Where Are Your End-of-the-World Preparations?

In Amegakure, dark clouds hung heavy.

Amidst the downpour, rainwater slid down the strands of Konan's hair.

"For some time now, we have been attempting to establish contact with the Five Great Shinobi Villages."

"Our Akatsuki organization discovered long ago that a planet is hurtling toward the Shinobi World. If we do not take action, the entire land will face an unprecedented catastrophe."

"Only if the entire Shinobi World unites as one will we have a chance to survive this calamity."

At this, she lowered her head slightly, her tone tinged with helplessness: "To alert the various nations, we even disseminated intelligence through black market channels, hoping that if anyone noticed, it might accelerate their response."

"But the result... aside from Konoha, the other major villages have reacted with extreme indifference."

She looked up, gazing at Jiraiya, who stood somewhat silent in the curtain of rain before her...

"They have not taken the information we provided seriously at all; they remain immersed in comfort, completely devoid of crisis awareness."

In this matter, Konoha had also been fanning the flames behind the scenes...

Before Jiraiya could speak, Nagato's voice rang out slowly.

"Even Konoha is not as rational as you imagine."

"The preparations Konoha is currently making revolve entirely around the nobles and the Daimyo of the Land of Fire."

"Their underground bases, supply stockpiles, and strategic defenses are concentrated almost exclusively in two locations: Konoha itself and the Daimyo Palace."

"What about everywhere else?"

Nagato countered, his tone devoid of any fluctuation...

"The entire Land of Fire is vast, with tens of millions of civilians living within it."

"Yet, outside of those two core areas, they have only hastily dug a few crude underground air-raid shelters, lacking both medical supplies and food reserves. Once that planet falls, those people will be the first to be sacrificed."

Konan added in a low voice: "They haven't even issued a notification; the inefficiency is terrifying..."

Hearing this, Jiraiya's expression turned exceptionally heavy.

He had always taken pride in Konoha and considered himself well-versed in every facet of the village, yet hearing this analysis from an external perspective, he found himself unable to offer an immediate rebuttal.

He knew Nagato was not speaking nonsense.

Based on what he knew, Konoha had indeed invested massive resources into building underground facilities, but all core projects were centered around the village and the Daimyo Palace.

As for the borders and the townships... he truly hadn't heard of many arrangements.

"I am not accusing Konoha..."

Nagato's gaze was calm as he looked at Jiraiya opposite him...

"I am merely stating facts. We have long understood that the root of the Shinobi World's system is the extreme injustice of resource distribution. We only hope you can try a little harder and not be so bureaucratic..."

When disaster strikes, the powerful will be able to hide in the deepest underground bunkers, enjoying a hundred days of stored supplies, while ordinary citizens, even if they receive advance warning, will only be able to stand on the surface and welcome the death falling from above.

"Everything is for the sake of surviving the crisis..."

Walking toward Jiraiya step by step, the Deva Path Pain controlled by Nagato spoke with great sincerity.

"We do not wish to destroy this world; please understand that."

Jiraiya lowered his head, remaining silent for a long time, letting the rain soak his somewhat haggard face.

He knew in his heart that the two children before him had once been his proudest students.

Every word they spoke now was sharp, yet impossible to refute, for it was the most real, most naked wound of this world.

"So that's how it is..."

"That is why you wish for Akatsuki to lead the Shinobi World."

Nagato did not deny it, merely nodding quietly.

The rain continued to patter down, falling tirelessly.

Just then, footsteps rang out against the rain-slicked stone slabs!

A familiar figure walked slowly out of the dense curtain of rain.

Kakashi.

"However, as far as I know, there is a masked individual in your organization who calls himself Uchiha Madara. He has explicitly stated that Akatsuki intends to bring ultimate pain to the Shinobi World, even claiming that destruction is the end goal you pursue."

The moment these words were spoken, it was as if a thunderbolt had struck the ground.

Upon hearing the name Uchiha Madara, the expressions of both Nagato and Konan shifted.

"Kakashi?"

Jiraiya was also startled by this sudden appearance, turning his head to look at him...

"Why have you come here so suddenly?"

Kakashi did not answer immediately, merely standing his ground step by step: "Lord Jiraiya, Uchiha Sasuke has suddenly gone missing. The Third Hokage suspects that this matter may be related to the Akatsuki organization."

As the words fell, the atmosphere at the scene instantly became tense.

The previously calm atmosphere of the conversation was shattered in an instant, and the air seemed to freeze.

"Therefore, I must trouble you to return Sasuke to us now."

Although the tone was calm, the words struck the heart like a sharp arrow.

"Otherwise, Konoha will be unable to perceive any sincerity from your side."

"If you truly wish for the Akatsuki to be the force that guides the Shinobi World, you ought to understand the boundaries. Especially when it concerns Uchiha Itachi."

"His Mangekyo Sharingan is gradually succumbing to the backlash of his bloodline disease. Sasuke is his only younger brother, and the only source of eyes that could potentially resolve his condition."

"Sasuke being taken away now only leads us to suspect whether this was a step planned long ago by someone, with the goal of providing Uchiha Itachi with new eyes to achieve the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan."

This statement was nothing short of a bombshell.

Konan finally spoke: "We did not plan to abduct Sasuke; his disappearance was not an order from our Akatsuki."

"There is indeed one person acting under the name of Uchiha Madara who once collaborated with us briefly. However, his objectives were never revealed to us, and it appears he is no longer under our control."

Kakashi continued at this moment: "So, within the Akatsuki, are you the ones in command, or are you the ones being manipulated?"

This counter-question left the two of them momentarily speechless.

It even caused Nagato and Konan to appear awkward...

"If you truly wish to become the leading power of the Shinobi World, you must first prove your stance and your sincerity."

"Otherwise, no one will be willing to trust an organization that could be led by the nose at any moment by this so-called Uchiha Madara."

In the darkness, Zetsu observed Kakashi's words, finding it difficult for a moment to judge their truth or falsehood...

Did Obito abduct Sasuke?

What is he trying to do—continue to provoke Uchiha Itachi?

"Uchiha Itachi... perhaps you should contact him directly, Pain..."

Konan's suggestion...

Nagato hesitated slightly, then nodded in agreement.

He gently raised his hand, and the ring on his finger emitted a faint luster, quickly establishing a connection with the distant Uchiha Itachi.

Nagato's steady voice was transmitted across: "Suzaku, people from Konoha have come to the organization."

Upon hearing the word Konoha, Uchiha Itachi on the other end of the ring fell into a brief silence, not responding immediately.

"They say that Uchiha Sasuke has been abducted by that masked man who calls himself Uchiha Madara..."

Uchiha Itachi: "...?!"