NOVEL NEXT Chapter 126: Akatsuki
"It's okay, just remain cautious when dealing with Konoha. Let's wait and see what unfolds after the summit," Pain stated firmly, his calm demeanor masking the authority in his words as he addressed the holographic projections of the Akatsuki members.
Deidara, unable to suppress his excitement, broke into a maniacal laugh. "If it's war, then my art will have no choice but to participate," he exclaimed, the gleam of destructive anticipation in his eyes betraying his obsession with explosive artistry.
Sasori, seated with an air of composed arrogance, chimed in with his usual cold tone. "From war, I could gather countless puppets to create. My art, unlike yours, Deidara, is the everlasting beauty of perfection," he declared, his voice resonating with a sense of twisted pride in his craft.
"I don't care about the war; I just need money. The only thing that can be trusted is money," Kakuzu remarked with a dry laugh, his mercenary mindset evident in every word.
Itachi remained silent, his expression unreadable as he calmly listened to the others' bickering. His eyes flickered briefly toward Kisame, who leaned slightly closer and murmured, "Let's wait and see what Kiri chooses. If it's war, it'll be nice to see my former comrades on the battlefield." His tone carried a strange mix of nostalgia and anticipation.
Meanwhile, Hidan, the newest addition to the Akatsuki, seemed almost giddy with excitement. "A battle means more sacrifices. I could curse as many as possible," he hissed, licking the corner of his lips sideways, his eagerness for chaos palpable.
At a distance, Zetsu watched the meeting with a calculating gaze. Beside him stood a man with a mask covering his face, observing silently as the Akatsuki's plans began to take shape, his presence adding an air of mystery to the gathering.
"Continue with your current assignments. If any of you are near the summit, provide us with information about the results once it concludes," Pain commanded in a tone that carried an undeniable authority, his words resonating like those of a deity addressing his followers. "With that, this meeting is concluded. You may leave."
One by one, the holographic projections of the Akatsuki members began to fade, their forms dissolving into the shadows. The room grew silent, the remnants of their presence lingering like an unspoken promise of the chaos yet to come.
"Pain, do you think a war could break out?" Konan, who had been silent throughout the entire meeting, finally spoke, her calm voice breaking the lingering quiet.
Pain turned his gaze toward her, his expression unreadable. "The chances of war are high," he began, his tone thoughtful yet resolute. "If Hiruzen were still Hokage, the likelihood would have been far less. He has witnessed all three great ninja wars and understands the cost of such conflicts. His experience would make him hesitate to engage in another. Tsunade, too, has seen the horrors of war and suffered great losses. She may also seek to avoid it." He paused briefly, his Rinnegan eyes reflecting an almost prophetic understanding.
"However," he continued, "the other villages might not share the same restraint. Their attempts to provoke Konoha could escalate and backfire, leading to inevitable conflict. The balance of power is fragile, and the summit will determine whether peace or war lies ahead."
"But regardless, we must use the war as an opportunity to further our goals," Pain declared, his voice cold and resolute as he began to leave the hall. "It will make achieving our objective much easier."
Behind him, Konan silently followed, her expression unwavering. "Yes, for our goal," she murmured softly, her loyalty evident in her words as they echoed through the empty space.
Meanwhile, in the shadows, Zetsu turned to the masked man who observed the meeting from afar. "Do you have any plans to intervene in the summit?" Zetsu inquired, his tone laced with curiosity.
"Not yet," the masked man replied harshly, his voice edged with impatience. "We haven't even begun capturing the tailed beasts. If we had at least three or four under our control, then I could have used the summit to stage a move. But for now, it's too early. We must wait until the pieces fall into place." His words carried a sense of calculated strategy, the weight of his ambition pressing heavily on the conversation.
"How did we overlook the Uchiha clan's return? Someone must have intervened," Zetsu said, his voice tinged with frustration. "With the Uchiha in the picture, capturing the Nine-Tails from Konoha will be much more difficult. And there's a chance the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki has grown significantly stronger."
"Perhaps," the masked man replied, his tone cold and calculating. "But we need to gather every piece of information before making a move. Itachi likely knows much about Konoha's current state, but he has always been wary of us, keeping his true intentions hidden. Therefore, it falls on you. Your unique nature makes your presence undetectable. Enter the village and gather intelligence on the Uchiha and the Jinchuriki while the summit distracts their focus."
Zetsu nodded silently, his dual-toned form blending into the shadows as he prepared to carry out the task, the masked man's command lingering like a warning of the storm yet to come.
The masked man, after issuing his orders to Zetsu, turned and headed in the direction where Pain and Konan had gone. Catching up with them, he addressed Pain with a composed yet probing tone.
"Have you already decided on the next move?" he asked.
Without turning to face him, Pain replied firmly, "I've decided which teams will be deployed to capture the tailed beasts, but it can only be executed after the summit concludes."
"Good," the masked man said, his tone laced with a hint of approval. "Then I'll take my leave. The plan must be flawless; we cannot afford failure." Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked away, disappearing into the distance.
Pain and Konan resumed their walk in silence until Konan broke it with a question. "Do you really trust that man?"
"No," Pain admitted, his voice calm yet decisive. "But he was the only one who showed us the way. For now, we need to trust him because our goals are aligned."
Konan's expression darkened slightly. "Still, I suspect he has a different agenda. We need to uncover who he truly is. He calls himself Madara Uchiha, but is that the truth?"
"Don't concern yourself with him," Pain reassured her, his tone unwavering. "I've taken measures to ensure everything is under control."
Konan nodded but remained thoughtful, the weight of their alliance with the masked man lingering in her mind as they continued their path forward.
Pain and Konan retreated into their respective chambers, the weight of their plans and responsibilities heavy in the air. The brief meeting had set their course, but the challenges ahead loomed large.
Elsewhere, the other Akatsuki members were scattered, each occupied with tasks to secure funds and gather intelligence. Kakuzu, ever the mercenary, was hunting high-value bounties to replenish their war chest. Deidara and Sasori worked in secrecy, using their unique skills to infiltrate and sabotage, all while pursuing their own twisted interpretations of art.
Hidan, still acclimating to the organization, sought opportunities to test his Jashin rituals, leaving chaos in his wake. Kisame operated in the shadows, gathering information from the waterways and keeping tabs on the movements of his former comrades in Kiri. Meanwhile, Zetsu moved unseen, a silent observer extracting vital intelligence from the cracks of the ninja world.
Each member had their role to play, their actions both serving the Akatsuki's broader goals and feeding their personal ambitions. As the summit approached, the threads of their schemes began to intertwine, drawing the world closer to the storm the Akatsuki sought to unleash.