"By the way, meow, since you got here, have you ever felt like someone was watching you?"
Takeshi asked suddenly.
He couldn't completely underestimate Madara and Zetsu. Even if Nagato's group had moved to the Land of Snow, with White Zetsu's ability to slip in anywhere, it was only a matter of time before they were found.
If Black Zetsu came in person, Konan and Yahiko definitely wouldn't sense him.
That creature could silently disguise itself as one of Madara's Yin-Yang Release constructs, that alone proved that even a ninja on Madara's level couldn't detect Black Zetsu through sensory skills.
His concealment ability was practically maxed out.
But a normal White Zetsu was a different story.
Its hiding skills were powerful but still fell far short of Black Zetsu's. Takeshi didn't believe Madara would give up the search for Nagato, but he also didn't think Black Zetsu would go personally.
The world was vast, if Black Zetsu had to search for Nagato himself, he would run his legs off.
"Surveillance?"
Yahiko and Konan froze, glanced at each other, then shook their heads.
They really hadn't noticed any watchers.
After they reached Yukigakure, the local Yuki-nin had been a bit resistant and made some moves at first, but they had quieted down later and hadn't shown much opposition to joining Akatsuki.
After this period of restructuring, those Yuki-nin had already become part of Akatsuki.
"That's good, meow. Back in Amegakure, I kept feeling something watching you, a presence I couldn't fully perceive... Even though the chance of them finding this place is low now, you should still stay alert."
Takeshi warned.
Ninjas like Nagato and Konan, who possessed sensory abilities, could definitely discover a White Zetsu if they remained vigilant. And at this point, they would listen to whatever Takeshi said.
Because Takeshi was strong.
Strength defined status. His power had reached the point where he could found a Holy Land, in the eyes of Akatsuki trio, he was no different from the Sages of the three great Holy Lands.
"We'll be careful. Thank you for the warning."
Yahiko's expression grew solemn.
If someone really was watching them, and even a "Sage" like Takeshi could only partially sense them, then the enemy's concealment abilities were terrifying.
They would need a special kind of ninjutsu.
"Takeshi-sama, if we really run into such an enemy..."
Konan was more worried about their safety. If such a watcher existed, their strength was definitely greater than theirs. How would they call Takeshi for help?
"Meow~ Don't worry. I'll seal a clone for you later."
"That would be a huge help."
With his Sage Body, Takeshi could preserve a Shadow Clone with fuinjutsu for a long time. A single clone definitely couldn't beat Madara, but dealing with White Zetsu or even Black Zetsu was more than enough.
That said, Konan and Yahiko couldn't find Black Zetsu anyway, and they could handle a White Zetsu themselves. The clone was essentially just there to boost their morale, it wouldn't change much in practice.
In terms of raw sensory perception, unless he entered Sage Mode, Takeshi wasn't even as good as Nagato.
"So what's your next step..."
"First, find a place and put up some buildings."
Takeshi leaped onto the roof, climbed to its highest point, and surveyed the surroundings. It was all steep, towering mountains. Sure, putting his massive cat tower atop a peak would look incredibly impressive, but he would also have to endure unimaginable cold.
And that was just the mountaintop, not even accounting for the height of the tower itself.
'It's cold at the top.' He had no interest in masochism.
As a cat, he still preferred a climate that suited him. The Land of Snow didn't exactly offer that, but there was no need to deliberately build on a summit either. Maybe he should talk with Sosetsu Kazahana later and discuss the matter of heaters.
Sosetsu was a daimyo with vision.
Unlike Doto, Sosetsu focused more on people's livelihoods, on things like trains and environmental heaters. Under his rule, the Land of Snow was thriving. If the environmental modification devices succeeded, even agriculture, the country's biggest concern, would be somewhat improved.
Building the Holy Land right next to the city would feel a bit too mundane. It was better to wait until Sosetsu finished his research and then ask for a brand-new heater.
But that meant they would have to deal with Doto first.
Leaving that man alive was a disaster waiting to happen.
So, Takeshi shared his thoughts: he wanted Akatsuki to take care of Doto.
Yahiko readily agreed.
