Apocalyptic Catastrophe: Only Akatsuki Is Hope

In the conference hall, Nagato, with his Rinnegan activated, radiated an overwhelmingly powerful presence.

The several Akatsuki members present immediately felt immense pressure.

Noticing that his presence had achieved its effect, Nagato began assigning the next steps of the plan.

"Besides passing intelligence to Konoha, Ku, you will also need to work with Yu."

"Calculate every detail of this World-Ending Meteor—its exact trajectory, speed, scale, and so on."

Sasori glanced at Orochimaru and said nothing coldly.

Orochimaru licked his lips, and his chilling, mocking voice followed.

"Even if we calculate the exact details, what then? Can we really stop a meteor from destroying the entire world?"

Nagato slowly raised his head. The Rinnegan of the Deva Path emitted a soul-chilling cold gleam, and his voice carried unquestionable authority.

"Do not question the power of a god."

"In the coming apocalypse, the power of the Rinnegan is the only hope for Akatsuki—and for the entire Shinobi World."

Nagato's words carried intense confidence, as though he had already found a way to deal with this catastrophe. At the very least, his presence completely suppressed Orochimaru's doubts.

Orochimaru continued staring at Nagato skeptically. He desperately wanted to learn more about the Rinnegan.

The information he possessed was still limited, leaving him unable to fully believe that Nagato truly had the power to contend with a world-ending disaster.

Nagato ignored Orochimaru's doubts and continued issuing orders to everyone...

"The rest of you will begin secretly spreading news of the meteor's arrival to the Five Great Shinobi Villages through the black market and every other available channel."

"We only need them to know that disaster is imminent and that they must act."

Upon hearing this, everyone could only nod in agreement.

After issuing the orders, Nagato turned his gaze toward Konan beside him and lowered his voice.

"Konan, the list of supplies we were purchasing must be adjusted immediately."

He meant that the plan to purchase massive quantities of explosive tags was to be suspended for the time being...

Though Konan was somewhat reluctant, since she had intended to use those supplies against Obito, the current situation left her no choice but to abandon the explosive tag acquisition plan.

Not long afterward, the price of explosive tags on the black market plummeted overnight...

Having completed all the arrangements, Nagato issued a cold warning. "I hope you understand one thing: although the apocalypse is approaching, the Rinnegan can protect you here."

"In this apocalyptic catastrophe, only Akatsuki is hope."

After Nagato spoke those words, everyone remained silent for a long time.

"Hehe, as expected of our leader."

Orochimaru chuckled, then turned and left with an easy stride...

As for Kakuzu, he exchanged a glance with Konan.

If Nagato truly possessed the ability to resist the disaster, then perhaps his wealth could still be preserved. He might even gain greater profits after the catastrophe.

As for Sasori...

He did not believe in such lofty claims of a savior...

What concerned him was whether he could become eternal art after the world was destroyed.

Only Konan was deeply worried about Nagato's current condition.

He appeared strong, but in truth, Nagato was not doing well...

No matter what, Nagato had stabilized the situation.

At the Root base, a dim yellow lamp cast an exceptionally oppressive light over the room.

Danzo slowly removed the thick bandages wrapped around his head, revealing the face that had long been hidden beneath them.

He raised his eyes toward the mirror and coldly stared at his reflection.

Surprisingly, his once-aged face, covered in wrinkles, was gradually taking on a faint youthful glow and vitality.

His skin looked much tighter, and the mottled wrinkles seemed to have faded somewhat.

Danzo coldly gazed at himself in the mirror, a faint trace of smug satisfaction appearing at the corner of his lips.

The stimulation from the night of the Uchiha clan massacre had unexpectedly strengthened his control over the First Hokage Cells.

Although the transplanted Shisui Sharingan seemed to have temporarily entered some strange cooldown state, this had instead made his body's adaptation to the First Hokage Cells more stable.

Danzo raised his right arm. He could feel that the arm, which had once barely been able to contain a dozen or so Sharingan, had become stronger.

It could hold even more Sharingan...

"Hmph... the Shinobi World's destruction?"

Recalling the expressions Hyuga Hiashi and Hiruzen Sarutobi had worn today, as though they were facing a great enemy, he could not help sneering.

"Those foolish fools actually believed such absurd rumors and even discussed them so seriously."

Even if some disaster truly descended, such chaos would merely be a perfect opportunity for Konoha and the Land of Fire to rise.

As long as he seized the opportunity and made full use of these sudden changes, the power of all Konoha—and even the entire Shinobi World's order—would once again be under his control.

"Disaster marks the end of the weak, but for the strong, it is opportunity."

Danzo muttered softly, the smile on his face turning cold and mocking.

Just then, a Root shinobi silently appeared behind him, lowered his head, and respectfully reported, "Lord Danzo, an important piece of intelligence has just come from the black market. Please review it."

Danzo turned around and swept the shinobi with an indifferent glance before taking the intelligence document offered to him.

He had initially paid it little attention, but once his eyes fell upon the writing in the document, his expression gradually changed.

Some of this intelligence had come from Orochimaru...

Some had come from Root's informants in the black market...

Yet nearly all of it concerned the same matter.

"A massive asteroid is about to strike the Shinobi World, and it is expected to destroy the entire world."

Danzo's brow immediately furrowed. He carefully reread the words on the document, trying to find some obvious flaw or trace of exaggeration.

Not only was this intelligence stated with certainty, it also provided highly detailed data and projections.

This could not be a simple prank. So many different factions had issued the same warning almost simultaneously; the intelligence was clearly highly credible.

"How could this be?"

For a moment, Danzo found it difficult to believe.

He had just been mocking Hyuga Hiashi and Hiruzen Sarutobi for being overly cautious and cowardly, yet reality had slapped him in the face so swiftly and fiercely.

He tightened his grip on the document slightly, uncertainty flickering in his eyes as he swiftly weighed the situation.

If this intelligence was true, then the so-called "destruction of the Shinobi World" was no longer alarmist talk, but an enormous threat right before his eyes.

He then picked up Orochimaru's letter and began reading it...

The name Uchiha Yuan appeared before his eyes once again.

"Damn it, it was still a complication caused by the Uchiha clan massacre! What the hell is Uchiha Itachi doing?!"

Clutching the intelligence tightly, Danzo felt an intense sense of crisis.

"Contact Orochimaru... I will meet him personally."

Staring at his arm, Danzo revealed a greedy expression...

It could hold more... more... more...