Chapter 245: The Akatsuki
Inside the Konoha War Command Center, the situation was developing differently from what Uchiha Shisui had imagined. The Uchiha clan and the Konoha leadership hadn't immediately gone to war over his and Itachi's disappearance. On the contrary, the two groups were now sitting together.
It wasn't just the Uchiha; Hyuga Hiashi was also present in the temporary command center.
Although the Uchiha shinobi were clearly separated from the others, the atmosphere wasn't hostile.
Sarutobi Hiruzen tapped the ash from his pipe, then signaled for [Providence] to speak.
Uchiha Fugaku'sthree-tomoe Sharingan quietly watched the woman who had once made the Uchiha's situation so difficult. This time, however, she was standing on the Uchiha's side.
Not only had she directly pointed out the identity of the mysterious, powerful enemy, she had also made it clear that the enemy's goal was to use the Uchiha and Konoha's internal conflict to trigger a new Great Shinobi War, all to acquire the Sharingan and other Kekkei Genkai, among other benefits.
This directly tied the Konoha leadership's hands. Even Danzo didn't dare to bring up his plan to annihilate the Uchiha at this moment.
And Sarutobi Hiruzen—the Third Hokage who, in all the years the Uchiha were being marginalized and this conflict was brewing, had never once properly consulted him—had now held a long talk with him. The gist was that they must set aside their conflict to overcome the current crisis, and that all that belonged to the Uchiha would be returned in the future.
"According to my intelligence, Uchiha Shisui was not killed by Mercenary Tao, but he has likely been... restrained by him."
The Uchiha clansmen looked furious, but Uchiha Fugaku understood immediately. That Mercenary Tao was likely using Itachi's life to threaten Shisui.
"Uchiha Shisui approached Konoha several times, but ultimately chose to leave, finally disappearing inside the Land of Water."
Sarutobi Hiruzen watched Providence analyze the intel. He mused that her special intelligence channel was likely some kind of long-range scrying jutsu, or perhaps one that manipulated animals or puppets.
In any case, the viewing distance was extreme, and it was incredibly covert. The Hyuga hadn't detected it, and neither had the Mercenary Tao who defeated Shisui.
If this jutsu could be used in war...
He finally dismissed the thought. The current Konoha was truly unsuited for war. The Land of Fire had been victorious in all three wars, but had gained little in return.
Konoha, due to various incidents, was suffering a talent drain. The Sannin were gone from the village, Hatake Sakumo and Namikaze Minato were dead, and now even Uchiha Shisui had met with disaster.
The next generation's seedlings hadn't fully matured. If they went to war now, Konoha would likely bleed out the last of its fresh blood.
"The Land of Water? Shisui was sent to Kirigakure? For what purpose?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke, and the others frowned, thinking. Kirigakure had always remained aloof from the wars. Because of the Land of Water's unique geography, war almost never reached their seas.
And Kirigakure, because of its brutal "Bloody Mist Village" policy, had almost completely cut ties with the outside world. What in that place could Mercenary Tao possibly covet?!
Providence didn't drag it out. She said directly:
"I believe... it's the Tailed Beasts."
"Mercenary Tao has a special ability. He can gain energy and grow stronger by eating powerful things."
"Furthermore, Mercenary Tao wants to contact an organization. An organization that will bring pain to this world."
Red clouds on black cloaks?!
Catherine sensed someone approaching, but she never expected it to be these guys.
The Akatsuki!
An extremely famous organization in the Naruto derivative worlds, composed of top-tier rogue-nin from various villages, with the combat power to destroy a shinobi village.
Of course, at this point in the timeline, the Akatsuki shouldn't have developed to that stage yet.
Catherine recalled how Mercenary Tao had told her not to set up barriers, and how he had kept them lingering in the Land of Rain.
She instantly understood. He had been planning to contact the Akatsuki from the very beginning.
The Akatsuki was, of course, a very powerful faction for Reincarnators in this world. But this faction was also extremely troublesome, because by now, Yahiko was already dead.
