After thinking for a moment, Pain softened a little. "Mm. What's done is done; I don't blame you."
He felt there was something off—surely some things had been concealed—but Nagato was confident in his power, unmatched in the ninja world, and didn't care about Gusion's little moves behind the scenes.
Besides, Gusion had displayed power above the superhuman in this battle. One could say that within Akatsuki, aside from himself as leader, Gusion was the strongest.
Given the current delicate situation, he couldn't afford to make an example of Gusion. His true body was not suited to leave the Land of Rain, and the organization's major operations to come would mostly rely on this powerful newcomer who had only recently joined.
"We've lost quite a few members. We'll suspend activities for the time being. Kakuzu, Gusion, Orochimaru—keep an eye on missing-nin outside. We can recruit some strong ones."
Pain spoke. He was of course unhappy that the tailed-beast plan had to pause, but what's done is done; he couldn't very well execute Gusion.
The priority now was to replenish Akatsuki's combat strength and prepare for the tailed-beast collection plan in a few years.
"So, we're on free time next?" Gusion asked with a smile.
Pain nodded, but shot Gusion a warning look. "Gusion, behave yourself for a while. The waves rippling through the ninja world because of you aren't small."
He could still gloss over the Mist incident as Akatsuki being hired by an unknown client to attack Kirigakure, but if Gusion kept pulling stunts like that, he'd quickly draw the attention of the great nations.
The Five Great Nations aren't idiots. If Akatsuki keeps striking the great villages, they'll soon become the world's enemy—and they haven't collected even one tailed beast yet. That would harm Nagato's plan.
"Relax, I won't attack the Mist again," Gusion said with a grin. Before leaving the Mist he'd even publicly threatened Zabuza's life—news that might reach Nagato's ears.
Pain nodded. "It had better be that way. If there's nothing else, we're adjourned."
…
After dispelling the Magic Lantern Body Technique, Gusion continued on his way, heading for the Land of Fields to check on the progress of Orochimaru's Konoha Destruction Plan.
Meanwhile, the ninja world was roiled by Kirigakure's incident. Akatsuki—once a mercenary outfit that couldn't get onto the main stage—had drawn the intense attention of the Five Great Nations.
In Kumogakure, the Fourth Raikage's expression was heavy as he looked over the report. "This guy really has guts."
"Lord Raikage, it seems he's not inclined to accept our offer," Samui said in the meeting room.
The others agreed. For now, Gusion barely still counted as Kumogakure's spy. Per their original deal, after he completed his work he could return to the Cloud and enjoy retirement.
But Gusion had gone way too hard in Akatsuki—like a super-elite employee. By spearheading this attack on the Mist, he'd cut off his own retreat.
To avoid war with the Land of Water, the Cloud could no longer accept Gusion, this international terrorist. Even if he later came back under a new identity, once discovered by outsiders it could trigger the Fourth Great Ninja War.
"Raise his bounty to 100 million," the Raikage ordered. This wasn't turning on Gusion; rather, it was a veiled form of cover. But their transactions would now wind down, to avoid war risk.
"Lord Raikage."
A knock sounded outside. A white-haired woman entered—Mabui, the Raikage's secretary—holding a letter, worry on her face. "It's from the Kazekage. He proposes a Five Kage Summit."
The Raikage took the letter, skimmed it, then said after a pause, "We're not going."
The letter was simple.
Suna had also been hit by Akatsuki. From the standpoint of the ninja world's security, they wanted a Five Kage Summit to combine the great nations' power to eliminate Akatsuki.
But the Raikage felt that, for the Cloud, this would be thankless and draining right now. Based on Gusion's intel, within Akatsuki—aside from the mysterious leader—Gusion himself was the strongest.
If the leader stayed put, Akatsuki was, in effect, within the Cloud's manageable range; their strikes would mostly harm other great nations.
That benefited the Cloud, so he definitely didn't want to act against Akatsuki now.
Iwagakure likely felt the same. After seeing the results of Akatsuki's assault on the Mist, that crafty old Onoki, beyond feeling threatened, was probably more delighted—and already thinking how to hire Akatsuki to cause trouble.
Kirigakure would surely want to cooperate with Suna to convene the Summit. Per the original pact of the Five Great Villages, if three Kage agreed, the Summit must be held.
So the deciding vote lay with Konoha. But the Raikage figured that knowing Konoha's usual way, the meeting probably wouldn't happen.
…
Elsewhere, in Konoha, inside the Hokage's office.
As the Raikage predicted, the Third Hokage had also received Suna's letter. He glanced at it and rubbed his brow, head aching.
"Akatsuki's threat cannot be underestimated. I think we truly need to meet and discuss," Hiruzen Sarutobi pondered aloud.
But as soon as he spoke, a rebuttal came. "Hiruzen, think again. If the Five Kage Summit convenes, Konoha will be in a very passive position."
As an elder advisor, Danzo had stationed himself in the office early that morning to gauge Hiruzen's attitude—mainly because he felt guilty.
After all, Gusion had been the one he'd driven out of the village back then, and now it turned out the man was that formidable. To say he wasn't nervous would be a lie.
"What do you mean?" Hiruzen frowned at Danzo.
"All the recent big incidents were caused by Gusion—and he's Konoha's missing-nin," Danzo said, in one sentence dispelling Hiruzen's inclination to meet.
