Amegakure.
Under the endless rain, atop the tall metal towers, a figure silently appeared out of thin air, facing Pain and Konan.
"What are you planning to do?"
The masked man spoke bluntly. He knew that Pain would certainly understand what he was referring to.
Pain was silent for a moment.
"Our plan must not be obstructed by anyone…
Not even that so-called Uchiha Chiyu."
The masked man nodded.
"Well said. But that man won't be easy to deal with.
"Not only does he possess the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan now—he's also awakened the Rinnegan."
Konan couldn't help but ask,
"Uchiha Madara—why would that man awaken the Rinnegan?
"The Sage of Six Paths' Rinnegan is practically a legendary existence. It was already shocking enough that Nagato could awaken it. Now this ninja world has a second pair? It's utterly inconceivable."
"Uchiha Madara" spoke in a low tone:
"I can only tell you one thing…
"Don't measure that man by conventional standards.
"From the time he activated the Sharingan to the Mangekyō Sharingan, and then the Eternal Mangekyō, none of it fits the usual rules of Uchiha eye evolution.
"It's the same with the Rinnegan."
Konan was at a loss for words.
Pain said solemnly,
"Since the enemy also wields the Rinnegan, we must accelerate our plans.
"That man, Uchiha Chiyu, is simply too great a threat."
"Uchiha Madara" nodded.
"I can propose three paths for you to choose.
"First: cooperate with the other four great nations and join forces to deal with Uchiha Chiyu."
Pain gave a cold laugh.
"Cooperate with those major nations?
"You know my stance."
Konan remembered Yahiko and sighed softly.
"Uchiha Madara" remained indifferent and continued,
"Second: when those four great nations wage war against Uchiha Chiyu—or the Land of Fire—you launch a strike from another front. In essence, it's still collaboration, but more of an indirect alliance.
"Third…
"While the ninja world is plunged into chaos, we immediately advance our Tailed Beast weapon plan, mobilize the entire Akatsuki to capture all the Tailed Beasts at once!"
Pain pondered for a moment.
"The Tailed Beast weapon plan is our priority. But…
"If Akatsuki doesn't intervene at all, can those four great nations really stand against Uchiha Chiyu?
"Capturing Tailed Beasts isn't done overnight. If in the end those four nations lose, and that man only grows stronger, wouldn't that be an even bigger problem?"
The masked man nodded slightly.
"Exactly. It's something to be wary of."
Konan glanced at him.
"Uchiha Madara, can't your own power handle Uchiha Chiyu?"
"Madara" paused.
"I've said it before. Right now, I'm not at my prime.
"Otherwise, I'd have no need to cooperate with you."
Pain made his decision.
"If cooperating directly with those nations goes against our principles… still, we can't let them be destroyed too soon. "We'll move on two fronts: pretend to ally with those four nations to take down Uchiha Chiyu, while simultaneously speeding up our Tailed Beast plan in secret.
"Conveniently, I hear from Iwagakure's Ōnoki that they want to hire Akatsuki. We can fulfill our goals while earning their commission."
"Madara" nodded.
"That can work.
"Though, does Akatsuki have enough manpower?"
Pain replied:
"Aside from me and Konan, plus Zetsu, we've also recruited Kakuzu, Sasori of the Red Sand, Biwa Jūzō, and Orochimaru. Altogether, we're quite formidable.
"Moreover…
"That fellow Orochimaru supposedly has an 'ultimate weapon' of unimaginable power."
"Madara" perked up.
"You mean the power of Edo Tensei?
"He worked with Danzō and Sarutobi Hiruzen earlier, summoned a batch of deceased shinobi including Tobirama, but how'd that go?
"They all proved useless against Uchiha Chiyu because the summoning was too imprecise, insufficiently powerful."
Pain said:
"This time is different. Orochimaru already refined Edo Tensei considerably, enough to unleash most of the dead shinobi's power. Because, in studying it, he collaborated with the jutsu's original creator…
"Second Hokage Senju Tobirama!"
"Madara" understood.
"So Orochimaru's last trump card is…
'Hashirama'…?"
Pain nodded.
"Yes.
"The God of Shinobi, who single-handedly quelled the Warring States era—Senju Hashirama."
"Madara" paused in silence.
"If Hashirama truly wields his full might from when he was alive…
"Then just him alone can subdue Uchiha Chiyu."
But Pain gave a slight snort.
"We're not pinning everything on him alone.
"I'll be there too—Akatsuki will gather its powers."
"Madara" eyed him.
"Alright.
"Once we eliminate Uchiha Chiyu, the ninja world will be in our hands!"
He finished speaking and vanished into thin air.
Konan watched the spot where he disappeared, frowning.
"Pain, can we really trust that man?"
Pain shook his head.
"Naturally, we can't fully trust him. Our relationship with 'Uchiha Madara' is purely one of mutual exploitation. But…
"In the matter of killing Uchiha Chiyu, we have common ground."
Konan nodded.
