IW: Chapter 202 - I said I'd take you to the moon, and I will!
"Nagato, this will only completely break the peace that has already been established. If you capture the Tailed Beasts, a conflict will surely follow!"
The so-called deterrence is merely a prelude to a fight.
Would Uchiha Bai Ye just stand by and watch Nagato capture the Nine Tailed Beasts?
Suddenly, Konan remembered the question she had asked Bai Ye earlier: What would he do if someone destroyed the current peace?
He would directly fight the other party, and this would cause the hard-won peace to fracture once more.
"Konan, but what if he changes later?"
Nagato didn't pay attention to Konan's change. He had actually noticed that Konan seemed to have her own ideas.
After realizing Konan had her own thoughts, his first reaction was joy. Nagato was very clear: he didn't need Konan to sacrifice for him, nor did he need Konan to unconditionally support his dream.
She didn't need to go this far. He would fulfill their dream, and he only hoped Konan could live a carefree life.
"Changes later..."
Konan murmured, her eyes a little unfocused. She was also thinking about what it would be like if things changed later.
Would it change?
Konan didn't know if Bai Ye would change later, but she felt that the current peace was what she truly desired. She felt it was enough.
"I don't know, but Nagato, if it's your decision, then I will do it too!"
Konan didn't want to dwell on it anymore. Looking at Nagato's sickly appearance, her resolve was reaffirmed.
Nagato's condition was caused by her, and she bore an undeniable responsibility.
"No! Konan, if possible, I hope you won't participate in these matters anymore."
Nagato directly refused Konan. He believed this plan no longer needed Konan.
"No!"
Konan's expression immediately changed upon hearing Nagato's words. She couldn't just watch Nagato do something like this alone.
"Konan, actually, you're not suited for these things. You're too kind."
Yes.
Konan was too kind. At her core, she was a kind little girl.
Nagato didn't want Konan's hands to be stained with sin.
"Nagato, your physical condition means that without me by your side, you'll die if you encounter danger!"
Nagato's strength was immense, but if someone got close to him, it would be truly dangerous.
"We'll talk about it later. I've also been considering this recently. Oh, are you going back afterward?"
Nagato was still thinking. He actually believed that the Masked Man's words made sense; if there was a deterrent, Bai Ye might hesitate.
But he also felt that Konan was very right; peace was hard-won, and if he acted, he would be destroying this hard-earned peace.
"I've been on leave for a few days. There's a lot of work over there."
"Konan, it seems you're living a very fulfilling life over there."
A hint of emotion flashed across Nagato's face. From Konan's expression, Nagato had actually noticed some subtle micro-expressions.
Speaking of which, that should be happiness, right?
Actually, Konan wasn't happy staying in Amegakure?
But over there, she seemed happier.
...
Listening to Nagato's words, Konan didn't know how to answer him for a moment.
Was she really happier?
It seemed so.
Her heart actually leaned more towards Nagato going to the Ninja Country with her, but Konan couldn't say these words.
After all, it seemed a bit like taking Nagato to his doom.
"Orochimaru, how are the things I gave you coming along?"
Inside Orochimaru's laboratory.
Obito looked at Orochimaru, a Shadow flashing in his eyes. He had provided him with so many experimental materials, and even clarified many things for him, yet he still hadn't produced any results.
This made Obito slightly displeased.
If Bai Ye hadn't already unified the Ninja World, he truly wouldn't have thought much of Orochimaru's meager techniques.
"Heh heh, haste makes waste. If you want to fight the Ninja Country, these guys can't just be revived so simply."
A hint of pathological madness flashed across Orochimaru's face.
These days, his research had entered a fever pitch.
Based on the things provided by the Masked Man and Zetsu, his experimental progress was very rapid, and he had also deciphered the secret of the Shinigami, so he could summon the Fourth Hokage, who had been sealed, later on.
And recently, he had researched some incredible things.
"But you have to show us some results, Orochimaru!"
White Zetsu grumbled discontentedly. Now, they saw nothing, only heard Orochimaru keep saying the same thing.
"Heh heh, our cooperation was agreed upon from the start: you must satisfy certain things for me. Now, I want to know even more!"
Orochimaru's words also made Obito very displeased, and he had already decided in his heart that if Orochimaru couldn't provide him with anything useful, he would definitely kill that stinking snake.
However...
He didn't seem to know that the more you know, the more dangerous it is.
After leaving Orochimaru's laboratory, White Zetsu also said indignantly, "Obito, that Orochimaru guy is really too much! Does he think that just because he has Edo Tensei, he can make us compromise forever!?"
"Idiot, if you could do it, we wouldn't compromise!"
Black Zetsu said indifferently, which immediately drew White Zetsu's dissatisfaction: "What! Black Zetsu, whose side are you on anyway!"
Isn't Orochimaru being excessive?
Why did the topic suddenly shift to him?
White Zetsu grumbled discontentedly.
"I'm just reminding you that it's difficult for us to deal with him with our current strength!"
What was the situation when the Tailed Beast capture plan was initially formulated?
