Konoha: Muzan of the Hatake Household — Postwar Affairs
During their previous conversation, Jiraiya had learned Akatsuki's true identity and the regions where they operated. However, their exact location still required careful investigation.
It was a dangerous mission, and Akatsuki's emergence was partly connected to Jiraiya. He directly requested permission to investigate Akatsuki thoroughly.
I wonder how Master Jiraiya is doing.
While Minato Namikaze was handling official matters, hurried footsteps sounded outside. An Uchiha Clan member pushed open the door. Since the rebellion, and with Mikoto's help, the clan had formed deep ties with the Hokage Faction.
"Lord Hokage, this is terrible! Itachi Uchiha has defected!"
"What?!"
The Fourth Hokage stopped writing. His stunned expression gradually turned solemn before he finally said,
"Have your clan head come over. We'll discuss this matter."
Minato had actually discussed Itachi Uchiha's defection with him long ago. The Shinobi World had been growing increasingly chaotic lately. As a genius of the Uchiha Clan who had awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan, it would have been a waste for him to remain in the village. Whether it was Blood Moon or Akatsuki, infiltrating either organization could make him an excellent hidden operative.
Naturally, only a handful of people knew about this.
The only good news now was that Blood Moon had slowed its invasion of the Land of Fire because of Hidden Cloud Village, giving the Land of Fire more time to catch its breath. But when Minato thought of the Merchant Alliance they had established, prices were changing by the day. The daimyo was utterly useless and simply could not suppress Muzan's expansion.
Even if Blood Moon were destroyed now, as long as Muzan was given time, he could rise again.
Unlike Konoha's vigilance, Muzan now stood amid a field of ruins. Corpses lay everywhere before