Everyone expressed their own opinions...
Other aspects were fine, but regarding the undercover agents, everyone suggested concealing it. Otherwise, except for Sunagakure, the villages that lost their Jinchūriki would not let the matter rest.
Even Sunagakure, though they might not say it out loud, would certainly feel very uncomfortable.
Kageyama Kogetsu smiled and explained, "I understand everyone's concerns."
"My intention is to reveal the identities of the other undercover agents, except for Konan's existence."
"Because this can be hidden for a while, but not forever. Kakuzu and the others will eventually have to come out and work for us."
"If the other villages find out then, they will be even more dissatisfied. It's better to say it openly now."
"Besides, apart from Sunagakure, Konoha has no obligation to notify the other villages. Who told them not to keep a closer eye on their own Jinchūriki?"
"Sunagakure is nothing to worry about. The ones who captured the Tailed Beast were Deidara, a rogue ninja from Iwagakure, and Sasori of the Red Sand, a rogue ninja from Sunagakure."
"Just say that the capture of Tailed Beasts by each Akatsuki team was known only to the members of that team and the leader. That will give Sunagakure a fig leaf."
"By the way, Sasori of the Red Sand secretly assassinated the Third Kazekage and turned him into a human puppet, which became the fuse for the Third Great Ninja War."
"Back then, Sunagakure used the disappearance of the Third Kazekage as an excuse to suspect and attack Konoha. This is a good reason to turn the tables and divert attention."
Everyone looked surprised, then realized, and finally became angry.
So the disappearance of the Third Kazekage was done by Sunagakure's own people, but Konoha took the blame and suffered heavy losses. How hateful!
Although the Third Great Ninja War would have broken out sooner or later, the later it happened, the more time Konoha would have had to prepare.
Also, a war that breaks out when one is prepared is different from a sudden outbreak.
Damn Sunagakure. Giving them a fig leaf was already considering the bigger picture and letting them off easy!
"Kogetsu, Sunagakure is indeed nothing to worry about, but should we reconsider the other villages?"
"Given the nature of the three great villages, they will inevitably demand an explanation from Konoha. If Konoha's explanation doesn't satisfy them, there is a risk of war breaking out," Sarutobi Hiruzen advised with a worried expression.
Mitokado Homura, Utatane Koharu, and the others nodded. They shared the same concern.
What, Takigakure?
Just brush them off. Were they really going to give them a sincere explanation?
"It's impossible for me to give an explanation. As I said, Konoha has no obligation to notify them. Or rather, they were the ones being plotted against."
"As for war, the possibility of it breaking out is small."
"Kirigakure's strength is at an unprecedented low. Iwagakure's losses are second, and Kumogakure's losses are third."
"The three great villages all have their own hidden agendas. No one will be willing to be the first to stick their neck out and confront the current Konoha."
"Konoha, Sunagakure, Otogakure, Kusagakure which we can likely win over, and Amegakure hidden in the shadows."
"With the new Kage-level experts joining Konoha, our military strength is not much weaker than the combined strength of Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Kirigakure. In terms of high-end combat power, we are even superior."
"Besides, there's still the Masked Man hidden in the shadows with seven Tailed Beasts, eager to make a move. Do they dare to act rashly?"
"Kumogakure, with the strongest military, still has the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki. Do they dare to start a war and give the Masked Man an opportunity?"
"Kumogakure doesn't dare to start a war lightly, and Kirigakure even less so. Does the crafty old fox Ōnoki dare to be the first to stick his neck out?"
"Takigakure... not worth mentioning."
"In summary, Konoha has absolutely no need to be afraid!"
"Since the end of the Third Great Ninja War, Konoha has kept a low profile for too long."
"The successive unfortunate events have made the major powers of the ninja world underestimate Konoha more and more. Does Konoha still have the dignity of the number one ninja village?"
"Restoring Konoha's glory is our duty!"
"My mind is made up, say no more. Meeting adjourned."
