Chapter 30: Kurotsuchi: I Want to Join the Akatsuki
Onoki understood Deidara's personality well. He knew that Deidara wasn't one to deceive others, especially not at a time like this, and his natural outbursts made it obvious.
So…
The blood had definitely been collected from him!
As for how they had gotten it?
Onoki's gaze shifted towards the direction where Shiromo had just spoken to, his suspicion rising.
The other party had an accomplice skilled in infiltration.
Before today, no one had even known of the existence of the "Curse Technique: Death Controlling Possessed Blood", so who would have cared about whether such blood would be collected?
"What do you want from us...?" Onoki began to ask, but…
"Wait! Wait!"
Before he could finish, Kurotsuchi hurriedly stepped between them, her eyes fixed on Shiromo. "Um… I'm not also one of your deterrent targets, am I?"
"Of course," Shiromo replied with a smile.
Her voice trembled slightly as she asked, "I've suffered quite a few injuries these past few years. Tell me, you collected my blood while I was injured, right?"
Kurotsuchi clenched her fists, looking both frustrated and angered.
She had already guessed what was going on.
Shiromo's smile widened. "I see you're quick to put things together. Male ninjas aren't necessarily intimidated, but female ninjas, except for someone like Granny Chiyo, can't escape it, so… what do you think?"
Kurotsuchi's anger was now evident. "Tell me, which person in your organization came up with this twisted idea."
"Come on, Kurotsuchi, don't be rash!"
Onoki quickly grabbed her arm, pulling her back.
Shiromo had shown no hesitation in letting Ishiharu, the Iwa-nin who attacked him earlier, die a gruesome death. Onoki wasn't foolish enough to gamble that if Kurotsuchi attacked Shiromo, it wouldn't result in more bloodshed.
"Tell me, what is it that you want? Deterrence? Do you intend to dominate the world?" Onoki glared at Shiromo, trying to understand if he was dealing with an ambitious person like Uchiha Madara.
"I already said," Shiromo replied calmly, "We are a peace-loving organization. Deterrence is just a way to engage in equal dialogue with the Five Great Shinobi Nations."
"We, a small organization, have tried standing and speaking, but you don't listen. So, we had to kneel and speak, and still, you didn't listen. The only option left was to make you kneel."
He paused for a moment before continuing, "Actually, the leader of our organization arrived at this idea, and there's a bit of indirect involvement with Iwagakure."
Shiromo's smile remained unchanged.
"Indirect involvement with us?" Onoki's eyes narrowed as he searched his mind for any related information, but in the end, he came up empty.
Onoki glanced over at Kurotsuchi, as if seeking her opinion.
"I don't remember either. Don't worry, Grandpa, you haven't lost your memory yet," Kurotsuchi said, trying to reassure him.
After the brief pause, Kurotsuchi managed to calm down a little. Since things had already unfolded, there was no point in dwelling on it. She decided to try to extract as much useful information as she could from Shiromo. Only with information could they come up with a countermeasure.
"It's normal that you don't remember. Like I said, it's only 'indirect involvement.' Let me explain the specifics."
Shiromo casually began recounting the conspiracy involving the Amegakure Village.
"Danzo of Konohagakure once sent his subordinates disguised as your Iwa ninjas to kill civilians and framed it on us, playing the game of 'drive the tiger to eat the wolf.' It caused the death of our leader and most of the first generation members."
Shiromo didn't hesitate to recount the tragic events from the Amegakure Village conspiracy.
As for whether Iwagakure's people would realize the Akatsuki's headquarters was in the Amegakure Village, it didn't matter anymore.
Since Shiromo had become Akatsuki's strategist, the organization no longer needed to hide in the shadows.
"Konohagakure?" Onoki and Kurotsuchi exchanged stunned looks.
So this was the "indirect involvement"?
"Danzo really is a despicable man... But if it's Konohagakure who did this, why are you targeting Iwagakure? You should be going after Konohagakure instead!" Onoki cursed Danzo and then asked, confused.
"To save Deidara," Shiromo answered flatly.
