Recruiting Mahito

Kumogakure—Raikage's Office. "Nine Nether!" Fourth Raikage A crushed the armrest of his chair.

"An organization that can infiltrate one of the Five Great Nations at will and assassinate a Hokage?"

Fourth Raikage A then smashed the desk before him to pieces with one punch. But the anger on his face had given way to incredulous dread.

"Damn it! What the hell is that Mahito from the Ninefold Organization? Can my Lightning Release Armor block his attacks?!"

For the first time, he doubted his absolute defense.

After all, from what Mahito had said, that kind of distortion acted directly on the soul and seemed to bypass physical defenses entirely.

"Form an intelligence team, now! Investigate Nine Nether! I don't care what it costs—find out everything about them!"

In Iwagakure, Ōnoki floated in the air, silent for a long time.

He had lived too long and seen all kinds of Kekkei Tōta, but Mahito's ability filled him with fear on another level.

Dust Release could break matter down into atoms, but could it break down his soul?

If Mahito faced his Dust Release, could he still regenerate as though nothing had happened?

In Kirigakure, Mei Terumi had lost her usual languid allure. Shock was written all over her face.

"My Kekkei Genkai would probably be a joke against him."

"No matter how powerful Lava Style and Boil Style are, they still act on matter. As long as his soul survives, his body can regenerate endlessly."

"Ao, investigate the Nine Nether organization in secret, but do not come into conflict with them. Given the village's current state, we can't afford another powerful enemy."

In Sunagakure, Chiyo's expression was grave. "What a terrifying ability. It's almost like the Forbidden Technique Impure World Reincarnation that the Second Hokage invented years ago."

"I'm afraid that apart from Sealing Techniques, Sunagakure has no way to counter him. We must have the children learn Sealing Techniques as soon as possible, Lord Kazekage!"

Fourth Kazekage Rasa nodded, his expression just as grave.

He personally issued an order for Sunagakure to accelerate its Sealing Technique training from then on.

But as more information came to light about Mahito's ability, everyone eventually concluded that he was only Kage Level.

His claims about an undying soul and an indestructible body sounded frightening.

In practice, though, the Shinobi World was well equipped to deal with such supposedly immortal beings. The existence of Tailed Beasts had led to the development of a vast number of Sealing Techniques.

And those techniques were precisely the bane of anything "immortal."

Intelligence was even more important. Without advance knowledge of Mahito's ability, anyone facing him for the first time would suffer badly.

But once they understood how it worked and devised a countermeasure, the balance could quietly tip the other way.

Of all the forces in the Shinobi World, Konoha had to possess the most Sealing Techniques, having inherited the legacy of Whirlpool Country.

After all, the Hidden Whirlpool Village had been founded on Sealing Techniques and had always been allied with Konoha. The two sides had long shared many Secret Techniques.

After the Hidden Whirlpool Village fell, Konoha took in many of its orphaned children and inherited all the Sealing Techniques it left behind.

So once the Canopy Screen vanished, powers across the Shinobi World sent representatives to Konoha, hoping to trade their own Secret Techniques for powerful Sealing Techniques.

Spies of every sort also converged on Konoha. After all, Shimura Danzō, one of the Konoha Leadership, had colluded with Nine Nether!

Who in the Shinobi World would believe that every other Konoha Ninja knew nothing about it?

Hyuga Xiu, however, was delighted. The nearby Brothels had brought in quite a few pretty girls from other villages, and they even seemed to be Ninja. They were a feast for the eyes!!!

In Amegakure, the projected figures of the Akatsuki Organization's members vanished one after another from the fingers of the enormous Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. Only Pain and Konan remained, standing in silence.

The Canopy Screen had already disappeared, but the shock of what it had shown continued to settle over the quiet chamber.

Konan spoke first, her cool voice breaking the silence. "To think Minato Namikaze faced an attack like that."

"And that being called Mahito—his ability..." She frowned slightly, unable to find the right words.

"It goes beyond conventional Ninjutsu." Pain's voice was cold and flat. The ripples of his Rinnegan turned slowly.

"He can touch the form of the soul directly and reshape it without restriction. That power cannot be underestimated."

He turned to Konan, his tone calm but leaving no room for argument. "It is also intriguing."

Konan immediately understood what he meant. "You want to recruit him?"

"We collect Tailed Beasts and create the ultimate weapon so the world will experience pain and come to understand peace," Pain said slowly, as though stating a settled fact.

"His power may itself be a form of ultimate 'pain.' If we bring him into Akatsuki, our plan should advance more efficiently."

He imagined Mahito unleashing his power on a major Ninja village. The fear and despair it caused might be even greater than what a Tailed Beast could inflict.

Konan considered it for a moment. As always, she took the more practical view. "The risk is extremely high."

"Judging by his behavior on the Canopy Screen, he won't be easy to control."

"He enjoys the act of twisting and toying with others, not the pursuit of some grand goal."

"And the footage of his cooperation with Danzo suggests he may have an organization called Nine Nether behind him."

"That doesn't matter," Pain said indifferently. "He only needs to be useful."

"Until the Tailed Beast Deterrence Plan is complete, any power can serve as a tool. His ability may prove especially effective in capturing Jinchuriki, particularly Perfect Jinchuriki."

"Besides," Pain continued, a cold gleam passing through his Rinnegan, "if this Nine Nether of his is an organization, contacting him may reveal more about it."

"That is information the god of the new world will need."

Konan nodded and raised no further objections. She trusted Nagato's judgment and was accustomed to carrying out his decisions.

"But how do we contact him? The Canopy Screen didn't reveal their Hideout, and Danzo is now under heavy protection in Konoha."

Pain raised a hand. A white spore hovered above his palm.

"Have Zetsu investigate. His Spore Clones and unmatched scouting ability make him best suited to finding those who hide in the shadows."

"As for the terms of recruitment..." Pain's voice remained emotionless, yet carried an almost arrogant confidence.

"Tell him Akatsuki can offer him the entire Shinobi World as a stage, not just one corner of Konoha. Here, he can enjoy 'change' and 'pain' to their fullest."

"Only by joining us, rather than working with someone as shortsighted as Danzo, can he witness the magnificent sight of the entire world's souls being transformed."

"And if he refuses?" Konan asked.

Pain's Rinnegan narrowed slightly. The air around them seemed to freeze.

"Then he and the Nine Nether behind him will be another obstacle to peace—an unstable factor that must be eliminated!"

There was no murderous intent in his words, yet they were more chilling than any threat.

For those who rejected the ideals of "god," destruction was the only end.

Konan dipped her head. Countless slips of paper began to flutter around her.

"Understood. I'll have Zetsu begin at once. I hope Mahito makes the 'right' choice when the time comes."