Shigeo Aburame knew that Sunagakure wouldn't hold out much longer, and events unfolded just as he had anticipated.
The battle at Kikyo Mountain was a decisive blow. Orochimaru delivered a textbook ambush that completely crushed Sunagakure's main forces, leaving them critically weakened.
This defeat on the main battlefield forced Sunagakure to shift from a strategic offensive to a defensive stance.
The newly appointed Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, proved to be a man of decisive action. While organizing defenses against the assaults from Kumogakure and Kirigakure, he simultaneously sent emissaries to negotiate a truce with Konohagakure and Amegakure.
Konohagakure, meanwhile, was faring poorly against the combined offensives from Kumogakure, Kirigakure, and Iwagakure.
Thus, during negotiations with Sunagakure, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, chose not to demand excessive concessions. Instead, he ceded certain benefits to secure an alliance with Sunagakure.
This move sparked dissatisfaction among many Konoha shinobi, but it ultimately proved advantageous to Konoha's war efforts.
With Sunagakure withdrawing from the battlefield, Konoha was able to focus its resources on combating the other three great shinobi villages, significantly improving their strategic position.
Meanwhile, in Amegakure, Yahiko successfully negotiated peace with Sunagakure on extraordinarily lenient terms, acting under orders from Hanzō the Salamander.
Hanzō was dissatisfied with the lack of tangible benefits, and there was discontent among Amegakure's leadership as well.
Facing such criticisms, Yahiko remained silent and chose to bide his time.
In contrast, Nagato, who was achieving consecutive victories against Iwagakure, was showered with praise and quickly became a celebrated figure.
The nickname "Red-Haired Reaper" began circulating throughout the shinobi world, and he was acknowledged by all the major villages.
The only one comparable to him was Konohagakure's "Yellow Flash," Minato Namikaze.
Minato, who had mastered the Flying Raijin Technique, was a devastating force on the battlefield. Even veteran shinobi with illustrious reputations found themselves helpless before him.
The two men shared a record of brilliance and eerily similar monikers. People began calling them the "Two Gates of Roshōmon," symbolizing the idea that encountering them on the battlefield was akin to standing before the gates of life and death.
Their fearsome reputations led the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, to allow Iwagakure shinobi to retreat without penalty when facing either of them.
Eventually, Kirigakure and Kumogakure adopted the same policy.
By this point, both Minato and Nagato had outshone all others, emerging as the leaders of their generation and the presumed successors to their respective villages.
Minato was the first to fulfill this expectation.
In the 47th year of Konohagakure, Minato severed Iwagakure's supply lines at the Battle of Kannabi Bridge, bringing an end to the seven-year conflict between Konoha and Iwagakure.
Minato played a pivotal role in this victory, setting a record by killing dozens of Iwagakure shinobi in an instant, cementing his fearsome reputation in the shinobi world.
Although Konoha won the war, the negotiations that followed yielded limited gains.
Eager to end the conflict, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, took the blame for the unsatisfactory terms and stepped down, recommending Minato Namikaze as his successor.
Thus, Konohagakure welcomed its Fourth Hokage.
After Minato's ascension, attention shifted to Nagato, with many speculating about when he would become the next leader of Amegakure.
But then, something happened that no one could have foreseen.
Nagato, long regarded as the obvious successor of Amegakure, assassinated Hanzō after negotiating peace with Iwagakure and subsequently defected.
Amegakure was thrown into chaos, losing both its strongest shinobi. Internal strife loomed large.
Sensing the instability, Iwagakure, which had recently made peace, began plotting to tear up the treaty.
In this critical moment, Yahiko stepped forward. Urging calm and unity, he appealed to the shinobi of Amegakure to face their challenges together.
His words were like a beacon of hope, guiding the leaderless shinobi of Amegakure. They rallied around him, quelling the seeds of internal conflict.
After restoring order, Yahiko joined forces with Sunagakure to construct a military defense line. He also announced the "East Water, West Pipeline" project, a massive initiative funded by the Land of Wind and built by the Land of Rain, to transport the Land of Rain's abundant water resources to the arid Land of Wind.
This deep cooperation marked a "honeymoon period" between Amegakure and Sunagakure.
Realizing the futility of aggression against a stable and allied Amegakure, Ōnoki reluctantly withdrew Iwagakure forces from the Land of Rain.
While it was easy to exploit a chaotic Amegakure, attacking a stabilized village under Sunagakure's protection was far riskier and less rewarding.
With both internal and external threats resolved, and the economy invigorated by the pipeline project, Yahiko's reputation soared to new heights.
Unanimously supported, Yahiko became the new leader of Amegakure.
On the day of his inauguration, Sunagakure sent a delegation with gifts, and Konohagakure followed suit with envoys.
Receiving recognition from two major shinobi villages solidified Yahiko's legitimacy as Amegakure's leader.
Amegakure began to return to normalcy, and the controversies surrounding "Hanzō's Assassination" and "S-Class Rogue Ninja Nagato" faded into mere gossip.
---
In a secret base once used by Jiraiya, Shigeo Aburame bid farewell to Yahiko and Nagato.
"The Land of Rain has achieved peace. One of you will work in the light, the other in the shadows. Stay calm when faced with challenges—there's always a way. Yahiko, you need to be more mature!"
Yahiko nodded. "I understand!"
As the leader of the Land of Rain, Yahiko had become much more composed, which pleased Shigeo Aburame. Smiling, he turned to Nagato.
"Nagato, I turned you from a hero into a rogue shinobi, forcing you into darkness. Do you blame me?"
"No."
Nagato shook his head, his voice firm.
"I've never blamed you, brother. You've always guided us. Sometimes, I even think that the 'Child of Prophecy' Jiraiya-sensei spoke of might be you."
"Haha! You've got it all wrong!"
Shigeo laughed, waving dismissively before placing a hand on Nagato's shoulder.
"Nagato, there's no doubt—you are the true Child of Prophecy. At most, I'm just here to help. The Land of Rain is in your hands now, along with Yahiko."
"Understood, brother!"
Nagato turned to Konan, speaking earnestly. "Konan, I leave him in your care!"
"Mm." Konan nodded softly.
Yahiko couldn't resist chiming in. "Konan, you and brother must take care of each other! Let me know when you get married, and if you have a child, I'll be the godfather. Oh, and—"
Before he could finish, an embarrassed Konan struck.
"Paper Style: Paper Prison Technique!"
"Mmph, mmph..."
"Hmph!"
Wrapping Yahiko like a mummy in paper, Konan huffed softly, her face red, and walked away with Shigeo Aburame.
Once they were gone, Nagato freed Yahiko from the paper prison and patted him on the shoulder.
"Yahiko, you need to be more mature."
Yahiko: "..."
So I'm the immature one?
How unfair!
He wanted to cry.
(End of Chapter)