nucmednet Chapter 848 Reputation Soars
Chapter 848 Reputation Soars
"The Akatsuki organization... has gained great prestige and expanded its membership rapidly. It has begun to mediate wars in several small countries surrounding the Land of Rain and has even successfully prevented several local conflicts."
Zhang Hai tapped his fingers lightly on the table. "That Yahiko guy is really doing a great job. At this rate, he'll soon become the third force that can influence the situation in the Land of Rain."
“However…” Koizumi pointed to the last paragraph of the intelligence report and said with some concern, “Sir, look here. It’s about Hanzo’s movements.”
Zhang Hai followed his finger and his expression gradually darkened.
"Hanzo, the leader of Amegakure, under the pretext of 'assisting the development of Akatsuki,' forcibly demanded that Akatsuki establish a branch in the core area of Amegakure and took away a large number of Akatsuki peripheral members to be incorporated into the Amegakure patrol team. At the same time, Hanzo repeatedly implied in public that Akatsuki was acting under his 'instruction' and 'leadership'."
"Ha, has the old fox finally lost his patience?"
Zhang Hai closed the scroll, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. "They're trying to reap the benefits. Seeing the Akatsuki growing stronger, they want to use their reputation to cover up the truth, and they also want to bring this force under their control. They might even be preparing for a takeover or a purge."
He knew Hanzo all too well. The so-called "demigod" had long since lost his former vigor under the corruption of power, becoming a dictator who only knew suspicion and scheming. The rise of Akatsuki was by no means an aid to Hanzo, but rather a tiger lurking beside his bed.
"Tell Sasori to keep an eye on the movements of Amegakure," Zhang Hai ordered in a deep voice. "Especially those two old bastards, Hanzo and Danzo. Once those two get together, those idealistic little lambs of Akatsuki probably won't even know how they died."
"Yes! I will convey it immediately." Koizumi nodded solemnly.
"Also..." Zhang Hai put his mask back on, his voice returning to its calm tone, "Prepare some top-grade medicinal herbs to replenish blood and qi, and deliver them to Lady Tsunade's laboratory. Remember, don't let anyone know it was you who sent them."
"Understood. Sir...it's for that Miss Terumi Mei, isn't it?" Koizumi asked tentatively, a hint of gossip in his eyes.
"Don't ask what you shouldn't ask." Zhang Hai glanced at him, then vanished into the warehouse in a flash.
Watching Zhang Hai's departing figure, Koizumi touched his empty sleeve, a wistful smile appearing on his lips.
"In this cannibalistic world, being able to follow such a capable yet compassionate adult is perhaps the greatest fortune of my life."
Inside the underground warehouse, candlelight flickered.
After listening to Koizumi's report about Hanzo's selfish motives, Zhang Hai's face remained unchanged, as if he had expected it all.
"That old bastard Hanzo might have had some of the air of a 'demigod' when he was young, but now he's nothing more than a power-hungry miser." Zhang Hai sneered. "Don't bother with him. As long as he doesn't have the guts to openly betray us yet, let him dream on. Once he's fattened up the Akatsuki, we'll take him down in one fell swoop."
He tapped his fingers lightly on the table, a chilling glint in his eyes: "Tell Sasori, the code name for this operation is 'God's Eye.' We'll make our move as soon as the Third Shinobi World War is over. I'll bring him, that money-grubbing Kakuzu, Hanzo as a pawn, and the two Kazekage puppets Sasori has..."
Zhang Hai paused, his tone becoming extremely solemn: "Even the Five Great Ninja Villages would have to think twice about this kind of lineup. We need to use this overwhelming force to take something from Amegakure—the Rinnegan."
Those were the eyes of the legendary Sage of Six Paths, possessing supreme divine power that controlled the cycle of life and death. Zhang Hai placed the utmost importance on this power, which was capable of overturning the entire ninja world. Even when facing Nagato, who possessed the Rinnegan, he had to be absolutely certain of victory, using his full strength even when hunting a rabbit.
"Yes! I will relay this to Lord Red Spider immediately." Although Koizumi did not know exactly what the "Rinnegan" was, he understood from Zhang Hai's serious attitude that this would be the most important operation since the organization's founding.
“In addition, there are two other matters.” Zhang Hai stood up and straightened his robes. “First, have Sasori give Rasa a push to help him secure his position as the Fourth Kazekage as soon as possible. The more stable Sunagakure is, the more we can profit from it. Second, gather the best people in the organization and keep a close watch on Amegakure. Report any disturbances immediately.”
"Yes, Your Majesty, Mighty Heaven."
After explaining everything, Zhang Hai didn't linger. There was a delicate wounded patient in the lab waiting for him to comfort her; this rare moment of tenderness was far more interesting than scheming against a bunch of old foxes here.
However, Zhang Hai, who was immersed in his "perfect plan," was unaware that the gears of fate had already quietly deviated from his predetermined path in the shadows.
……
Konoha Hokage Building.
"Lord Hokage, urgent report from the Anbu." An Anbu squad leader wearing a cat-face mask knelt on one knee. "Just now, Lord Danzo left the village with a large number of elite Root members. They were numerous, well-equipped, and their whereabouts are unknown."
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, paused slightly as he reviewed the reconstruction documents, and his brows furrowed.
"Danzo? Why are you taking so many people out at this time?"
Konoha has just fought a defensive battle and is in a time to recuperate. Danzo's large-scale troop mobilization is clearly illogical.
"Should we send someone to track them down?" the secret service officer asked.
The Third Generation pondered for a moment, then sighed and waved his hand, "Forget it. That old guy has probably discovered some 'potential threat' he sees again and is eager to 'clean house' for me. Although his methods are radical, his starting point is, after all, the village. As long as he doesn't cause any major trouble, let him be."
It was this "tacit approval" and "indulgence" based on past experience that caused the Third Hokage to miss another opportunity to stop a shocking conspiracy that was about to change the landscape of the ninja world.
……
The Land of Rain, a canyon on the outskirts of Amegakure.
This place was once a sacred site for the Akatsuki organization to spread its ideals of peace, but now it is filled with a chilling atmosphere.
Does peace... really exist?
Standing atop the high cliff, Yahiko looked down at his followers, who, though poor, still had hope shining in their eyes, and a smile of satisfaction appeared on his face.
"As long as we persevere, and as long as we understand each other, one day, the Land of Rain will no longer cry."
However, this beautiful vision was ruthlessly shattered in the next second.