As the news spread, the entire base erupted with excitement.
The younger members were beside themselves, their faces alight with disbelief, joy, and hope.
Who was Hanzō?
He was the god of the Land of Rain, the true ruler of this land!
If they could gain his recognition and support, the Akatsuki's ideals would no longer be mere castles in the air. They would finally have a real chance of becoming reality!
As their leader, Yahiko's eyes had lit up with an unprecedented brilliance the moment he saw the letter.
He had almost immediately leaned toward accepting the invitation.
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"
At the full meeting convened immediately afterward, Yahiko stood before the crowd. His voice trembled slightly with excitement, but it remained deeply stirring.
"Lord Hanzō is willing to cooperate with us. That means our ideals have been recognized!
It means we can break free of the restrictions of working underground, openly help more people, and spread the idea of peace!
Our influence will grow many times over. This is a crucial step toward realizing our ideals!"
He waved his arms, painting a bright picture of what their cooperation could bring.
They would establish bases throughout the Land of Rain, open schools, mediate disputes, and ultimately guide the entire country-and even the shinobi world-toward peace.
His words brimmed with passion and sincerity, winning over the vast majority of those present.
But not everyone was swept away by this unexpected good fortune.
Nagato was the first to speak up.
He remained tucked away in the shadows of a corner. His voice was quiet, yet everyone heard him clearly.
"This is too strange." Nagato raised his head, his Rinnegan sweeping over the excited crowd before settling on Yahiko's face.
"Why does Hanzō suddenly want to cooperate with us? We've