Two days later, word came from near the border: Kisame, Kabuto, and a masked man had been sighted, apparently heading toward the Land of Rain.
The moment the news arrived, Tsunade immediately convened a jonin meeting.
"Did they go to the Land of Rain to link up?" Neji guessed.
"They're probably regrouping—and after they do, they'll go all-out against Konoha," Shikamaru dropped a bomb.
Everyone jolted, falling silent as they weighed the possibility. It was, obviously, very likely—right now Konoha had the most Jinchuriki (Tailed-Beast hosts).
Which meant Konoha was the biggest target!
Maybe the enemy was wary of Konoha's strength—that's why they planned to rendezvous first.
At that moment, Jiraiya glanced at Natsuki. He didn't say a word, but the meaning was clear: you promised intel. Hand it over!
Natsuki also felt the timing was about right. But not everyone present should hear this, so he used chakra threads to link to Tsunade and tapped out a message in Morse code:
Tsunade-sama, please have Jiraiya-sama, Kakashi-senpai, Neji, Sasuke, and Shikamaru stay. I have intel for them.
Tsunade frowned: The others can't know?
Natsuki: I've got a lot of intel, and some of it shouldn't be public. After I share it, Tsunade-sama can decide what parts to announce.
I see… sounds like Natsuki's intel is anything but ordinary.
Tsunade said at once, "That's the situation. Everyone else, return to your posts. Keep a close eye on Akatsuki's movements. If you discover anything—or have a good plan—report immediately. Dismissed for now. Jiraiya, Natsuki, Kakashi, Neji, Sasuke, Shikamaru—stay."
No one dared dawdle. They filed out fast, leaving the selected few exchanging looks.
Natsuki said, "Jiraiya-sama, please set up a soundproof kekkai (barrier)."
So cautious?
Jiraiya looked to Tsunade. Seeing her nod, he began working at once and finished shortly.
Only then did Natsuki say gravely, "Time's tight, so I'll just show you the intel. Please believe what I'm about to say. The Rikudou Sennin (Sage of Six Paths) appeared in my dreams and told me many things. I've written them all down—take a look."
With that, he summoned a giant scroll and unfurled it across the floor so everyone could see.
Hearing "Rikudou Sennin appeared in my dreams," everyone went a little blank. It wasn't that they distrusted Natsuki—it just sounded… wild.
Only Sasuke's eyes flashed. He believed Natsuki.
They lowered their heads and began to read:
In ancient times, Kaguya descended upon the world, planted the Shinju (Divine Tree) to drain the planet, and ate its fruit to gain overwhelming power. Later, Hagoromo and Hamura were born. When Kaguya cast Mugen Tsukuyomi (Infinite Tsukuyomi) and turned masses of humans into White Zetsu, Hagoromo and Hamura joined forces and sealed her away. Before her sealing, Kaguya created Black Zetsu.
Afterward, Hagoromo became the Rikudou Sennin (Sage of Six Paths), split the Shinju into nine Bijuu (Tailed Beasts), and its husk—the Gedou Mazo (Demonic Statue of the Outer Path)—was taken to the moon by Hamura.
Later still, Hagoromo's sons, Ashura and Indra, were manipulated into conflict by Black Zetsu. The stone tablet Indra left behind was altered by Black Zetsu. Much later, Hashirama and Madara fought. After awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan (Mangekyo Sharingan), Madara saw the tablet's forged "truth," believed that gathering the nine Bijuu to form the Juubi (Ten-Tails) and becoming its Jinchuriki (Tailed-Beast host) to cast Mugen Tsukuyomi (Infinite Tsukuyomi) would "save" the shinobi world—but it was merely Black Zetsu's plot to free his "mother."
After that, Madara faked his death, actually awakened the Rinnegan (Rinnegan), implanted the Rinnegan into Nagato, and set up Obito as his successor to ensure his future resurrection. All along, Black Zetsu acted from the shadows, pushing Akatsuki's plan to capture the Bijuu.
As for Obito controlling the Fourth Mizukage in the Land of Water to create the Blood Mist era; Danzo conspiring with Hanzo to kill Yahiko; Obito triggering the Nine-Tails' Rampage; Danzo causing Shisui's death; the Uchiha massacre; Danzo's arm full of Sharingan—every major and minor deed was listed. Everything Natsuki could recall, he wrote.
There was also specific intel on Akatsuki—Nagato's Rikudou no Pein (Six Paths of Pain) puppet bodies, Konan's kami ninjutsu (Paper Release), and so on.
Nothing important should be missing.
Seeing everyone's stunned faces, Natsuki fully tasted the rush of dropping spoilers.
Now that they knew the plot, there'd be so much to do next.
As for why Natsuki chose these particular people: Tsunade and Jiraiya, as Konoha's leaders, had to know. Sasuke and Neji bore the Sage's eyes and were strong. Shikamaru, because he was smart. With these few knowing the truth, they could reason out better countermeasures.
If Tenten or Shino wanted to know later, he'd fill them in.
A long moment passed. Everyone looked dazed.
The only question left was: Who am I? Where am I? Why is reality like this? [014704013飞卢024282560]
Jiraiya spoke first. "Natsuki, you're saying all this came from the Rikudou Sennin appearing in your dreams?"
Natsuki nodded firmly. "Yes. You don't believe me?"
Jiraiya pressed his lips together. "I do. The Great Toad Sage often dreams the future too… it's just—this is all so unbelievable. And to think… the leader of Akatsuki is Nagato…"
Hard to accept, right?
Truth like this was hard to swallow.
Jiraiya felt crushed. He'd thought Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato had died in the chaos of war. He'd never imagined such a twist.
Yahiko had been killed by Danzo and Hanzo. Nagato and Konan had been driven to extremes. The Akatsuki that once truly loved peace had become a terror organization—and worst of all, they'd all become tools for Obito and Madara.
He hadn't protected them.
Tears streamed down Jiraiya's face. "Once, I believed Nagato was the savior because he had the Rinnegan. Maybe I also believed Yahiko was the savior because he truly loved peace and had the charisma for it. But I failed to protect them! I spent my life searching for a savior—maybe I met them long ago, but I… missed it!"
Kakashi looked even more lost, tears soaking the mask.
He lifted his headband, revealing his Sharingan—now clearly a Mangekyo Sharingan (Mangekyo Sharingan).
"So that's how it was? No wonder this eye became a Mangekyo… It happened when I… killed Rin with my own hands, and Obito saw it. For the sake of creating a world where Rin still lived, he went this far—he even caused Minato-sensei and Kushina to die. I… I…"
Sasuke and Neji exchanged a look—shock and sudden clarity in their eyes.
So this was the real history of the shinobi world. So the Uchiha and the Hyuga both inherited the Sage's eyes!
No wonder they'd been asked to stay—Natsuki wanted them to know the truth.
Sasuke, however, was thinking even further.
He'd asked Natsuki about Obito before, and Natsuki said it was too tangled to explain. He hadn't expected it to be tangled this far.
Shikamaru, for his part, shot Natsuki a disgruntled glance. "Why did you have to dump all that on me? If you'd just given me Akatsuki's intel, that would've been enough!"
(End of Chapter)
[Get +20 Extra Chapters On — P@tr3on "Zaelum"]
[Every 500 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter Drop]
[Thanks for Reading!]