"Huh?" Onoki's brow furrowed.
"Is that all?"
Both Onoki and Kurotsuchi were still confused.
"Yeah. As for Konohagakure, we collected their blood as well, but as I said, we are a peace-loving organization. Unless our plans are directed at Konohagakure, we won't actively go after them."
"..."
Onoki's lips twitched.
Who would keep talking about being peace-loving all the time?
"I can let you leave, but I don't want your 'deterrence' to get out to the ordinary ninjas. It would cause unnecessary panic," Onoki said after a long moment of thought.
Even if he used his Dust Release to eliminate them right now, it wouldn't solve the problem. He decided to compromise for now.
"No problem," Shiromo said with a casual smile.
"As for Deidara, don't worry. We see him as both a comrade and, in some ways, family. We understand that you see him as a grandson or an elder brother, and we have the same sentiment."
Shiromo leaned forward slightly, his tone growing more serious.
"Let me tell you something about our organization's ultimate goal. We are trying to oppose an existence that threatens the entire shinobi world. We need to gather as many forces as possible. Eventually, we may have to cooperate with Iwagakure. So, in the end, we'll remain allies…"
He painted a picture of a grand alliance, and for a moment, Onoki and Kurotsuchi were almost swayed by it.
From the perspective of "Naruto," the main focus was always on Uzumaki Naruto. However, looking at things from another angle, a different world emerged.
Deidara's importance to Onoki was comparable to Naruto's importance to Sarutobi Hiruzen, and perhaps even more.
When Naruto heard about Sasuke's killing of Orochimaru, he cheered, he never considered that Orochimaru was his sensei Jiraiya's "Sasuke."
Human relationships were often complex, and in the shinobi world, misunderstandings between people were common. Even the closest of friends could fail to truly understand each other, and everyone was used to it.
But now, their feelings were being articulated by someone they had only just met, someone they had even considered an enemy.
It was a strange feeling.
"Given all this, can I join your organization?" Kurotsuchi suddenly asked, her voice firm.
"Kurotsuchi, what are you saying?" Onoki was taken aback by her sudden request.
What the hell? First Deidara, who was raised like a grandson, and now Kurotsuchi wants to leave too?
Kurotsuchi ignored Onoki's stunned expression, her dark eyes locked on Shiromo as she awaited his response.
"Sure," Shiromo replied, slightly surprised by the sudden request.
"You... you agreed?" Kurotsuchi blinked, momentarily speechless. She had expected a refusal and was already preparing for an argument, but Shiromo had agreed immediately.
"Aren't you worried that I might want to collect information from you or find a way to destroy the blood you've collected?" Kurotsuchi asked, genuinely puzzled.
Onoki, listening from the side, couldn't help but feel his lips twitch.
This granddaughter of mine... How is it that every time someone throws a little deception her way, she just spills her heart out like this?
"Why should I be worried? If you want to collect information, you'll need to understand us first. And if you understand us, you'll see our true intentions."
"You don't think I was just trying to fool you when I said 'the goal is for the safety of the entire ninja world,' do you?""
Shiromo shrugged.
For rational and calm people like Kurotsuchi, Shiromo could be straightforward and invite them to join the cause.
In his plans, the Five Great Shinobi Nations were always potential allies. The challenge was that the people from those nations wouldn't believe everything he said at face value.
They wouldn't believe easily, but they could be convinced through words and actions.
The only type of person who couldn't be reasoned with was the one who, no matter what you said, would stubbornly hold onto their own beliefs. Those who shouted about "friendship," "bonds," or "pain" and then charged in, believing that "the world cruelly destroys you, and now I'll destroy it in return", these people were beyond reason.
"No! You can't agree to this! Don't agree with her, Strategist!"
"Kurotsuchi is so boring, and her strength is lacking!"
"Her joining the organization will only lower our organization's prestige! Hmm!"
Deidara's voice suddenly echoed from the cave.
Kurotsuchi and Onoki were both startled.
Deidara, who had been hiding, was now speaking up, his tone clearly filled with irritation.
(End of this chapter)