A quick thought showed that among Akatsuki's missing-nin, Konoha alone accounted for two—Orochimaru and Gusion—each more troublesome than the last.
To be fair, Orochimaru had behaved better—keeping a low profile since defecting. Gusion was different. Since reappearing in the ninja world, each incident had been bigger than the last.
First he crippled the Raikage; now he'd wrecked the Mist. The Fourth Mizukage was killed right on his own doorstep. This was, without doubt, the most egregious terror attack since the Five Great Villages' system was established.
If a Summit were held, Konoha would be torn apart by the other villages.
Thinking it over, Hiruzen felt it was better not to hold it. He could, however, consider contacting the neighbor of the victim—Sunagakure—to shore up their alliance.
With the political course set, Hiruzen's attention returned to the Uchiha. He looked at Danzo. "Any countermeasures regarding the Uchiha?"
"Two households held weddings yesterday. The Uchiha's intermarriage plan is working…" Danzo hadn't expected Hiruzen to bring it up and was invigorated, prodding him on. "Hiruzen, if we're going to make a move, now is the time."
Hiruzen frowned, displeased with Danzo's bluntness.
Make a move?
He was the Hokage. The Uchiha weren't causing trouble or rebelling; they were building good relations with the village. On what grounds would he strike them?
Still, their behavior did worry him. Not because he believed his teacher Tobirama's line that the Uchiha were inherently evil, but because he didn't want the Hokage lineage of master-to-student succession to end with him.
He'd repeatedly reached out to Jiraiya to return and take the hat, but the man kept refusing, saying he was gathering material for books.
At this rate, if the Hokage line had no successor, the next Hokage really might come from the Uchiha.
Putting himself in their place, Hiruzen doubted that once the Uchiha secured the Hokage's seat, they would ever hand it back. Then all future Hokage would be Uchiha—worse, in his view, than the current model.
After all, while they prized master-disciple succession, at least geniuses from all clans still had a shot, no?
The thought left Hiruzen inexplicably irritable. "Call Kakashi over. I have something for him to do."
As if his words had summoned it, a figure flashed into the room. An Anbu reported urgently, "Lord Hokage, Kakashi-senpai was attacked in the woods outside the village!"
"What!? Is he alright!?"
Hiruzen sprang up. With Tsunade and Jiraiya both refusing the hat, Kakashi was his only viable successor in the master-disciple line. The Hokage-in-waiting could not come to harm.
For years he'd been teaching Kakashi—keeping him close, grooming him as a trusted Anbu for missions. Next he'd have Kakashi lead the academy's elite graduates.
He'd even picked the candidates: once Naruto graduated, Kakashi would take him into a new team. That was the perfect passing of the Will of Fire.
But now Kakashi was in trouble. If something happened to Kakashi, he really would have no heir.
"Kakashi-senpai is still alive, but… his Sharingan was gouged out."
The Anbu's voice carried anger, clearly a friend of Kakashi's. "He's been sent to Konoha Hospital."
Hearing Kakashi wasn't dead, Hiruzen exhaled. Losing the eye was minor; he'd never thought it helped much anyway. Kakashi had made jōnin at twelve without it, and with it his progress had actually slowed.
"Who attacked him?" Hiruzen asked.
"We don't yet know who, but… before Kakashi-senpai passed out, he said the assailant… had a Sharingan." The Anbu spoke haltingly, studying Hiruzen's and Danzo's faces.
Sure enough, before Hiruzen could speak, Danzo jumped in, excited. "The evil Uchiha have finally slipped! Hiruzen, we can't let them off this time!"
Hiruzen's frown deepened. He sensed something fishy. With the Uchiha's fortunes rising, would they really attack Kakashi now?
Danzo didn't care, constantly goading Hiruzen to act quickly, convinced they'd caught the Uchiha's fatal weakness.
…
The political storm in the Hokage's office was, for now, unknown to the Uchiha.
Bathed in brilliant morning light, Itachi stepped out of the clan grounds for the first time since his confinement was lifted.
After moving through the Forest of Death, he suddenly turned, Sharingan genjutsu flaring, and seized control of the Anbu tailing him.
Once he confirmed the threat was neutralized, he raised a hand. A crow flew from the trees and settled on it.
He took the bamboo tube from the crow's leg, excitement showing as he drew out the secret letter. Gusion had finally contacted him!
After reading it, Itachi grew even more energized. Following Gusion's advice, the Uchiha had more or less stabilized their position. Next they needed to make Konoha completely afraid to touch them and cement a high status.
In the letter, Gusion told him the "Konoha Destruction Plan" was about to begin. He was to remain in Konoha for the next few days and be ready to lead the Uchiha to repel foreign enemies—as heroes.
As for whether Gusion had the strength, Itachi had no doubt now. News of the battle in the Mist had spread worldwide; Gusion was certified as a ninja who could single-handedly take on half a village. Ordinary Kage wouldn't be his match.
Itachi burned the letter and moved through the trees, heading back to consult his father about their next steps.
As he pondered the Uchiha's path forward, the space ahead twisted, snapping him to attention as he dodged aside.
A man in a spiral mask emerged from the warped space and looked at him. "Uchiha Itachi, want to know the truth of our clan?"