For a man whose life has been defined by betrayal and deceit, what matters most?
The answer is simple: sincerity and the truth.
Nagato, sensing his days were numbered, was more desperate than anyone to uncover who had been pulling the strings from the shadows, toys with his fate and the destiny of the entire Akatsuki. He needed to know their ultimate goal.
Allen, showing no intent to conceal anything, candidly revealed everything he knew.
When the group learned that the root of this world's distortion, hatred, and chaos was an extraterrestrial influence, their expressions shifted from shock to a profound, collective silence. Nagato, who had styled himself as a "God" for so long, saw his face turn shades of pale and flushed. It took several minutes before he finally found his voice.
"So, Black Zetsu is a collective consciousness created through Yin-Yang Release by the Progenitor of Chakra before she was sealed? His goal is to gather the nine Tailed Beasts, resurrect the Ten-Tails, and then use the Eye of the Moon Plan to release the legendary Rabbit Goddess?"
Allen nodded slightly. "Exactly. And this woman's objective is to reclaim all chakra, even forcing the Divine Tree to condense a second fruit. That process involves stripping away massive amounts of the life energy, or natural energy, from the planet beneath our feet. Eventually, it would turn the entire world into a barren, lifeless husk."
"Why should I believe that what you're saying is the truth?" Nagato questioned, his pale purple Rinnegan narrowing. Years of being deceived and played for a fool had left him instinctively suspicious and guarded.
Allen shrugged indifferently. "Believe it or not, it's up to you. I've only ever offered two choices: join me and become a part of my plan, or die and be summoned back via Reanimation. Now, tell me, what is your answer?"
"I'm in!"
Before Nagato could even react, Obito made his choice through gritted teeth. Ever since learning that Rin had been killed by the combined machinations of Madara and Zetsu, and that it happened because of him, his heart had been a furnace of rage and regret. Now, he would unhesitatingly do anything that caused those two pain or obstructed their path.
"I'll join as well. If the world becomes a barren wasteland of death, the money I've earned becomes meaningless," Kakuzu stated second, making his position clear.
"Agreed! If everyone is dead, who will be left to appreciate my art?" Deidara chimed in.
"We must stop this plan!"
One by one, the core members of the Akatsuki fell into line. Despite being reviled rogue shinobi, none of them wanted the world they lived in to be sucked dry and turned into a dead star.
Nagato remained in deep thought for a long time before offering a wry smile. "Fine, I'm in. At the very least, it's clear that Black Zetsu is an extremely dangerous and unscrupulous individual, and this 'Eye of the Moon Plan' sounds like nothing but trouble."
"No, I think you've misunderstood one thing," Allen corrected, raising a finger. "I don't intend to sabotage or stop the Eye of the Moon Plan. Instead, we will continue to act as if nothing has changed to ensure the plan proceeds smoothly. As a collective consciousness, Black Zetsu is incredibly difficult to kill; he is a master of hiding and is effectively immortal. If he fails temporarily, he'll just retreat into the shadows and wait for a better opportunity. My goal is to settle the trouble once and for all, by completely slaying this so-called Progenitor of Chakra."
"Slay the mother of the Sage of the Six Paths?" Nagato was visibly startled.
He wasn't the only one; nearly every member of the Akatsuki shared the reaction. Only one person remained calm, having clearly anticipated this outcome: Obito Uchiha.
"Correct. As long as she lives, this world will never know peace. Furthermore, humanity has never needed a tangible god. If one exists, we kill it. We use blood and death to warn any who dare call themselves 'God' of the price such arrogance demands." Allen spoke with a chillingly calm voice that sent shivers down everyone's spine.
The shinobi world was a fundamentally feudal society, inhabited by entities like the Grim Reaper. Most people still held a significant degree of awe and reverence for the divine. A man like Allen, who viewed gods with utter disdain and even intense hostility, was practically unheard of.
"What if you fail?" Itachi, who had remained silent, finally asked in a low voice.
"I won't fail. Besides, even if I lose, I have enough certainty to drag her down to hell with me. Don't forget how Iwagakure disappeared. I can create thousands, even tens of thousands of weapons of that magnitude in an instant and detonate them all at once." Allen smiled as he revealed his trump card.
In the face of a nuclear blast, all beings are equal. He didn't believe Kaguya could withstand the terrifying destructive force of thousands or tens of thousands of warheads exploding simultaneously.
"What?! You have thousands of weapons that can create that kind of explosion?" Deidara's eyes lit up like he'd been injected with adrenaline, sparkling with pure adoration.
"Of course. That is why I have never truly cared about the Great Nations. If I wished, they wouldn't live to see tomorrow's sunrise. However, rather than simply destroying them, I would much rather see the awakened commoners sweep the shinobi, the hidden villages, the Daimyos, and the nobles into the dustbin of history. The transformation has already begun! It is like the final darkness before the break of day, though it still shrouds the sky, the dawn will arrive before long."
Allen spread his arms, intentionally using evocative and stirring language.
When he reached the phrase "the final darkness before the break of day," Nagato gripped the armrests of his wheelchair in excitement. He looked up and said with absolute conviction, "Good! I support your decision! Let us join forces to eliminate this Rabbit Goddess who has plagued the world for millennia, and in doing so, atone for our own ignorance and stupidity. Human destiny should be controlled by humans, not by some god."
"Then here's to a successful partnership. Also, from today onward, I am a member of the Akatsuki." Allen smiled and extended his right hand.
"On behalf of the Akatsuki, I welcome you!" Nagato reached out and gripped his hand firmly.
Once the formalities were over, Allen turned to Obito, who had lost his Mangekyo Sharingan. "I suggest you go and retrieve Kakashi's Sharingan. Otherwise, in your current state, you will definitely trigger Black Zetsu's suspicion."
"Kakashi's Sharingan?" Obito's face showed a flicker of confusion.
"Yes. Didn't you know? The moment Rin died, his eye also transformed into the Mangekyo, and it's the same Kamui as yours," Allen explained casually.
Allen wasn't entirely sure if Kakashi's awakening was due to a resonance with Obito's other eye or the sheer stimulus of the same negative emotions. But as someone without Uchiha blood, the fact that he could awaken and use the Mangekyo was quite extraordinary.
"I see... I will do it." Obito nodded slowly. From the grief on his face, it was clear this news made him realize that the pain his childhood friend had endured was no less than his own. In fact, it was likely even greater...