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After Black Zetsu's figure disappeared, Nagato's previously calm expression gradually turned grim.
Although the conditions offered by the other party just now were indeed very tempting, Nagato knew, even with a moment's thought, that the 'price' Black Zetsu mentioned was certainly not as simple as merely needing a 'Ryūmyaku ritual site'.
The reason was quite simple.
That guy constantly followed Uchiha Hikari, that crazy woman, like a shadow, practically her most loyal subordinate, having followed her since very early on—so why wouldn't he dare to make this request to Uchiha Hikari?
Although the Moon Organization's publicly held territory was currently only the Land of Waterfalls, even Nagato, who occasionally undertook missions, knew that the number of Ninja the crazy woman had conquered with 'Engraved Tsukuyomi' was far from ordinary.
She had also visited countless places over the years.
The Land of Grass, Land of Water, Lake Country...
Heaven knew how many people Uchiha Hikari controlled, and how many of them were local power-holders.
If it weren't for Sawara Kiri still firmly suppressing her, preventing her from acting too overtly, Nagato estimated that the entire Ninja World would now be confined to robots by her Engraved Tsukuyomi.
Only at times like these did Nagato feel a slight gratitude towards this strongest Ninja in the world.
Of course, his gratitude was also very limited.
'What exactly does he want to do?'
Nagato returned to the cushion in the quiet room and sat down, then couldn't help but frown and ponder another question.
'Besides that, does that strange-looking guy not only have the ability to gather all sorts of intelligence but also possess such powerful sealing techniques?'
His doubts were not unfounded.
That was Ryūmyaku ritual.
To this day, Konoha was the only one in the entire Ninja World capable of openly utilizing the Ryūmyaku—most people didn't even know what 'Ryūmyaku' was yet.
What was his goal?
Most importantly, where did this guy come from?
What was his purpose in assisting Uchiha Hikari?
Was he also a Lunatic who longed to turn the world into a game of rules?
Nagato's mind was filled with one question after another.
However, after thinking it through, he still shook his head and pressed a button on his wristband.
"Buzz—"
A faint hum sounded.
Before Nagato, a shaven-headed man was sitting at a dining table.
In the image, he held a wine glass, looked at Nagato with some surprise, but then showed a calm smile:
"Sending me a message at this time, have you decided to launch a rebellion, Nagato?"
"Nagato."
Looking at the figure that appeared before him, Nagato's heart was somewhat complicated.
If it weren't for this person appearing seven years ago and leaving him a glimmer of hope, Nagato believed he would have had to delay his decision to solve the 'Engraved Tsukuyomi' problem for a long time.
While Nagato thought to himself, his body instinctively knelt on the ground, one hand on his chest:
"Yes, Lord Jigen."
"However, a small situation arose today."
"'Zetsu', who always follows Uchiha Hikari, found me."
His tone remained respectful as he briefly recounted their conversation, specifically mentioning that the other party could also help him solve the minor issue of 'Engraved Tsukuyomi', subtly concealing what Black Zetsu truly intended to do.
Ōtsutsuki Isshiki, however, raised his chin and glanced at him.
He detected a hint of bargaining in the lower-class being's tone.
But he wasn't particularly angry.
Lower-class beings were just lower-class beings; their scope and vision were always limited to the space between their index finger and thumb.
But, so be it.
After all, this was merely a pathetic creature created by Kaguya, to be played with in his palm.
"Utterly foolish."
"The essence of a Dojutsu is a soul's imprint."
"If he truly possessed the power to correct souls and make those eyes completely yours, he wouldn't even fear Sawara Kiri."
Ōtsutsuki Isshiki, uncharacteristically, explained a sentence to him.
Nagato maintained his bowed posture, saying nothing.
He naturally didn't trust either of these two parties, and even his previous words were merely an excuse he used to bargain with this 'Lord Jigen'.
The meaning was simple.
Look, their offer to win me over is already so high; aren't you going to show some generosity?
Seeing his demeanor, Ōtsutsuki Isshiki immediately let out an exasperated 'hmph'.
He spoke coldly:
"Greedy."
"In three days, someone will deliver an artifact to you that can isolate 'Engraved Tsukuyomi'."
A smile couldn't help but appear on Nagato's lowered face.
But before his lips could fully curve, he heard Ōtsutsuki Isshiki add: "However, it's only for you."
