However, although Nagato spoke to Jiraiya with high spirits and impassioned words about establishing a platform centered around Akatsuki that could provide peaceful exchange for every nation in the shinobi world, appearing as though the path to the future was already in his hands, the temporary joint investigation team still faced the dilemma of having no way to proceed.
This was the troublesome nature of a terrorist organization hiding in the dark.
As long as they stopped their visible activities and no longer appeared openly, then in this era where communication and surveillance methods were not developed enough, finding them would probably not be any easier than physically breaking through the atmosphere and flying to the moon.
However, while the search for Root's traces yielded nothing, after undergoing a series of checks, Konoha finally found the shinobi whom Root had not hesitated to openly plot an assassination incident in order to make leave the village.
They found him from a list of nearly one hundred people.
"Kakashi Hatake, the Hero of the Sharingan?"
Shisui Uchiha calmly looked at this answer, which was almost exactly the same as Rei Kaguya's deduction, then curiously asked Jiraiya,
"Can you reveal why Konoha narrowed the list down until only he remained, Lord Jiraiya?"
"Because for Root to create conflict on such a large scale, the thing they want must have sufficiently high value. And among the candidate lists for the two investigation teams, only Kakashi Hatake barely meets that standard."
Jiraiya looked at Shisui Uchiha with a complicated expression, then glanced at the Fourth Kazekage Rasa, who was pretending to browse through the summarized intelligence but had actually pricked up his ears and was listening carefully to their conversation.
He sighed helplessly.
"What Root wants is nothing more than Kekkei Genkai, clan secret techniques, and certain forbidden techniques unique to Konoha."
"Leaving forbidden techniques aside for the moment, when it comes to inherited secret techniques, the only ones in Konoha with real strategic value are the techniques of the Ino-Shika-Cho clans. But when Danzo Shimura was still alive, he had already acquired the secret techniques of all three clans."
"Root is an organization composed of rogue Root members. They should not lack the secret techniques of those three clans."
"As for Kekkei Genkai…"
"The Hyuga main family would never take the initiative to come out and take such a risk. As for the Hyuga branch family, no one can steal their eyes."
"The Uchiha clan's situation is something you should understand very clearly, Shisui."
"As for the Senju clan and Wood Release… heh. When Danzo was alive, he studied the First Hokage's cells very seriously. As long as his diehard loyalists were not stupid, they would definitely have taken the First Hokage's cells and the corresponding research records with them when they defected."
"After screening everything over and over again, was there anyone left except Kakashi Hatake and that Sharingan of his?"
"I see…"
Nagato nodded thoughtfully.
"If we assume Root's objective was to move someone out of Konoha and seize something from them, then this answer is already quite close to the truth."
"But why would they need to move Kakashi Hatake outside Konoha before daring to seize his Sharingan?"
Rasa supported his chin with interlocked hands.
"Since many of them were once members of Konoha's Root, as long as Konoha has not changed its security system on a large scale, they should have plenty of ways to infiltrate Konoha itself, lie low, and find an opportunity to ambush Kakashi Hatake."
"Because they did not have absolute confidence in instantly restraining Kakashi Hatake? Or perhaps they did not want to expose that their target was Kakashi Hatake's Sharingan?"
Shisui Uchiha thought for a moment, then indirectly shared the intelligence he had heard from Rei Kaguya with the members of the joint investigation team.
"That does not seem right."
Nagato shook his head and frowned slightly.
"If their target was only Kakashi Hatake's Sharingan, then Root could have ambushed him inside Konoha and directly taken the Sharingan. There would have been no need to make such a huge disturbance and attract attention."
"Then what if we add a restriction to their objective? 'Secretly seize Kakashi Hatake's Sharingan without drawing anyone else's attention.' How about that?"
As Shisui Uchiha spoke, he became increasingly certain that the current mastermind behind Root was Obito Uchiha.
"It is still the same problem. Why would taking one Sharingan, something that should be trivial for an S-rank terrorist organization, become so troublesome and tangled?"
Rasa tapped the tabletop with his fingers and asked irritably.
