The Art of Being an Undercover Agent

Neji returned to Amegakure before Konan.

It wasn't because he was faster— Konan's paper wings were actually quite fast—but because he wasn't following Konan's route at all. After confirming that Konan was carrying Nagato and Yahiko's bodies towards Amegakure, Neji used short-range continuous Flying Thunder God Teleportation. Each teleportation occurred at a carefully calculated point: the shadow of a tree, a bend in a stream, or the depths of a rock crevice.

When we arrived at Amegakure, dawn was just breaking. Low-hanging leaden clouds and fine drizzle enveloped the eternally weeping village in a hazy mist. The outline of the tower appeared and disappeared in the rain, like a giant's tombstone.

Neji didn't go directly to the Akatsuki's base. Instead, he went to his temporary stronghold in Amegakure —an inconspicuous house—and set up three layers of barriers. He changed out of his rain-soaked and dust-covered black robe, took out a clean one, and carefully checked his mask and special lenses to ensure there were no flaws.

Then, he communicated with Pain through the ring.

"Chief, I have important intelligence to report in person."

Wait.

Ten seconds, twenty seconds, one minute.

There was no response.

Neji's brow furrowed slightly beneath his mask. Nagato was dead, Six Paths of Pain was naturally out of control; the rings' communication would receive no reply. He had known this all along, but the act had to be played out completely.

He then contacted Konan.

"Senior Konan, has he returned to headquarters? I have important matters to report to the leader, but I haven't received a reply yet."

This time the waiting time was shorter.

A few seconds later, Konan responded through the ring, her voice a little tired but still steady. "Wine, come to Pain's office. I'll be waiting for you here."

It's done.

Neji breathed a sigh of relief. He had been worried about not having a suitable excuse to Obito Konan's six hundred billion Explosive Tag with Obito—no, according to his estimation and exaggeration, it should be "nearly one trillion tags." Now that Konan had taken the initiative to meet with him, it was like a pillow delivered to his sleepy head.

He left the stronghold and walked through the rain. The streets of Amegakure were deserted, with only the sound of raindrops hitting the stone slabs. This village had experienced too many wars and too much death, and the residents had long been accustomed to hiding when disaster struck, like startled snails retreating into their shells.

At the entrance to the tower, two Amegakure were on guard. Upon seeing Neji's black robes and red clouds, they immediately bowed and made way— the Akatsuki's status in Amegakure was second only to the god "Pain."

Neji walked straight to his office on the top floor.

The door was ajar.

He pushed the door open and entered.

Konan stood by the window, her back to the door, gazing at the rain outside. She was still wearing the Akatsuki's black robe, but she had removed the red cloud coat and was only wearing a simple black long dress. Her paper wings were folded behind her back, like two withered lilies.

She turned around when she heard the Gate of Opening.

Neji's pupils, hidden beneath his mask, contracted almost imperceptibly.

Konan looked haggard. Not the kind of haggardness from exhaustion, but the kind from losing something important, from having a part of one's soul ripped out. Her eyes were red, clearly from crying, but she had wiped away her tears, leaving only faint traces.

"Wine," Konan began, her voice slightly hoarse.

"Konan," Neji bowed respectfully, "I bring good news— Lord Madara personally led the team and successfully captured Eight-Tails Jinchuriki Killer B. Adding to the seven Tailed Beast we collected before, now only the Nine-Tails is missing. The Eye of the Moon Plan can then..."

His words came to an abrupt end.

Because of Konan's expression.

That wasn't the expression one would expect upon hearing good news. There was no joy, no excitement, not even the slightest bit of anticipation. Only bitterness, an unfathomable bitterness, and a certain... resoluteness.

"Alcohol," Konan interrupted him, not continuing the topic of the Eight-Tails, but asking a completely unexpected question, "Do you really believe that true peace can be achieved through war, or through illusory dreams like the Eye of the Moon?"

Neji's inner thoughts:???

What's going on? Konan, you got talked into submission by Naruto's talk-no-jutsu, and now you're trying to talk me into it? I transmigrated here to break the Caged Bird, not to save the Shinobi World, okay? What do I care about the peace or unrest in the Shinobi World? I just want to live freely!

But you can't show it on your face.

Neji's face beneath the mask remained expressionless, and he answered calmly, "War is merely a tool for those in power to pursue their own interests, and the peace created by Genjutsu... is ultimately just self-deception."

He was telling the truth, or at least the truth he believed.

But Konan's eyes lit up at that moment.

That light was like a drowning person grabbing onto a piece of driftwood, like a lost person seeing a lighthouse. She took a step forward and stared at Neji —or rather, stared at the eyes hidden behind Neji's mask and glasses.

"Wine, you..." Konan's voice trembled slightly, "You think the same thing as me."

Neji's inner thoughts: No, I'm different from you. You're an idealist, I'm a realist. You want to save the world, I just want to save myself.

