"Obito, what do we do now?" Black Zetsu asked gravely at the Akatsuki's headquarters.
Obito could not think of a solution either. "It looks like all we can do is keep lying low. We have no force capable of standing against the Holy Church," he said calmly, suppressing his irritation.
"Mm." Black Zetsu nodded in silence. They could only wait for an opportunity. Having lain low for a thousand years, he refused to believe that the Holy Church would never run into trouble.
After the coronation ceremony, the Lands of Earth and Lightning also began applying to become subordinate organizations of the Holy Church. They had no other choice now. With the Holy Church driving the train of this new era, boarding early meant enjoying its benefits sooner. That was better than being abandoned by the times and reduced to the dust of history.
The Shinobi World, which had been plagued by unrest for a thousand years, began to experience peace in the truest sense thanks to the Holy Church's strength and fairness. Although its influence had yet to reach the Land of Water, all the major Shinobi Villages believed it was only a matter of time.
Besides, if the Land of Water really did stir up trouble, it would merely give the Holy Church a legitimate excuse to expand into its territory.
Yet the isolationist Land of Water was not entirely ignorant of the outside world.
In Kirigakure, Mei Terumi held a meeting in a secret base with Ao and a group of other ninja dissatisfied with the Fourth Mizukage's Blood Mist Policy.
"What do you think Kirigakure should do? Should we ask the Holy Church to intervene?"
Mei Terumi offered her suggestion as she looked at the silent gathering.
"But that would turn our village into a subordinate,"