Cooperation!

The next day.

At the deepest level of the Rain Village Tower.

Inside a hidden room.

Uchiha You finally met Nagato.

Thin.

Withered.

Red hair hanging loose.

Black rods protruded from his back.

The shadow of the Outer Path Demon Statue loomed in the depths of the room like a sleeping monster.

Konan stood beside Nagato, her expression cold yet conflicted.

Nagato raised his head, his Rinnegan calmly fixed on Uchiha You.

"Uchiha You."

"You wanted to see me."

Uchiha You looked at the man before him, a man dragged into the abyss by pain. His expression remained calm.

"It's not that I wanted to see you."

"It's that you should see me."

Nagato's voice was hoarse.

"What makes you think that?"

Uchiha You took a step forward.

Konan immediately raised her hand.

Sheets of paper appeared.

But Nagato softly said:

"Konan."

Konan stopped, though her gaze remained wary.

Uchiha You did not move any closer.

He looked at Nagato and said evenly:

"Because I can tell you why Yahiko died."

Nagato's Rinnegan suddenly narrowed.

The air in the room instantly grew heavy.

Terrifying chakra pressure crashed down on Uchiha You.

An ordinary ninja would likely have already fallen to their knees.

But Uchiha You merely stood there, completely unaffected.

Looking at Nagato, he said each word distinctly:

"Yahiko died because of Hanzo's betrayal."

"He also died because of Danzo's schemes."

"And, more than that, because you trusted too much in the idea that so-called great men had principles."

Nagato's voice was icy.

"Go on."

Uchiha You said:

"Hanzo of the Salamander feared that you would replace him."

"Danzo feared that a peace organization beyond Konoha's control would emerge in the Land of Rain."

"So they worked together."

"Hanzo provided the men, while Danzo provided intelligence and Root."

"You were surrounded and slaughtered."

"Konan was taken hostage."

"Yahiko died."

"You fell into pain."

"And Akatsuki became something else from that day onward."

Every sentence was like a knife.

Konan lowered her head, her fingertips turning faintly white.

Nagato's chakra grew heavier and heavier.

"What proof do you have?"

Uchiha You replied calmly:

"Root's files."

"The secrets inside Danzo's head."

"And what is about to happen to the Uchiha Clan."

Nagato looked at him.

"The Uchiha?"

Uchiha You sneered.

"Danzo helped Hanzo kill Yahiko back then."

"Today, he can help the Third Hokage force Itachi Uchiha to slaughter the Uchiha Clan."

Konan's expression shifted slightly.

A flicker of emotion also passed through Nagato's Rinnegan.

Uchiha You continued:

"You think Konoha is cleaner than Hanzo?"

"No."

"Konoha is merely better at disguising itself."

"Hanzo held the blade in his hand."

"Danzo hid the blade in his sleeve."

"While Hiruzen Sarutobi stood to the side, pretending he had seen nothing."

Nagato fell silent.

Those words were harsh.

But they were also true.

He had seen too much hypocrisy from the great nations.

He had also seen too many corpses behind so-called peace.

Uchiha You looked at him and continued:

"Nagato."

"You want the world to feel pain."

"But have you ever considered that the people who truly caused your pain are still living well?"

"He sits beneath Konoha."

"He controls Root."

"He continues using other people's lives to preserve his so-called dark peace."

"Before you unleash pain upon the entire world, shouldn't you pay him a visit first?"

The room was terrifyingly quiet.

Nagato said nothing.

But the black rods behind him began to tremble slightly.

Konan looked at Nagato, her eyes filled with suppressed sorrow and fury.

Danzo.

If all this was true.

Then that name had to vanish from the ninja world.

Nagato finally spoke.

"You want Akatsuki to help you deal with Konoha."

Uchiha You nodded.

"Yes."

Nagato asked:

"What can the Uchiha Clan offer Akatsuki?"

Uchiha You had long been prepared.

"First, intelligence from within Konoha."

