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Meanwhile, in Iwagakure.
Deep within the Village, built in the center of a valley, in the newly constructed Central Assembly Hall two hundred meters underground.
Ōnoki looked at the leaders of each Village, who had once again gathered in one place, and his voice was heavy:
"Hanzō is dead."
"Konoha's speed in acting was even more decisive than we imagined."
"Presumably, there must have been some new achievement in that accursed floating island that made them so confident."
"Now, do any of you still have any doubts about Konoha's resolve for war?"
The tall humanoid projection across the table said solemnly: "Ōnoki, are you old man really so eager to start a war?"
"You know very well that Hanzō did not die by Konoha's hand."
Some time had passed since that battle in Hidden Rain Village, and the well-informed Kage of each Village had already obtained all the information related to that battle through various channels.
A colossal war beast like the Outer Path Demonic Statue, combined with the countless Ninja in Hidden Rain Village who witnessed the entire battle, made it impossible to conceal. It was just that very few people observed the entire battle process up close, which is why most of the information they received was incomplete.
However, at this point, that small missing part seemed less important.
Ōnoki turned to Ay and said coldly: "You think this old man wants to start a war? The reality now is that if we don't act soon, Konoha will divide us, surround us, and devour us one by one!!"
"Don't you have eyes, you brat, to see what happened to Hidden Mist?!"
On the other side, Sasori, also in a holographic projection, said coldly: "We don't have enough time. Sunagakure's economic situation has not yet recovered to a level that can support another war."
"Furthermore, what happened during that negotiation was very clear: it was a proactive attack by the Moon Organization's three-person team. Perhaps Konoha is still temporarily…"
Before he could finish his sentence, Ōnoki interrupted him in one breath:
"The Moon Organization's three-person team?"
"Besides Uchiha Hikari, that madwoman, who else in the entire Moon Organization is worth paying attention to?"
"Did you brats even investigate properly?"
"Two battle marks, with an attack range exceeding five hundred meters, were left in the center of Hidden Rain Village, and a summoned monster larger than a Tailed Beast appeared during the process!"
"This clearly shows that Sawara Kiri personally led the attack!"
Ōnoki's tone was extremely agitated.
Upon hearing this 'evidence,' even Sasori and Ay fell silent.
In reality, even they had made similar judgments after receiving the relevant information.
The reason was simple.
Although in recent years, under the oppression of Konoha, these Villages had been reducing their manpower and finances, constantly investing funds into various war-related research projects, and even boldly putting the 'four souls jade,' which clearly had huge side effects, directly into use, apart from a very few outstanding achievements, the output of research in other areas was quite limited.
They had gathered the strength of their entire Village and only barely managed to get a few scattered individuals to reach the level shown in the intelligence. As for the level outside, there was even less to say.
The top-tier powerhouses scattered throughout the Ninja World were all renegade Ninja from the major Ninja Villages—the average strength of the Ninja World was evident from this.
Could it be that in some remote corner of this vast Ninja World, a monster as absurd as Sawara Kiri would just appear out of nowhere?
Impossible!
Absolutely impossible!
This was simply dreaming.
Even Uchiha Hikari's origins were traceable, and she was even released by Sunagakure.
How could a monster of this caliber appear so easily?
Given this, all the signs of this battle naturally pointed to Konoha, or rather, to Sawara Kiri.
Now, whenever something absurd and incomprehensible happened, it was Sawara Kiri who did it—this had almost become a habitual way of thinking among the top echelons of the Ninja World.
Nagato's many years of forbearance ultimately had some use.
It was just that they thought for three days and three nights and still couldn't understand why Sawara Kiri would do such a self-deceiving thing.
But the situation was as it was, and all they could do was face reality.
No one wanted to follow in the footsteps of Hidden Mist Village.
Sawara Kiri's feat of destroying a Village overnight was truly too shocking, so much so that Ōnoki and the others dared not underestimate Konoha in the slightest whenever there was even a hint that they might make a move against them.
Once a chain of suspicion is formed, it cannot be easily broken.
As for why Ay and Sasori denied it, one reason was naturally that their Villages were under immense pressure due to war reparations, and the second was that Ōnoki's ambition was clearly visible.
In fact, Ōnoki had no intention of concealing his ambition whatsoever.
The current situation was gradually becoming clear. As the weaker party, the three countries had to find every possible way to resist Konoha's annexation.
Since an alliance was needed, there had to be a leading figure with sufficient prestige among the three parties.
Undoubtedly, Ōnoki was pushing in this direction.
He looked at the other two parties, who gradually expressed their disapproval through silence, and slowly softened his tone: "This old man can understand your concerns. Compared to how to stop Konoha, your internal problems are equally serious... layoffs, inflation, economic crisis, military production—these are not things that can be solved with a single word."
"But precisely because of this, we need a direction."