Watching his stiff movements, the smile slowly shifted to Ōtsutsuki Isshiki's face on the screen.
"Nagato, you should understand."
"There's no such thing as a free lunch."
Ōtsutsuki Isshiki took a sip of wine, his gaze meaningfully fixed on him.
Clearly, he had already detected some slight concealment in Nagato's words.
"..."
"Yes, I understand."
However, Nagato said nothing, only quietly assented.
It wasn't until the screen vanished that he slowly exhaled.
"I should have discussed it with Yahiko and the others before acting… too reckless." Nagato rubbed his face, muttering a few words under his breath.
He was inherently a person prone to severe self-internalization.
It took him a good while to recover, then he walked to another table and began studying invasion routes on the Hidden Rain Village map.
Regardless, their actions were inevitable.
"Is Zetsu suddenly interested in Hidden Rain Village?"
After hanging up the communication, on the other side.
Ōtsutsuki Isshiki's internal reaction was not as understated as it appeared on the surface; almost immediately after the image disappeared, he put down his wine glass and began to ponder what that third-rate artificial being truly intended to do.
Ever since he was almost fatally bisected from behind by his most trusted servant a millennium ago, Ōtsutsuki Isshiki had developed this habit of playing it safe.
If, in the previous millennium, he only needed to guard against Ōtsutsuki Kaguya and her unknown, hidden cheap sons, then the current situation he faced was even more complex.
Sawara Kiri, Zetsu, and several other Ōtsutsuki whose whereabouts were unknown, and whether they were even alive was a question.
Don't assume that Ōtsutsuki and Ōtsutsuki are at peace with each other.
Given his current physical condition, if he were to be inadvertently targeted by a fellow clansman, he might end up being compressed into a meat bun and swallowed.
But what was so special about the Land of Rain?
Ōtsutsuki Isshiki frowned deeply.
After much thought, he finally summoned someone from outside.
"Hiruko."
"Here."
A small, black-clad, masked man slowly entered.
"The 'Dojutsu Sealing Bracelet' project I gave you earlier, you should have completed it by now, right?"
The man opposite him froze, then looked up as if greatly relieved: "Lord Jigen, can I leave the base now?"
"That's right."
Ōtsutsuki Isshiki nodded slightly: "Your work during this period has proven your loyalty to the Kara."
"Go deliver this bracelet to Nagato. After you complete this mission and return, you will be promoted to an executive."
"Thank you, Lord!"
Hiruko knelt on the ground, his masked face almost weeping with joy.
Damn it!
This hellish life in this shell was finally coming to an end!
Heaven knew how he had managed to get through these past few years!
Ever since that damned Kaguya Ren had sprung him from the Konoha prison and he escaped to the Land of Grass, he hadn't had a single good day.
In the beginning, Kaguya Ren would occasionally contact him a few times, providing him and that unlucky Aburame Ryoma with some necessary funds, allowing him to continue his Chimera Technique research.
But as time went on, that bastard Kaguya Ren contacted him less and less, stopped sending money, and wouldn't let them move, forcing the two of them to survive in the underground research base by raising insects to establish an underground self-sustaining protein factory.
Kaguya Ren's authority was too profound; they didn't even dare to step out.
Later, due to a lack of salt and research materials, they were so desperate that they secretly tried to step out of the area Kaguya Ren had designated.
They originally expected to see a human-sized cannon ready to fire at any second, with someone crashing down in front of them.
But, hey!
Nothing happened.
It wasn't until that day that they realized they had been played by that scoundrel.
Hiruko still remembered how he cursed and swore that day that he must complete the Chimera Technique in his lifetime, become the strongest Ninja in the world, and kill that bastard with the most cruel punishment imaginable.
Unfortunately, good times don't last.
They hadn't even left the Land of Grass when they ran into a white-faced monk traveling the world on foot.
The monk merely glanced at him, said something about 'Research Personnel Marker Sixty-Seven', and then asked, 'Do you want to come with me willingly, or shall I take you?'
Hiruko, who had just escaped to freedom, could not allow anyone to restrict his liberty. He was arrogant and full of fire, and immediately intended to give this monk a profound lesson he would remember for life.
Then, he received a profound lesson he would remember for life.
From that day on, he and Aburame Ryoma were captured and brought into this 'Kara', becoming one of the lowest-level research laborers and a gatekeeper security guard who had avoided thirty years of detours, respectively.
