"Hanzo sent us an invitation!"
A Chunin ran in from outside, holding a letter high in his hand, as if bringing back peace for a generation. The people resting at the headquarters immediately gathered around.
"Really?"
"This is great!"
"Our efforts during this period were not wasted! The big shots finally noticed our strength!"
The members of Akatsuki beamed with joy. The grand ideal of establishing a peaceful world actually had few true believers. Most just agreed with the idea and Akatsuki's methods, merely huddling together for warmth.
Just like the heroes of Liangshan Marsh, usually a group of rebels, most couldn't help but be excited when the government actually came to offer amnesty.
"Is that so? Let me see." Yahiko walked over with a smile, unable to hide his excitement.
Otonashi followed behind. While Yahiko read the letter, he quietly asked the Chunin messenger, "Were you followed?"
"According to your instructions, this letter underwent several checks and was transferred three times before reaching my hands. Absolutely no one could have followed."
"Okay, well done."
Otonashi nodded with satisfaction. Seeing the smile on Yahiko's face, he asked directly, "Hanzo wants to negotiate?"
"More than that, he wants us to participate in the ceasefire negotiations. This is truly great."
Negotiation is also dialogue. If dialogue could truly quell the war, it meant that people could indeed understand each other. For him, who had recently been doubting life, this was simply a shot in the arm.
However, having suffered setbacks before, he had also grown slightly. He asked Otonashi, "Pain, what do you think?"
Otonashi didn't answer, directly asking everyone present, "Who here has fought under Hanzo?"
The group paused for a moment, then most raised their hands. Most people here were originally Rain ninjas.
"Who knows him relatively well?"
Otonashi asked again. This time, far fewer hands were raised. Hanzo was inherently suspicious; even his personal guards were frequently changed.
He scanned the crowd, his gaze finally resting on the face of a young ninja with a stubbly beard. He recognized him as Shinsuke, the one who cooked at the last celebration party.
"You and several squad leaders come with me. The rest of you can dismiss for now."
The matter was important, and there was no delay. Idaten Kyosuke , Daibutsu (Big Buddha), Nagato, Konan, and that Shinsuke came together to Otonashi's room, preparing to discuss this matter overnight.
That Shinsuke used to be a Special Jonin in the Hidden Rain Village. He joined Akatsuki because he was tired of war and killing. These days, he mostly did odd jobs, basically living a salted fish life.
Otonashi had seen many people like this who had lost the heart of the strong, huddling together to get by. After observing for a period, he also trusted him.
And this person used to be one of Hanzo's close guards, relatively familiar with this 'Demigod'.
"Lord Hanzo is old; he's no longer the powerhouse he once was."
"What do you mean? Has he started slacking off too?" Konan raised an eyebrow and asked.
Glancing at the organization's goddess, Shinsuke replied with an unchanged expression, "No, he's become suspicious and paranoid, and treasures his current position even more."
Too many people have lofty ambitions when young but achieve nothing after half a lifetime. At this point, they start cherishing their lives and caring about status. This is very normal.
Otonashi nodded, thoughtfully saying, "According to this, compared to maintaining world peace, he cares more about his own status?"
"That's my personal opinion. At least ten years ago, Lord Hanzo wouldn't conduct purges in the Rain Village." Shinsuke's face showed weariness; he had also escaped during that time.
His current wish was merely to have a stable place to cook.
Glancing at this salted-fish-state former Jonin, Otonashi nodded: "Thank you for the information. You may go."
After Shinsuke left, Otonashi looked around and saw everyone was deep in thought.
Yahiko was half puzzled and half relieved. His impression of Hanzo was still stuck ten years ago. Fortunately, Otonashi asked one more question today. But he stubbornly refused to believe Shinsuke's words.
"The matter is already very clear. Hanzo cannot be trusted, at least not easily. He can conduct purges in the Rain Village; no one can guarantee he will tolerate us unless 'Akatsuki' disbands and joins the Hidden Rain as individuals." Otonashi ignored him and analyzed slowly.
This was naturally impossible. Everyone had worked hard to establish the organization, just now gaining some sense of belonging.
