Chapter 253: Hokage and the Hokage's Disciple
Compared to the original timeline where the Daimyo of the Land of This was killed, nobles across the country lay dead, and the Tenshukaku was completely leveled by Sasori's Performance of a Hundred Puppets, this time, there were actually quite a few more survivors.
How the Land of This and the Land of That would feud in the future was none of the Leaf Ninjas' concern. They escorted the captives and brought the injured back to the village with all haste.
Land of Rain.
The Masked Man Obito was still gazing out at the fine, drizzling rain.
Zetsu emerged soundlessly and without a trace.
He asked, "Deidara said Konan was captured by Leaf Ninjas. Will Nagato be okay?"
Akatsuki members had almost no opportunities for team building. They usually operated in separate groups, and if there was a situation, they'd just contact each other, and that was the end of it. Some members wouldn't see each other for years, a completely different style from the Kara organization, which established headquarters in an alternate dimension and frequently gathered there for coffee.
Obito's voice was calm. After watching the fine rain for a while, he said, "What problems could there be? Originally, it was just Deidara and Sasori's mission. He specifically sent Konan out, saying he wanted to observe the Nine-Tails up close, but actually..."
He paused here, and Zetsu, intrigued, pressed, "Actually, what?"
Obito's tone was mocking. "Actually, he was probably trying to give Konan an opportunity. Their hearts died with Yahiko long ago. The Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Ninja that Itachi Uchiha brought back wavered their resolve. Konan had been reading that book for the past few days. The cycle of hatred and war is a curse. Should I cut the curse? Hmph, Jiraiya's book is really childishly written."
Zetsu said sinisterly, "You mean... Nagato also wavered?"
Obito countered, "Does whether he wavers have anything to do with the outcome?"
Zetsu still didn't quite understand human ways of thinking. He felt that humans were often contradictory in what they said and did.
Obito seemed to recall something and spoke with a hint of recollection, "Nagato deceived Konan into carrying out this mission, hoping Konan would find the answer to the problem. Meanwhile, he would bear everything himself and walk that path alone. We don't need to go against his wishes. Cutting off this bond of friendship will make him descend even deeper into hell. This is good for us."
Obito turned and asked, "Who defeated Konan?"
"It was a female ninja from the Leaf Village, very young. She appears to be stronger than Kakashi was when he was promoted to Jonin at age 12," Zetsu said rather playfully.
Obito wore a mask, so nobody knew his expression. His tone was flat. "A genius from the Leaf Village? Before the Rinnegan, genius is meaningless."
Zetsu agreed, seemingly quite sincerely, "Hmm, I agree with your judgment."
Obito thought for a moment and said, "...It's actually good that Konan is gone. Nagato still needs a ninja by his side to relay messages. Go to Amegakure and help him find one."
"Alright."
"Also, Konan's ring must be brought back. The organization still needs some sense of ritual."
"Understood."
A day later, a female ninja named Ajisai entered Zetsu's sight. She was extremely devoted to Amegakure's "Angel." Upon hearing that the "Angel" had fallen and that she had a chance to become the new "Angel," she was full of joy and followed the Animal Path of the Six Paths of Pain into the iron gate of Amegakure's main tower.
The Leaf Ninjas and the samurai contingent split up, rushing back to the village at full speed.
Konan was a major criminal. Upon returning to the village, the Konoha Interrogation Department immediately incarcerated her. Kakashi, in his capacity as the Jonin Squad Leader, ordered Ibiki Morino and Inoichi Yamanaka to be fully prepared. They dressed Konan in a restraint garment marked with Chakra Suppressing Jutsu formulas, and the Sealing Squad set up layers of seals outside the prison cell.
All the ninjas who participated in the Land of This mission hurried to the Hokage Residence to report on the situation. Not even Hayate Gekko and Raido Namiashi, whose bodies were extremely weak from poisoning, were exceptions.
Ino was the captain of the bait squad, while Kakashi and Asuma were the captains of the two ambush squads. The three of them immediately reported the intelligence gathered during the mission to the Fifth Hokage. Ino focused on Konan's abilities; Jiraiya's expression subtly changed, but he said nothing. Asuma described Sasori's puppet control ability, and Kakashi spoke about Deidara's clay explosion ability.
The remaining members, Shikamaru, Genma Shiranui, and others, had little to add. Naruto squinted, seemingly wanting to voice his own opinion, but Shikamaru immediately covered his mouth, giving him no chance to speak at all.
After the reports concluded, many Jonin and Chunin, including Asuma and Ino, turned to leave. Kakashi remained. Subsequently, Shikaku Nara, Koharu Utatane, Homura Mitokado, and Danzo Shimura arrived one after another.
Literally no one had called Danzo, but upon hearing that the village had captured Konan, he immediately rushed to attend the meeting. Since he was already there, they couldn't just kick him out. Jiraiya shot him a rather disgusted look but said nothing.
Kakashi stated, "Lord Hokage, the Akatsuki are very powerful rogue ninjas. We cannot rule out the possibility that they will come to the village to rescue her. I believe the village's security should be strengthened."
Homura Mitokado disagreed. "Strengthen security? Kakashi, to what extent do you want to strengthen it?"
Kakashi replied seriously, "Raise the village's security level to the highest. The Sensor Squad and Medical Squad should prepare for wartime. The Konoha Academy should temporarily suspend classes, and simultaneously, the leave for all Jonin, Chunin, and Genin should be canceled, with everyone returning to their posts."
He actually believed they should close the village gates and triple the number of people defending the village perimeter. However, these matters, especially closing the village gates, were entirely within the Hokage's authority. Not only was he just a newly appointed Jonin Squad Leader, but even the three advisors didn't have the authority to close the village gates.
Koharu Utatane forced a smile. "Because of a rogue ninja from Amegakure captured by a Chunin, Konoha needs to be on this level of alert?"
Jiraiya had no intention of hiding the past. He said frankly, "Konan was once my disciple. I know her abilities very well; her secret techniques and taijutsu are both very strong. It's very difficult to defeat her, let alone capture her. Ino's ability to capture her is entirely a demonstration of her strength; it has nothing to do with her Chunin rank. We must take the Akatsuki seriously enough."
Koharu Utatane naturally knew these past events. Bringing it up now was intended to undermine the Hokage's authority and increase the importance of the advisors. She stopped after a slight attempt, saying nothing further.
Isn't it quite normal for a Hokage to produce one or two rogue ninjas? The Third Hokage had rogue ninja disciples, and now it seems the Fifth does too. Did the Fourth? Will the Sixth in the future? Who knows? Even if they do, it wouldn't be surprising; this is a tradition! If you don't produce one or two rogue ninjas, you don't even qualify to be Hokage. The reverse is also true; if you aren't a Hokage's disciple, you can't access those advanced ninjutsu, you won't know anything significant, and you won't even qualify to defect from the village.
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