"Heh… run?"
Uchiha Gen's voice stayed calm, but the confidence behind it was unshakable.
"Unless you escape to another world, there's nowhere in this one you can hide from me."
"And besides..." Gen's tone didn't shift, "I'll treat your legs when I come to take the Rinnegan. Where exactly do you plan to run?"
He gestured lightly toward Konan. "Plus.... Konan-san is coming to Konoha with me."
Stealing someone?
Konan and Nagato's hearts tightened. Their composure from moments earlier evaporated beneath a surge of anger.
Tendo Pain's face darkened. "Threatening me with Konan? Would a Hokage truly sink so low?"
Gen smiled. "I am a Hokage. It's fine to embarrass myself once in a while."
Konan shook her head, voice cold and resolute. "Don't use me against Nagato. I'd rather die."
The last time she had been captured, Yahiko died, and Nagato lost his legs. She had sworn since then that she would never again be the cause of Nagato's pain.
"If Konan dies, I'll destroy the Rinnegan immediately," Tendo Pain said, equally unwavering.
Gen let out a soft breath. "Is that so… then I suppose I'll just adjust my approach."
"My confidence in finding you is absolute, but you running around would still be… troublesome. A waste of time."
His gaze sharpened. "So let's establish a foundation of trust."
Tendo Pain stared at him. "What method?"
Instead of answering directly, Gen shifted the topic. "The only reason I'm talking calmly and holding back is because I want you to work for me."
"You seek peace. I seek peace too."
"But your path to peace is to terrify the world, to make pain a deterrent, to stop wars through fear."
"My path to peace is to unify the entire shinobi world. No, unify the entire world itself."
"This world doesn't need scattered shinobi villages and countries. One country is enough."
"First, eliminate the villages that refuse to submit. Then eliminate the nations that refuse to submit."
"When only Konoha and the Land of Fire remain, the two will merge forming a nation that spans the entire world."
"And I will lead it."
"With only a single nation, its people stand on the same side. There is no need to fight to the death. Even disputes can be kept small and controlled."
"Resources will be interconnected. Regions will complement each other. With countless talented individuals assisting, the new nation will grow stronger and stronger…"
"In Konoha, the Hokage stands in the light while Root, under Danzo, handles the shadows."
"In my vision, the Akatsuki Organization becomes my Root."
"During unification, Akatsuki will eliminate old-era remnants that cannot be wiped out publicly, those who refuse to yield."
"A formal army needs evidence and legitimacy. Bandits and pirates do not."
"After the new nation is born, Akatsuki will continue to operate in the shadows, eliminating anything that threatens peace."
"And once stability is achieved, you can pursue your own ideals, so long as you don't violate the laws of the new nation."
"As my shadow side, you'll worry that I'll silence you afterward."
"So, to reassure you, I will marry Konan-san."
"That way, our interests are bound. As long as you don't tarnish my reputation, I won't touch you."
"You'll have peace of mind, and so will I."
"And I do genuinely like Konan-san. This won't be a mere political marriage. I'll treat her well. What others have, she will also have."
He lifted a familiar garment. "This is the outfit she wore back then, perfectly restored. My sincerity, made visible."
Kisame, Jūzō, and Mei Terumī weren't surprised. They already understood Gen's thinking, if anything, they felt a surge of excitement.
Mei was already prepared; she knew where she stood.
Nagato and the others were stunned. Gen's vision was far more ruthless and far more ambitious than theirs.
Unifying the entire shinobi world… the entire world… it was something even they never dared imagine.
But after watching Gen today, no one could call it impossible.
If power like his, reaching almost godhood, achieved without relying on any Tailed Beast, couldn't unify the world, then what could?
Silence stretched across the room until Nagato finally spoke.
"Akatsuki is willing to do its part for peace… but I cannot decide Konan's fate for her."
He turned. "Konan, say it plainly. If you don't want this, then don't. Don't worry about anything else."
He faced Gen again. "Lord Gen, if Konan refuses, don't force her. Instead, you may place a sealing jutsu on my vital points. If I ever move against you improperly, you can eliminate me instantly. Is that acceptable?"
Gen nodded, smiling faintly. "Your bond runs deep. It's admirable. Truly admirable."
"I won't force her. We'll proceed as you said."
Konan shook her head. "No need. I'm willing."
Tendo Pain's eyes sharpened. "Konan, have you thought this through?"
Konan gave a small, faint smile. "Yes."
"I'm already thirty. I thought I'd stay by your side, Nagato, and grow old quietly. But given the current situation… I'll marry."
"With Lord Gen's strength, identity, reputation, status, family background, and influence… I'm the one marrying above my means."
Her tone was light, almost self-deprecating but Nagato felt the quiet resistance behind it.
The three of them had grown up together. Separation wasn't easy to accept.
Nagato's chest tightened. If only I had more strength…
Gen chuckled. "Konan-san, you speak as though this is some tragic parting."
"I'm not turning you into a caged bird. My women are not prisoners. They can do as they please."
"When I miss you, I'll bring you to Konoha. Otherwise, live as you always have within Akatsuki."
"You're strong. You're Nagato's right hand. Akatsuki needs you, and Nagato needs you."
"And truly, you'd only stay with me long-term once Nagato regains mobility and the world is unified."
"At that time, if you want to see old friends, visit Nagato. Or he can visit you."
