In a pitch-dark cave, two illusory figures were talking.
"Your last mission went well. Take whatever extra you earned for yourself."
"The rest turn over to the organization," Konan opened her mouth and immediately praised Kakuzu a bit first.
Kakuzu let out a deep laugh, "This money came a little too easy this time."
"But if the leader can easily wipe out the Sarutobi clan, isn't doing these things redundant?", Kakuzu said this to probe the relationship between the organization and the Uchiha.
But Konan directly told Kakuzu, "It's all just a play acted out with the Uchiha."
"I see," Kakuzu gave an expression of understanding.
"What's the organization's next plan?"
Right now, Sunagakure, Iwagakure, and Kumogakure were somewhat hesitant because of the Akatsuki leader Pain's bombshell move.
After all, Pain was so strong that if the Akatsuki supported Konoha, they'd naturally have some reservations.
These last two days the great ninja villages watched carefully while trying hard to gather more intelligence.
After all, Pain's level of strength is at least a tier above Rengoku.
Don't care whether the move that flattened the Sarutobi base was a secret art or not.
But the other side used it, thousands died on the spot.
If Uchiha Rengoku had been the one to kill like that, even a blunted blade might not have managed it.
Kakuzu's sense of belonging to the organization was high. After all, the organization had kept bringing him money.
Now his sense of belonging was even stronger, because Akatsuki could bring him big money.
Kakuzu's ambitions had grown; he no longer wanted the life of a bounty hunter chasing a few million here and there.
He now wanted to be an arms dealer of war.
Seeing how eager Kakuzu was, Konan also knew he had his eyes on the money.
But Kakuzu was useful, and they'd need him this time.
"We have a new task for you from the organization; the danger level isn't high."
"What task?", Kakuzu asked.
Konan said in a low voice, "Come to the Land of Rain's border and pretend to make contact with us."
"We'll leak your whereabouts. Once Obito and Zetsu show up, you leave immediately."
Kakuzu's expression flickered, "The leader is going to make a move on Obito?"
Konan answered with a short sound, "Their strength has grown a lot now."
"This time, as long as Obito and the others appear, you just leave right away."
Kakuzu thought for a moment and understood Konan and the others had things they didn't want him to know.
But for a bounty hunter like him, that wasn't a problem.
"Alright, I got it."
"When I was in the black market looking for intel, someone wanted to join our Akatsuki."
"Who?", Konan asked curiously.
"Deidara from Iwagakure."
"He's very admiring of Pain and wants to see Pain."
Konan didn't know Deidara's head was a bit stubborn; she was somewhat speechless.
"Don't worry about him for now; we'll deal with it later."
"First go complete your mission."
———
[Orochimaru's Laboratory]
Konan and Yahiko were somewhat nervous.
After all, quite a few people were being resurrected this time.
Five people in total: Dan Kato, Nawaki, Hatake Sakumo, Minato, and Kushina.
Behind Kushina stood a clone of Rengoku.
"Using the Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique will probably consume about forty percent of the eye power."
"We have enough eye power, but reviving the other four besides Nagato's life force will be a bit tight."
"And with Kushina added, Nagato might not be able to hold it."
Konan voiced her concerns.
"No problem, trust me, I have a way."
Rengoku hadn't disclosed his abilities to anyone, keeping some mystery.
Nagato also said beside them, "Don't worry, even if I die, Rengoku can save me again."
Hearing Rengoku and Nagato speak, Konan relaxed; this action had been planned by Rengoku and Nagato together.
Since they knew what they were doing, Konan went along.
The five waiting to be revived stood in a row.
Orochimaru inserted the life-water IV into Nagato.
Meio also stood by Nagato in case anything went wrong.
Nagato clasped his hands together; the Rinnegan emitted a bright glow, and massive eye power began to mobilize.
"Outer Path, Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique!"
Huge eye power radiated toward the five; Nagato's chakra and life force decreased in sync.
Rengoku closed his eyes.
Then he opened the previously prepared fourth-level Bond Star for Kushina Uzumaki.
["Ding, Uzumaki Kushina, fourth-level bond unlocked."]
["Congratulations, host gained: Uzumaki Kushina 100% life force."]
Kushina had originally been using Rengoku's clone.
But she couldn't be revived using Rengoku's clone; Kushina had just been an Edo Tensei brought back by White Zetsu.
At this moment Kushina was absorbing a large amount of life force, and Nagato was struggling a little.
Even pouring in life-water couldn't stop her life force from dropping.
Rengoku's clone placed his hand on Kushina's back, and a stream of his own life force gushed into her like a flood.
Kushina, like a sponge, quickly soaked up and filled herself with life force that belonged to her.
With the life force replenished, Nagato finally breathed a sigh of relief.
At least within the Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique, Kushina no longer needed life force injected into her.
Nagato saw Rengoku's gesture and directed life force toward the other four.
White steam rose from the five, the cracks on their bodies disappeared, and their flesh began to regain color.
Although they knew this was the process of resurrection, their faces were full of shock and curiosity.
Especially the sensation of changing from an Edo Tensei body into a living person was too wondrous.
Of them, the weakest was Nawaki, he was only twelve, so he completed revival the fastest.
With the sound of a heartbeat, Nawaki put his hand on his chest; he felt his strong, powerful heartbeat.
He clenched his fists, wanting to shout for joy but afraid of disturbing others.
His face flushed bright red as he watched the others.
Then Minato and Dan Kato were revived almost simultaneously.
Minato already had ample Nine-Tails energy, and Dan's soul-body was strong.
So the two were only a bit slower than Nawaki in regaining flesh and blood.
After several breaths, Hatake Sakumo finally completed revival. After all, he died in his early thirties at the peak of his life.
By now Nagato's face was covered in sweat, but his hands remained clasped, his eye power pouring toward Kushina.
At this point he was only maintaining the technique while Rengoku's clone continuously sent Kushina's life force into her.
Kushina's eyes were half-closed; the feeling of her body becoming increasingly real and full of life was intoxicating.
Rengoku's clone finally finished pouring Kushina's life force in.
When Kushina's heart began to beat, she had at last completed her revival.
At this moment, Konoha once again returned to an era where one ninja village stood against four other villages.
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