Pain rose, the light of the Rinnegan shining.
"Astral Projection."
With a soft command, Pain, Konan, and the rest of Akatsuki's current roster were pulled into a mysterious dimensional space—the underground lair where the giant Gedo Statue stood.
A dark, cavernous chamber of considerable size stretched out, lit only by faint torches. At its deepest point stood a terrifying statue—its body deathly, hollow, yet somehow alive, exuding an oppressive aura enough to destroy the world.
Its nine eyes were closed; its back had ten stump-like tails, and the mouth seemed half-open as if ready to devour everything.
Two withered arms extended, palms up, each finger raised.
It was the Gedo Statue, the husk of the Ten-Tails!
As Pain used the Astral Projection, one by one, the silhouettes of Akatsuki members emerged atop the statue's ten fingers, bathed in rainbow-hued light:
Pain, Konan, Zetsu, Kakuzu, Sasori, Biwa Jūzō, Orochimaru…
Each figure radiating a dangerous aura.
Someone said:
"Summoning us via Astral Projection so suddenly… must be about dealing with Uchiha Chiyu, right?"
They all peered at Pain, the leader of Akatsuki.
Pain spoke, his voice cold:
"Yes and no.
"Akatsuki's ultimate goal remains collecting all Tailed Beasts to execute the Tailed Beast weapon plan.
"Originally I wanted to proceed step by step, building funds and resources, then capturing Tailed Beasts slowly. But events have forced us to accelerate.
"We'll operate in two directions:
"One: Orochimaru and I will deal with Uchiha Chiyu.
"Two: The rest of you will form small squads and begin capturing Tailed Beasts immediately!
"Konan, you partner with Kakuzu—take the Seven-Tails of Takigakure.
"Sasori and Biwa Jūzō form a team—capture the Four-Tails or the Five-Tails of Iwagakure.
"Zetsu: gather intel everywhere and link our communications."
They all nodded:
"Understood."
Orochimaru chuckled darkly, licking his lips with a long tongue:
"Leader, so you want me to join you against Uchiha Chiyu.
It seems you've taken a fancy to my ultimate secret weapon…"
Pain said flatly:
"Yes.
"That man's strength is fearsome to an extreme; even I can't be certain of victory.
"Your trump card is Edo Tensei's God of Shinobi—Senju Hashirama, right?"
Orochimaru hadn't expected him to reveal it so directly, but only cackled:
"Hehe, you're talking about my pride and joy…?
"This time is different from before!"
Pain scoffed:
"Last time you boasted of 'pride and joy,' but all of them were crushed by Uchiha Chiyu."
Orochimaru's face soured:
"Now it's different.
"I've refined Edo Tensei's precision to about ninety percent, unleashing nearly the same peak power as in their living days!
"Let me show you…"
He formed seals:
"Summoning Jutsu: Edo Tensei!"
A phantom scene appeared in front of Orochimaru, visible to the assembled members.
Boom—
A giant coffin burst from the ground, the lid crashing aside, revealing the occupant—
The God of Shinobi: The First Hokage, Senju Hashirama.
At that moment, even these fearsome criminals of Akatsuki were taken aback, for Hashirama's name carried enormous weight.
Sasori murmured:
"So that's the God of Shinobi…?"
Biwa Jūzō muttered:
"He doesn't look that special…"
But Kakuzu stared closely, voice tinged with memory:
"It's been so long… Hashirama-dono…"
Hashirama turned his head:
"Ah? And who are you…?"
Kakuzu: "…"
Orochimaru sneered:
"First Hokage-dono, allow me to introduce these members of the Akatsuki organization I mentioned…"
Hashirama sighed:
"Akatsuki, huh.
"Orochimaru, you scoundrel have joined a gang of wicked ninjas…
"Each face here looks so ominous…"
He then peered at one figure:
"Mm? Those eyes—Sage of Six Paths' Rinnegan? So you're their leader, Pain, right…?"
"Precisely."
Pain gazed coldly at the legendary God of Shinobi.
"Senju Hashirama, presumably Orochimaru has already explained the intel.
"So what's your stance?"
Hashirama ran a hand through his hair:
"War never ceases, does it…?
"So Uchiha Chiyu—Konoha's new Hokage is apparently an Uchiha. Pity his methods are far too extreme.
"Long ago, Madara also wanted the two of us to unite the ninja world by force, but I refused him…
"That kind of shortcut only brings a bigger, deeper tragedy.
"I can't agree with it."
Hashirama's Rinnegan eyes lingered on him:
"I won't necessarily stand on your side, either.
"But if Uchiha Chiyu truly means to subjugate the ninja world through sheer might, then…
"I will use my power to stop him!"
All of Akatsuki's members felt a shiver.
The God of Shinobi versus the greatest force in the current era, Uchiha Chiyu?
Surely, that will be an incredibly astounding, world-shaking clash of titans!
~~~
Patreon(.)com/Bleam
— Currently You can Read 150+ Chapters Ahead of Others!