Konan took a deep breath, as if she had made a firm decision. "Pain —no, Nagato —reached a consensus with the Child of Prophecy in Konoha. He finally understood that war and imposed pain could not bring true peace. He chose another path: mutual understanding between people."

She looked at Neji, her eyes burning. "Sake, are you willing... to follow Nagato's legacy?"

Neji's inner monologue. "Damn it! Konan, have you lost your mind from being caught in the rain? Nagato didn't trust me, a newcomer, even when he was alive, and now that he's dead, you're trying to drag me onto your lousy ship? This ship not only leaks, but it also has holes in the hull; it's about to sink! Do you know how terrifying Obito is? Do you know that your Explosive Tag are just fireworks in front of Izanagi? Are you trying to drag me down with you because you don't want to die sooner?"

But what he said was, "But... Akatsuki is currently led by Lord Madara. I'm worried... that he may be willing but unable to do the job."

The subtext of this statement is obvious: Obito too strong; we can't beat him.

Konan smiled confidently. That smile held bitterness and sorrow, but also an almost obsessive determination. "I will handle Madara Uchiha's matter."

Neji's inner monologue: Deal with it? How are you going to deal with it? With those six hundred billion Explosive Tag? Sister, that's six hundred billion, not six hundred trillion! Obito has the Sharingan and Izanagi; he can rewrite reality! You can't possibly beat him!

But he couldn't say that.

He could only lower his head, bow, and express his stance in the most respectful tone. "Regarding the wine, I will follow Senior Konan's lead in everything."

He said this without any hesitation. Anyway, he was about to inform Obito, and he wouldn't stay on Konan's ship for even a day longer.

Konan was clearly satisfied. She nodded, turned back to the window, and said wearily, "You may leave now. I need to... take care of Nagato and Yahiko's funeral arrangements first."

"Yes."

Neji turned around, preparing to leave.

"Wait," Konan suddenly called out to him again.

Neji stopped and turned around.

Konan didn't turn around, still gazing out the window. Her voice was soft, but clearly reached his ears. "After killing Madara Uchiha... the Akatsuki will depend on you."

Neji's inner monologue: Holy crap???

I'm just an undercover agent, and you're going to promote me to the boss? Konan, are you that desperate for manpower? Or do you really think I can inherit Nagato's legacy? Please, I just want to survive until I reach Six Paths Tier to break free from the Caged Bird, and then travel the Shinobi World carefree. Who wants to be the leader of Akatsuki?!

But he still replied respectfully, "Senior Konan, you flatter me. As for the wine... I'll do my best."

After saying that, he left the office and gently closed the door behind him.

The corridor was deserted.

Neji leaned against the wall and took a deep breath.

That was so exciting!

One second he was thinking about how to sell Konan, the next he was promised the leader's position. This plot development is more thrilling than riding a roller coaster.

But reason quickly returned.

Konan's promise was worthless, because she wouldn't even live to Madara Uchiha."

What we need to do now is to go find Obito immediately, add a little "artistic embellishment" to the conversation we just had, and report it all back.

He touched the ring, then contacted Jue.

"Senior Zetsu, I have crucial information that needs to be reported to Lord Madara in person. Please relay it."

Obito's new headquarters is not in Amegakure, nor in any known Akatsuki. It is in an extremely secretive place—deep underground, within rock strata, concealed by layers of barriers and Genjutsu.

Neji arrived here only with Zetsu's guidance.

The moment he stepped into the headquarters, he sensed three familiar Chakra.

Jugo, Suigetsu, Karin.

The three members of the Taka were sitting in a cave cubicle in the distance. Jugo his head down, with a slight aura of killing intent emanating from him; Suigetsu was playing with a water balloon idly; and Karin was pushing up her glasses, cautiously surveying her surroundings.

Neji transmitted a brief message through the restriction. "Pretend you don't know me. How is Sasuke?"

A few seconds later, Karin responded with concern, "Sasuke-kun just had his eye transplant and is still unconscious. But his Chakra fluctuations are stable, so he should wake up soon."

Neji's heart sank.

Sasuke has already transplanted Itachi's eyes, which means the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan will appear ahead of schedule. The plot is accelerating even faster than he expected.

"Keep in touch. Wait for my message."

He cut off communications and followed Jue deeper into the area.

The headquarters had a complex structure, like an anthill, with crisscrossing passages and nested rooms. The air was filled with the damp smell of earth and a faint stench of blood—the aura of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. Neji's Byakugan could "see" that in the very core of the headquarters, the enormous, withered golem lay prostrate, like a sleeping monster.

Obito was standing right in front of the golem.

He still wore the Spiral Mask, revealing only one Sharingan. His black robe hung loosely on his body as he sat casually on a rock, as if sunbathing in his own backyard.

"Lord Madara." Neji bowed deeply, his posture even more respectful than when he met Konan.

"Sake." Obito's voice came from behind the mask, devoid of emotion. "Zetsu said you brought important information. Tell me."