"Second, the location of Root's base."

"Third, intelligence on the Nine-Tails jinchuriki."

"Fourth, the Uchiha Clan's combat strength."

"Fifth, an opportunity for Akatsuki to truly shake the ninja world."

Nagato's gaze shifted slightly.

"The Nine-Tails?"

Uchiha You said evenly:

"Don't misunderstand."

"I won't help you capture the Nine-Tails right now."

"But I know where the Nine-Tails is, and I know how Konoha protects him."

"When the time is right, I can let Akatsuki obtain what you want at the smallest possible cost."

These were bargaining chips.

But he would not hand over everything.

Uchiha You knew very well that the greatest taboo in negotiation was revealing all your cards from the start.

Nagato asked:

"What do you want?"

Uchiha You's voice was calm, yet carried a chilling frost.

"Uchiha Massacre Night."

"I want the Six Paths of Pain, Konan, Sasori, Kakuzu, and Kisame to enter Konoha with me."

"There are only three targets."

"Danzo."

"Root."

"And everyone involved in the plan to exterminate the Uchiha Clan."

Konan's eyes widened.

Uchiha Massacre Night?

Nagato frowned slightly as well.

"You believe Konoha will destroy the Uchiha Clan?"

Uchiha You sneered.

"It's not belief."

"They have already begun preparing."

"My leaving the village this time was a death trap set by Danzo."

"The three ANBU following me were all from Root."

"They're dead."

"Before they died, I saw part of the plan in their minds."

Konan's voice was cold.

"You already killed them?"

Uchiha You replied indifferently:

"Of course."

"I don't keep people who want to kill me around until the New Year."

Nagato was silent for a moment.

Then he suddenly said:

"You're a lot like Akatsuki now."

Uchiha You shook his head.

"No."

"I'm not like Akatsuki."

"Akatsuki is still waiting for pain to descend upon the world."

"Me? I prefer delivering pain precisely to the people who deserve to receive it."

The way Konan looked at Uchiha You finally changed slightly.

Those words were calmer than Nagato's desire to make the entire world feel pain.

And more terrifying.

Because Uchiha You's hatred was not indiscriminate.

It had a target.

Danzo.

Root.

Konoha's higher-ups.

He was not a mad dog.

He was a blade.

A blade that knew whom it should cut down.

Nagato looked at Uchiha You.

"If Akatsuki helps you, which side will the Uchiha stand on afterward?"

Uchiha You said,

"The side that allows the Uchiha to survive."

Nagato's gaze turned cold.

"That is not an answer."

Uchiha You smiled.

"That is the answer."

"Nagato, I am not your follower."

"Nor will I kneel before the Rinnegan and call it god."

"Akatsuki wants to unite the shinobi world, and it needs strength."

"The Uchiha want to survive, and we need strength as well."

"Our goals are aligned for now."

"That is enough."

Konan frowned.

"Only for now?"

Uchiha You looked at her.

"Eternal loyalty is usually a lie."

"A temporary alignment of interests is more reliable instead."

"Because both sides know the price of betrayal."

Nagato was not angry.

On the contrary, he remained silent for a long time.

This Uchiha spoke unpleasantly.

Yet he was more honest than many others.

Akatsuki had encountered too many rogue ninja over the years.

Greedy ones.

Mad ones.

Desperate ones.

Cowardly ones.

But Uchiha You was different.

He knew exactly what he wanted.

And he also knew what Akatsuki wanted.

He had not come to seek refuge.

He had come to negotiate a deal.

Nagato slowly spoke.

"I can consider your proposal."

Uchiha You shook his head.

"You do not have much time to consider it."

Konan's gaze turned cold.

"Uchiha You, watch your tone."

Uchiha You looked at Nagato.

"At most half a year remains before the Uchiha massacre."

"Only a few months may remain before Shisui has his eyes taken by Danzo. Perhaps even less."

"If Danzo obtains Kotoamatsukami, killing him later will only become more troublesome for you."

