Chapter 251: Special Event: Fall of the Five Great Nations
[You have joined the hidden faction: Akatsuki. Current Reputation: Friendly (15/100)]
[You have triggered the Special Event: Fall of the Five Great Nations (Large-scale, Special, Unique)]
[Event Description: Due to the influence of Reincarnator XX53562211 (Mercenary Tao), Pain has decided to inflict pain upon the world's rulers. Before this mission world ends, you must complete the operation to destroy the current rulers of the Five Great Nations. This is a special large-scale event. All Reincarnators in this world, excluding those belonging to the Five Great Nations factions, may participate.]
[Event Reward: Receive Singularities and Dimensional Points based on completion percentage. If completion exceeds 20%, an additional Special Item*1 will be awarded.]
[Event Failure Penalty: Reputation with the Five Great Nations and the Five Great Shinobi Villages will be permanently set to Hatred. You will be hunted for an additional seven days (Return is impossible during this period).]
Catherine looked at the Nexus prompt, took a deep breath, and then continued using the [Holy ARM] to heal Uchiha Itachi. This special magic-tech device from the [MÄR Heaven world] was extremely functional and versatile. Not only could it be used by anyone who mastered [Magic] energy, but ordinary Reincarnators could also use it to come into contact with and control [Magic].
As a result, ARM-type items were quite rare.
Catherine looked away. She had actually noticed that the two silver rings on Mercenary Tao's hands were also highly likely to be ARMs. But he clearly had no intention of pursuing a magic-based build. Plus, he had allowed her to join this special event.
The two had established a preliminary level of trust. Catherine began to use her items more openly, no longer afraid that Mercenary Tao would attack her at the slightest disagreement.
Her guess had been correct. Following a guy like Mercenary Tao, there would be no shortage of opportunities. Although she didn't know what method he had used, it was obvious that Nagato had been persuaded and was about to begin the "Fall of the Five Great Nations" plan.
"Aren't we supposed to be taking down the Five Great Nations? With our power, wouldn't it be a better choice to just directly attack the capitals of the great kings?"
Catherine spoke while healing Uchiha Itachi. She already had an answer in her heart, but she still asked this way on purpose. It was a communication strategy—a tactic often used by subordinates to "curry favor" with a superior.
Catherine mocked herself internally. She had a strong personality; in her duo with [Rampage], she was the dominant one. But no matter how strong-willed she was, walking with a madman like this, she was reminded of her own weakness.
She had to start using the methods she hated most, trying to get along with Mercenary Tao.
Kaito Shirogane didn't notice these little schemes. Or rather, he had no interest in wasting time thinking about what a Reincarnator like Catherine was thinking.
His special trial was now on its fifth day. With Uchiha Shisui's defeat and his joining the Akatsuki, Phase 1 of the trial was basically guaranteed to be completed.
In the current shinobi world, trying to kill Hana Hiranaka in front of him and Pain was impossible, unless multiple Kage-level shinobi worked together.
Therefore, he was thinking about what Phase 2 of this special trial would be. Based on his experience with the [Great Sin] trial, the second phase would be related to the first.
Phase 1 of the [Great Sin Trial: Sin and Punishment] was to learn any specialization from Mercenary Tao, and Phase 2 was to prevent Mercenary Tao from being killed by Reincarnators.
So, Kaito Shirogane had reason to believe that Phase 1 of this [Virtue Trial: Supreme Benevolence and Goodness]—protecting Hana Hiranaka—was also definitely related to Phase 2.
The story faction most deeply connected to Hana Hiranaka was Konoha. The reason her town was massacred was that her husband, Minoru Hiranaka, had smuggled a top-secret report out of Konoha regarding the [discord between the Uchiha and the Konoha leadership].
Based on the Nexus's usual shitty tendencies, Phase 2 of the trial would most likely be related to Konoha.
This was a major incentive for Kaito Shirogane to propose the [Konoha Crush Plan].
Of course, he wouldn't tell this reason to anyone.
Kaito Shirogane just watched Uchiha Itachi's calm expression with great interest. This mature-looking young man was clearly affected by the information Kaito had intentionally leaked about Danzo possessing the Sharingan. His [Will of Fire] was wavering.
People were often like this. Both had stolen the Sharingan. But for someone like Kaito Shirogane, who in Itachi's mind was already painted as a "villain" and "evil person," doing such a thing felt natural. There was disgust and hatred, yes, but it was based on a normal "enemy" dynamic.
But for Danzo, someone Itachi considered one of Konoha's leaders, to steal the Sharingan for his own use... that was far more unforgivable in Itachi's eyes.
Kaito Shirogane's lips curled. He had to admit, sometimes it was easier to be the bad guy. Although... he had never considered himself a bad guy.
"Konoha is currently being closely watched by the other shinobi villages because of that leaked intel. At a time like this, any small movement in Konoha will trigger a major response from the other villages."
Tendo Pain explained. Although he, under Mercenary Tao's "persuasion," had also come to realize that the true decision-makers of war were not the shinobi, he still had reservations about the claim that a "minion of some behind-the-scenes manipulator" existed within the Akatsuki.
He had sent [Zetsu] away, but he was still explaining the mission details to Konan. He could feel that ever since Mercenary Tao joined, Konan had been very uneasy.
Konan's eyelids were low. She also understood the truth of the [Konoha Crush Plan]. As long as the Akatsuki dealt Konoha a heavy blow at this critical time, it wouldn't matter if the Uchiha and the Konoha leadership fought or not. Konoha's decline would be a fact.
