Chapter 63: Akatsuki's Blueprint: Small Nations Encircle Great Nations
The Tower of the Hidden Rain Village
Nagato sat in a wheelchair, his entire body as skeletal as a corpse. His red hair had lost its luster, looking as dry as a tangled mess of withered grass.
That was the price of having his life force drained by the Gedo Statue for so long, and the toll of overusing the Rinnegan.
The moment Orochimaru saw Nagato, the light in those snake-like pupils grew even more intense.
"The Rinnegan..."
He leaned in close to Nagato, extending a slender finger to press against Nagato's skeletal arm, then peeled back Nagato's eyelids to observe. His expression gradually turned serious.
"Without intervention, at this rate of overexertion, he probably won't last more than a few years."
Orochimaru straightened up and delivered a raspy verdict. "Such powerful eyes, yet residing in the Mortal body of a member of the Uzumaki Clan."
"Is there a way to treat him?" Yahiko asked.
"A complete cure is impossible; this is a depletion of his life's Origin." Orochimaru pulled a scroll from his sleeve and spread it out on the table. "But I can help him'stop the losses'."
"Stop the losses?"
"Exactly. I have a formula for a special nutrient solution based on extracts from the First Hokage's cells. While it won't make him as lively as a normal person, it can greatly replenish the depletion caused by the Gedo Statue and stabilize his vital signs."
Orochimaru glanced at Nagato's sensationless legs and shook his head. "As for these legs, the nerves are completely necrotic, and they've been eroded by the Black Rods for too long. Reclaiming the ability to stand is impossible. But as long as the nutrient solution is maintained, I can at least guarantee his output power as a 'fixed turret' won't decline."
Hearing the words "cannot stand," the light in Nagato's eyes dimmed for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure.
As long as he could still contribute his strength to Yahiko and the Akatsuki, being a cripple no longer mattered to him.
"Let's start with this, Nagato. We still have a chance, so don't lose hope. Remember what I said before: your convictions will not betray you." Yahiko looked at Nagato; since the methods of the Ninja World couldn't solve this, he could only consider the Arrow.
"Kakuzu, allocate the funds. From now on, Nagato's maintenance costs are the highest priority."
"Understood." Though Kakuzu looked pained at the expense, he still made a heavy entry in his ledger... The night had grown deep.
Outside the Hidden Rain Village, the heavy rain continued to fall, but the meeting room inside the tower was brightly lit.
A massive map of the Ninja World hung on the wall, the territories of the Five Great Nations divided by red lines, while the Land of Rain in the center looked like an ant squeezed into the cracks.
Yahiko stood before the map, with Konan, Nagato, Kakuzu, Sasori, and the newly joined Orochimaru standing behind him.
This was the first formal gathering of the Akatsuki's core members.
Everyone looked at the man standing in the map's shadow, waiting for his orders.
Yahiko reached out and picked up a red cloud game piece representing 'Akatsuki', rubbing it gently in his hand.
"Everyone, the roster is complete."
He turned abruptly and slammed the piece down onto the center of the map. A fire called ambition burned in his eyes, and his voice was low and powerful:
"Now, let's talk about the next step—the Akatsuki's ambitions for this world."
Hidden Rain Village, top floor of the tower.
The massive floor-to-ceiling windows cut the outside world in half. One half was a sky as black as ink, with torrential rain and dancing lightning; the other half was the steel jungle below that was growing frantically.
Countless neon signs flickered in the rain—red, green, purple—bizarre colors reflected on the flooded streets like a colorful river flowing with desire. The noisy voices of the casinos, the hiss of steam pipes, and the whispers of black market deals converged into the unique heartbeat of this city.
"This is the current Hidden Rain."
Yahiko stood before the window, swirling a glass of crimson liquid, his back to the five people behind him.
"Orochimaru, compared to that dark and damp burrow of yours in the Land of Rice Fields, how is the view here?"
Orochimaru was still holding the'Sky' ring, his gaze greedily sweeping across the scenery outside. He could see the Hidden Rain's training sessions smashing rocks in the distance, and the wealthy merchants from various nations waving cash on the commercial streets.
"Astonishing vitality," Orochimaru commented raspy, his tongue reflexively licking his lips. "It's not just prosperity; I smell... the scent of order. An absolute order built upon chaos."
"Hmph, that's all built on piles of money." Kakuzu sat at the conference table, tallying the accounts plundered from Orochimaru's base. He didn't even look up as he spoke. "Every lamp, every brick, was calculated by me, copper coin by copper coin."
"No, that is ambition."
The previously silent Nagato spoke. He sat in his wheelchair, his thin body hidden in the shadows, with only those Rinnegan emitting a heart-palpitating eerie light in the darkness.
Yahiko turned around and gently placed his wine glass on the table with a soft 'thud'.
This sound caused everyone present—whether it was the unruly Sasori of the Red Sand or the newly joined Orochimaru—to reflexively stop what they were doing and focus their gaze on this orange-haired man.
"The personnel are complete. Technology, funds, military force—we have them all." Yahiko walked to the massive map of the Ninja World hanging on the wall and drew a heavy line across it with his finger. "It is time for you to know the true meaning of the Akatsuki's existence."
Sasori controlled the tail of his hiruko, tapping the floor somewhat impatiently. "Isn't it just collecting the Tailed Beasts, creating some kind of ultimate weapon, and then leveling the Five Great Nations? Simple and crude art."
Yahiko gave a cold laugh, his finger pointing to the center of the map—the location of the Land of Rain.
"If we jump out right now to capture Jinchuriki and indirectly declare war on the Five Great Nations, what do you think will happen?"
"We would be besieged," Orochimaru answered without hesitation, a glimmer of reason flashing in his eyes. "Although the Five Great Nations are riddled with internal conflicts, they will not hesitate to join forces against a common enemy trying to overturn the order of the Ninja World. Just like during the Great Ninja Wars. With our current combat power, although we could kill many, we would eventually be ground down."
"Exactly." Yahiko nodded approvingly. "So, we are going to play a different way."
He drew a massive circle on the map centered on the Land of Rain, encompassing the surrounding Land of Grass, Land of Waterfalls, Land of Rivers, and Land of Rice Fields.
"The Five Great Nations occupy the most fertile lands and possess the largest number of Ninja. Going head-to-head is the behavior of a brute."
Yahiko's voice was low and full of allure, echoing in the empty meeting room.
"The path we are going to take is called: Small Nations Encircle Great Nations."
Read 30+ Advanced Chapters at P@ Tre On
FictionTimeo