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"What's your opinion, then?" Makoto countered, turning the question back to Midorima.
"What opinion could I possibly have?" Midorima spread his hands, a wry smile on his face. "I was the very first victim of this whole farce. I was made a missing-nin for no reason, then had a massive bounty slapped on my head—oh, by the way, you should probably get that bounty canceled now—and for the first few months after I fled, my life was hanging by a thread every single day. By all rights, I should also be qualified to hold Kirigakure accountable for what happened to me. Right?"
Makoto nodded slowly in agreement.
"But does the Kirigakure of today even have anything to do with the Kirigakure of back then? And have any of you truly thought about what you really want? For instance, if you leave this place, where would you even go? Have you found a new home? Similarly, Kirigakure suffered a devastating blow during the Third Shinobi World War. It should have been a time for recovery and rebuilding. But instead, the Mizukage got controlled. Now, the village is probably operating at, what, half its peak strength? If you drive its current leadership and structure away, how long do you think it will take for Kirigakure to catch its breath and recover?Don't look at me. I'm just speaking my mind here. This is something you all need to figure out amongst yourselves. The reason I'm not demanding accountability from today's Kirigakure is because I know exactly who to blame for my suffering. But that doesn't mean I consider myself a part of this village anymore."
After Midorima spoke that last sentence, the expressions in the room grew complex and conflicted.
"But... you just said that today's Kirigakure isn't the same as the old one..." Mei murmured softly.
"Exactly. It's not the same. However, the Mizukage was ultimately chosen by you, and his power was vested in him by you, wasn't it? The rebels are, at their core, citizens of Kirigakure. They need a trustworthy system to believe in. As for me, during my hardest times, I walked my own path, step by step, relying on no one but myself. All of that is in the past now." Midorima's explanation was calm but firm.
Instantly, the atmosphere in the room shifted dramatically. Moments ago, tensions were high, poised for conflict. Now, a heavy silence descended upon everyone.
"Well, if this is why you called me here, I've said my piece. If there's nothing else, I'll be going."
Midorima stood up, preparing to leave. But just then, the Elder spoke up. "Wait, please don't rush off. We asked you here for other reasons. However, what you just said has reminded me of something important. We all share the same blood, the same roots. So, resolving our differences doesn't necessarily have to involve more bloodshed. Although the process will be long, I believe there is ultimately a way to solve our problems. It's just a pity... if only you were the Mizukage..."
Midorima didn't respond to that. Post-disaster reconstruction was a task that demanded immense patience and time, and time was precisely what he lacked the most.
"Shall we discuss this matter another time?" the Elder asked Makoto, seeking his agreement. After receiving a confirming nod, he continued, addressing Midorima. "The reason we asked you here today is to inquire about the Akatsuki. Even though you mentioned the Fourth Mizukage might already be dead, he was still our Mizukage. If there's any possibility, we would like to try and recover his body. Additionally, we are very concerned about the tailed beasts. They took the Three-Tails for a reason, and its power is terrifying. If it causes damage in another village, Kirigakure will ultimately be blamed. We cannot withstand any more turmoil right now."
Midorima nodded. He had to admit, despite the Elder's advanced age, his thinking remained remarkably clear and sharp.
"Regarding the Akatsuki... all I can say is that they possess the power to annihilate Kirigakure outright." Midorima let out a sigh.
This statement wasn't baseless. In reality, Obito wasn't even the most formidable member of the organization; the true terror was Pain and his Six Paths of Pain.
The few people in the room exchanged glances, but not one of them voiced any disagreement. Zabuza raised his hand. "I've fought them. I admit, I'm no match for them."
"So, to stand against the Akatsuki, Kirigakure alone is insufficient. Ever since the Mizukage was controlled, this village has been in a state of isolation, knowing little about the outside world. My suggestion is this: first, dispatch recon ninja immediately to gather intelligence on the other hidden villages. Second, compile a detailed written report of everything that has happened in Kirigakure, including photographs, and send it to the other villages. On one hand, this will warn them about the Akatsuki. On the other, it's a plea for help and cooperation. As for their ultimate goal..."
Midorima paused for a moment, letting the weight of his next words sink in. "Their leader possesses the Rinnegan."
The Elder's eyes flew open in shock. "The genuine Rinnegan? Are you certain?"
"Yes. Their final aim is to combine all the tailed beasts into the Ten-Tails and trigger a great war. They believe that by making those who start wars truly fear the devastation of war, they can ultimately bring an end to all conflict."
Hearing this, everyone's expressions shifted dramatically, as if they had just heard something utterly inconceivable.
Ending war by creating an even greater war? They supposed, if everyone was dead, there would indeed be no one left to fight.
"The person who devised this plan is certainly... something else." Mei massaged her temples, her feelings a complex mix of disbelief and dread.
"Now, they've acquired the Three-Tails. That's one-ninth of their goal accomplished, I suppose. As for why I believe the Fourth Mizukage cannot be saved, it's because they have numerous secret bases scattered everywhere. You wouldn't be able to find them, and even if you did, you couldn't stop them." Midorima deliberately withheld the specific information about Amegakure.
Amegakure was a death trap. Someone as powerful as Jiraiya had entered and never returned. The current ninja of Kirigakure stood even less of a chance.
"So that's why you're advising us to unite the other villages..." Mei said, the realization dawning on her.
"But you also need to understand, they might not agree to help." Midorima shook his head, skeptical that things would proceed so smoothly.
"Why not?" Zabuza asked, puzzled.
"Didn't I just mention it? Kirigakure has been isolated for too long. You don't even know what's been happening outside. Kumogakure and Iwagakure have already had considerable friction. I don't know if that tension has escalated further. When there are existing rifts and conflicts between the major villages, the path to unification won't be as easy as you imagine. Besides, Konoha has just replaced its Hokage again and has also clashed with Otogakure. Just because Kirigakure is in chaos doesn't mean the outside world is peaceful."
Once again, the room fell into a profound silence. The information Midorima had brought was deeply alarming. The other villages they had assumed were stable were all experiencing various crises, and the risk of a large-scale war seemed to be growing by the day.
"Could this actually lead to a Fourth Shinobi World War?" the Elder murmured, voicing the fear that had crept into everyone's mind.
"Could it?" Midorima was startled by the thought.
Wasn't the Fourth Shinobi World War supposed to be fought against Obito and Madara? But if things continued developing like this, it was hard to say how events would truly unfold.
"By the way, I'll be leaving in a couple of days." Midorima decided to share his immediate plans after some thought.
"Leaving? Going where?" Mei asked quickly, her expression tense with concern.
"Kumogakure. There are some things I need to take care of there," Midorima explained.
Having gained a tailed beast but being unable to harmonize with it would be a terrible waste. So, Midorima hoped to have a "discussion" with Killer B about how to achieve perfect jinchūriki control.