"If there was no deviation in our previous investigation, then their operation used sharp opposition between Konoha, Sunagakure, and Kirigakure—even border friction and armed confrontation between the three great shinobi villages—as its background and cover…"
"I truly cannot understand why an ordinary Sharingan would be worth them creating such a storm."
"Unless that eye hides power even stronger than the legendary Madara Uchiha's Mangekyo Sharingan?"
If Rei Kaguya were here, he would have given the answer "yes" without the slightest hesitation.
After all, the pair of Mangekyo Sharingan known as Kamui could display unparalleled brilliance even in battles at the Six Paths level.
Even Madara Uchiha's unique Rinnegan ocular technique, Limbo: Border Jail, which could suppress anyone beneath Six Paths level like striking across dimensions, could hardly compare to the absurd strength of Double Kamui in terms of how bug-like it was.
But the one here was Shisui Uchiha.
He did not wish, without concrete evidence, to let people from other villages connect Root's mastermind to Obito Uchiha.
So he could only remain silent.
"Sigh. In any case, although we cannot understand why Root would act this way, Konoha can still conclude that Kakashi Hatake's security level must be raised, and that he should be kept from leaving the village as much as possible."
Seeing the discussion fall into a deadlock, Nagato, the initiator of the joint investigation team, shook his head and spoke in a low voice.
"Although we are still sitting here together exchanging intelligence, if Root is determined to hide, then we will probably have nothing to do for much longer before declaring this temporary team dissolved and each returning to our own village."
"However, I hope this cooperation can lay a good foundation."
"If, in the future, another group like Root appears, one that seeks to destroy peace and start war, I hope we can still represent our respective villages and sit together calmly like this to exchange intelligence, instead of repeating the same mistakes as before and immediately preparing for war on our own."
Hearing Nagato begin promoting his idea to everyone present, Jiraiya's eyes flashed with a mixture of gratification and emotion.
Seeing that Shisui Uchiha and the Fourth Kazekage Rasa did not speak, he coughed lightly and became the first to respond.
"If it is only this level of cooperation, I should be able to make a decision on the Fourth Hokage's behalf…"
"Konoha does not oppose this form of exchange. We welcome more nations and shinobi villages joining this communication organization to prevent unnecessary contradictions and hatred from appearing out of thin air due to the schemes of people with ulterior motives."
"Kirigakure has no objections either."
Shisui Uchiha looked at Nagato with slight surprise and delight, then nodded as well.
"Right now, Kirigakure is in a period of reform, development, and transformation. Lord Mizukage will certainly be happy to see the broader environment of the shinobi world remain peaceful."
Seeing that the representatives of Konoha and Kirigakure had both expressed agreement, Rasa narrowed his eyes and spoke in a slightly cold tone.
"Sunagakure can also send someone to join this communication organization…"
"But the problem is, this joint investigation team was established because of a coincidence. There are not many interests entangled between us right now. But what about afterward?"
"If another situation appears in the future that requires representatives from multiple sides to meet, which side will take the lead in establishing a new communication organization?"
"Will the three great shinobi villages take turns hosting it?"
"And if so, will there be a possibility that the village acting as host will favor its own village in how it conducts matters?"
"If these problems cannot be resolved, then Sunagakure remains doubtful about the future of this form of exchange."
"Your doubts are reasonable, Lord Kazekage. However, I intend to take over the position of host for this exchange organization in the name of Akatsuki, a neutral peace organization. I will personally guarantee this organization's objectivity and impartiality."
Nagato seemed to have prepared an answer in advance and responded to Rasa's question meticulously.
"Akatsuki?"
Rasa's tone carried strong suspicion and distrust.
"I do not believe that Akatsuki's status and military power qualify it to hold the most important identity, the host, on a stage built by three great shinobi villages, or perhaps even more villages in the future."
"Then next, I will prove to you, Lord Kazekage, that I, Nagato, leader of Akatsuki, have that qualification and strength."
Nagato still maintained his smile and spoke neither quickly nor slowly.
"Prove it? How?"
Rasa asked unhappily.
"Like this."
Nagato rose and walked to the window.
Facing a massive cliff several kilometers away from the Land of Wind daimyo's estate, he slowly raised his right hand.
"Universal Pull!"
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