Seven years, a full seven years!
Hiruko produced one achievement after another, pouring out every drop of his heart and soul, and finally reached this day of breakthrough.
At this moment, he felt as if every breath of air he took was incredibly fresh.
"Oh, right, hold out your hand."
As if remembering something, Ōtsutsuki Isshiki spoke.
Hiruko froze, then instinctively raised his hand.
"Slap!"
Amidst a flickering light, he felt a sudden pain on the back of his hand.
A tangible, inky black mark moved across his skin, consolidating and closing, finally quickly forming an 'VIII' symbol.
Hiruko's expression couldn't help but stiffen.
Ōtsutsuki Isshiki's expression was calm: "Also, after you hand the bracelet to that guy, don't leave immediately."
"Help me see what they're doing."
"Yes!"
After a moment of contemplation, Hiruko slowly lowered his head.
It seemed that to successfully escape this oppressive organization, he would still need to employ some unconventional methods.
Hiruko stepped out the door, pondering this in his heart.
His fingertips unconsciously brushed his neck.
The Land of Water becoming a protectorate, and Hidden Mist Village being effectively annexed.
The impact of this event had not passed, and had not even fully begun.
Its influence naturally extended far beyond minor, inconspicuous forces like Nagato and the Kara.
The truly alarmed Daimyo and noble factions had even contacted the Land of Fire's Daimyo early on, attempting to pressure Konoha through the Land of Fire itself.
At the same time, they poured vast sums of money into other Ninja Villages, attempting to compel Konoha through military threats to release the deposed Land of Water nobility and others.
Just as the theory of bloodline nobility was popular in Ninja Villages in this era, to ensure the purity of their noble blood, the nobles of the Five Great Nations had many intermarriages, resulting in complex and endless kinship ties, and countless financial dealings.
However, it was not until they began to take action that they truly unveiled the tip of the iceberg of Konoha's current true strength.
The Konoha capital network and transportation channels established over seven years had allowed Konoha, seemingly a single village, to occupy an extremely large proportion of the national economy, becoming a crucial link in the upstream and midstream of the trade chain, absolutely indispensable—a process that naturally also involved the assets of the Land of Fire's nobility.
The ties of money made them and Konoha ants on the same string.
As for military threats, they were even more negligible.
On the day the border troops from the Land of Earth and the Land of Lightning appeared at the border as agreed, nearly ten thousand people from both sides simply stared at each other as Sawara Kiri brought a table and a parasol, sat opposite them, and happily watched them all stand at attention while drinking tea.
Our side's promise not to use Sawara Kiri first was already a huge concession.
These mere defeated generals, playing at strategic deterrence?
This standoff didn't last long before it quickly entered garbage time.
The more this situation continued, the less likely it was for the two sides to start a war.
The military leaders of several great nations were well aware that, unless they were prepared (with means to defeat Sawara Kiri), this war would not start.
However, the noble class was the true money bag of each Ninja Village; they couldn't just leave them be, could they?
After much deliberation, a group of people decided to invite an old heavyweight to inquire on their behalf—what exactly did Konoha intend to do?
This heavyweight was the former Ninja Demigod—Hanzou.
The Konoha representative he invited was the current Konoha Special First Class Jonin—Namikaze Minato.
"You've truly gone to great lengths, Special First Class Jonin Namikaze."
The current Hanzou was already old, completely devoid of the intimidating aura he had in his youth, when he could kill gods and Buddhas. He had instead become a shrewd and cunning political creature, much like the former Third Hokage, and courteously poured a cup of hot tea for the young man before him.
"The weather in the Land of Rain is always like this, humid and cold."
"These old bones of mine always need to soak in hot springs for a while before I can barely move."
"You flatter me." Namikaze Minato smiled gently, "Lord Hanzou's demeanor is still as impressive as ever."
"Years ago, I once saw you from afar on the battlefield."
"At that time, I dared not approach as closely as I do now."
"Hahaha"
Hanzou laughed heartily, waving his hand, feigning modesty about his past valor.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, he then asked with a smile:
"Compared to this small achievement of mine, what that great person from your village has done is truly astonishing."
"However, such excessive ambition… inevitably causes many people to worry."
"Special First Class Jonin Namikaze, I just want to ask today."
"To what extent does Lord Sawara intend to go this time?"
War or peace, this required an answer.
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