Chapter 26: Light for Amegakure, Extreme Darkness for "Akatsuki"
"Clap, clap, clap."
Crisp yet disrespectful applause abruptly cut off Obito's near-fanatical preaching.
In the basement, that suffocating religious atmosphere shattered instantly.
Yahiko leaned back in the stone chair, his gaze like watching a clumsy circus performance. He didn't need to think about whether the System recognized this fake peace, because this coward's dream couldn't even pass his own standard.
"Brilliant."
Yahiko had a cold sneer on his lips, a superior's commentary on a clown.
"Tobi—I'll call you by this name from now on."
Yahiko slowly rose, the red-cloud black robe behind him moving without wind, that violent aura of someone who had crawled back from a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood pressing hard against Obito.
"Though your speech was very dedicated, I'm not interested in dreaming."
Yahiko approached step by step, his voice low and dangerous: "A true ruler steps on hard, cold reality, rather than hiding under the covers like a shrinking turtle."
"What I want is absolute power. A real-world hegemony where the Five Great Nations don't dare say a single 'no' no matter what I want to do."
He extended a finger, almost touching Obito's mask.
"Understand?"
The muscles under Obito's mask twitched violently, and the fist hidden in his sleeve clenched instantly.
Damn it! This guy... is a completely unreasonable dictatorial madman! He just wanted to refute, but was interrupted by Yahiko's impatient wave of his hand.
"Enough, put away your savior theory."
Yahiko changed the subject, a greedy cold light flashing in his eyes: "However, I like the first half of your plan."
"Collecting Tailed Beasts to create 'nuclear weapons' capable of destroying nations. With those, people will actually listen to our reason."
Obito took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the anger in his heart. He realized that trying to brainwash this madman was futile; the other party was more realistic and greedier than him.
"Think whatever you want."
Obito's voice returned to cold and hard, quickly entering business mode: "As long as the Tailed Beasts can be collected and the goal is achieved."
"But the current Akatsuki cannot swallow these monsters."
He pointed to Zetsu nearby, "This guy will stay as a communication hub. As for the Seal... Nagato's Rinnegan is strong, but Chakra is not infinite. To perform an S-rank forbidden jutsu like 'Phantom Dragons Nine Consuming Seals', we need helpers."
Obito held up two fingers: "At least ten Kage-level experts are needed to act as 'human batteries' to share the pressure."
"Act now?" Nagato frowned, "The personnel aren't all here, where would we put the Jinchuriki after capturing them?"
"Not capturing, borrowing."
A trace of ruthlessness flashed in Obito's single eye: "The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is about to give birth, that's when the Seal is weakest. I will use ocular power to control the Nine-Tailed, temporarily turning it into my Summoning Beast."
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, there's only one chance."
Yahiko raised an eyebrow, but he already knew in his heart.
So it was that disaster in Konoha Year 51.
The Nine-Tails Attack... not only can it weaken Konoha, but maybe I can also take the opportunity to snatch some forbidden jutsus from the scroll of seals to play with?
"It seems you already have candidates?" Yahiko said with a faint smile.
"Only two monsters are worthy of the current Akatsuki."
Obito's tone was certain: "First, Kakuzu. An old fossil from Takigakure, loves money like life itself, once fought the First Hokage and survived. As long as the money is enough, he even dares to kill a Daimyo."
"Second, Sasori of the Red Sand. A madman who turned himself into a human puppet, slaughtering villages everywhere in the Land of Wind in pursuit of eternal art."
Konan's brow furrowed as she heard this, and she couldn't help but step forward: "Both of these are notorious S-rank wanted criminals! If we recruit such people, the Hidden Rain Village will be targeted by the entire Ninja World!"
"Who said they are from the Hidden Rain Village?"
Yahiko suddenly laughed, laughing wildly and unrestrainedly.
He turned to look at the three, arms wide open, as if embracing this broken world.
"Listen, from today on, the Hidden Rain Village and Akatsuki are completely severed."
"The Hidden Rain Village is a legitimate official regime, led by the 'Demigod' Hanzou, responsible for diplomacy, construction, and ensuring people live in peace and contentment. It must be clean, decent, and full of glory."
Yahiko's voice suddenly turned cold, carrying a thick scent of blood:
"And Akatsuki..."
"Akatsuki is a group of terrifying mercenaries walking in the gutters. We take in madmen, Rogue Ninjas, and killers. We take on the dirty work that Daimyos want to do but don't dare—assassinations, coups, starting wars!"
"Even if Akatsuki kills until rivers of blood flow outside, even if the whole world wants to tear Akatsuki into ten thousand pieces..."
Yahiko looked back, his eyes deep: "What does that have to do with the Rain Shadow Hanzou, who longs for peace and even condemns violence?"
Dead silence.
Konan and Nagato's eyes widened, their scalps tingling from this 'black and white glove' theory.
Even Obito couldn't help but look at Yahiko a few more times.
This guy... is a natural-born underworld leader!
"The direction is set, so stop talking nonsense."
Yahiko made a decisive decision: "Tobi, the plan to go to Konoha, when do we leave?"
"Three days later."
"Too slow," Yahiko said coldly. "Depart tomorrow morning. I'll go with you."
"What?!"
Three exclamations rang out at the same time.
"No!" Konan was so anxious her face turned pale, and she grabbed Yahiko's sleeve, "That's Konoha! The head of the Five Great Nations! And this Tobi is not trustworthy at all..."
"Yahiko, it's too risky," Nagato also said urgently.
Obito frowned even more: "You'll only get in the way if you follow."
"I'm not discussing it with you."
Yahiko shook off his sleeve, his tone carrying the unquestionable majesty of an emperor.
"This is an order."
He looked at Nagato and Konan, his gaze softening for a moment: "After I leave, Nagato will control the Hanzou Puppet to guard Amegakure, maintaining the illusion that the 'Demigod' is still there. Konan will be in charge of internal affairs. As for recruiting... wait until I return with the Nine-Tailed."
After arranging everything, Yahiko walked up to Obito.
The distance between the two was very close, close enough for Obito to see the unmasked aggressiveness in Yahiko's eyes.
"Depart tomorrow morning, Tobi."
Yahiko reached out to straighten Obito's collar, the corner of his mouth curling into a cruel yet charming arc, as if instructing a disobedient subordinate:
"If you mess up the first 'gift' you give to the organization..."
"Then prepare to start from being an intern in the Akatsuki."