NOVEL NEXT Chapter 84: Chapter 84: The Gedo Statue
Chapter 84: The Gedo Statue
Year 49 of Konoha.
The Third Shinobi World War had not ended. Even the Wind Country unilaterally tore up the peace treaty and dispatched a group of elite shinobi to the Land of Lightning.
The establishment of the Four Nations Alliance had initially faced some obstacles. However, when news spread that the entire Fire Country daimyo clan had been annihilated, the daimyos of the Four Great Nations became the most anxious of all. They relocated themselves to the Land of Lightning, which became the alliance's base of operations.
The Land of Lightning was chosen for its geographical advantage. Surrounded by sea on three sides with only a small land connection to the Land of Hot Water, it was easy to defend and difficult to invade.
The Four Great Nations were amassing their military forces, but due to the fear instilled by Uchiha Kagami's power, they did not dare to take the initiative to attack. Instead, they worked together in secret, scheming something.
The Fire Country, meanwhile, was the most devastated in this war. It had fought against the Wind, Earth, and Lightning nations, then against the Mist and Earth nations, and finally waged an internal conflict against itself. Now, it needed to recover and rebuild.
This was not a war of all-out conflict but rather a state of cold war, a tense standoff.
---
The Land of Rain.
The ninja world had lost its shadow in the dark—Danzo. Yet, some events seemed destined to occur.
During the Second Shinobi World War, many notable figures emerged, including a man regarded as the pinnacle of the shinobi world: Hanzō of the Salamander. He had struck fear into the samurai of the Land of Iron and single-handedly led the Land of Rain in resisting the three major nations.
"A man's end is not in death but when he loses his conviction."
These were Hanzō's words. Yet, even he had not escaped the cloud of senility in his later years.
Hanzō had been the savior of the Land of Rain, a hero to his people. Because of him, the three major nations had diverted their battlegrounds away from the Land of Rain.
However, this redirection brought the war to the Land of Grass. Although some small-scale skirmishes continued in the Rain Country, it was much better than before.
Against this backdrop, Hanzō became a symbol of faith for the Rain Country's people.
This was especially true for Yahiko, who idolized Hanzō and viewed him as a model to follow. Yahiko dreamed of creating a Land of Rain that no longer shed tears. When Hanzō invited Akatsuki to discuss the future of the Rain Country, Yahiko had eagerly agreed, leading his comrades with boundless enthusiasm.
As Yahiko's group departed into the rain, Obito and Zetsu revealed themselves.
"Is everything in place?" Obito asked, his face obscured by his mask. Though his identity had already been exposed, the mask provided a sense of distance, a fragile comfort from the cruel world.
"The famed Hanzō was surprisingly easy to deceive," Zetsu replied with a sinister chuckle. "I simply told him that Akatsuki posed a threat to his rule, and he took the bait."
"That old man's resolve has weakened. He no longer deserves the title of 'Half-God,'" Zetsu added with a sneer. "If anyone deserves that title now, it's probably Kagami."
Obito's eye narrowed. "Don't compare someone like him to Uchiha Kagami."
The more Obito grew, the more he understood Kagami's actions. They had grown up in the same district, only a short distance apart. When Obito was very young, he would eagerly seek out Kagami to play, but Kagami was always training.
Even at that age, Kagami was distant, untouchable. He was perpetually pushing himself, as if racing against an invisible clock.
Back then, Obito had not understood why. But after Rin's death, and after witnessing Kagami's restoration of the Uchiha clan, he finally realized the truth.
Kagami had always known. He had known the cruelty of the world from a very young age.
"Should we tell Kagami about the Moon's Eye Plan?" Zetsu asked.
Obito shook his head. "Kagami would never join us. Besides, he's already protected what he holds dear. He doesn't need the Moon's Eye."
Zetsu chuckled, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "Perhaps we could change that. Losing loved ones tends to open one's eyes to reality."
---
At the meeting point between Akatsuki and Hanzō, the situation had escalated. Konan was taken hostage. Originally, the plan was to capture Yahiko and kill him outright, but Hanzō had come up with a better idea.
"Kill Yahiko, and I will release this woman," Hanzō demanded, his voice cold.
Nagato trembled, clutching a kunai. His Rinnegan trembled with suppressed emotion, a storm brewing in his heart.
Yahiko made the decision for him.
"You are the savior of this world," Yahiko said, smiling faintly as he impaled himself on Nagato's kunai. "I believe in you."
Life faded from Yahiko's eyes, and Nagato's Rinnegan trembled more violently than ever.
---
From a distance, Obito and Zetsu watched the scene unfold.
"This should do it," Zetsu said, his voice thick with satisfaction. "Nagato will now see the harsh reality of this world."
But then, something changed.
A loud summoning reverberated across the battlefield. A colossal figure emerged—a monstrous, emaciated humanoid form with nine eyes and a grotesque appearance.
The Gedo Statue had been summoned.
Obito and Zetsu froze in place. Their expressions twisted into shock as they exchanged a look.
"This is bad!" Zetsu exclaimed.
"Madara!" Obito growled.
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