Kotoamatsukami.

Konan did not know what that was.

But Nagato could hear its weight in Uchiha You's tone.

"What is it?"

Uchiha You said,

"Shisui Uchiha's Mangekyo Sharingan technique."

"It is said to be the strongest genjutsu."

"It can permanently alter a person's will without them noticing in the slightest."

Konan's expression changed drastically.

Even Nagato's Rinnegan finally showed a clear ripple of emotion.

Permanently alter one's will?

If Danzo obtained such an eye...

The consequences would be unimaginable.

Uchiha You said flatly,

"Do you understand now?"

"Danzo is not an ordinary enemy."

"If you let him live, he will forever lurk in the darkness, using other people's lives to pave his own path."

"Yahiko was only the beginning."

"The Uchiha will not be the end either."

The atmosphere in the room grew oppressive to the extreme.

Nagato slowly closed his eyes.

After a long while, he opened them again.

The Rinnegan was cold, like the judgment of a god.

"Danzo must die."

Konan's fingers tightened slightly.

At last, Uchiha You's lips curled upward.

The first step had succeeded.

But he did not show too much excitement.

Revealing his emotions too early before Nagato would do him no good.

Nagato continued.

"However, Akatsuki will not act for the Uchiha without conditions."

Uchiha You nodded.

"Of course."

"I will give you compensation."

Konan asked,

"What compensation?"

Uchiha You held up three fingers.

"First, Root's files on Danzo."

"They contain a vast number of dark records concerning Konoha, the Land of Rain, the Sand Village, and the Stone Village."

"Second, a portion of Konoha's postwar funds and ninjutsu reserves."

"Kakuzu will like that."

"Third, intelligence support from the Uchiha for Akatsuki's future operations."

Nagato looked at him.

"And?"

Uchiha You smiled.

"And the heads of Konoha's higher-ups."

"For you, would that not also be the best declaration?"

Konan fell silent.

Indeed.

If Akatsuki could kill Danzo within Konoha and destroy Root.

Akatsuki's deterrent power would instantly rise to an entirely new level.

For the first time, the shinobi world would truly realize:

Akatsuki was not an ordinary group of rogue ninja.

They could reach into the hearts of the Five Great Shinobi Villages.

Nagato slowly said,

"I will send the Six Paths of Pain."

Konan looked at Nagato.

Nagato continued.

"Konan, you will go as well."

Konan nodded.

Uchiha You said,

"I will personally speak with Sasori and Kakuzu."

Nagato glanced at him.

"Are you confident you can persuade them?"

Uchiha You said flatly,

"Sasori wants revenge."

"Kakuzu wants money."

"Those two types are the easiest to persuade."

Konan could not help saying,

"You really do see people rather simply."

Uchiha You shook his head.

"It is not simple."

"As long as a person still has desires, there is an opening for negotiation."

"The most troublesome are those who speak endlessly of ideals, yet do not even dare admit what they themselves want."

Konan froze.

She could not help feeling that he was talking about who they had once been.

Nagato did not continue arguing.

"You may leave."

Uchiha You nodded.

Before turning to leave, he suddenly stopped.

"Nagato."

Nagato looked at him.

Uchiha You did not turn around. He merely said flatly,

"Yahiko's ideals were not wrong."

"What was wrong was that you believed kindness alone could make people like Hanzo and Danzo put down their blades."

"If you want peace, you must first have the strength to make everyone shut up."

"On that point, the current you understands it better than Yahiko did back then."

Nagato fell silent.

Uchiha You pushed open the door and left.

Only Nagato and Konan remained in the room.

Konan asked softly,

"Do you believe him?"

Nagato looked toward the doorway, his voice hoarse.

"Not completely."

"But much of what he said cannot be ignored."

Pain flashed through Konan's eyes.

"If Danzo truly had a hand in Yahiko's death..."

Nagato's Rinnegan abruptly turned cold.

"Then Konoha's darkness."

"Should feel pain."