But at that point, Nagato couldn't help pausing.
As if he'd suddenly thought of something, he murmured thoughtfully, "Azure Dragon wouldn't have dared to defect without something to rely on. If that's the case, then Sasori and the others probably won't have much success pursuing him!"
In the past, this would have been a terrible turn of events.
But now, it was actually a godsend that could help him immensely.
He'd suddenly realized he could use Uchiha Ye as a scapegoat to divert attention and ease the pressure on Akatsuki.
Thinking it over, he suddenly smiled. "Azure Dragon, I'm sorry about this!"
"Your defection came at just the right time. It can draw the attention of the Five Great Shinobi Nations, can't it?"
His expression turned vicious. "Consider it your final contribution to Akatsuki!"
He planned to leak the news of Uchiha Ye's defection at the right moment, drawing the attention of the Five Great Shinobi Nations, especially Kumogakure.
He'd insist that Uchiha Ye had taken Yugito away, and that this was the truth.
With the Fourth Mizukage, whom Uchiha Ye had lured away, that meant one man could draw the fire of two shinobi villages for Akatsuki.
It wasn't honorable, but for Akatsuki and his peace plan, so be it if the methods were low.
What he didn't know was that he'd actually guessed right by sheer coincidence.
Yugito was indeed in Uchiha Ye's hands.
Land of Fire, somewhere in the forest!
"So this is the Five Kage. They've managed to put Amegakure on the back foot in no time."
Walking along a bare, tree-lined path in the bitter wind, Uchiha Ye suddenly stopped. "Itachi, since you're here, why hide?"
"And you, Deidara. You've gotten smarter. You know how to use Earth Release to move underground now."
"Sasori,