REVIEWS AND POWERSTONES PLSSS!!!!!Chapter 82: Settling Old Scores
Land of Rain, atop the tower.
The Akatsuki organization gathered together once more.
However, their numbers were insufficient again.
The battle at Konoha had left the Akatsuki with devastating losses.
Uchiha Itachi had betrayed them. Juzo Biwa died in combat. Sasori of the Red Sand died in combat. Only the cunning old fox Kakuzu had run fast enough to survive.
Pain was destroyed, crushed to nothingness by Chibaku Tensei—even revival through the Naraka Path was impossible.
Nagato was severely injured. The Nine-Tails was dead. The Ten-Tails collection plan had to be suspended, waiting for Nagato's recovery and the Nine-Tails' resurrection.
Years of accumulated resources were depleted in this single battle.
Without sufficient material support, the Animal Path's summoning beast swarm, Asura Path's missile attacks, Naraka Path's repairs, and even Konan's explosive tag ocean couldn't display maximum effectiveness anymore.
To launch another war of this magnitude would require several more years of accumulation.
Nagato, severely wounded, had returned to his wheelchair throne. With Pain shattered, the Asura Path presided over the meeting.
However, everyone now knew the relationship between Nagato and the Six Paths puppets, so no one objected.
Akatsuki meetings didn't waste words, so Nagato got straight to the point:
"Konoha has been destroyed, but our original plan of keeping a low profile has completely failed."
"Since we can't develop in secret, there's no need to continue hiding. From today forward, the Akatsuki organization will step onto the stage and announce our existence to the shinobi world."
"It's unfortunate the Nine-Tails died. Otherwise, we could begin the Ten-Tails revival immediately."
"However, even without the Nine-Tails, the Ten-Tails revival plan will proceed as scheduled!"
"Zetsu, monitor surrounding intelligence closely. Once the Nine-Tails revives, immediately begin its capture."
"Before then, we must collect all the other Tailed Beasts and inject them into the Gedo Statue."
"Also, the summoning technique needed to absorb Tailed Beasts—the Phantom Dragon Nine Consuming Seals—requires ten powerful shinobi casting simultaneously."
"Therefore, we must continue recruiting powerful rogue ninja, replenish Akatsuki's numbers, and continue strengthening our forces."
"Yasushi, do you have any suitable candidates to recommend?"
"Mm..." Uchiha Yasushi tilted his head in thought. Though Itachi was dead, Obito and Black Zetsu still lived. Weakening their influence within Akatsuki and strengthening Nagato's faction wasn't a bad thing, so he nodded:
"I remember Konoha once had a rogue ninja named Hiruko, a contemporary and friend of Lord Orochimaru. His current strength should be quite good—perfectly suitable for recruitment."
"Hiruko?" Orochimaru frowned, speaking oddly. "I do remember him, but he only had some talent in research. His combat abilities were very ordinary."
"Eh, one should not judge others by old impressions!"
Yasushi grinned:
"Lord Orochimaru, you shouldn't always view people through outdated perspectives!"
"As far as I know, Hiruko created a forbidden technique called the Chimera Technique that can absorb different Kekkei Genkai shinobi, achieving Yin-Yang Five Elements balance within the body, thereby attaining an immortal realm."
"However, this fusion method's final step requires a special celestial phenomenon ritual that won't be completed for many years. Right now, he's probably only fused one or two Kekkei Genkai."
"Even so, his strength is sufficient to dominate the shinobi world."
"Immortal realm?" Orochimaru's pupils contracted sharply, greed stirring again. "I wonder how his 'immortality' compares to the Tenseigan?"
"Hehe..." Uchiha Yasushi shrugged. "It's only theoretical 'immortality.'"
"In principle, fusing seven types of chakra nature transformations together can achieve 'Kekkei Mōra,' attaining true 'immortality.' But actually accomplishing this is extremely difficult."
"His forbidden technique can only be said to have very lofty intentions, directly pointing to essence. But in practical application, it's probably impossible."
"Because everything in the shinobi world's core lies in chakra. If his chakra quality and quantity don't meet the standard, qualitative change is absolutely impossible."
"I suspect his upper limit should be Kekkei Tota, at most one level higher. Reaching Kekkei Mōra is impossible."
"Indeed, in the end he never succeeded—he was killed by someone."
"I see!" After hearing this, Orochimaru immediately lost interest in Hiruko.
"Good, then add Hiruko to the recruitment list."
Nagato finalized it directly, arranging immediately:
"Since Orochimaru knows him, your team will handle this matter."
"Anyone else?"
Yasushi thought again, then said:
"The current daimyo of the Land of Snow should be called Kazahana Dotō—a guy who murdered his own brother to usurp the throne."
"In terms of strength, Kazahana Dotō is just ordinary jonin level. However, with the Land of Snow's unique armor, he can reach elite jonin or even Kage level."
"Of course, most importantly, the old guy is currently the Land of Snow's daimyo!"
"He has money!"
"Lots of money!"
"Tons of money!"
After hearing Yasushi's triple emphasis, Nagato immediately snapped his fingers. "Excellent, then include Kazahana Dotō as well!"
"Kakuzu, this is yours. No problems, right?"
"Haha..." Kakuzu beamed with delight, repeatedly patting his chest in assurance. "Leader, rest assured! I love these rich people the most!"
"However, Leader, is it alright for us to attack a daimyo?"
"These guys who waste food just by living should have died long ago." Nagato spoke indifferently.
"In the future shinobi world peace system we're constructing, there's no space for these parasites."
"Perhaps shinobi villages will maintain peace out of fear of our force, but daimyo don't need to go to battlefields. They won't care about shinobi deaths at all and will definitely order wars between shinobi villages for personal gain."
"To make the world feel pain can't be limited only to ordinary shinobi and lower-class civilians. These daimyo and nobles naturally can't be exceptions either!"
"Let's start with the Land of Snow's nobility!"
"After recruiting Kazahana Dotō, might as well clean out all the Land of Snow's nobles while we're at it."
"Without noble exploitation, the Land of Snow's citizens should live much better!"
"Just like the current Land of Rain!"
"I see!" Kakuzu nodded satisfactorily. "Then there's no problem."
"But with Juzo Biwa dead, I currently have no partner. Who'll execute the mission with me?"
Nagato looked left and right, then addressed Obito:
"Obito, your space-time ninjutsu works very well. Go together with Kakuzu!"
Unexpectedly, Obito's face darkened. Showing Nagato no face whatsoever, he snorted coldly:
"Recruiting new members and such can wait!"
"Before that, the old score between Yasushi and me needs settling first!"
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