Chapter 77: A Web of Schemes
"However, the claim that the Three-Tails is in his hands… you can believe part of it, but not all of it."
If she couldn't see that this was a deliberate leak designed to divert attention and frame someone, she wouldn't be fit to be the Fifth Mizukage. Moreover, these were just rumors without concrete proof.
Of course, a certain stance still had to be taken. After all, with these rumors, she now had a pretext to hunt Uchiha Naoki. While avenging the Fourth Mizukage, she could also investigate the defection of Kisame Kisame and whether the disappearance of the Kubikiribōchō was connected to him.
'Mizukage Order: The Anbu Hunter-Nin of Kirigakure shall henceforth hunt Uchiha Naoki. This order is effective indefinitely until a new Mizukage Order rescinds the hunt.'
After signing the order, the corresponding ninja would take it back to Kirigakure for the Great Elder, who was temporarily managing the village's affairs, to execute.
Compared to her calm demeanor, the Fourth Raikage was far more volatile.
"So, Uchiha Naoki, it was you who took Yugito!" the Fourth Raikage roared, smashing a table in his fury. "I'm not finished with you!!"
If it weren't for C's dissuasion, he might have gone after Uchiha Naoki immediately. So what if it was a rumor? An excuse was enough. Soon after, like Terumī Mei, he signed a Raikage Order, officially placing Uchiha Naoki under hunt.
But Nagato's strategy of using another's blade to kill had Uchiha Obito fuming.
"Fool! An absolute fool!" Uchiha Obito couldn't help but jump up and curse. "Where's the credibility when you leak it yourself at a time like this? The joint investigation team from the Five Great Villages is arriving soon. Wouldn't it be better to let them 'discover' this information on their own? The credibility would be much stronger! Now, by promoting it yourself, you're practically announcing that Amegakure has a guilty conscience! Isn't this just telling the Five Kage there's a problem with the Village Hidden in the Rain?"
"Even if the Raikage has no brains, his assistant does. Not only does this not help us, it deepens their suspicion! Nagato, did a door hit your head?"
Uchiha Obito felt his lungs would explode from anger. Nothing had gone right since his loss to Uchiha Naoki. He really wanted to ask why Uchiha Madara had been so blind as to entrust the Rinnegan to a waste like Nagato.
Hearing this, Zetsu explained Nagato's reasoning: "There isn't much time left before the Five Kage's joint investigation team arrives, and he hasn't completely erased all traces of the Akatsuki's presence in Amegakure. He could only use this method to buy time and divert attention."
This explanation only made Uchiha Obito more annoyed. "Has Nagato forgotten he has an ally like me? The Akatsuki isn't his alone. Shouldn't he ask for my opinion on such an important matter? I anticipated this situation long ago and prepared a countermeasure for him!"
Hearing this, Zetsu spread his hands helplessly. "Nagato did try to seek your opinion, but you were recuperating and didn't notice."
Uchiha Obito fell silent for a moment, then looked at Zetsu with extreme displeasure. "If something like this happens again, remember to inform me. I might not have noticed, but you certainly did." He stood up. "Let's go. There's still a chance to fix this. Now that the news is out, my countermeasures aren't as perfect, but they can still have a good effect here. It shouldn't be too difficult for the Akatsuki to survive this crisis."
His eyes turned cold. "But the one who came up with this strategy to target the Akatsuki in the first place is quite a character. I wonder who it is? The Mizukage? Or the Raikage's assistant?" Such a vicious move was no less cunning than Konoha's own strategists. It was worth being wary of.
One Hour Later
After hearing Uchiha Obito's countermeasures, Tendo Pain couldn't help but sigh in relief, then complained, "Mr. Madara, you really should have communicated this with me earlier. Otherwise, I wouldn't have resorted to such a clumsy method to divert the Five Kage's attention."
Knowing this was his own fault, Uchiha Obito simply acquiesced. He said calmly, "Since the news is already spreading, it's irreversible. Let it ferment. As for the countermeasures I mentioned, I will be responsible for implementing them. I will do my utmost to ensure the organization survives this crisis."
He looked at Tendo Pain. "Regarding the vacancy left by Uchiha Naoki's departure, I will cover it. I will join the organization under the alias 'Tobi'."
Hearing this, Tendo Pain was overjoyed. "That's excellent! With Mr. Madara's help, you've solved two major problems for me at once!"
Uchiha Obito smiled faintly. "It's all for the organization." Then, he stood up and left.
Iwagakure
"Hmph, don't worry. I'm not willing to let your 'Akatsuki' disappear just like that. This old man will help you mediate," the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, said, grinning slyly at the masked man before him.
"I naturally trust the Tsuchikage's integrity," the masked man replied before disappearing from Ōnoki's presence.
"Hmph, it's only because you're still useful now," Ōnoki muttered to himself once the man was gone. "You can perform some… unsavory tasks for Iwagakure, which is greatly beneficial to my village. That's the only reason I'll protect you. Wait until you're no longer useful to me…" The corner of his mouth curled into a cold smirk. "…That will be the time of your death."
Konoha, Root Headquarters
"Hmph! Threatening me? You have quite the nerve," Shimura Danzō said, his eyes exceptionally cold as he stared at the masked man before him.
"You don't have to accept my threat," the masked man replied calmly, almost mockingly. "But soon, everyone in Konoha will know about you seizing the Sharingan, researching First Hokage cells, and conducting forbidden experiments on human subjects. When that happens, even if the Third Hokage wants to protect you, he won't dare to defy public outrage. What do you think will become of you then?"
"I believe Lord Danzō wouldn't want to lose his multiple identities as a Hokage Advisor and the leader of 'Root,'" the masked man added.
Hearing this, Danzō's expression turned extremely ugly, his eyes filled with murderous intent. He gritted his teeth. "Remember, this is the only time. I will not do this kind of thing for you again!"
The masked man smiled. "Of course. I don't imagine I'll be able to threaten Lord Danzō a second time." With that, he slowly vanished into a swirling vortex of space.
The task the masked man had for Danzō was simple: to interfere with the Five Kage's joint investigation team, ensuring Konoha's ninja merely went through the motions. With Konoha's authority as the leading village, their final conclusion would carry significant weight. Combined with the people Ōnoki sent to mediate, what could Kumo, Kiri, and Suna possibly uncover?
They would only find the information Uchiha Obito had prepared for them. In the end, all evidence would point squarely at Uchiha Naoki. It would be confirmed that the Two-Tails Jinchuriki was indeed in Uchiha Naoki's possession, that the Kubikiribōchō was owned by him, and that Kisame Kisame had been swayed by him to defect.
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