Chapter 274: Might as Well Follow Nagato's Example~
On the Amegakure side, Shiromo set the goals for the upcoming period.
First, stabilize and develop steadily for a while, and raise overall combat strength.
The tailed beast chakra had already been gathered. The optimal plan was not to directly resonate and revive Kaguya, but to release her original body from the moon first, then return the chakra to her and restore her strength.
However, no matter which method was used, the commotion would be enormous.
There was a high probability that Ōtsutsuki Isshiki would notice.
Ōtsutsuki Isshiki was essentially a Black Zetsu equipped with a "self-destruct" button.
Black Zetsu had been unable to cultivate, so he could only rely on schemes, spending a thousand years repeatedly experimenting and laying out plans.
Isshiki, on the other hand, was somewhat low-level in comparison. On the brink of death, he hid inside Jigen's body and had even more time to "develop" than Black Zetsu.
Yet after more than a thousand years had passed, he had built no power base and found no suitable vessel.
It sounded impressive to call it "developing in secret and keeping a low profile," but in reality, he had developed nothing at all, practically AFK the entire time.
Kara's experimental bases were only established in Amegakure after Akatsuki's downfall. Its core scientist, Amado, and vessel Kawaki both joined only after the Fourth Great Ninja War ended.
It could only be said that Kaguya was already naive and foolish. Anyone who could be ambushed and nearly killed by someone like that clearly had intelligence significantly below average.
So Isshiki being AFK for over a thousand years was perfectly reasonable.
Unlike Momoshiki, Kinshiki, and Urashiki, who had only recently descended.
Isshiki had observed the ninja world for over a millennium. He should have been extremely familiar with its conditions and ninjutsu, yet he was still deceived by Kawaki using a mere shadow clone and died outright.
Momoshiki at least despised the Rasengan upon first encounter, understood it upon second, and enjoyed using it after resurrection.
Isshiki had spent a thousand more years here than Momoshiki, yet learned nothing.
In any case, Shiromo had to guard against the possibility that the disturbance caused by reviving Kaguya might draw Isshiki out, and prepare in advance to deal with him.
Originally, around the time of the Fourth Great Shinobi War and the Infinite Tsukuyomi, Isshiki had shown no movement at all. He might even have been caught in the Infinite Tsukuyomi alongside Jigen.
But that did not mean he would not appear this time.
The actions of intelligent people could be predicted. The actions of idiots lacked logic and were difficult to anticipate.
What if Isshiki suddenly realized that after being AFK for over a thousand years, he still had not found a suitable vessel. Had he even truly looked?
Perhaps there simply was no suitable vessel in the ninja world.
If that were the case, he might change direction.
A body from the same Ōtsutsuki clan would certainly be suitable for reincarnation.
If he suddenly emerged at that time, it would be troublesome.
It's better to make thorough preparations first.
In any event, there was still plenty of time.
Kawaki was about the same age as Boruto. His birth was still far off.
The core scientist Amado had not yet joined either. His daughter had not died, and perhaps had not even been born yet, so he had not conceived of researching cyborg technology.
What Shiromo feared most was a fool having a sudden flash of inspiration.
But sometimes, when fools had flashes of inspiration, they also brought unexpected gains.
For example, recently several small countries had suddenly collapsed. Their common people sent invitations to Akatsuki, offering food and drink to welcome Akatsuki to take over.
The daimyō of these small nations envied the profits generated by the economic mutual alliance, yet feared the reforms of the Five Great Nations and the Land of Rain.
Officially, the explanation was always that rogue ninja had appeared. But aside from the Land of Lightning, every other daimyō had been wiped out by rogue ninja. Did they still dare believe that?
Thus, these small nations chose not to join, but instead secretly imitated.
They attempted minor reforms and entrepreneurial ventures of their own.
But thinking carefully, did these corpse-occupying daimyō truly possess the ability to govern a country?
An incompetent ruler who lays flat might survive a little longer. Once he started trying to operate actively, it would only accelerate his demise.
It was not the second-generation rich heir squandering wealth that was most frightening, but the second-generation heir starting a business.
In the abstinence community, there were countless gamblers who had lost all sense and day and night squandered money, yet the money they lost could not compare to the "leeks" harvested by quick recruitment schemes in Yong-nii's entrepreneurial ventures.
Unfortunately, these small-country daimyō had no chance to turn back. Once the system collapsed, they could only await death.
"Let Kisame handle it."
Shiromo looked at the intelligence reports detailing the collapses and spoke after a moment's thought.
Kisame had been stationed in the Land of Waves for quite some time and had gained experience.
Moreover, at the Land of Snow film base, movies about Akatsuki were continuously being produced.
After Shiromo revised the script and shifted the perspective, the story told of a tragic ending in which he "died young," leaving behind only the overall direction of Akatsuki.
The newest installment focused on Kisame's ending.
Amegakure Cinema.
Hanabi sat with her friends, holding a bucket of popcorn while watching the film.
The strategist's aim lies in reforming the ninja world. We should abandon darkness and join the light.
Pacify Kirigakure and seize the dragon-rising land for the strategist!
Slaughter all Cloud ninja! Proclaim the strategist's might!
The Land of Waves is a vital maritime gateway. Kisame, do you dare take up its defense?
Even if Konoha sends a hundred thousand troops, I will chew them to pieces and swallow them!
…
Turtle Island is heavily guarded. How can the intelligence be sent out?
Resistance only brings pointless suffering. Might as well follow Nagato's example…
Only four members of Akatsuki remain. Who dares serve as vanguard in the Fourth Great Shinobi War?
If we inherit the strategist's will, how can we surrender without a fight!
Hngh—haah!
On screen, Hoshigaki Kisame broke free from the restraints of Wood Release, blood filling his mouth as he made his final struggle and successfully transmitted the intelligence.
"Wow, Uncle Kisame may look ugly, but this is so cool!!"
Seeing this scene, Fū felt her blood boiling.
"Mm."
Hanabi felt Fū's evaluation was very fair.
"Uh…"
Ringo Ameyuri stood nearby with a lollipop in her mouth, the corner of her lips twitching.
Fū was one thing, but Hanabi was still a Konoha ninja, was she not?
Watching her own village portrayed as the villain in the movie, and just now cheering happily that the killing was well done?
Konohagakure Village.
"Why does it feel like the Shiromo in this movie, although dead, has even greater ambitions and goals?"
After throwing her official duties to Kakashi, Tsunade kindly brought Shizune to watch the film.
She did not mind that Konoha and the Five Great Nations were depicted as villains.
After reading 'Buff Man Paradise' and experiencing the Limited Tsukuyomi, she already felt the portrayal of Konoha here was quite restrained.
What surprised Tsunade was that the film seemed to convey the idea that the ninja world ought to merge into one.
Could it be…
Shiromo certainly had that idea.
However, the primary objective remained resisting the Ōtsutsuki.
Because unifying the ninja world was simply too easy.
Across the entire ninja world, language was mutually intelligible, culture largely shared, writing systems the same, and even the currency was universally accepted!
If Ying Zheng saw this, he would probably burst out laughing. (Ying Zheng, also known as Qin Shi Huang, was the first emperor of China and the founder of the Qin dynasty.)
Aside from not being unified in the physical sense, everything else was already unified.
"No."
Tsunade suddenly stood up with a serious expression.
Shizune was startled, thinking Tsunade was about to confront Shiromo over this matter, but instead, "This movie is so popular, it must be making a fortune. I'm going to ask him to make one for me too!"
After saying that, Tsunade strode out of the cinema.
Shizune: "?"
(End of this chapter)