In the holographic projection, Ay crossed his arms and said coldly: "Since you old man know that, why are you still talking about fighting or not fighting?"
"Do you believe that if we announce today in the Village that we are preparing for war, the next day, under Konoha's economic sanctions, the little bit of assets in the Village will be shattered?"
This was not only Ay's thought but also Sasori's.
Because of the various agreements, almost like vassal state clauses, signed in the last war, many of their domestic and Village industries had long been infiltrated like a sieve.
"Precisely because of this, we must fight!"
However, Ōnoki's voice was more decisive than ever before.
Although Sawara Kiri was hateful, he indeed possessed extraordinary talent.
Not only in combat and Ninjutsu development, but also with unique insights into economics and production. Although the two sides were subtly hostile, Ōnoki had long since thoroughly read Sawara Kiri's internal Konoha publications from a few years ago, "On National Economy" and "On War," and had gained a new understanding of the nature of war.
He knew very well.
This brat's understanding of war as a means had long surpassed that of these old folks.
"War is the continuation of political relations."
Among these books, he particularly admired this sentence.
And what applied to their side now was another sentence.
"Under certain conditions, internal contradictions and external contradictions can transform into each other in a short period."
Under this guiding ideology, Ōnoki knew very well what he should do.
He looked at the projections of Ay and Sasori and calmly said: "He who hesitates is lost. Do you think if you don't fight, the money they earn will return to Kumogakure and Sunagakure?"
"Since that's the case, it's better to simply cut it off! And instead, rebuild your own industries with the dividends brought by war."
"Iwagakure will not abandon any companion."
Sasori frowned tightly, looking at Ōnoki in confusion: "Iwagakure's support?"
"That's right!"
"But not just Iwagakure, but all three of us."
Ōnoki's tone became increasingly composed: "This old man proposes that during this war preparation period, we sign the 'Three Countries Production Alliance Treaty.' The Land of Earth Bank will provide you with sufficient loans, and you can place enough orders with the Village. Military industries will receive money, which will drive other key supported industries, and with enough industries, there will be enough Ninja."
The Ninja who were laid off were just unemployed, not dead.
Both Sasori and Ay, the moment they heard this, became alert and stared intently at Ōnoki.
At a time of life and death, did this old man really have such determination?
How much would Iwagakure have to pay to support two Villages at once?
For a moment, both of them were deep in thought.
"What about the time?"
Sasori suddenly asked, "If what happened before was truly Konoha's doing, would they give us time to build up our industries?"
"The people of Konoha aren't blind. Once we make a move, they will act faster than we can imagine."
"Therefore, we still need an opportunity," Ōnoki said in a deep voice. "This is one of the reasons I summoned the Yugito here."
"An opportunity?"
When Sasori and Ay heard how comprehensive Ōnoki's plan was, a glimmer of hope couldn't help but rise in their hearts.
"Exactly."
"We need an opportunity to show weakness and strike Konoha," Ōnoki said, his gaze profound.
However, these two contradictory goals left the two a bit confused.
"Next, to ease relations, I will propose a joint Chunin exam to Konoha," Ōnoki slowly narrated. "During that exam, we should be able to find an opportunity to express our sincerity for peace to Sawara Kiri."
"However, there will be some small accidents during the exam."
"For example... Konoha being attacked and the examination venue being attacked just happen to coincide."
"Who can attack Konoha under the hands of those monsters?" Ay asked with a look of disbelief.
The current Konoha is not the Konoha from the original timeline.
Although it lacked the presence of Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo, two 'Village-guarding masters,' it had Sakumo, Namikaze Minato, and all three Sannin. Even without the anomaly of Sawara Kiri, it was one of Konoha's peak eras in history.
Moreover, Kumogakure and Iwagakure had been locked in a love-hate relationship for so many years, making him instinctively harbor a trace of suspicion towards this insidious old man.
Ōnoki, however, did not answer, merely raising his hand and pointing in the direction beside him.
Soon, a blurry projection appeared before the two.
The short, dark figure was still fully cloaked, his face indistinct.
It was 'That Person' they were all familiar with, the leader of the Renegade Union, the man codenamed 'Shibai.'
Ōtsutsuki Urashiki's voice remained indifferent: "Congratulations everyone, the first phase of the Ankoku Shibai plan has now been completed."
"Although it hasn't reached its complete form yet, it should be enough to destroy Konoha's industrial zone in a short period."
As for how it compared to Sawara Kiri, he did not say.
Clearly, this was a very obvious opportunistic plan, capitalizing on the time difference when Sawara Kiri was not present.
Hearing this, the people present had already understood, their expressions gradually becoming serious.
"What are the chances of the plan being completely successful?"
After a long silence, Sasori suddenly spoke.
"Around thirty percent," Ōnoki calmly replied.
