"It's over? If that's the case, why did you come looking for me?" Obito Uchiha suddenly felt like he'd been played.
The capture of the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki and the Fourth Raikage by Konoha is such important news that it needs no publicity; it will be known throughout the entire Shinobi World within three days. Without firsthand battle intelligence, Black Zetsu's actions are completely unnecessary.
"No, that news isn't important. I just want you to inform the Akatsuki —no, order the Akatsuki! They must kill Naoki Senju! If necessary, they can even attack Konoha. I will send all the White Zetsu to assist the Akatsuki."
Black Zetsu spoke resolutely. Although he was not as angry as at the beginning, he still could not hide the surging killing intent in his heart. In the hundreds of years of planning, he had always adhered to the basic principle of not interfering with the Shinobi World's structure and trying to minimize the traces he left behind.
But now that the plan is only one step away from complete success, Black Zetsu cannot tolerate his centuries-long scheme being ruined by a complete stranger. So this time, he will use all his power to eliminate him!
"Attack Konoha? Do you think the Akatsuki is enough to defeat the Fourth Raikage and the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki?"
Although Obito Uchiha did mention attacking Konoha, it was merely to provoke Nagato. Otherwise, if the Akatsuki were to attack Konoha, how many people would survive? And would he be expected to capture all the remaining Tailed Beast?
Obito Uchiha could accept the loss of killing Naoki Senju, but he could not accept the loss of attacking Konoha. Without the Akatsuki's help, many of Obito's own plans would become impossible to implement.
"No, besides those missing-nin, we also have a pair of Rinnegan and a pair of Sharingan." Black Zetsu stared intently at Obito. Although there had been some minor friction, his interests were aligned with Obito's in this matter.
Although their ultimate goals differ, they all hope that Eye of the Moon Plan can be successfully implemented!
"My identity cannot be revealed yet, so I will not take action. As for Nagato, you can only hope that he will. After all, he is no longer the naive boy we used to manipulate."
Obito Uchiha back on, concealing his true identity beneath it. Just as Black Zetsu had suspected, their interests were completely aligned in this matter.
The Tailed Beast must be gathered, the Eye of the Moon Plan must proceed smoothly, and the troublemaker Naoki Senju must die!
A naive boy being manipulated... Obito Uchiha disappeared into the black vortex in Black Zetsu, a rare hint of contempt appeared on his face.
Nagato was an innocent boy who was manipulated at will, and so was you, Obito Uchiha...
When Obito Uchiha failed to find Nagato's puppet Pain at the Tower of God in the center of Amegakure, he knew that the Akatsuki was about to launch a major operation and needed Pain's real body to issue the mission.
Normally, the core members of Akatsuki would only see Konan, the Divine Messenger, and would even issue missions directly through letters. On rare occasions, they would communicate through the Magic Lantern Body Technique.
Pain, the official leader of the Akatsuki, rarely makes a public appearance.
"Such an uncontrollable personality, what a hassle. I should have been in charge of the Rinnegan from the start!"
Obito Uchiha to the Akatsuki base again, concealing himself the entire way. He wasn't making excuses for Black Zetsu; it was indeed not the right time to reveal his identity, not even by using Madara Uchiha's identity.
Within the Akatsuki, apart from Uchiha Itachi and Nagato Konan, no one else knew of his existence.
Kisame Hoshigaki was an exception. Although he was also brought into the Akatsuki by using Madara Uchiha's identity, Obito intended to cultivate Kisame Hoshigaki into a true confidant and even revealed some of the Eye of the Moon Plan.
The rest of the Akatsuki lived in the peaceful world woven by Pain, including the cunning and treacherous Uchiha Itachi gradually slipped out of control.
The black spatial vortex bypassed the layers of barriers within the Akatsuki base, gradually approaching a room filled with various powerful Chakra.
This is the Akatsuki's operations room.
"The war between Konoha and the Three Great Shinobi Villages of Iwagakure, Kumogakure, and Kirigakure has ended."
Pain's Deva Path, with a blank expression, announced a bombshell: the missing-nin present came from various ninja villages, some of whom had no affection for their villages, such as Sasori of the Red Sands, who was now lying quietly in Hiruko, enjoying eternal peace.
Some still have feelings for the village, but were forced to join the Akatsuki; that person is— Deidara!
" Kumogakure... That old man Ōnoki has started another war. Can't we just focus on art together? Hmm, how's the situation in Iwagakure?"
Deidara's feelings towards Ōnoki and Iwagakure are complex. His master was Kitsuchi, Kitsuchi was Ōnoki's son, so Deidara and Ōnoki had a relatively close relationship.
Deidara's Clay Bomb were even modeled after the Kekkei Tōta - Dust Release, which shows Deidara's status in Iwagakure.
However, Deidara also harbored resentment towards Ōnoki and Iwagakure because they restricted his research into art and forbade him from studying the ultimate art at a higher level.
Therefore, Deidara accepted the Akatsuki's invitation and joined this missing-nin organization, because here, he could freely research ultimate art!
Of course, there was also a passive reason for this. Deidara not only wanted to study the ultimate art, but also wanted revenge. That damned Uchiha Itachi and Sharingan desecrated his art with Genjutsu!
But in the end, Deidara still had feelings for Iwagakure.
Pain's Deva Path glanced at Deidara was still quite young, only fourteen or fifteen years old, and said with a hint of nostalgia in his eyes:
"Instead of engaging Konoha in a direct confrontation, Iwagakure changed course and raided the Land of Lightning, where Kumogakure is located. They withdrew to Iwagakure before the Kumogakure forces returned."
"Although it's insidious, he truly lives up to his reputation as an old man!" Deidara seemed unusually excited, clearly unwilling to see Iwagakure suffer a loss.
Fortunately, there were no missing-nin from Kumogakure present, otherwise this meeting room would definitely have been blown to smithereens by the fierce battle.
The reason why there are no missing-nin Kumogakure is quite simple: every missing-nin Kumogakure had their head twisted off by the Raikage in the first instance.
In Kumogakure, there are no missing-nin, only those who die in the line of duty!
Despite attracting much attention, Uchiha Itachi showed no emotion, as if the attack on Konoha by the Three Great Shinobi Villages had nothing to do with him.
Because of Uchiha Itachi's undercover identity, he was openly estranged from Konoha, so no matter how much you care about him, you can't show it. You should even take the opportunity to kick him while he's down.
But Kisame Hoshigaki, a newcomer who recently joined the Akatsuki, opened his mouth full of ferocious shark teeth and asked in a relaxed tone:
"Chief, by the way, tell me about Kirigakure. Even though I've become missing-nin, I still think about it sometimes."