In a dimly lit cave, several phantom bodies flickered into existence, standing atop the ominous fingers of the massive Gedo Statue! Their forms distorted as the eyes of the Akatsuki mbers lay on Nagato. Hidan imdiately complained, "What is it this ti? Did we already capture the second Jinchuriki?"
Nagato answered, "Not quite. However, there has been an interesting developnt."
Everyone followed his gaze and looked at Zetsu. White Zetsu reported, "Konoha was attacked by Sunagakure and Otogakure half a day ago. It was quite a shocking battle!"
Sasori chuckled and said, "So they finally broke that ridiculous alliance. Took them long enough. What about Orochimaru? Did he show up too?"
As his partner, Sasori was well aware of the fact that Orochimaru led Otogakure. White Zetsu answered, "Yes, he was the main attacker. His thods were quite terrifying. As expected of a Legendary Sannin. Maybe it's a good thing you didn't find him, Sasori. I'm afraid it'll take a lot more than one group to take him down."
Sasori frowned but before he could reply, Itachi asked, "So, did Konoha lose?"
Black Zetsu answered, "The opposite. The Third Hokage is a force to reckon with despite his old age. And, Konoha was prepared for their assault."
Deidara complained, "Stop increasing the suspense and just tell us what happened already."
White Zetsu inford the Akatsuki about the events in Konoha. Despite their aloofness and arrogance, almost all of them were shocked by what had happened. Needless to say, what shocked them most was the improvent in the Edo Tensei jutsu. After all, if Orochimaru had reanimated a dozen dead Kage against them, they would be in extre danger. Forget defeating him, even escaping would be a challenge. The only ones who still had confidence in facing him were Nagato, Itachi and Hidan.
Kisa muttered, "Incredible. Despite facing a dozen rank S ninja, the Third Hokage still sealed them and defeated Orochimaru. How injured are they?"
Black Zetsu answered, "I'm unsure. Gold and Iron dust was covering the barrier in the ending stages of the battle, so it was difficult for my clones to see. I'm not even sure what jutsu the Third Hokage used to seal the reanimated ninjas and defeat Orochimaru.
However, he was unconscious after the battle and needed the Toad Sage Jiraiya and the Spectral Swordsman Fujin to save him from Orochimaru's subordinates. In addition, he doesn't seem to have made any public appearance yet. So, it's safe to say that his injuries are serious.
Orochimaru looked in a weird state as well. From what little my clones could see, his arms seed to be paralyzed. From his rage, that injury won't be easy to heal."
Zetsu's clones had kept an eye on the arena and other spots attacked by Sunagakure and Otogakure ninjas. However, they couldn't get too close. As good as they were at stealth, they would be discovered by the Hyuga ninjas if they beca too active. As such, they couldn't get a good look once the Third and Fourth Kazekages began defending the barrier. Even after the war ended, Konoha was in a state of high alert. So, Zetsu's clones couldn't investigate.
Hidan chuckled and said, "If both the Hokage and Orochimaru are injured, then this might be a good chance to kidnap the Jinchuriki of Nine Tails and kill Orochimaru at the sa ti."
He was imdiately refuted by Nagato, who said, "The Nine Tailed Beast is quite different from the other Tailed Beasts. The Gedo Statue can't absorb it right away. We'll need to seal the weaker Tailed Beasts first."
Konan added, "Even if we could do so, attacking Konoha at this ti would be foolish. Once Konoha loses their Jinchuriki, the other villages will beco wary of us and might cooperate with Konoha to eliminate us. Even though they wouldn't be able to, it's easier to operate without them pestering us.
We were able to get the Jinchuriki of Five Tails because he lived outside Iwagakure in isolation and because we knew that Iwa would suppress this news than let others know of their weakness. The next ti we make a move, we'll have to capture multiple Jinchurikis simultaneously and before the Great Villages realize our motives."
Hidan snorted in annoyance while a few others nodded. However, White Zetsu suddenly said, "I think you might be jumping the gun here. Even though the Hokage is injured, Konoha is still very strong. Even though they crushed Sunagakure and Otogakure, only two of their top ninjas went all out.
While the Third Hokage stopped Orochimaru, Suzuki Fujin slaughtered over 300 ninjas single-handedly and suppressed Hatake Sakumo, Kaguya Shirogane, Juzo, Zabuza, Kaminari and Haku, a ninja having Ice Kekkei Genkai, by himself. He was the main reason why Konoha won so overwhelmingly.
