Gento claimed the mission card, his heart full of anticipation.
Whether it was the previous Divine Tree seed or the World Prime Stone he had just obtained, both made him firmly believe in the incredible value of SSS-rank rewards.
Gento chose to use it right away.
[Ding! Item "Mission Card" used successfully!]
[Collect Tailed Beasts]
⟩ In ancient times, the Sage of Six Paths split the Ten-Tails' chakra into nine Tailed Beasts and scattered them across the shinobi world. These Tailed Beasts possess world-destroying power and are one of the root causes of wars in the shinobi world. The host must collect all Tailed Beasts from the One-Tail to the Nine-Tails. Whether through sealing, taming, or bringing them into your own faction, as long as the power of the nine Tailed Beasts is entirely under the host's control, the mission will be considered complete.
› Mission Progress: 3/9
› One-Tail Shukaku: Not Collected
› Two-Tails Matatabi: Collected (Host's partner Yugito Nii)
› Three-Tails Isobu: Collected (Active on Hozuki Island, under the host's control)
› Four-Tails Son Goku: Not Collected
› Five-Tails Kokuo: Not Collected
› Six-Tails Saiken: Not Collected
› Seven-Tails Chomei: Not Collected
› Eight-Tails Gyuki: Not Collected
› Nine-Tails Kurama: Collected (Host's partner Kushina Uzumaki)
⟩ Reward: Gain one opportunity to copy a Talent Trait from a descendant. You can choose any descendant's Talent Trait and perfectly copy it to the host. After copying, the host will obtain all the effects of this trait, which can be stacked with the host's existing abilities.
Looking at the mission panel this time, Gento had a solemn expression.
An SSS-rank mission was indeed difficult.
Collecting the Tailed Beasts was far more difficult than it appeared on the surface.
Ever since the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, captured the nine Tailed Beasts after the Battle of the Valley of the End and distributed them to the major shinobi villages to balance military power, the Tailed Beasts had been scattered all over the shinobi world, sealed inside Jinchuriki and used as the villages' nuclear weapons.
Each Tailed Beast was a village's ultimate trump card, the core of their strategic deterrence.
Wanting to collect all nine Tailed Beasts meant taking the Jinchuriki from the hands of the major shinobi villages.
This was undoubtedly making an enemy of the entire shinobi world.
Even though the current Hidden Gento Village possessed strength that topped the shinobi world, dealing with this kind of matter was still quite a headache.
Gento rubbed his temples, falling into deep thought.
However, the reward this time was truly enticing.
Copying a Talent Trait from a descendant.
Hanyu's [Six Paths Body], Mitaka's [Natural-Born Emperor], Asahi's [Kekkei Tota], and the unborn children in Tsunade and Rin's wombs...
Choosing any one of them would cause his own strength to skyrocket.
Therefore, he was determined to get these nine Tailed Beasts.
But he was not so foolish as to directly order the Anbu of the Hidden Gento Village to forcibly plunder the Tailed Beasts from the major villages.
That would be no different from declaring war on the entire shinobi world.
Alliances, infiltration, division, exploitation...
There were plenty of smarter ways than raw force.
After pondering for a moment, Gento suddenly had a flash of inspiration.
In the original story, wasn't the Akatsuki's goal to collect the Tailed Beasts?
Propelled by Obito, the Akatsuki captured Jinchuriki everywhere, ultimately succeeding in gathering all the Tailed Beasts except for the Eight-Tails and Nine-Tails.
He could completely sit back and wait for the Akatsuki to collect the Tailed Beasts for him, letting them bear the infamy of the entire shinobi world.
Once the Akatsuki finished collecting most of the Tailed Beasts, he would make his move and directly snatch the completed work from their hands.
With his current strength, combined with the two undercover agents, Konan and Hidan, this plan had an extremely high feasibility.
Having made his decision, Gento immediately contacted Konan using the method she had left behind.
He wanted to inquire about the current development of the Akatsuki.
...
Seven days later, at the border of the Land of Rice Paddies, in a hidden bounty station.
A few rogue shinobi crouched in the corner, talking in low voices, their eyes scanning the bounties on the wall from time to time.
Konan wore the black cloak with red clouds of the Akatsuki, her hood obscuring most of her face, leaving only a glimpse of her fair chin.
She stood in front of the bounty board, seemingly scanning the wanted posters casually, but her gaze lingered on an inconspicuous bounty in the corner.
That was a special bounty.
Assassinate Gento Uchiha, the Feudal Lord of the Land of Hot Water, reward ten Ryo.
A few shinobi nearby glanced at it and sneered one after another.
"Tch! The person who posted this bounty must be insane! To assassinate a powerhouse of Gento Uchiha's caliber, it should start at least at one billion Ryo!"
"Exactly. A mere ten Ryo, who would take it? It probably wouldn't even cover travel expenses."
"Maybe it's just some shinobi's prank."
Konan, however, was lost in thought.
This bounty was precisely the signal she and Gento had agreed upon for their meeting.
Thus, she lingered no longer and turned to walk out of the bounty station.
Outside the door, a petite figure was waiting for her.
It was a girl of about twelve years old, wearing a light purple kimono with a white short coat over it, and a large sash tied around her waist.
Her figure was petite and lovely, her height only reaching Konan's shoulder, yet she was well-proportioned, already showing the budding curves of a young girl.
Her chest rose a bit, her waist was slender, and her legs under the short coat were straight and symmetrical.
A short mane of deep purple hair fell to the sides of her shoulders, the ends of her hair curling slightly.
Her face was round and cute, her facial features delicate.
At this moment, she was looking up, gazing at the bounty station.
Seeing Konan come out, a smile immediately blossomed on her face, and she quickly stepped forward to meet her.
"Lady Angel!"
Konan nodded to her, then turned and walked in the opposite direction of returning to the Land of Rain.
Ajisai was startled for a moment, then quickly caught up and spoke to remind her:
"Lady Angel, the direction is wrong... Aren't we going back to the base?"
Konan did not look back, speaking calmly:
"The mission has changed. Follow me."
Although Ajisai was puzzled, she did not ask further and obediently followed behind Konan.
...
Three days later, at the Feudal Lord's palace in Cerulean Harbor, Land of Hot Water.
Several attendants respectfully guided Konan and Ajisai into Gento's office.
The door was pushed open, and Gento was sitting behind his office desk.
Konan walked in and took off her hood, her light blue-purple hair cascading down, the pale purple paper flower at the end of her hair swaying gently.
Her face was still cold and detached, but the moment she saw Gento, an imperceptible tenderness flashed in her eyes.
Gento stood up, walked around the desk, and came in front of her.
He opened his arms and embraced her without any hesitation.
Konan's body stiffened slightly before softening as she buried her face in his chest.
"You're here."
"Yes."
Konan's voice was muffled, carrying a hint of acting spoiled.
Ajisai stood at the doorway, her eyes wide with shock.
She had never seen Lady Angel look so submissive.
That cold, majestic Akatsuki Angel whom no one dared to approach was actually leaning into someone else's embrace like a little woman.
Gento released Konan, his gaze falling on the petite figure behind her.
Immediately following that, the system's voice resounded:
[Ding! Suitable Dual Cultivation kunoichi detected.]
[Name: Ajisai]
[Ninjutsu: Summoning Jutsu Mastery]
[Strength: Genin]
[Overall Evaluation: A-rank]
Gento could not help but raise an eyebrow.
Wasn't this the Loli Path?
…
TL: Holy… Author wth are you doing
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