Chapter 75
Chapter 75
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Translator: Ace
Chapter:
Chapter Title: Deva Path Pain's Orders
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Deva Path Pain said solemnly, "Go scout the situation over there. If possible, recruit that person as a new Akatsuki member."
Four years ago, during that massacre, nearly all of Akatsuki's members were killed, leaving only Konan and Nagato alive.
Hanzo of the Salamander harbored deep fear toward Nagato's pair of "Eyes of the Gods" and no longer dared to venture outside. He could only huddle under layers of protection from the Rain ninja, endlessly dispatching them to hunt for clues on Nagato and Konan in an attempt to eradicate them completely.
As for Nagato, the summoning of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path four years prior had cost him dearly, and creating the "Six Paths of Pain" had drained an enormous amount of chakra. He still hadn't fully recovered and could only lie low, biding his time.
Nagato awaited the completion of the "Six Paths of Pain." Obito waited for the right moment to weaken Konoha. Black Zetsu schemed in the shadows.
They all lurked in hiding like this until nine years later, when the "Six Paths of Pain" were finally finished. Akatsuki had recruited numerous powerful rogue ninja by then, and Nagato launched his revenge against Hanzo of the Salamander, seizing complete control of the Hidden Rain Village.
The timeline lined up roughly after the first Chunin Exams.
During the first Chunin Exams, Rain Village ninja had participated with normal headbands.
By the time Jiraiya infiltrated Hidden Rain Village to gather intelligence, the Rain ninja had already scratched a line across their headbands, while those without the mark were branded as "Hanzo's remnants."
"Hmph. Let me go pay a visit to this rat." Obito took some interest in the mysterious ninja.
He planned to gather intel and evaluate the threat to the "Eye of the Moon Plan."
If he could be turned to their side, he might prove a useful tool.
Black Zetsu chimed in at the perfect moment. "I'll tag along. Might as well plant a few White Zetsu to keep watch."
Deva Path Pain gave a slight nod. His Rinnegan eyes tracked "Madara" as he vanished into thin air and Zetsu as he burrowed underground.
Once they were gone, Konan waited a moment before speaking. "Madara will turn that guy into his confidant, won't he?"
Akatsuki currently consisted of just four: Nagato, Konan, "Madara," and Zetsu. Madara and Zetsu had joined together and clearly formed their own faction. If they handled recruitment, the new members would likely align with them.
This could undermine Nagato's control over Akatsuki.
"I have a feeling... that guy called 'Asura' is anything but simple." Deva Path Pain's cold voice trailed off as he closed his eyes.
Nagato's consciousness returned to his true body.
Konan fell silent at Nagato's words, turning her gaze to the endless curtain of rain outside.
Hidden Star Village.
At the village entrance square, Uchiha Hikari was imprinting a "seal" on the backs of the hands of every Star ninja team escorting the villagers away.
Pale red chakra flowed from her fingertip, forming a Sharingan pattern on their skin before it sank beneath the surface and vanished.
The Star ninja who received the "seal" noticed nothing unusual. They couldn't even sense its presence.
"Tired?" Uzumaki Menma, wearing a white three-eyed fox mask, stood beside Uchiha Hikari. He spoke up with concern only after the last Star ninja was sealed.
Dusk was fast approaching. Most of Hidden Star Village's villagers and ninja had finished evacuating, leaving the place deserted save for a handful of guards.
Uchiha Hikari shook her head lightly.
Imprinting seals on over two hundred people had barely touched her chakra reserves.
"If we link all these seals together to form a chakra network—with you as the central hub—how much chakra would it require to maintain?"
The combo of Seal Tsukuyomi and Eight Thousand Spears was simply too powerful. Menma was already brainstorming ways to use Uchiha Hikari as the core server for a full chakra network.