Hokage Tower, Konoha Village
Inside the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo Shimura, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado were gathered together.
News had reached Kumogakure that Jiraiya had led Konoha's elite ninja to engage Sunagakure's forces. Taking advantage of this, the Cloud Village launched a fierce counteroffensive against the Konoha ninja stationed on the front lines. Kakashi and the others were forced to retreat back into the borders of the Land of Fire.
The reason the four elders had convened was to discuss how to hold back Kumogakure before Jiraiya could defeat the Sunagakure forces and return.
Danzo was the first to speak.
"Don't we still have a weapon of war—the Nine-Tails?" he said coldly. "If it comes to it, we can deploy the Nine-Tails on the battlefield."
His proposal was immediately rejected by the other three.
"No!" Hiruzen said firmly. "Naruto is still too young. He hasn't even graduated from the Ninja Academy, and he has no control over the Nine-Tails' power. If Naruto loses control and the Nine-Tails breaks free of its seal, Konoha—at our current strength—won't have the capacity to deal with it!"
Hiruzen continued, "Your Root forces, my ANBU, and Tsunade have already been dispatched to reinforce the front against Kumogakure. That should alleviate part of the pressure."
Danzo shook his head.
"It's not enough. Those numbers are still insufficient. Iwagakure is already growing restless. They've begun probing our front-line defenses through repeated skirmishes. The moment Konoha shows even the slightest sign of exhaustion, Iwa will join the war."
He added coldly, "And Kumogakure has already learned about Tsunade's hemophobia. She no longer intimidates them."
"Since you refuse to deploy the Nine-Tails," Danzo continued, "then have the Academy students graduate immediately and send them—along with the genin—to the battlefield."
Hiruzen's eyes widened in anger.
"Those children are Konoha's future! With their current strength, they would be nothing more than cannon fodder!"
Danzo slammed his fist down.
"This won't work, that won't work—Hiruzen! This is war! This is no longer a time of peace!"
Hiruzen knew that all too well. But if Konoha exhausted its future just to win this war, then even in victory, the village would enter a prolonged period of weakness without fresh blood to replenish its forces.
Still unwilling to give up, Hiruzen tried another approach.
"Has Kirigakure still refused to enter an alliance with us?"
Koharu shook her head.
"Even after we offered vast sums of money and high-level ninjutsu as bargaining chips, they still refuse to ally with Konoha."
Hiruzen's face twisted into a deep frown.
"Is there truly no other way…? If that's the case, then I'll go to the front lines myself."
"No!"
His proposal was instantly rejected by Danzo, Homura, and Koharu.
"Have you lost your mind, Hiruzen?!" Danzo snapped. "If the Hokage personally enters the battlefield, the nature of this conflict changes entirely! The other villages will stop probing—this will escalate into a full-scale war!"
Hiruzen had spoken impulsively. But aside from that option, Konoha truly had no remaining cards to play.
After a long silence, Danzo spoke again, his voice grave.
"There is still one more option. In the shinobi world, there exists a mercenary organization known as Akatsuki. They are unaffiliated with any nation and survive by accepting war commissions from smaller countries. Every official member of the organization possesses Kage-level strength."
"We can hire them to attack Kumogakure. If the Cloud Village itself comes under attack, they'll be forced to recall their forces to defend their home. That will significantly reduce the pressure on our front lines. By the time Jiraiya finishes dealing with Sunagakure, we can focus all our strength on Kumogakure and Iwagakure."
Hiruzen frowned deeply and pondered for a long time.
In the shinobi world, mercenary organizations were typically made up of rogue ninja—traitors to their villages. For Konoha, one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, to rely on such an organization was nothing short of a humiliation.
But with no village willing to ally with them, Hiruzen had no room left to hesitate.
He let out a long sigh.
"So be it. Konoha will hire the Akatsuki. Their target—Kumogakure."
Rain Country – Amegakure
Akatsuki Headquarters
Pain, Konan, Zetsu, Kisame Hoshigaki, Sasori, Kakuzu, Hidan, Tobi, Kushimaru Kuriarare, and Nagato (Komachi) were all present.
Pain looked down at the nine members below him, his expression cold.
"I've received a message from Konoha," he said. "They wish to hire Akatsuki to attack Kumogakure. What are your thoughts?"
Kisame sneered.
"How surprising. The once-prosperous Hidden Leaf Village actually has to seek help from an organization like ours. It seems the pressure of war has really pushed them to the brink."
Kakuzu, eyes gleaming with greed, said flatly,
"I don't care who hires us. As long as the money's right, I'll assassinate even a movie star."
Hidan, a fanatic devoted to his twisted faith, licked his lips eagerly.
"Sacrificing Cloud ninja to Lord Jashin… I'm sure my god will be very pleased."
Tobi, still pretending to be foolish, clutched Zetsu's sleeve dramatically.
"Uwah—so scary! A war is starting! Zetsu-san, you'll protect me, right?"
Zetsu slapped Tobi's hand away.
"Idiot. You're already a full member of Akatsuki. Stop acting like a coward."
The remaining members stayed silent.
Pain nodded slightly.
"Then it seems you all agree to accept this commission."
Konan, however, voiced her concern.
"Wait, Pain. Akatsuki is still in its preparation phase. This isn't the right time to expose ourselves to the Five Great Villages."
Pain replied calmly,
"Over the years, we've provoked small wars and monopolized the military commissions of minor nations at low prices. But our funds are still insufficient."
"The current situation already shows signs of a Fourth Great Ninja War—and we are not fully prepared yet."
"But the funds Konoha is offering are enough to completely replenish our finances. We can officially begin the Tailed Beast capture plan. At that point, it won't matter if we're exposed to the Five Great Villages."
"And Kumogakure possesses two Tailed Beasts. By accepting this mission, we can attack the Cloud Village and capture their Tailed Beasts at the same time—killing two birds with one stone."
Pain's reasoning was flawless.
Seeing that Konan had no further objections, Pain began assigning tasks.
"Kushimaru and Hidan—you'll form a team and head to Kumogakure first. Your job is to create chaos."
"Zetsu and Tobi—you'll search for the locations of the Tailed Beasts."
"Once their positions are confirmed, Kakuzu and Sasori will enter the battlefield. The six of you will regroup and capture the Two-Tails and the Eight-Tails."
With no objections raised, Pain ordered them to prepare and depart immediately.
Land of Mountains – Honoikazuchi Village
Yosuke received a message delivered by Kushimaru's ghost crow.
"So… Akatsuki is finally beginning to collect the Tailed Beasts," he murmured.
"Kumogakure, huh… then I suppose it's time for a visit."