For such a major plan that determined the fate of a nation and a Village, this probability was already terrifyingly low, but it was also a fact—because no one could predict whether Sawara Kiri would have any trump cards, and they also had to factor in the probability of this monster suddenly going berserk.
However, compared to the previous situation with no hope of victory, this probability was already enough to push them to take a gamble.
The arrow was on the string, and it had to be loosed.
Hitting the target with a thirty percent probability was better than being completely powerless to resist.
"Let's gamble!"
Across the holographic projection, Ay's fist heavily struck the table.
Konoha, outer city alleyways.
At the edge of a deep shadow, a pair of dark yellow eyes suddenly opened, staring intently outside.
After confirming that no one was within the sensory range, the shadow silently glided through the streets, moving like a fish underground, avoiding the detection of all Anbu and sensory Ninja, heading straight towards the center of Konoha.
A full week had passed since the battle in Hidden Rain Village and Konan's capture.
Because Black Zetsu had learned through the White Zetsu spies stationed in Konoha that Konan was not dead, and had even gained a certain degree of freedom, he had wanted to delay coming for a while.
However, Nagato's reaction to this matter was unusually resolute. If he refused to take action, Nagato would clearly go on strike, and any talk of going to the Moon would become nonsense.
Left with no choice, Black Zetsu delayed until now, finally having no option but to personally come to Konoha.
If he could choose, he truly did not want to personally appear before Sawara Kiri.
The variables brought by this monster were simply too great.
Even now, Black Zetsu couldn't understand.
This guy was clearly neither the reincarnation of Ashura nor Indra, had never come into contact with Hagoromo Otsutsuki, and the Six Paths bloodline within him was only a thin branch of Kaguya's. He truly didn't know where he had researched such absurd power.
Unfortunately, reality never changed according to one's will.
"Where is Konan being held now?"
Just as Black Zetsu was frowning with worry, a hushed voice came from inside his body.
"Almost there, almost there," Black Zetsu replied with a hint of helplessness in his tone. "But we agreed, it's just a look!"
"That woman is currently being kept by Sawara Kiri. If you try any funny business, don't drag me into it."
"I am a non-combatant."
Nagato, enveloped within Black Zetsu's body, did not speak, merely waiting quietly.
To avoid being caught, and also due to Zetsu's 'strong suggestion,' he had only sent a wood clone this time, his purpose being to ascertain Konan's current situation.
It was also fortunate that Zetsu had injected those White Zetsu bodies into his body before, otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to create such a good memory carrier.
However, compared to this small matter, Nagato was more concerned about Konan's recent condition.
Just as Konan herself understood the tragic circumstances a captured female Ninja might face, Nagato had been active in the Moon Organization for many years. Although he had never displayed his strength, his insight was sufficient.
He was also well aware of the tragic scenarios Konan might face.
Even before coming, he had already agreed with Yahiko that no matter what happened to her, they would definitely help her through the difficulties.
After all, Konan was their most important comrade!
But as they walked, Nagato, enveloped within Black Zetsu's body, suddenly realized that the direction was somewhat off.
"Why are we getting closer and closer to the center of Konoha?"
"The Chakra beacon you created points to this vicinity," Zetsu said in a matter-of-fact tone. "Didn't I tell you already? That woman is currently being kept by Sawara Kiri every day, inseparable. At this time... she's probably in the Hokage Building."
"Maybe she's already become that guy's plaything?"
Upon hearing this, Nagato's heart immediately distorted in pain:
"Konan..."
Black Zetsu, however, completely disregarded the emotional turmoil of this guy. He circled the Hokage Building like a shadow. The surrounding barrier was quite strict; ordinary people would be discovered even by getting close. Even he couldn't guarantee whether Konoha had new technology that could sense his Chakra fluctuations.
"It seems I can only take a look from a distance nearby."
"Don't think too much. That woman is actually quite favored right now; she definitely won't die."
These lighthearted words only made Nagato's blood surge even more.
He looked at the Hokage Building, which was so close, and urgently said, "That's not what our agreement said! You at least have to let me see her!"
"That's not possible, here... Hey, hey, hey! Don't move around inside me!"
The part of the body belonging to White Zetsu sensed Nagato's impulsiveness at that moment and immediately started shouting.
Nagato, however, couldn't care less.
Just the thought of Konan being wantonly ravaged by that bastard Sawara Kiri, crying all day, made him completely unable to calm down.
She was his most important comrade!
Under this fierce resistance, Zetsu had no choice but to take some risks, slowly approaching the Hokage Building, constantly testing the outer alarm barrier.
Fortunately, his Zetsu Spore Technique seemed not to have been deciphered by Konoha yet.
He suppressed all his presence as much as possible, submerging into the barrier around the Hokage Building like an inanimate object. Just as he was about to follow the stairs upwards to track Konan's whereabouts, a piercing alarm suddenly blared in his ears.
"Beep—!!!"
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