Inside a certain tree hollow base of the Akatsuki organization, bodies lay on the ground.
Nagato and Konan stood sorrowfully before the corpses.
Yahiko had committed suicide for Konan, and the companions of the Akatsuki had been killed.
In the blink of an eye, the once vibrant Akatsuki organization was reduced to just Nagato and Konan.
Their hearts were filled with fear and unease.
Why? Why did it have to be like this? What exactly had they done wrong?
They had honestly taken missions in the Land of Rain, never doing evil deeds. In fact, many of their missions were free, public service tasks.
For example, Yahiko often helped with tasks like missing person notices, helping others find their families.
They were orphans, so they didn't want others to end up like them.
Targeted by Amegakure, targeted by Konoha, the first generation of Akatsuki members were all dead.
What Nagato and Konan couldn't imagine was that it was Obito, standing at the very back, who had personally killed these Akatsuki members, disguising it as the work of Ame-nin.
With Yahiko dead, Nagato could wholeheartedly live for Lord Madara.
Once the nine Tailed Beasts were collected, Nagato's mission would be complete, and he could use a secret Rinnegan technique to revive Lord Madara.
Black and White Zetsu said from the side: "Originally, Lord Madara wouldn't have been exposed. Lord Madara planned to hide in the shadows, making final arrangements.
But during the Second Shinobi World War, Konoha inexplicably found Lord Madara, leading to his existence becoming public knowledge.
From the very first time Lord Madara was exposed, Konoha's Fox was involved. Now it seems, that Fox didn't find Lord Madara by accident.
Lord Madara had already entrusted everything to us; his life had reached its end.
What we didn't expect was that Konoha's Fox could actually kill the dying Lord Madara.
Lord Madara instructed us to collect the Tailed Beasts, but Fox actually killed the Two-Tails, meaning the Two-Tails wouldn't revive for several years.
During the time a Tailed Beast is dead, we can do nothing."
Black Zetsu's eyes shifted, observing everyone's expressions, judging their attitudes.
He had waited over a thousand years. Could these people seal all nine Tailed Beasts into the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path?
Black Zetsu was growing impatient.
Nagato and Konan were immersed in grief. Losing Yahiko, losing their Akatsuki companions, left a permanent void in their hearts.
Spikes protruded from Nagato's back, connected to the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
Tobi was curiously staring at the Deva Path Yahiko beside him.
Yahiko's corpse had been made by Nagato into one of the Six Paths—the Deva Path.
"Nagato, does this corpse puppet need to eat? Does it need to take a shit...?"
Nagato and Konan turned their heads simultaneously. Seeing the terrifying look in Nagato's eyes, Tobi hurriedly said:
"Sorry, sorry! I'm just purely curious, no disrespect intended!"
Black Zetsu withdrew his gaze from Tobi—this one's a pure idiot—and looked towards Obito.
In Konoha, Uchiha Obito had been warm-hearted, even helping old ladies cross the street when they didn't need it.
But the current Uchiha Obito was extremely cold-blooded.
If he weren't so young and his overall strength was insufficient, he would immediately return to Konoha to take revenge.
Only after revenge would Uchiha Obito think about creating a world without hatred, a world where his grandmother could live out her old age in peace.
Black Zetsu thought, Their minds are all in different places, each entrusted with a part of the Moon's Eye Plan. Who knows how much they'll actually accomplish?
At that moment, everyone looked towards the entrance of the tree hollow one after another.
A figure appeared using Body Flicker.
A bolt of lightning streaked across the night sky, its light illuminating a dark fox mask.
"You're all here..."
Yōkō scanned the inside of the tree hollow. A villain convention, an assembly of elites.
Nagato's Rinnegan... that was a good thing.
He felt a bit like dying right now, what to do...
Yōkō's gaze finally settled on Uchiha Obito.
Just finished slaying an octogenarian, now about to pummel an eight-year-old child. Why did he feel a bit like the villain?
"It's Fox!" Tobi shouted: "Obito!"
Obito's eyes instantly transformed into the Mangekyō. A spatial vortex appeared before his right eye.
The space The vortex moved with extreme speed, instantly teleporting away everything inside the tree hollow.
Yōkō, thinking so many villains might exchange a few blows with him, didn't react immediately.
By the time he charged forward, he only grasped air.
The tree hollow was instantly empty.
Yōkō thought, Didn't even give me a chance to beat up the eight-year-old.
—
On the border between the Land of Rain and the Land of Bears, a swirling spatial distortion appeared.
After everyone released, Obito fell unconscious.
Tobi went over and shook Obito: "Obito! Wake up! Without you, how do we escape Fox's pursuit? That's Fox we're talking about!"