He had wanted to kill Doto for a long time, ever since the man had tried to profit from life-saving food supplies. That kind of profit-driven attitude completely clashed with Akatsuki's values. He had only held back because he hadn't known Takeshi's stance.
After they talked a while longer, Kanna and Nagato emerged from the house.
"Finished talking, meow?"
"We had a great talk. My lord, thank you for bringing me here."
Kanna bowed deeply.
Before coming to Yukigakure, she had felt some resistance and fear. But once she saw Nagato and the situation here, she felt as if this place were a hidden paradise. It was desolate, quiet, and bitterly cold, but the people of Akatsuki gave her a strong sense of safety.
Of course, she still wanted to follow Takeshi.
But Nagato... well, he seemed a bit red in the face.
It was probably because, aside from Konan, he had barely talked to any girls since he was young. And after a few months in Takeshi's fortress, Kanna's health and complexion had recovered, her skin was pale and rosy, and she looked very pretty.
"Meow~ Little pretty boy, why's your face so red? Are you that happy?"
"No."
Nagato's expression iced over instantly.
He had no interest in chatting with this black cat. Takeshi's mouth was like a blade, the more he talked, the deeper it cut.
Konan covered her mouth to hide a laugh.
"Such a tsundere, meow!"
"Who's a tsundere? And stop throwing around weird words like that!"
Takeshi spread his paws innocently.
Whoever got worked up first lost.
Nagato turned his head away and refused to continue the conversation.
The black cat didn't care. He jumped lightly down from the roof, letting his body grow a bit larger. He looked at Kanna, then at Nagato, and finally said, "By the way, Nagato, are your eyes the Rinnegan?"
Yahiko and Konan tensed up instantly, and Nagato retreated several steps on the spot.
Even though they were very familiar with Takeshi by now, the Rinnegan was Nagato's greatest secret. Not even many of Akatsuki's own members knew about it. Having it exposed so suddenly, their wariness was only natural.
This was the eye of Sage of Six Paths.
"Meow~ No need to be so nervous. If I wanted to take them..."
"None of you could stop me."
As the black cat spoke, he lifted a paw and lazily licked it. The casual posture sent a chill through them, Yahiko and the others felt like prey waiting for the slaughter.
The pressure was overwhelming.
"What are you implying?"
Yahiko quickly steadied himself, but he still held some wariness as he stepped in front of Nagato with a kunai in hand.
"The Rinnegan is the legendary eye of the Sage of Six Paths. According to my clan's records, the Uzumaki and Senju clans are very likely his descendants. Both carry certain traits of the Sage's body."
"Is that... a problem?" Kanna asked, confused.
"Is that... an issue?" Nagato froze.
Confirming his origin today had actually made him happy. When Takeshi had first said "Rinnegan," he'd been thoroughly shocked. But now it sounded like the black cat had no malicious intent, if anything, Takeshi seemed ready to reveal unknown secrets.
Takeshi paused, then said, "Neither the Senju nor the Uzumaki have ever shown an inherited dojutsu. And your father's side obviously had no such talent either... so where did your eyes come from? Some kind of super atavistic mutation?"
"I, I don't know."
Nagato thought hard, then shook his head.
He really didn't know. His last clear memory was of Konoha ninja breaking in and killing his parents. Then he had blacked out. When he woke up, he already had these eyes.
Until now, he had always believed he'd awakened the Rinnegan by accident. But after Takeshi's words, he started to doubt. Takeshi might not be an absolute authority, but it was better than them knowing nothing.
"But this doesn't make sense!" Konan couldn't help protesting.
"Meow~ I'm just sharing the intel I have. Also, keep an eye on that issue I mentioned earlier."
"I understand."
Yahiko's expression turned grim as he bowed deeply to Takeshi.
Surveillance. Eyes.
The two were connected. That was what Takeshi wanted to warn them about.
Mainly, he had earned some points. Off that little exchange just now, he had scraped together nearly two thousand, pushing his total back up to around ten thousand.
It wasn't much, but it was better than sitting there watching his reserves dry up.
The black cat closed his system panel.
He was really looking forward to the day Black Zetsu and Madara learned of these things. That would be a massive wave of points. He also wondered what those two were thinking now, and how their reconnaissance was going.
'Don't tell me they really can't find this place?'
===============
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