The Toad Sage barely fought in the battle while the last Sannin wasn't even in the village. Shimura Danzo didn't make a move either. So, Konoha isn't easy to target by any ans. If anything, it might be the opposite as their morale is very high due to the overwhelming victory against two hidden villages."
Black Zetsu added, "That is correct. However, Orochimaru could be targeted. His forces were completely annihilated."
Nagato nodded. He was about to speak, when Itachi said, "I'll go to Konoha to investigate the situation there and take a look at the Jinchuriki. Is he still there?"
Black Zetsu answered, "Should be. Their sensors are constantly expanding their search radius outside Konoha. So, my clones can't spy much for the ti being."
Deidara imdiately complained, "Why do you get to go? I want to introduce Konoha to my art!"
Itachi replied without even glancing at him, "The Nine Tails Jinchuriki is my target."
Deidara frowned and asked, "Isn't my target the Jinchurikis of One Tail? Didn't you say that he escaped from Konoha? Can I go after him?"
White Zetsu replied, "Unfortunately, he has joined up with the remaining forces of Sunagakure and is accompanied by over two hundred ninjas. Confronting them will attract too much attention."
Deidara was about to argue when Nagato authoritatively said, "That's enough. Itachi and Kisa, you two go to Konoha. However, avoid attracting attention. Sasori and Deidara, you'll go to the Land of Rice and eliminate Orochimaru while he is injured. The eting ends here."
The phantom bodies suddenly disappeared and each of the Akatsuki mbers opened their eyes. As discussed, Itachi and Kisa began moving to Konoha while Deidara and Sasori flew to the Land of Rice.
As Akatsuki's eting wrapped up, the council etings took place in several minor villages. In Kusagakure, Hiroshi muttered, "It's a good thing we sent Shizuka to protect the Daimyo. To think that demon would gain such disastrous abilities. He cut down 2 divisions of a hundred Suna elites with just one jutsu each! Even Orochimaru's Edo Tensei and Kekkei Genkai users weren't a match for him!"
The Kusa council grew cold. At the sa ti, they were relieved that they hadn't made any move against Fujin when he had co to negotiate. They finally realized the danger they were in!
Hiroshi said seriously, "Just like Akuro, Suzuki Fujin is soone we can't afford to offend. He is no longer a re assassin. Instead, he has beco soone who can massacre armies just like the Fourth Hokage! He could cause unrecoverable losses to our forces. Order our ninjas to avoid him irrespective of the situation."
A council mber asked, "Are you sure that just avoiding him would be enough? Don't forget that we drew weapons on him the last ti we t him."
His statent imdiately increased the panic in the room. Though no one made a move, their nervousness was very visible. Hiroshi was slightly disappointed with his council, but he couldn't bla them. Fujin's strength had beco quite scary. He thought, 'With the strength he displayed, there is no doubt that he'll be a Hokage candidate in the future. If he becos the Hokage, we can't have any animosity between us.'
Hiroshi sighed and said, "You're right. We'll accept Konoha's offer for help."
His statent surprised the council mbers. Several said at the sa ti, "But we are already winning the war and have done the main work. What's the point in taking Konoha's help now?"
Hiroshi explained, "That's the point. We're giving them the full money for doing an almost completed job. Since it is a deal put forth by him, Fujin will get the credit of getting such a lucrative offer for Konoha. And, since they were just attacked, they'll cherish the resources and funds even more.
This will raise his stature even more and he is smart enough to know that this was due to our decision. Though I don't think he'll ever repay this favor, he'll know that he can have an ally in us in the future."
The Kusa council mbers thought for a bit and agreed. Though it was costly for the village, it was way better than losing their heads. Not a single person opposed the move.
Suddenly, Hiroshi's expression hardened as he continued, "That said, this move serves another important purpose. Even though the reports say that Konoha didn't take much loss, we have no idea what the numbers are. There is also a small chance that they might be bluffing.
Even though we have destroyed half the forces of the rebels, their remaining forces are still quite formidable. How Konoha handles them will show us whether Konoha is still strong enough to deter Iwagakure or whether we need to make other arrangents to ensure our safety."
The Kusa Council understood what he ant imdiately. After all, diplomacy was their speciality, at least when soone like Fujin wasn't sitting in the sa room with a blade against their throats.
[A/N: Latest Chapter : Battling 7 rank S ninjas!]
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