The five Villages were hostile to each other, and there was no possibility of any alliance. This also allowed for a time difference, seizing these Tailed Beasts before the Ninja Villages could react.
The Akatsuki Organization was powerful, possessing the Rinnegan, but Nagato was not the Rinnegan's true body. Using the Rinnegan placed a heavy burden on him, and he couldn't even unleash a tenth of its power.
Therefore, the unification of the Five Great Ninja Villages could not happen in this plan.
Their one hundred thousand White Zetsu + Akatsuki couldn't defeat the combined Five Great Ninja Villages.
What was the current configuration of the Five Great Ninja Villages?
Bai Ye + the other Four Kage + various veteran Kage-level Ninja + nine Jinchuriki + many elite Jonin + countless Chunin.
How could they fight this lineup?
Even the Akatsuki Organization couldn't win a team battle against that!
Now, they could only rely on Orochimaru's Edo Tensei, and not that shoddy version of Edo Tensei. The revived individuals had to possess all their strength from when they were alive.
Black Zetsu was even considering reviving Uchiha Madara first. Without Uchiha Madara, Black Zetsu felt that this matter would be truly difficult to accomplish.
"Let's use that guy for now. This plan would be truly difficult to complete without him."
Obito also agreed with this point. He also understood that this was the only way now.
"What about Nagato's side?"
Obito suddenly thought about Nagato's situation. After Konan left, Nagato seemed to have intentionally curtailed the Akatsuki Organization's activities.
Although he had been trying to persuade Nagato to act from various angles, he couldn't control Nagato unless it truly came down to a fight to the death.
But Obito didn't want that now. Without Nagato, would he have to go first with the subsequent plan?
"Konan is back."
White Zetsu announced Konan's return. Hearing this news, a hint of surprise flashed in Obito's eyes. He hadn't expected Konan to return, but if that woman returned, it seemed it would affect Nagato!
Before, he had managed to trick Nagato quite a bit while Konan was away.
He knew what Konan was doing in the Ninja Country; she was an undercover agent, although he didn't know exactly what Nagato had Konan doing undercover there...
"Let's act soon. The Ninja Country isn't just getting stronger; Nagato might not want to act anymore after this."
"I wish I could!"
Obito wanted to, but what if Nagato wasn't willing?
"How about we find an opportunity to take Nagato's Rinnegan?"
White Zetsu asked.
Since Nagato no longer wanted to carry out the plan, they could only find someone else.
The Rinnegan naturally couldn't be left to Nagato anymore.
"We'll see later. It's not easy to approach Nagato right now."
After all, the Rinnegan was on Nagato, and Obito didn't want to completely break ties with him unless it was absolutely necessary.
"Everyone, I called you here today to discuss something."
Uchiha Bai Ye became the leader of the Five Great Ninja Villages' former Kage, while the other four became decision-makers. Bai Ye also gave the decision-making power for Konoha to Tsunade.
Inside the conference room.
Ōnoki, Tsunade, Ay, Pakura, and Mei Terumī were all somewhat puzzled by Bai Ye's summons.
It seemed like it had been a long time since he had formally gathered them like this, hadn't it?
And from Bai Ye's current demeanor, it seemed like something major was happening?
Besides Konan, the other members of the secretarial team all exchanged glances.
"What is it?"
Shikaku guessed Bai Ye's intentions. He wasn't someone who particularly enjoyed meetings.
And he had even gathered all these powerful decision-makers.
"I called you here today to discuss an organization. Ōnoki, you should be quite familiar with it, the Akatsuki Organization..."
Akatsuki Organization!?
A hint of awkwardness flashed across Ōnoki's face when he heard that name.
He knew it all too well!
He had once hired the Akatsuki Organization to do some unsavory tasks for him.
Even before the war with Bai Ye, Ōnoki had considered whether to ask the Akatsuki Organization to deal with Bai Ye.
But later, Ōnoki gave up on the idea.
Mainly, the Akatsuki Organization's prices were simply too high, and at that time, Ōnoki also believed that Bai Ye only had Konoha Village, and they were three parties attacking together. Plus, Konoha had just experienced a wave of internal strife, so they would definitely not be their opponents!
But who would have thought that in the end, Bai Ye alone would resolve everything?
"The Akatsuki Organization is a mercenary Ninja organization, but I'm not clear about the specific members inside. However, their strength is very strong; I've entrusted many missions to them!"
After hesitating for a moment, Ōnoki still briefly explained what he knew.
Since Bai Ye had already brought it up, it meant he already knew everything, so hiding it would be useless.
After hearing Ōnoki's words, Kurotsuchi was stunned for a moment. How did she not know that her grandfather had done such a thing?
"I knew you old man were insidious and cunning!"
Ay snorted coldly. No wonder they had suffered some losses during the friction with the Stone Ninja. He had been wondering where the opposing forces came from, even though they had already contained most of their combat power!
You old man, you have no martial ethics!
You even directly hired mercenaries!
"Hehe, war is like this. As long as you can win, what can't you do!"
