"This is..."
Kisame's brow twitched. This humanoid monster, like a withered tree, gave him a very dangerous feeling.
"It's the Gedo Statue, a vessel I use to seal the Tailed Beasts."
Nagato didn't hide it and told everyone the answer.
"Is this it?"
Sasori and the others looked up thoughtfully.
Although Nagato had previously informed them that the organization's goal was to collect the Tailed Beasts,
he didn't explain in detail how to collect them or how to handle the Tailed Beasts once caught.
Now, seeing the Gedo Statue, their doubts were eased.
But could such a thing really be used to seal the Tailed Beasts?
"Previously, the statue was damaged, but after some time repairing it, I've managed to restore some of its functions. However, it still lacks some energy to operate. I hope to borrow your Chakra temporarily to restore some of the statue's vitality. Once done, we can cultivate outstanding 'soldiers' in advance."
Nagato said this.
As he mentioned 'outstanding soldiers,' Orochimaru's lips curled in a sinister, snake-like manner.
◎
The door creaked open.
The old man sitting in the interrogation room heard the sound, woke from a daze, opened his eyes, revealing a pair of Sharingan shining with a red glow.
"..."
The visitor was a male, entirely enveloped in an aura of gloom and darkness.
His face bore deep wrinkles earned through the passage of time.
His forehead and the right side of his face were wrapped in bandages, as was his right arm, resting in front of him.
Holding a cane in his left hand, he walked step by step, appearing slow but radiating stability and efficiency with each step.
Although he was over fifty, nearing sixty, his hair remained black, without a single gray strand visible.
Root Leader - Shimura Danzo.
"What, are you here to mock me personally, flaunt your victory?"
The old man with Sharingan asked, his expression calm as he looked up to meet Danzo's gaze.
Danzo paused briefly before speaking: "No, this time Root has failed. Not only did we not achieve the desired effect, but on the night Itachi acted, thirty-seven Uchiha children went missing."
The old man with Sharingan—Uchiha Shikora—pondered for a moment, then realized something and scoffed.
"Rika, that fool, always doing meaningless things. As long as he left quietly, concealing his identity, it would have been fine. So, he's dead already."
Faced with Uchiha Shikora's pointless reproach, Danzo merely took a deep breath and looked seriously at Uchiha Shikora.
"Not long ago, the Land of Demons declared war on the Land of Wind... you understand what that means, don't you?"
Previously, Danzo was puzzled about how Uchiha Rika escaped from Konoha Village and took thirty-seven Uchiha children. But now... he has understood.
He also knows where Uchiha Rika had those thirty-seven children sent.
Upon hearing Danzo's words, Uchiha Shikora realized Danzo was there to verify an answer.
"Have they started to act already? I knew those young ones wouldn't settle for loneliness."
A smile appeared on Uchiha Shikora's face, which to Danzo was undoubtedly scorn and mockery of Konoha, even though Uchiha Shikora was merely stating his viewpoint without any intention of ridicule.
"So, when Uchiha Ruri defected, you retired and lived in seclusion to push Uchiha Fugaku to the forefront to attract attention. The Uchiha remaining in Konoha were the pawns you chose to sacrifice."
Danzo's face was stern as he took a deep breath, trying to calm the turmoil within.
"Pawns?" Uchiha Shikora laughed self-mockingly as he stared earnestly at Danzo: "If the Uchiha Clan's power were sufficient, why would I have to sever an arm and let Ruri and the others leave? It is all due to lacking strength. Ultimately, it's my incompetence, because I lacked the ability to save more clan members, thus leaving Fugaku as a pawn."
It truly is laughable.
With the establishment of the One Country One Village system, the Uchiha Clan's power compared to the Warring States Era not only didn't improve but severely declined.
Konoha and the Land of Fire's conservative policies towards external forces are the key to being surrounded by enemies.
With each outbreak of war, Uchiha Ninja stood on the front lines, sacrificing themselves terribly. Each war, the clan's strength would be reduced.
Despite paying such a price, the Uchiha Clan was still shunned by the village. Clan members naively believed that if a member became Hokage, they could change everything, placing the clan in Konoha's core.
However, in Uchiha Shikora's eyes, that was merely a beautiful yet cruel illusion.
Seeing through appearances to find essence, in Konoha, there is no fertile soil for the Uchiha Clan's survival.
That's why Uchiha Shikora insisted on letting some clan members go far away.
The love of Senju only made him sick, leading Uchiha Clan members who lost subjective consciousness into naive fantasies, ultimately dying from such ridiculous illusions.
The lofty love of Senju, high and unreachable, is too idealistic for humans to comprehend.
All extraneous, unrealistic love deserves skepticism and opposition.
"You know, often it is some beautiful visions that lead people into Hell."
Uchiha Shikora sighed.
His plan isn't perfect, nor is it kind.
If Uchiha Itachi became the blade wielded against the Uchiha, then abandoning so many clan members in Konoha is also a sin of Uchiha.
He lacked the ability to save all his clan members.
He was merely a remnant of an old era.
"The blood and tears of the Uchiha Clan have long flowed dry. Now, you cannot use any so-called Will of Fire to restrain Uchiha's 'strength.' The vengeance belonging to Uchiha will inevitably come."
Uchiha Shikora gazed fearlessly at Danzo.
Danzo's eyes were filled with gloom, revealing a cold intent to kill.
"What, does your expression suggest you intend to kill me? Then hurry and do it. You must have acquired many Sharingan from those Uchiha Ninja. It's impossible for you not to covet Uchiha's power. My Sharingan is certainly worthy of your collection... no, perhaps to you, my Sharingan holds even more special significance."
Uchiha Shikora's mouth curved up as he appraised Danzo's gradually frantic and horrified expression, a strange smile appearing on his face.
"Because these are the eyes of your friend, Uchiha Kagami."