Book Artist: "By the way, can a world without ninjas still be called the Ninja World?"
Angel of the Hidden Rain Village: "It doesn't matter. We can change the name to the Spirit World, or Soul Society would be fine too."
Scarlet Snake Fairy: "Konan, you really are open-minded. Soul Society..."
Curly-Haired Boy: "Death Copyright Warning!"
Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "Speaking of which, An Ran-san is really amazing! He seems to have guessed Aizen's purpose so easily!"
Curly-Haired Boy: "Tsk, it's just this guy's personal analysis and speculation. Who knows if it's true?"
Scarlet Snake Fairy: "Even if it is just speculation, it all makes sense, doesn't it? Why do I feel like Gintoki is always targeting Master An?"
Book Artist: "Don't mind him, Mo Chou-neesan. He's just jealous. If he has the guts, why doesn't he try to provide his own analysis?"
Curly-Haired Boy: "Humph! Gin-san isn't some pervert who's good at playing with people's hearts!"
Book Artist: "A man with bear-print panties on his head has no right to use the word 'pervert'!"
Angel of the Hidden Rain Village: "An Ran-san isn't just playing with hearts. An Ran-san is the real Lord Aizen! Right?"
This is an Actor: "Oh? Did you notice that, Konan-senpai? I thought you'd have realized it sooner."
Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "???"
Saten Ruiko looked confused. What was going on? Was An Ran-san actually Aizen?
Curly-Haired Boy: "Hey, are you guys putting on a play? If you can, pull a rabbit out of your hat!"
Book Artist: "You're talking about magic, idiot! However, Konan and An Ran-san's performances are quite convincing."
Angel of the Hidden Rain Village: "Sorry, I scared Ruiko-chan. But An Ran-san is so into the role; the way he addresses others and the way he speaks seem just like the real Aizen!"
This is an Actor: "Because it is real."
Angel of the Hidden Rain Village: "Yeah, I believe you."
Konan, having sent the message, smiled slightly and reached out to tap the void in front of her.
Hum.
A black rift suddenly tore open—a Garganta, yawning like a massive mouth ready to devour the world. After adjusting her mood, Konan stepped into the void.
"Welcome back, Konan-senpai."
As soon as Konan exited the Garganta, she saw Aizen already waiting. He was sitting in a reclining chair to her right. A cup of black tea sat on the long table in front of him, and his eyes were gentle behind his frames. "It seems your journey was smooth."
Konan remained silent, her expression guarded. She pulled the black cube containing the Six-Tails from her sleeve and placed it on the table. "I have completed the task you assigned. Now, I need to return to the Akatsuki base."
"Ah. Even if you didn't ask, I would have let you return," Aizen said softly, nodding slightly.
"What are you planning?" Konan asked, her voice calm despite her internal tension.
Aizen's lips curled into a tranquil smile. "Please inform Leader Pain to come to Konoha in two months to reclaim the Nine-Tails."
Reclaim the Nine-Tails?
Konan's pupils shrank, her entire body tensing. She knew Aizen would never allow Akatsuki to take Naruto under his nose. So why invite Pain? Was his real purpose to trigger a full-scale conflict between Konoha and Akatsuki?
She felt she had grasped the truth, but she didn't dare show it. "With Konoha's current defenses, even if all Akatsuki members joined the fray, they wouldn't be able to break through a head-on defense."
This was an objective fact. Whether it was the overall strength of Akatsuki or Nagato's current mastery of the Rinnegan, they were far from their peak. A direct confrontation with Konoha at this stage would be suicide.
"Ah, that is true." Aizen's lips curved slightly, his brown eyes obscured by the light reflecting off his lenses. "Between the noble clans and Konoha's numerous Jonin, a united village possesses terrifying fighting force. Even the powerful Akatsuki would be forced to retreat."
"Then why—"
Aizen interrupted her. "But what if Konoha were already engulfed in war by then? With Leader Pain's power, he should easily be able to crush an exhausted Konoha, wouldn't he?"
Konoha engulfed in war?
Konan was stunned, disbelief etched on her face. She didn't ask any further questions. After a moment of heavy silence, she stepped back into the black rift.
As soon as she transitioned through the void, she immediately opened the group chat.
Book Artist: "Invite Akatsuki to retrieve the Nine-Tails? What is this Aizen guy doing?"
Scarlet Snake Fairy: "I remember Konan-neesan saying he contacts Naruto frequently, right? If he just wanted the Nine-Tails, Aizen could take it himself easily."
Angel of the Hidden Rain Village: "Exactly. That's why I find it so unsettling."
Curly-Haired Boy: "Could it be that Aizen is trying to bait Nagato into an attack just to kill him?"
Angel of the Hidden Rain Village: "No, that can't be!"
If there was anything in the world Konan cared about, her dear friend Nagato was at the top of the list.
Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "I think that's unlikely. What would be his motive for attacking Nagato-san? The Rinnegan? Since An Ran-san said Aizen doesn't even care about being the Ten-Tails Jinchūriki, he probably wouldn't covet the Rinnegan."
Curly-Haired Boy: "The Rinnegan? Is his goal really the Rinnegan? You're too young, Ruiko-chan. It's way too early for you to understand the truth behind this."
Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "?"
Book Artist: "What do you mean 'too early'?"
Curly-Haired Boy: "Aizen isn't targeting Nagato for the eyes! His real target is Konan! If he kills off his rival, Nagato, won't he have Konan all to himself?"
Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "Phew..."
Angel of the Hidden Rain Village: "?"
This is an Actor: "?"
Aizen's eyebrows twitched slightly. Well, there is no point in getting angry with that idiot. If you take Sakata Gintoki seriously, you've already lost.
Book Artist: "There he goes again! You really need to bleach your brain, Gintoki!"
Curly-Haired Boy: "What does a pre-teen girl know? I'm speaking from a man's instinct! Every man has a strong possessive desire in his heart!"
Book Artist: "No, I think it's just a perverted instinct."
Curly-Haired Boy: "Huh? You have a better answer? Let's hear it!"
Book Artist: "An Ran-san! Give him the answer and put him in his place!"
Angel of the Hidden Rain Village: "After some thought, I still think the target is Konoha itself. Since Aizen said Konoha would be plunged into war, he's likely been instigating it from the shadows. With Akatsuki's involvement added to the mix, what will become of the village?"
Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "Ah... will the whole village become 'molded' into the shape Aizen wants?"
Book Artist: "Pfft!"
To mold Konoha into a specific shape? Not exactly.
Watching the messages from the group members, Aizen shook his head slightly. He wanted to do this for the sake of a grand proclamation. Using the entirety of Konoha as his stage, he would announce to the world the existence of "God."