Neji didn't speak immediately. He glanced at Zetsu, who was still embedded in the wall with only half of his body showing.

Obito understood what he meant.

"Zetsu," he ordered, "Go check on Sasuke's condition. And while you're at it, inform the others to prepare to seal the Eight-Tails."

"Received," White Zetsu replied cheerfully.

Black Zetsu didn't speak, but gave Neji a deep look before merging into the wall with White Zetsu and disappearing.

Now, only Obito and Neji remain in the room.

"Speak," Obito said, his Sharingan fixed on Neji. "There's no one else here."

Neji carefully considered his words. He needed to make it sound serious enough, but not too exaggerated; he needed to demonstrate loyalty, but not appear eager to claim credit.

"Lord Madara," he began, his voice low, "Konan ... is preparing to make her move against you."

Obito's reaction was indifferent. He even chuckled lightly, "Konan? With her?"

That contempt, that completely disregard, made Neji's heart tighten. But he was prepared.

"Lord Madara may think Konan is not a threat," Neji continued, his tone still respectful, "But Kakuzu was in charge of the organization's finances before his death. I once overheard Kakuzu- senpai complaining that the organization's funds were often inexplicably short, and the accounts didn't match up."

Obito's Sharingan twitched slightly.

"I didn't pay much attention at first," Neji continued, "But before returning to Amegakure this time, I inquired through a few friends in the black market. Over the past few years, someone has been buying up large quantities of Explosive Tag across the Shinobi World through multiple anonymous channels. The quantity... is astonishing."

How amazing?

Neji a deep breath and announced a figure, "Based on a comprehensive estimate, nearly one trillion."

The air froze.

Obito sat on the rock, his body motionless, but the light in his Sharingan suddenly sharpened.

One trillion Explosive Tag.

This number is incredibly impactful, even for someone like him. If all these Explosive Tag were detonated simultaneously, the power would be enough to wipe the entire Amegakure off the map, and could even affect much farther areas. The Kamui Dimension could provide cover, but if the blast radius was too large and the duration too long...

"Are you sure?" Obito's voice turned cold.

"My friends on the black market gave me some fragments of transaction records, which I verified; they're genuine," Neji said. "Moreover, the purchases have continued for several years, coinciding with a period of financial hardship for the organization. I suspect... Konan embezzled the organization's money and used it all to buy Explosive Tag."

Obito fell silent.

A few seconds later, he slowly asked, "Is there anything else?"

"Yes." Neji nodded. "After I got back, I contacted Konan and said I had important information to report to the leader. She asked me to meet her in her office. After we met, she said some... strange things to me."

"What did you say?"

"She said that true peace cannot be achieved through war and Genjutsu," Neji, then added his own observation, "She said this with a firm tone, as if she were persuading me, or as if she were persuading herself. She also asked me if I was willing to follow Nagato's legacy."

"What are you really thinking?" Obito asked, his voice revealing neither joy nor anger.

"I..." Neji paused, "All beings suffer, and desire to attain ultimate bliss."

This is the core message of the Eye of the Moon Plan. In short, it's about escaping this painful reality and entering the blissful dreamscape created by Infinite Tsukuyomi.

Obito stared at Neji with his Sharingan for a long time.

Then he smiled.

It wasn't a light laugh, nor a sneer, but a genuine, approving laugh.

"The wine," he said, "You're very good."

Neji bowed. "It's all thanks to Lord Madara's guidance."

"As for Konan..." Obito pondered, "Don't alert her yet. Continue to maintain contact with her, pretend to be recruited by her, and keep an eye on her every move for me."

"Yes."

"As for those Explosive Tag..." A cold glint flashed in Obito's Sharingan, "I'll handle them."

Neji breathed a sigh of relief. This move was the right one.

"Then... about the Eight-Tails seal?" he asked tentatively.

"You don't need to get involved." Obito hand. "Go back to Amegakure and keep a close eye on Konan. Report back immediately if anything happens."

"Yes, Lord Madara. I'll take my leave now."

Neji bowed and left the room.

As he walked out of the headquarters, he glanced back at the deep passageway.

Konan is finished.

Obito had already decided to kill her. Given his personality and strength, Konan had no chance of winning. Those Explosive Tag were destined to be nothing more than a grand fireworks display in the face of Kamui and Izanagi.

And myself...

Neji touched the sealing scroll in his arms, which contained Nagato's cell samples and machine fragments.

It's time to go find Kabuto Yakushi.

The gears of the plot are turning at breakneck speed; he must place his own pieces before Obito completely takes control of everything.

Orochimaru's resurrection, Sasuke's recruitment, the Ten-Tails' scheme...

Every step must be flawless.

The rain is still falling.

Neji's figure disappeared into the heavy rain.

The undercurrents of the Shinobi World are surging and converging beneath the surface.

However, there is more than one player holding the pieces.