With that, Kageyama Kogetsu stood up and left, giving no one else a chance to speak.
Everyone looked at each other, exchanging glances...
Since what Kageyama Kogetsu said made sense, and he fully occupied the moral high ground of Konoha, plus his own high prestige...
After exchanging glances, everyone decided to let it be. They would do as he said!
That afternoon, Konoha issued a statement to the ninja world in accordance with Kageyama Kogetsu's will.
The spies hidden in Konoha were extremely shocked upon receiving the news. Most of them cursed while transmitting the news back to their villages.
Spies were not only ninja but also ordinary people of various identities. For non-classified information, ordinary spies were more useful than ninja.
...
Northern Land of Iron, beneath the Mountains' Graveyard, in a simple and dim hall.
Obito Uchiha, having recovered his chakra and transplanted the Rinnegan, sat opposite Black and White Zetsu. They were silent, and the atmosphere was heavy.
A moment later, Obito Uchiha said in a deep voice, "Zetsu, what do we do now?"
"The Akatsuki was destroyed by that bastard Kageyama Kogetsu and those traitors, and we haven't gotten the Eight-Tails and Nine-Tails yet..."
After feeling emo for a moment, Black Zetsu pulled himself together.
He had encountered countless setbacks over the millennium. Compared to most times in the past, the current situation was already good.
Although the Akatsuki was gone, they still had seven Tailed Beasts and the Rinnegan.
In most past eras, neither the reincarnate of Indra nor the reincarnate of Asura had awakened the Rinnegan, so they hadn't even stepped over the threshold of the revival plan.
"I think we should first lie low and increase our strength in secret. Only with sufficient strength can we capture the Eight-Tails and Nine-Tails."
"At the very least, we must capture the Eight-Tails. I have an alternative plan for the Nine-Tails."
"What alternative plan?" Obito Uchiha's heart stirred, but he pretended to be calm.
"I'll tell you when the time comes. It's useless to say it now when we haven't even caught the Eight-Tails."
"The premise of this alternative plan is capturing the Eight-Tails. At the very least, we need the Eight-Tails' chakra."
The darkened Obito Uchiha was not stupid. He quickly made a guess.
"You mean we don't need the complete Eight-Tails and Nine-Tails, just their chakra is enough to revive the Ten-Tails?"
Black Zetsu nodded. "Yes, but if it's not complete, the Ten-Tails' strength will be significantly weakened. However, it will still be unmatched by mortals."
Obito Uchiha suppressed his dissatisfaction and said, "It seems you can get the Nine-Tails' chakra from somewhere else. As expected of Madara Uchiha's will, you know a lot."
"So, what about increasing our strength?"
"I feel that even creating the Six Paths of Pain Jinchūriki, plus a hundred thousand White Zetsu, won't be enough. We must prepare for the worst-case scenario of starting a Great Ninja War."
Black Zetsu laughed deeply. "Heh heh... for this, we have to thank Tobirama Senju. Who told him to create the Impure World Reincarnation technique?"
"Those useless reanimated corpses?" Obito Uchiha's tone was extremely disdainful.
"Your information is outdated. Orochimaru improved the Impure World Reincarnation, greatly increasing its power."
"We can go to Otogakure and steal the information related to the improved Impure World Reincarnation."
"Don't be discovered by Orochimaru and the others. Otherwise, if the enemy is prepared, it will be very troublesome to collect the genetic material of the ninja world's experts. The enemy might even destroy the corpses of their predecessors."
"After getting the relevant information, we will study it carefully and strive to allow the reanimated experts to exert ninety percent of their strength from when they were alive."
"It's impossible to exert their full strength. Without a real flesh and blood body, their chakra lacks explosive power."
"What do you think about reviving the First and Second Hokage to deal with Konoha?"
"Other villages can be dealt with in the same way, hehehe..."
Obito Uchiha was stunned for a moment, then laughed as well.
The sinister laughter of the two—no, three—echoed in the dim underground space, like ghosts, sending chills down one's spine...
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