"But are we just letting this opportunity go?" Yahiko asked, somewhat unwilling.
"The tree that stands tallest in the forest will be destroyed by the wind. I originally felt that participating in the ceasefire negotiations wouldn't be beneficial." Otonashi shook his head, then changed the subject: "However, if you, Konan, and Nagato want to try, it doesn't matter. Kyosuke, what's your and Daibutsu's attitude?"
The short man with face tattoos and the tall fat man exchanged glances, then spoke, "We also don't recommend taking risks, but the decision is still yours."
Akatsuki's core was just four people; these two were considered extras.
"Then let's try." Yahiko's expression was solemn, clearly having made up his mind.
Otonashi didn't stop him. Some things are only understood after hitting a wall. He could only pick up the pieces.
"I understand. But we need to make some preparations first."
"Okay, go ahead." Yahiko wasn't stupid either; clearly, the other party's life experience was much richer than his.
"First, the negotiation location cannot be designated by Hanzo. If this condition isn't agreed upon, there's nothing to talk about."
"No problem, I'm also afraid of an ambush."
"Second, all of us here will stay at the headquarters recently to avoid being taken hostage and put in a passive position."
Yahiko frowned slightly, thinking that Hanzo, as a senior in the ninja world, wouldn't be so indecent. But considering Otonashi's strategic mind, he still nodded in agreement.
"Third, gather intelligence with all effort. There must be no ninjas from other countries within ten li of the negotiation site, especially pay attention to Hidden Stone and Konoha."
"This might be a bit difficult; we don't have enough manpower," Nagato interjected rarely.
Otonashi glanced at the red-haired teenager, his voice seeming to smile: "It's just making a gesture. If someone really wants to do something, they will hesitate due to potential consequences ( fear injuring the rat when throwing things at it)."
Whether it was any ANBU, meddling in this kind of thing meant interfering in the Land of Rain's internal affairs. With negotiations imminent, nobody wanted the other side to catch onto their leverage.
Nagato clearly didn't quite understand, only nodding obediently.
"And fourth—" Otonashi looked at Yahiko, saying word by word:
"I will go in your place!"
......
In the following days, all members of 'Akatsuki' were dispersed, as if they didn't care about the secrecy of the headquarters. Or perhaps, Otonashi wished Hanzo would attack; things would become much simpler then.
Searching, lurking, bribing Rain Village ninjas—'Akatsuki' seemed to mature in a very short time, inversely pressuring Hanzo.
If 'Akatsuki' were truly allowed to participate in the negotiations, it would be equivalent to the Land of Rain officially certifying this organization. If things went wrong, it could drive him from the leader's position.
Let alone Hanzo being forced into a dilemma by Otonashi, on the gorge not far from 'Akatsuki's' headquarters, the air suddenly distorted, and a masked man abruptly appeared.
Uchiha Obito, no, it should be Uchiha Madara (referring to Obito acting under Madara's name/will), looked at the ninjas running below, his brow couldn't help but furrow.
Madara had instructed him before dying to find Nagato. The Rinnegan was indispensable to complete that plan. But who knew those people would act so quickly? By the time he emerged from underground, the other party had already organized things quite well.
He originally wanted to deceive them, but this organization never acted alone. He couldn't just kill all of Nagato's teammates; that would definitely lead to a fight.
So, after thinking for a while, Obito, noticing the movements of the Land of Rain and Konoha, prepared to stir up trouble again, taking advantage of the opportunity. No one understood how to hate the world better than him.
As a result.....
Those key figures all became turtles hiding in their shells, staying in the cave all day without coming out, offering no opportunity at all.
"Should we just kill our way in?" A Venus flytrap-like figure stood behind him.
"Unless absolutely necessary, I don't want to tear face. With just the two of us, how can we complete the plan?" Obito shook his head, refusing. He also needed capable subordinates, or at least partners.
He couldn't just snatch the Rinnegan and capture the Tailed Beasts one by one, could he? That would be exhausting.
"Then what should we do?"
"Wait first. According to intelligence, that person named Pain has some means, but—"
Obito glanced far away at that mountain and sneered:
"He can't fight against this rotten world!"