"Alright, understood."
"I'll go make the arrangements."
After understanding Uchiha Jin's thoughts, Shikaku Nara immediately left the office.
No hesitation, no refusal.
Because he couldn't think of a better way than Uchiha Jin's. Although his Hokage-sama's method was a bit underhanded, it was immensely profitable for Konoha itself.
Under such circumstances, what did it matter if it was a bit sinister?
Especially compared to the previous era of Hiruzen Sarutobi, he preferred the Uchiha Jin before him.
So there was no need to show off his IQ; sometimes he even faintly felt that, at least during Uchiha Jin's reign, their Nara Clan would likely have no place to exercise their talents.
Immediately following.
After finishing the arrangements for the tasks Uchiha Jin had assigned, he directly found a random teahouse to slack off and fish for leisure.
He was quite relaxed, his face full of smiles.
After all, Konan had taken over his most troublesome secretarial duties. One must know that in the past, he never had the chance to slack off.
Now that Konan was here, he could finally take it easy.
Mm, quite good!
Picking up a cup of tea, Shikaku Nara couldn't help but sigh with emotion in his heart.
Meanwhile, on the other side.
After Konan finished her workday, Uchiha Jin naturally kept his promise and had Minato Namikaze open a gap in the Eight Trigrams Sealing Style on her body.
At this stage, Konan could only use one-tenth of her Chakra.
But, it was enough!
Whether it was mass-producing exploding tags or secretly contacting Nagato, it was sufficient.
That night, in the early hours of the morning.
In a valley within the Land of Earth.
Nagato, who had just finished a day of slaughter, had just closed his eyes to get some rest when he received a Thought Wave from Konan. He immediately opened his eyes and used the Magic Lantern Body Technique.
In an illusory, pitch-black cave, the projections of Nagato and Konan appeared, standing directly on two fingers of the Gedo Statue.
"Konan, are you alright?"
"How are you living in Konoha? Did Uchiha Jin make things difficult for you?"
"Don't worry."
"Once my mission here is over, I will immediately head to Konoha to rescue you. I've also persuaded Obito and Zetsu to help."
"By the way, I have some good news. I coincidentally found Sensei Jiraiya and briefly explained your situation. Sensei promised that as long as you contact him, even if he looks down on the current New Konoha, he will introduce you to Tsunade and Orochimaru."
"With those two acting as guarantors, your life in Konoha can be a bit easier."
"Of course, before that, I must rescue you first."
"After all, being a captive versus joining voluntarily are two different things; the treatment you'd receive is worlds apart."
"Right..."
"Weren't you under the Eight Trigrams Sealing Style? How can you contact me now?"
Looking at Konan not far away, even knowing she was just a phantom, Nagato still appeared quite agitated.
This was only natural!
After all, she was the friend he worried about most in his heart. Especially after the death of his close friend Yahiko, Konan was almost his only friend left.
On the other side.
Hearing Nagato's concern, a hint of happiness appeared on Konan's face.
Nagato treated her as his only family, and Konan naturally treated Nagato as her only friend: "Nagato, don't worry. I'm living very well in Konoha; you don't need to worry about my situation here."
"A corner of the Eight Trigrams Sealing Style on me has been unsealed. This was arranged by Uchiha Jin, the Hokage."
"Oh, right."
"Let's talk about serious business first. I have something to discuss with you."
After saying that.
Konan didn't waste any time and immediately told Nagato everything about her conversation with Uchiha Jin.
During this, she also reaffirmed her stance.
Finally, she very solemnly hoped that Nagato would give up on the Akatsuki Organization and be mentally prepared to join Konoha at any time.
To be honest...
Konan was very worried after saying these words. After all, she knew her friend Nagato well and knew how stubborn he had become after Yahiko's death.
However, she was wrong!
After hearing Uchiha Jin's intelligence, although there was surprise on Nagato's face, he returned to calm in a short time.
On the contrary.
He directly fell into deep thought.
Seeing this, Konan became a bit worried instead. After all, Nagato's reaction was different from what she had imagined.
"Nagato, are you okay?" Konan quickly spoke up.
Hearing this, Nagato just smiled and then spoke: "Don't worry, I'm fine."
"Konan, I'll be honest."
"In fact, I've long had a faint feeling that there was something wrong with these Rinnegan. After all, I've been nurturing these eyes since I was a child, and especially after Yahiko's death, I've been frantically trying to trigger the power of these Rinnegan."
"I sensed long ago that there were some issues with these eyes. Actually, what Uchiha Jin said is indeed correct. I can feel that there is an even more terrifying power deep within these eyes, but no matter how I communicate with them, I can't use that power."
"I can even faintly feel that these eyes have actually been rejecting me."
"From this point of view, Uchiha Jin's intelligence is most likely true!"
"And judging from my current weakened body, it can also indirectly prove Uchiha Jin's intelligence."
"Indeed!"
"If the Rinnegan were truly my own eyes, how could they drain my body to this extent? They even keep faintly rejecting my attempts at communication."
"But after getting this intelligence from Uchiha Jin, many questions can be explained."
"These are Madara's eyes, and I am just someone else's pawn!"
When Nagato said these words, a hint of sorrow couldn't help but appear in his eyes.
But, on the other side.
After hearing this, Konan was instantly stunned.
Clearly.
She had never imagined that Nagato had already noticed the problem with these eyes long ago.
Thinking of this, she couldn't help but ask: "Since you noticed the problem, Nagato, why didn't you say so before?"
"Would there have been any point?" Nagato's expression was indifferent: "There was no point!"
"On one hand, although I sensed an abnormality before, considering these are the eyes of the Six Paths Sage, it's normal for them to have a few side effects when used."
"On the other hand, it's even simpler. Even if I knew the Rinnegan weren't mine, would I just stop using them?"
"For the sake of Yahiko's goal, what does it matter if I become a pawn?"
"I don't care!"
"In my view, as long as Yahiko's dream can be realized, I am willing to die!"
"However, sigh!"
"If the intelligence you're telling me now is true, then it seems Yahiko's plan can never be realized."
"..."