The Akatsuki's original purpose had changed. With Uchiha Obito and Black Zetsu manipulating things from the shadows, this organization was a magnet for all kinds of crises.
Weaker Reincarnators would very likely die in those incidents.
Kaito Shirogane saw the classic red-cloud-on-black-cloak attire, stood up, and spread his arms with a smile.
"I've finally been waiting for you... my... comrades!"
Catherine saw that smile on Mercenary Tao's face. She could almost smell the blood. Mercenary Taocraved chaos. Contacting this group would inevitably trigger a major event.
She felt a mix of excitement at participating in a major event, and a hidden fear.
Those high-level shinobi... if they were truly determined to assassinate you, most [Mortal-tier]Reincarnators would be in extreme danger.
For example... Uchiha Obito, who was hiding behind the scenes...
Tendo Pain stood at the front, unmoved by Kaito Shirogane's words. He just said coldly:
"Mercenary Tao. What is your true purpose?"
Kaito Shirogane, seeing his information was already exposed, showed no change in expression. Through Catherine's communication with [Rampage], he also knew that an old acquaintance of his was in this world.
And shinobi were masters of information gathering. Whether it was Uchiha Shisui or that [Providence], both had the means to leak his information.
[Black Zetsu], as Kaguya Otsutsuki's "son," could move freely through the earth and was almost impossible to sense, making his intel-gathering abilities formidable.
"My purpose? Do you even need to ask?"
"Of course... it's to make this world feel pain!"
Standing behind Tendo Pain, Konan frowned. When this man said those words, there was no trace of pain on his face.
She didn't sense at all that this Mercenary Tao wanted to bring peace by inflicting terror on the world. On the contrary, she saw only an endless hunger for chaos and slaughter in his eyes.
"You may have misunderstood something. We, the Akatsuki, are not the kind of violent organization you imagine."
"A person like you... could probably never understand that pain."
Tendo Pain's voice was calm and cold. The next moment, a figure instantly appeared behindKaito Shirogane. The pale-skinned Orochimaru sized up Kaito with great interest.
"Would you mind telling me how you got your hands on that Shisui boy?"
Orochimaru's voice was cold and sinister, like a white snake from a dark cave.
At the same time, a cold Kusanagi Sword was already pressed against Kaito Shirogane's neck.
Orochimaru'sBody Flicker was flawless, his movement almost untraceable. The Orochimaru of this era was, without a doubt, in his prime.
Kaito Shirogane twisted his head. His neck rotated one hundred and eighty degrees, with the sound of kaka-kaka from his vertebrae, to look Orochimaru in the eye. He smiled, a smile even more unsettling than Orochimaru's.
"Tsk. An Akatsuki tradition? A fight first. I get it."
"But, Orochimaru... didn't your intelligence tell you? Things like swords... are completely... meaningless against me!"
Orochimaru instantly pressed the blade down. But the man's skin was as hard as steel. Amidst the ear-piercing scrape of the blade...
Orochimaru suddenly felt a scorching heat. The next moment, flames erupted on his body.
Orochimaru's pupils shrank.
Fire Style?!
When did he cast it?
Poof!
Orochimaru's body burst into smoke, replaced by a rock.
Voom~
He had just reappeared behind, but a violent gust of wind was already roaring at him.
The tall figure... had appeared in front of him with a speed that was not one bit slower than his own Body Flicker. The man's palm twisted and pulled back, and the air seemed to be sucked backward.
The next moment, a spiral of white-hot vapor exploded.
Zetsu and Konan simultaneously dodged to the sides. A terrifying force exploded. The air shrieked, and the mist was instantly cleared.
Orochimaru, in the middle of the gale, instantly completed his hand seals.
[Triple Rashomon]!
BOOM!
A terrifying impact sounded. Amidst the smoke, Orochimaru felt a monstrous force slam into him. That tall man... had he just smashed straight through the Triple Rashomon?!
(End of Chapter)
~~~
Get early access to 30+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Hollowborn
~~~
Every 5 new reviews = 2 extra chapters
Every 100 Power Stones = 1 extra chapter