A single night was enough for this group of young people to understand each other.
"Those who go to their deaths."
Filled with tragic heroism, this was the impression Obito got after discussing tactics with them all night.
"Everyone is already weary of fighting. Even if we win a battle, Akatsuki receives no reward; we only have ideals. One day, exhaustion will wear down these ideals, and the members will lose themselves on the path of pursuing them, mistaking the means for the end."
"Are you saying everyone will forget why they fight?"
"Uchiha Obito, if you can lead Akatsuki towards a brighter future, not just for today, but from now on, you can always be Akatsuki's leader."
"Why trust me, someone you've only met once?"
"I'm not leader material. The feeling of killing for the first time still lingers on my hands; it's horrifying to recall even now. But you're different. You have a special symbol. The clan behind you will become a new ideal for everyone."
"Are you trying to use the Sharingan and the Uchiha clan?"
There were so many in the ninja world who hated war, but most repaid grievance with grievance. The ideal of stopping killing without killing was truly great.
"The Rinnegan."
"Wouldn't he be more suitable for this position in the future?"
Obito also understood why this fellow named Nagato gave his Sharingan such intense pressure. Currently, within the clan, apart from the Mangekyō Sharingan, the three-tomoe was already the highest level. To have such pressure in terms of dōjutsu, the Rinnegan, as the most mysterious and powerful of the Three Great Dōjutsu, truly lived up to its name.
"Nagato, he..."
"I understand."
Nagato stepped forward on his own initiative, interrupting Yahiko.
"As long as you lead Akatsuki forward, I will acknowledge you as our leader. The power of the Rinnegan can be lent to you."
"You've always been in pain because you possess such eyes, haven't you?"
"I hope you can control my power."
"Beside you, there are people who can control your power."
Running through the rain, Yahiko and Konan looked at Nagato, this companion who had been different since childhood, bearing suppressed suffering.
"Yes, Konan and I will always be with Nagato."
As Uchiha Obito had expected, Hanzō of the Salamander had his confidant, Kanzō, lead all of Akatsuki to a flat area on a mountain peak outside Amegakure. There, Hanzō, Danzō, and dozens of Anbu of unknown affiliation, along with Jōnin, were waiting in stern formation.
Making all Akatsuki members fall back, Uchiha Obito, wearing the spiral mask, stepped forward in Yahiko's place, facing Hanzō of the Salamander who had walked out alone.
Obito, itching to seize the life-saving antidote right now, awaited Hanzō's words.
"We entrust the negotiation task with the three great nations to you. Are you Yahiko?"
"I am Tobi, Akatsuki's leader."
"Oh? It seems my intelligence was slightly off. Nevertheless, sharing the same ideals is still a good thing."
Behind Obito, the Akatsuki members, hearing Hanzō acknowledge their ideals and entrust them with the mission of negotiating peace with the three great nations, couldn't help but show expressions of joy, even though they understood it might be false.
Only Nagato, Konan, and Yahiko remained unmoved, quietly observing Obito's negotiation tactics.
"How many people have made sacrifices for this moment."
A smile that didn't reach his eyes. Hanzō couldn't see the expression under the spiral mask, but looking at those determined eyes, he felt that this mission to eliminate them was not unfounded.
"This stinking brat has killing intent towards me."
His battlefield-honed intuition told this Demigod of the ninja world that his purpose had likely already been discovered by Akatsuki. Although he didn't know who leaked the information, as long as they didn't leave here alive, no one could threaten his rule.
"Seeing you today, you truly are a bunch of sneaky rats. The leader doesn't dare show his true face, and the others are just a disorderly rabble. And you think you can share the same ideals as me?"
One stone stirred a thousand waves. The crowd, who had been arrogant due to Hanzō's previous praise, was immediately devastated. They realized that everything this Uchiha Obito had said was true; this peace declaration meeting was nothing but a Hongmen Banquet, a blatant deception.
"Even though I had anticipated this outcome, it's still hard not to feel disheartened."
Yahiko gave a bitter laugh, drew a kunai, and assumed a fighting stance, simultaneously alerting Konan and Nagato to be ready to cover the others' escape at any moment.
"Originally, I only planned to kill your leader and let you disband on your own. It seems all of Akatsuki are a bunch of obstinate fools. So be it. To die at the hands of me, the Demigod, is your honor."
With that said, the mountaintop became densely packed with Konoha Anbu and Amegakure ninja. The dozens of men who had been in plain sight were now also fully armed, surrounding everyone.
The entire valley reeked of killing intent.
"Must you go to such lengths even against your juniors, Lord Hanzō?"
For Obito, who had exposed Hanzō's true face, words were now meaningless. The question at this moment came from Yahiko, the former Akatsuki leader, who was utterly disappointed with Amegakure.
"There's no fairness in battles between ninja. Although you are a weak and arrogant organization in my eyes, I will not show mercy for that reason. Taking your lives with all my strength is the only thing I can do next."
"Precisely so."
Danzō walked out from behind Hanzō, the Konoha forehead protector on his head exceptionally ironic.
"Lord Danzō, if Lord Third knew you were here sowing discord and obstructing peace among the three nations, I wonder what he would think?"
"Hoh, a Konoha brat? Having become Akatsuki's leader, let me guess... with that feeling, you're an Uchiha brat."
"Danzō, you didn't tell me before that Akatsuki's leader was a Konoha kid. If Yahiko were the leader, it could be explained as Amegakure's internal strife. This situation makes it hard for me not to have other thoughts."
Hanzō distanced himself from Danzō, undoing a part of the seal on his poison sac. The surrounding air immediately filled with an ethereal purple mist.
"Lord Hanzō, rest assured. After today, he will be a traitor to Amegakure. Konoha does not welcome traitors."
"You two really can talk, can't you?"
Leaping up suddenly, Obito used the Uchiha's signature greeting ninjutsu.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
The Fire Release, still possessing immense destructive power even in this rainy weather, burst forth from the air. Below, Nagato, as the main combatant, also began his attack.
A violent shockwave, a repulsive force scattered the raindrops and crushed the stones in front, spreading out towards Hanzō of the Salamander and Danzō.
"Trifling tricks."
"Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere!"
Three or four wind blades collided head-on with the fireball, slicing it apart, and rushed towards Obito with undiminished momentum.
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