The other shinobi villages would pounce, like jackals that had scented blood.
And at that time, when the Akatsuki pulled away to attack the capitals of the great kings, they would face very little pressure.
It was an undeniable, overt scheme.
But by the same token, this operation would kill far more people than she had anticipated.
And many of them would likely not be shinobi.
Konan looked up at the drizzling sky of the Land of Rain. She could barely remember the warm dream they had when Yahiko was alive.
Perhaps... that vision of peace and prosperity was not destined to be achieved in her generation. She could only hope that the slaughter they committed would make the world truly learn to fear war...
"I will become an Asura. Only then... can I grant peace to the future."
Konan's dream-like whisper reached Uchiha Itachi's ears. The young man slowly sat up. His face was pale, as if he were recovering from a great illness, but the clear three-tomoe Sharingan in his eyes still made the others wary.
Orochimaru saw that Itachi possessed the three-tomoe Sharingan at such a young age. This Uchiha prodigy, whom he had heard his teacher mention a few times, gave him a truly strange feeling.
Such talent... yet his eyes were as calm as still water. He was different from the other Uchiha, who couldn't hide the arrogance in their eyes. That calmness... was even more unreadable.
"I will become an Asura..."
Uchiha Itachi murmured Konan's words, but the image of his little brother appeared in his mind.
He had learned many of the shinobi world's secrets from this Mercenary Tao and Orochimaru. He now knew that behind all the shining heroes... lay a tide of dark truths.
Sunagakure, Kirigakure, Kumogakure... Konoha was no exception.
Shinobi... they weren't heroes in the night. Shinobi were just convenient weapons in the hands of those in power.
Catherine accidentally met Itachi's gaze. The calm resolve in the eyes of this 12-or-13-year-old boy stunned her. She was beginning to understand why he would one day slaughter his entire clan.
Uchiha Itachi... it wasn't that he wasn't arrogant. He was arrogant to the extreme. He believed, to his very core, only in his own judgment. When he decided his clan had no future, and that only by slaughtering them could he save his little brother... he did it.
He had always believed that his judgment was the most correct...
Catherine turned her head and looked at Mercenary Tao. In a way, those two were probably the same kind. And just then, she saw the undisguised smile on Mercenary Tao's face.
"This plan to destroy Konoha... I cannot pretend I didn't hear it."
Uchiha Itachi's hands fell to his sides. A strange aura began to emanate from him, the three-tomoe in his eyes spinning slightly. Orochimaru and Konan both tensed, sensing a threat from this boy.
Tendo Pain, however, held out a hand to stop them. Kaito Shirogane also stepped in front of Itachi.
"What do you want to do?"
He also let his hands hang naturally at his sides. But Itachi's Sharingan clearly perceived that while his posture looked relaxed, his muscles were incredibly tense. With just a thought, that god-speed attack would be unleashed.
Uchiha Itachi looked at Mercenary Tao. There was absolutely no reverence for human life in his eyes. This was a madman who had mastered absolute violence.
"This 'Konoha Crush'... to what extent are you taking it?"
"How many people will be killed? How much infrastructure will be destroyed?"
Itachi asked calmly, his tone no different from someone asking the price of goods at a market. Hearing this, Kaito Shirogane's smile widened.
"Is one-tenth enough? If not, how about one-eighth?"
Uchiha Itachi continued, his tone growing colder.
Just like the moral dilemmas he had faced before, he once again made the most utilitarian choice. If some people had to be sacrificed, he could accept it. And, he hoped to choose those sacrifices.
This attitude... was it not treating human life as just a number?
But he firmly believed that since Konoha itself was not "clean," perhaps... clearing out some of the parasites would allow Konoha to become better.
"Mercenary Tao... if it's possible, can you let me join this plan? I wish to have the power to... choose some of that 'quota'."
Nagato watched Itachi through Tendo Pain's Rinnegan. This boy's way of thinking... in its own way, it was also extremely terrifying. But at this point, he no longer cared. As he had said, he was a god, neither good nor evil.
He didn't want to make moral judgments. He just wanted to make this world... feel pain.
"More than half of the leadership must be annihilated. At the same time, Konoha's defenses must be completely broken, and its shinobi combat-capability must be reduced by over 30%."
With these words, Pain had accepted Itachi's participation.
Uchiha Itachi pulled another sword from his back. He turned, sat down by himself, and began to wipe the blade, his eyes filled with coldness.
The giant Summoning Beast ran tirelessly. The group soon left the Land of Rain and entered the Land of Fire. Tomorrow... would be the day the Konoha Crush operation began.
Kaito Shirogane looked at the dense forest. The borders of the Land of Fire were now also patrolled by many samurai and shinobi. But before they could sound an alarm, fluttering white paper covered their mouths and noses. They quickly fell, dying in despair.
Kaito Shirogane walked over to Orochimaru and spoke.
"Orochimaru. It seems you and the 'Konoha Crush' plan are truly bound by fate."
Orochimaru didn't know what he meant, but he remained on guard.
Kaito Shirogane didn't bother with the meta-joke and stated his true purpose.
"You've mastered the forbidden jutsu Edo Tensei (Impure World Reincarnation), haven't you? If possible, I'd like you to do something for me..."
"I want you... to use Edo Tensei on me."
Orochimaru's pupils shrank. He almost couldn't believe what he'd heard. But the madman in front of him still wore that terrifying smile, as if he were on some thrilling adventure.
(End of Chapter)
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