Cataclysm of the Apocalypse, Only Akatsuki is Hope

Inside the meeting hall, Nagato, with his Rinnegan activated, radiated an incredibly formidable aura.

The members of Akatsuki present felt an immense sense of oppression wash over them instantly.

Sensing that his presence had achieved the desired effect, Nagato began to lay out the subsequent plans.

"Beyond passing intelligence to Konoha, Ku, you must join forces with Yu."

"Calculate every detail of this world-ending meteor, including its precise trajectory, velocity, and scale."

Sasori glanced at Orochimaru, remaining coldly silent.

Orochimaru licked his lips, his voice cold, mocking, and sharp.

"Even if we calculate the specific details, so what? Can we truly stop a meteor from destroying the entire world?"

Nagato slowly raised his head, the Rinnegan controlling the Deva Path emitting a soul-piercing, cold light, his voice carrying an unquestionable majesty.

"Do not question the power of a god."

"In this impending apocalypse, the power of the Rinnegan is the only hope for Akatsuki, and indeed, the entire Shinobi World."

Nagato's words were imbued with a fierce confidence, as if he had already found a way to deal with this catastrophe, at least suppressing the skeptical Orochimaru with his sheer presence.

Orochimaru continued to stare at Nagato, half-doubting, his heart burning with an intense desire to learn more about the Rinnegan.

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

Ignoring Orochimaru's suspicion, Nagato continued to issue orders to the group...

"The rest of you, from this moment on, are responsible for secretly leaking news of the meteor's arrival to the Five Great Shinobi Villages through the black market and other channels."

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

Upon hearing this, the group could only nod in agreement.

Once the orders were issued, Nagato shifted his gaze to Konan beside him and lowered his voice.

"Konan, the list of supplies we were planning to procure must be adjusted immediately."

This statement meant that the plan to purchase a massive quantity of explosive tags was to be temporarily suspended...

Although Konan was somewhat reluctant, as these items were intended for use against Obito, she had no choice but to abandon the acquisition plan given the current situation.

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

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

"In the face of doomsday, only Akatsuki is hope."

After Nagato finished speaking, the group remained silent for a long time.

"Heh, worthy of being our leader."

Orochimaru chuckled softly, then turned away with a flourish...

As for Kakuzu, he exchanged a look with Konan.

If Nagato truly possessed the ability to resist the disaster, then his wealth might still be preserved, and he might even reap greater benefits in the aftermath.

As for Sasori...

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

His only concern was whether he could become eternal art after the world ended.

Only Konan felt deeply worried about Nagato's current state.

Though he appeared tough, Nagato's condition was actually far from good...

Regardless, the situation had been stabilized by Nagato.

Deep within the Root base, a dim, yellow light cast an exceptionally oppressive atmosphere over the space.

Danzo slowly unwrapped the thick bandages covering his head, revealing the face that had been hidden for so long.

He looked up into the mirror, staring coldly at his own reflection.

Surprisingly, his aged face, once covered in wrinkles, was now gradually revealing a hint of youthful luster and vitality.

His skin appeared much firmer, and the mottled wrinkles seemed to have faded somewhat.

Danzo gazed coldly at himself in the mirror, a faint, smug smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

The stimulation he received during the night of the Uchiha massacre had indirectly strengthened his ability to control the First Hokage Cells.

Although the Shisui Sharingan he had transplanted seemed to have entered a strange state of cooldown, it was precisely because of this that his body's adaptation to the First Hokage Cells had become more stable.

Danzo raised his right arm—the arm that could once barely accommodate a dozen Sharingan—and he could feel that its power had grown significantly.

It could accommodate even more Sharingan...

"Hmph... the destruction of the Shinobi World?"

Recalling the expressions of Hyuga Hiashi and Hiruzen Sarutobi earlier, as if they were facing a mortal enemy, he couldn't help but sneer.

"These foolish people actually believe such absurd rumors and are even discussing them in all seriousness."

Even if some disaster were to arrive, such chaos would merely be a golden opportunity for the rise of Konoha and the Land of Fire.

As long as he seized the opportunity and fully exploited these sudden upheavals, the power of Konoha and even the landscape of the Shinobi World would be under his control once again.

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

Danzo whispered to himself, the smile on his face turning cold and mocking.

Just then, a Root ninja appeared silently behind him, bowing his head respectfully to report: "Lord Danzo, an important piece of intelligence has just arrived from the black market. Please, take a look."

Danzo turned his head, swept a cold glance at him, and then took the intelligence file handed over by the other party.

He had not cared much about it at first, but after his eyes touched the handwriting on the document, his expression gradually began to change.

Some of this intelligence came from Orochimaru...

Some came from Root's eyes and ears in the black market...

But these reports, arriving almost simultaneously, all concerned the same thing.

"A massive asteroid is about to strike the Shinobi World, expected to cause the destruction of the entire world."

Danzo's brows furrowed tightly as he carefully read the handwriting on the document over and over, trying to find some obvious loopholes or traces of exaggeration.

This intelligence was not only stated with certainty, but it also provided quite detailed data and projections.

This could not simply be a prank. With so many different forces issuing the same warning almost simultaneously, the authenticity of the intelligence was clearly extremely high.

"How could this be?"

For a moment, Danzo found it hard to believe.

He had just been mocking the overthinking and cowardice of Hyuga Hiashi and Hiruzen Sarutobi, never expecting reality to slap him in the face so quickly and violently.

He gripped the document in his hand slightly, his eyes flickering with uncertainty as he rapidly weighed the situation in his mind.

If this intelligence were true, then the so-called "destruction of the Shinobi World" was no longer alarmist talk, but a massive threat looming right before him.

He then picked up the letter from Orochimaru and began to read...

The name Uchiha Yuan appeared before his eyes once again.

"Damn it, it's still the fallout from the Uchiha Clan massacre! What is Uchiha Itachi doing!"

Clutching this intelligence tightly, Danzo felt a strong sense of crisis.

"Contact Orochimaru... I want to see him in person."

Looking at his own arm, Danzo revealed a look of greed...

He could still transplant more... more... more...