"Oh, and you can go visit Jiraiya-sensei together. I'm sure he'll be thrilled."
…Well. Maybe "thrilled" wasn't the right word. First love and female disciple both following the same man, Jiraiya would probably explode with frustration.
But he couldn't win against Gen, and Jiraiya wasn't the type to take petty revenge, so there was no real issue.
It was precisely because Jiraiya had a clear bottom line that Gen never considered erasing him. Otherwise, letting someone that strong exist would be reckless.
Tendo Pain's expression softened. He hadn't expected the usually domineering Gen to show such consideration.
Konan's cold expression melted into something warm like snow thawing under spring sunlight. The change was striking.
"Thank you," she said quietly.
"You're welcome," Gen replied lightly.
"I'm domineering at times, but I treat my own people very well. You'll understand in time."
Kisame grinned and raised his hand. "I can testify. Following Lord Gen, I learned the Second Hokage's Water Release, and I even found a wife."
Jūzō raised his hand too. "I can also testify. I didn't find a wife, but I learned the Second Hokage's Water Release."
Mei Terumī rolled her eyes at both of them. "You two? Testify to what?"
She crossed her arms. "If anything, I should testify. Konan and I are close in age and status. From today onward, we'll be sisters."
"My husband has plenty of women. Konan, we'll need to work together."
Konan's cheeks reddened slightly, her gaze lowering. Though tension lingered from earlier, she and Mei had always gotten along well. This rift would heal with time.
With the joking and banter, the atmosphere eased.
Gen turned to Sasori and Deidara. "And what about you?"
Sasori's face was blank. "Do our thoughts matter?"
"If we disagreed, would we leave this place alive?"
The leader they served and their enemy had become the same man. What choice did they have?
Deidara waved dismissively. "As long as I can continue pursuing art, that's enough."
Gen nodded. "As long as you stop doing terrorist bombings and direct your explosions toward the enemies of the new nation, that's fine."
"If you perform well, I'll help you elevate your art."
Deidara blinked. "You understand explosive art?"
Gen gave him a contemptuous look. Who was he looking down on?
People in his previous life all understood Deidara's art. Maybe he couldn't craft the exact materials naturally, but imitating it here was no issue.
"Hand me some explosive clay."
"What for?"
Deidara handed it over anyway, about two taels.
"Watch carefully."
Gen lifted his sleeve, and the clay rose from Deidara's palm, floating in mid-air. Another wave, and a streak of blue chakra infused into it.
The clay twisted and reshaped, forming a tiny white Deidara no more than an inch tall.
"Feel anything?" Gen asked.
Deidara squinted. "Something's fused with the chakra… something different."
"That's natural energy. Combined with chakra, it becomes Senjutsu chakra."
With another flick, the miniature Deidara shot into the sky.
At two hundred meters, it burst into radiant white light, exploding like thunder. The shockwave swept outward as a twenty-meter-tall Deidara of light appeared in the sky, laughing arrogantly. Rain vaporized instantly around it.
Deidara stared, awestruck. "Beautiful… so beautiful."
"Art. This is true art."
Even Deidara's actual giant self-destruction lacked the lifelike presence of Gen's creation.
"Want to learn?" Gen asked.
Deidara nodded furiously. "Yes—yes! Of course I want to learn!"
"Senjutsu chakra will multiply the power of your explosions. Several times at minimum. More than ten times at best."
"It's difficult to master. But even if you can't learn the full version, I can teach you a simplified form."
"As for shaping techniques… perform well and I'll teach you all of it."
Deidara thumped his chest. "Just watch me! I'll blow apart anyone who opposes you!"
Gen nodded. "I'll be expecting great things."
He turned to Sasori. "If you perform well, I can revive your parents. Let you feel family warmth again."
Sasori stiffened. For all his talk of eternal art, he treasured his parents more. Otherwise, he wouldn't have allowed himself to die in his grandmother's arms.
"Revive…? They've been dead for years. Can they really be brought back?" he asked softly.
"No problem," Gen replied. "As long as their souls still exist."
He recalled the Pure Land. He hadn't consumed their souls.
Sasori's expression hardened with resolve. "Then I will serve you."
"Good."
Forcing someone with strength worked, but inspiring their own willingness—their subjective initiative—always produced the best results.
Finally, Gen faced Nagato and Konan. "The time has come. I'll revive Yahiko as well."
"This is my gift to you."
With the Rinnegan, resurrecting a few people was simple. One of his specialized clones, loaded with a fragment of soul and proper chakra, could handle the technique. If a body existed, use it; if not, Edo Tensei could provide one before the final step with the Outer Path: Samsara of Heavenly Life.
If Nagato and Obito could learn it, so could he.
And once his plans of fusing the void and Dao advanced, resurrection would become even simpler.
Nagato and Konan trembled with excitement, passion welling up in their chests. They wanted to move—fight—do something immediately.
Kakuzu coughed. "Cough… Lord Gen, what about me? I've always supported you faithfully."
Faithfully? Please. He supported money.
But Gen needed money, and Kakuzu was the perfect worker, hardworking, tireless, and with five lives. A born labor machine.
Gen tapped his chin. "For you… how about a raise?"
Kakuzu's eyes lit up instantly. "Lord Gen, you truly understand me. A raise is perfect!"