Ōnoki simply stopped pretending. Anyway, he felt that there was nothing wrong with what he said. Wasn't war just like that?
"Bai Ye, did you call us here just for this?"
Ōnoki no longer paid attention to Ay, but turned his head to look at Bai Ye and asked.
He was already in the wrong, so Ōnoki naturally didn't want to continue dwelling on this matter.
But he couldn't understand. This was just something from the past. Bai Ye seemed to have said that after joining the Ninja Country, everyone should let bygones be bygones. Who hadn't shed the blood of Ninjas from other Ninja Villages?
So, everyone should forget their hatred, and naturally, they shouldn't hold him accountable, right?
"That's right, this is the first reason I summoned you. I already know the members of the Akatsuki Organization: Itachi Uchiha from Konoha, Kisame Hoshigaki from Kirigakure, Deidara from the Stone Ninja, Sasori from Sunagakure, Hidan from the Jashin cult, Kakuzu from Takigakure, and a Ninja named Zetsu. Their leader is Pain, a man who calls himself a god."
Bai Ye had originally wanted to wait for Konan to return before making a decision, but then he thought about it and decided to take the initiative.
It was best to have the initiative in his own hands.
And after hearing Bai Ye's words, everyone present was stunned!
So their rogue Ninjas had actually joined this organization!?
"That guy Kisame Hoshigaki actually joined the Akatsuki!"
A hint of emotion flashed across Mei Terumī's face. Speaking of which, that guy should have been affected by the Bloody Mist policy.
She had heard about Kisame's situation. Indeed, the Bloody Mist policy had caused them, the Kirigakure, to lose a great deal of talent.
"Grandpa, Deidara is actually in the Akatsuki Organization!!"
Kurotsuchi said in shock, looking at Ōnoki's equally uncomfortable face, she wisely didn't continue speaking.
And the reason Ōnoki was like this was because he had cooperated with the Akatsuki Organization so many times, yet this organization actually had a rogue Ninja from his own Village?
At that time, he had wholeheartedly wanted to train Deidara and prepare him to take over as the Fourth Tsuchikage in the future, but he just defected like that!
"Sasori..."
Chiyo felt a pang of sadness in her heart. She hadn't expected to hear about Sasori again at such a time.
"What are you going to do?!"
Pakura looked at Bai Ye and asked. After revealing the Akatsuki Organization's information, he clearly wasn't just talking.
The Akatsuki Organization gathering so many rogue Ninjas was already very dangerous!
"Itachi..."
Uchiha Fugaku felt a bit sad. It was because he hadn't taught Itachi well that all this had happened.
In this situation, Itachi seemed to have strayed too far from them.
"Hmph, sure enough, only we..."
Ay opened his mouth, but after seeing Bai Ye's smiling eyes, he swallowed his words.
"Their goal is to collect the Tailed Beasts and revive the Ten-Tails, so I'm preparing to make a move against them. Everyone here is not a bigmouth, so I hope you can keep it a secret for now. Once you leave this door, don't say a word about today!"
Bai Ye summoned them here also because he considered them to be tight-lipped.
Konan happened not to be here, and he was naturally preparing to deal with the Akatsuki Organization.
"Tailed Beasts!?"
And after hearing Bai Ye's words, their expressions instantly turned ugly!
Capturing the Nine Tailed Beasts and then reviving the Ten-Tails, and there's actually such a thing as the Ten-Tails!
This was not just a matter of taboo. One must know that the Tailed Beasts were still inside the Jinchuriki's bodies, and separating the Tailed Beast would directly kill the Jinchuriki.
Ay was the first to be unable to accept it!
"So, destroy this Akatsuki Organization, right?"
Ay stared intently at Bai Ye. He had already guessed that Bai Ye had summoned them here perhaps to annihilate the Akatsuki Organization.
Anyway, none of their Kumogakure were in the Akatsuki Organization, so destroying it wouldn't hurt!
"It's not necessarily about destroying them. If they are not unforgivable, we can bring them back."
Bai Ye's words also gave Ōnoki, Kurotsuchi, and Chiyo some hope.
In fact, they didn't want to kill Sasori and Deidara.
"Regarding the Akatsuki, don't worry too much for now. I will make a move. I summoned you for a second matter, of course, this is for the Hyuga clan head."
"Me?"
Hyuga Hiashi pointed to himself in surprise. He had originally thought he was just here to make up the numbers, but he didn't expect Bai Ye to actually think of him.
"That's right, do you remember when I said I would take you to the moon? I've decided to take you to the moon very soon!!"
"..."
Dude, are you serious?!
Hyuga Hiashi didn't know what to say for a moment.
Even Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Shisui remembered what Bai Ye had said back then.
He said he was going to the moon!
He had only said that casually at the time, but now you're really going to take them to the moon!
But...
You say what you say, but what are you going to do up there?!
The people from the four great Ninja Villages beside them were completely confused.
What the heck?
Going to the moon?
What are they going to do up there?
Does Bai Ye think he's not awesome enough on Earth and wants to go to the moon to show off?
Uchiha Bai Ye's Moon Landing Project?
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