Nagato's words were blunt: he wanted to use the One-Tails Jinchuriki to lure the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki into the trap!
Furthermore, as long as the One-Tails Jinchuriki had not fallen into their hands before the war began, the Allied Forces of the Five Great Shinobi Villages would have no choice but to fight them within the Land of Wind.
It could be said that although Nagato's arrangement allowed Gaara to remain hidden in the Land of Wind for another half a year, it also gave the Akatsuki Organization a considerable overall advantage.
After all, Nagato himself wasn't particularly confident about this battle.
So he would do anything that could improve their odds of victory!
Otherwise, with Nagato's powerful sensory abilities as a member of the Uzumaki Clan, coupled with so many people searching the Land of Wind for half a year, how could they possibly have failed to capture Gaara?
Everything had merely been preparation for the final war.
It wasn't that they wouldn't capture the One-Tails Jinchuriki, Gaara. It was simply not yet time to do so!
Of course, he had to put on a show for outsiders, making the Five Great Shinobi Villages believe that he simply couldn't find Gaara's whereabouts.
Otherwise, wouldn't he be openly telling the Five Great Shinobi Villages that he was using Gaara, the One-Tails Jinchuriki, as bait?
How could Nagato, who had led the Akatsuki Organization for so many years, possibly be an idiot?
Even in the original story, although Obito had secretly guided his will, Nagato had always acted according to his own wishes.
Just like how he ultimately came to his senses and used the Outer Path Reanimation Jutsu to revive everyone in Konoha.
If Nagato had truly been foolish enough to let Obito use him from beginning to end, how could