "So this is the leader of one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages? Honestly, aside from having a lot of chakra, you don't seem that special."

The Raikage's face darkened. His voice was as cold as steel.

"Are all Uchiha this arrogant, or is it just you?"

Initially intrigued by her Sharingan, the Raikage's patience snapped at her insolence. His fists clenched, his composure barely holding as he resisted the urge to retaliate. A show of force might tarnish his authority.

Nagato's expression turned stern as he looked at Hikaru.

"Hikaru, please show the Raikage some respect. He is the leader of Kumogakure and a Kage."

Hikaru's crimson eyes flicked toward Nagato, then shrugged indifferently, showing no intention of restraining herself.

The Raikage's irritation only deepened. Nagato's measured tone seemed to imply he, too, did not truly respect the Raikage's position.

The Raikage's eyes narrowed. His voice dropped an octave. "If you're serious about this collaboration, then prove your worth as partners. Otherwise, you might as well leave those eyes here in Kumogakure!"

Before the last word left his lips, the Raikage's body erupted with a blue aura of crackling lightning. His blond hair spiked up as he vanished, leaving only a flicker of light behind.

"Lightning Release: Lariat!"

In an instant, the Raikage reappeared beside Nagato, his hand poised like a blade as it swung toward Nagato's neck.

"Impressive speed," Nagato murmured, his Rinnegan narrowing. He raised his left hand. "Shinra Tensei!"

Boom!

A powerful, invisible force exploded outward, flinging the Raikage like a blue comet into a mountainside several dozen meters away. The impact left a crater as dust and rubble rained down.

Nagato calmly observed the Raikage pulling himself free from the rubble.

"Raikage, there's no need for such excessive probing. Akatsuki's strength is more than enough for an alliance."

"No," the Raikage growled, lightning crackling ominously around him. "Kumogakure doesn't need weak allies!"

The Raikage shifted his stance, bringing his thumb in and clenching the remaining fingers of his right hand. His aura intensified as he charged again.

"Lightning Release: Hell Stab—Four-Finger Thrust!"

The Raikage became a streak of blue light, reappearing before Nagato in an instant.

"The Hell Stab… the Third Raikage's signature move?" Nagato remarked coolly, raising his hand again. "Shinra Tensei!"

The Rinnegan's power surged forth, an overwhelming repelling force materializing as a visible white barrier. The Raikage's momentum halted as if striking an immovable wall, his lightning struggling against the invisible force.

"Persistent," Nagato muttered, his voice laced with faint annoyance.

The Raikage gritted his teeth. He folded two more fingers into his fist.

"Lightning Release: Hell Stab—Two-Finger Thrust!"

With a thunderous crack, his lightning aura surged to new heights. The concentrated power pushed against Nagato's barrier, causing faint cracks to ripple through the energy shield.

Nagato's Rinnegan flared. "Futile."

The barrier expanded suddenly, erupting outward in a visible wave of force. The Raikage was flung hundreds of meters back, crashing into a pile of boulders.

Nagato stepped forward, raising his hand toward the pile of rocks. With a subtle motion, a massive boulder, several stories tall, ripped free from the earth. He waved his hand, and the rock hurtled toward the Raikage like a meteor.

Nagato had no intention of being on the defensive.

The earth trembled as the boulder smashed down, kicking up dust and debris. The impact echoed across the valley.

Hikaru watched the spectacle, her expression unreadable. Her delicate eyebrows knit together slightly as she studied Nagato's power. The Rinnegan is even more terrifying than I imagined.

All around her, the Raikage's guards lay sprawled, unconscious. Not a single one of them had remained standing against her.

From beneath the boulder, crackling sounds emerged. Blue lightning spread outward, shattering the massive rock into fragments. The Raikage emerged, his aura blazing, eyes locked on Nagato.

Nagato didn't flinch. "Raikage, this has gone far enough. If you insist on more 'testing,' I won't bother holding back next time."

The Raikage's face darkened. He had underestimated Nagato. The man's strength far exceeded expectations, and his gut told him that a true battle would end in his defeat.

His gaze flicked to Hikaru, noting with unease the unconscious bodies of his guards. This seemingly young Uchiha girl had defeated his seasoned elites with ease.

Akatsuki is stronger than I thought… This Uchiha isn't an ordinary one. If we ally with them, we might truly destroy Konoha.

Suppressing his pride, the Raikage reined in his aura.

"Very well. Your strength is sufficient. Now, let's hear your plan for this cooperation."

Nagato's expression remained calm. "Kumogakure and Akatsuki alone might not be enough to take down Konoha. I propose we bring Iwagakure into the fold. With the three of us combined, success will be guaranteed."

The Raikage neither agreed nor disagreed. Instead, he asked, "And how strong is Akatsuki?"

Nagato's response was measured. "We're still in our infancy. Currently, Hikaru and I are our main assets."

Nagato had no intention of revealing Akatsuki's full power. This alliance was temporary, and he knew betrayal was inevitable. The more cards Akatsuki kept hidden, the better their chances when the time came.

The Raikage breathed a small sigh of relief. In his mind, Nagato and Hikaru alone were already daunting. If Akatsuki had more of their caliber, it would be truly terrifying. Even so, he knew not to trust Nagato's words entirely.

Akatsuki must have hidden forces, he thought grimly.

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