Seeing Obito wouldn't wake up anytime soon, Nagato said:
"Obito is too young. Using the Mangekyō once causes him to lose consciousness.
The major hidden villages are much stronger than we imagined. How to capture the Nine-Tails from Fox is a major problem.
For the next few years, we will lay low and accumulate strength.
When Uchiha Obito is stronger, when I rebuild the Akatsuki, when the Two-Tails revives, then we will seek to seal the nine Tailed Beasts.
Moreover, major villages like Iwagakure and Kumogakure won't sit idly by while Konoha produces a powerhouse like Fox.
Fox is not Senju Hashirama; he won't negotiate with other villages. We can incite the four great nations to form a shinobi alliance to jointly deal with Konoha.
During the Third Shinobi World War, we will accomplish all our objectives!"
Tobi, Black and White Zetsu all looked at Nagato.
Nagato had grown. He finally met Lord Madara's expectations.
—
Yōkō led the Anbu in searching the Land of Rain for over half a month, finding nothing.
"Where did all the villains go..."
Yōkō had no choice but to return to Konoha.
At the Konoha Village gate, Sarutobi Hiruzen stood alone, watching Fox appear at the end of the road.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was lonely; there was no one beside him.
The news that Danzō had likely committed suicide using the Inner Four Symbols Seal had been sent back to Konoha earlier by Ninja Hawk.
Sarutobi Hiruzen stared at Fox, his tone carrying a trace of hope, a trace of pleading:
"Fox, is Danzō alright? Did you find Danzō?"
He still held a sliver of extravagant hope, hoping the intelligence sent by hawk was false.
Of the Second Hokage's six bodyguards, Uchiha Kagami had died long ago.
Mitokado Homura died at the hands of Sarutobi Kanenosuke.
Utatane Koharu and Akimichi Torifu died in the Susano'o Catastrophe.
Danzō... even Danzō, who was so afraid of death, who always had his subordinates test the waters for him, was he dead too...?
Then only he remained of the Second Hokage's six bodyguards.
Of the first class of the Ninja Academy, the first class that the Second Hokage saw as Konoha's future and placed great hopes in, very few were left.
Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly felt bone-chilling loneliness.
Yōkō shook his head and said, "Lord Hokage, I searched the Land of Rain for over half a month.
I believe Advisor Danzō indeed used the Inner Four Symbols Seal, dying together with some enemy.
As to who he died with, that still requires investigation."
Yōkō didn't say Danzō died together with Uchiha Madara's scythe; Sarutobi Hiruzen wouldn't be able to handle that.
Hearing Fox's judgment, Sarutobi Hiruzen slowly closed his eyes, lowering his head slightly.
In the distance, Nara Rokaku watched the Third Hokage's desolate, sorrowful back, his heart full of sorrow.
Over these past few years, the Third Hokage had been the most wary of Advisor Danzō. Compared to other advisors, Advisor Danzō was ambitious and held immense influence in the world of darkness.
Nara Rokaku looked at Fox.
Konoha's past was over.
Konoha's future lay in Fox's hands.
Although Fox remained deep within the Anbu, he was Konoha's uncrowned shadow.
Konoha's high-ranking officials became four: Sarutobi Hiruzen, Tsunade, Nara Rokaku, and Fox.
The news that Uchiha Madara had been killed by Fox plunged the major hidden villages into an eerie silence.
Only Ōnoki in Iwagakure reportedly shouted during a jonin meeting that Fox had only killed an elderly, dying Uchiha Madara, and there was no need to fear Fox.
It was said Iwagakure and Kumogakure were communicating frequently, exchanging envoys at a high frequency.
Nara Rokaku thought, Fortunately, the Yamanaka clan has Purple Cat in the Anbu, giving them a bridge of communication with Fox.
After a long silence, Sarutobi Hiruzen said, "Tomorrow... tomorrow we will hold Advisor Danzō's funeral."
The next day, Yōkō, draped in a black cloak, brought the entire Anbu to attend Danzō's funeral.
Danzō had served as Anbu Commander for a long time; it would be improper for the Anbu not to attend.
Yōkō glanced around but didn't see Tsunade.
Not only Tsunade, but not a single member of the Senju clan appeared.
After Danzō's funeral ended and the crowd dispersed, Tsunade, dressed in black mourning clothes, arrived at the Memorial Stone.
She cast a disdainful, disgusted glance at Danzō's name, then walked around the stone into the cemetery section behind it.
Standing before Nawaki's grave marker, Tsunade placed a white chrysanthemum.
***
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(End of Chapter)