Wen Lan stared at the intelligence report, a plan rapidly forming in his mind.
He placed the file down and looked at Minato and Shikaku.
"What do you two think?"
"I suspect they won't move against Konoha for now," Minato said softly. "Among the Five Great Villages, we currently have the most Kage-level combatants. They won't poke the hardest target first. This report clearly shows they're picking on the weaker ones."
Wen Lan nodded and turned to Shikaku.
Shikaku coughed lightly. "I disagree slightly. It's not that they won't attack Konoha—they're waiting."
Minato looked at him.
Shikaku continued calmly:
"There are two possible reasons they haven't moved on us.
First: The Nine-Tails is too strong. They likely don't yet possess the ability to control it.
Second: Because we all know Konoha is strong, they know that too. Precisely because of that, they may be setting up something in the shadows—lulling us into complacency.
And…"
He paused.
"Kushina is due to give birth soon, isn't she?"
Minato's face changed instantly.
Wen Lan, however, looked at Shikaku with clear admiration.
He knew about the Nine-Tails Incident because he was a transmigrator.
But Shikaku had deduced the danger purely from logic and timing.
Truly worthy of the Nara name.
"We must increase security in advance," Wen Lan said firmly. "Especially around Kushina's delivery. The date must not leak."
Minato clenched his fists.
Shikaku nodded. "We'll disguise increased barrier patrols as routine rotations."
The invisible chessboard had already been laid.
Wen Lan walked to the window, tapping lightly on the sill.
Then suddenly—
"Where are Nagato and the others?"
Minato and Shikaku both stiffened.
They had been so focused on the Tailed Beasts that they forgot the storm caused by the Rinnegan last year.
Shikaku immediately shouted, "ANBU! Confirm Nagato's location!"
An ANBU appeared instantly.
"Advisor-sama. Nagato and his team left three days ago on a mission. Based on the timeline, they should return tonight."
Shikaku's expression darkened.
"We overlooked this. The Rinnegan's temptation may exceed even the Tailed Beasts. If this is a diversion—and their true target is the Rinnegan—our defenses are pointed the wrong way."
"No," Wen Lan cut in sharply.
"Why can't it be both?"
"The Sage's Eye is irresistible. Seize the Rinnegan first, then use it to capture the Tailed Beasts."
He had overlooked something critical.
In the original timeline, the Tailed Beasts were sealed into the Gedo Statue.
And the Gedo Statue required a Rinnegan to control.
If someone else gained a Rinnegan—
The entire balance would shift.
Wen Lan turned to the ANBU.
"Give me their mission route. I'll intercept them."
In the Forest
Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan were moving swiftly through the trees.
Leaves spun behind them.
Suddenly—
"Lightning Style: False Darkness!"
A spear of lightning shot toward Nagato's chest.
Konan instantly unfolded into paper, forming a shield. The lightning shattered it.
Yahiko yanked Nagato aside.
"Wind Style: Wind Blade!"
"Don't engage! Move!" Yahiko shoved them forward.
He was half a second too slow.
A wind blade carved into his right arm, slicing deep enough to expose bone.
Blood splattered across the forest path.
"Yahiko!" Nagato cried out.
He slammed his hands to the ground.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
Smoke erupted.
A massive Yata Crow burst forth, lifting the three into the sky.
"Don't let them escape!" a voice boomed.
Dozens of puppets surged from the forest canopy, surrounding them midair. Blades and mechanisms glinted coldly.
Chakra threads wrapped around the crow's wings.
It plummeted—then vanished in smoke.
Konan dispersed again, reforming into a defensive shield.
But the puppet barrage was relentless.
Nagato spread his arms.
"Shinra Tensei!"
A massive repulsive force exploded outward.
Dozens of puppets shattered instantly. Chakra threads snapped.
Even the forest floor below was flattened into a circular void.
The trio landed, breathing hard.
From the shadows emerged four figures.
A hunched old man.
A stitched, masked giant.
A scythe-wielding youth.
And a half-black, half-white figure inside a venus flytrap shell.
Sasori.
Kakuzu.
Hidan.
Zetsu.
"Remarkable," Kakuzu said, eyes gleaming. "The Rinnegan truly lives up to its legend. And the three of you carry hefty bounties."
Hidan laughed wildly.
"I'll offer you to Lord Jashin!"
He looked barely older than a teenager—yet his eyes burned with twisted fanaticism.
"Who are you?!" Yahiko shouted, kunai raised. "How dare you ambush Konoha ninja?!"
Zetsu's white half giggled.
"You can call us… Akatsuki."
The word froze the trio.
"Akatsuki?!" Yahiko roared. "We created Akatsuki! You have no right to that name!"
"Rights?" Kakuzu scoffed. "How much does that pay?"
Sasori tossed aside a ragged cloak, revealing a black robe adorned with red clouds.
The symbol was unmistakable.
Yahiko stared at it, rage shaking his voice.
"You trample our ideals!"
Konan's paper blades formed in her fingers.
"Akatsuki was meant to bring peace—not slaughter!"
Sasori's voice was calm and cold.
"Peace is an illusion."
Hidan grinned.
"And we're here to collect your eyes."
—------------------------------
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