After Akihiko departed, White Zetsu's curiosity got the better of him, and he inquired of Madara, who had not broached the topic of the Infinite Tsukuyomi, "Is that all, Madara-sama?"
Madara, maintaining a composed demeanor, responded, "There's no need to rush. Let me first assess his potential." He gradually opened his eyes, briefly acknowledging White Zetsu with a glance before closing them once more, refraining from further elaboration.
In truth, over the course of these past few years, Madara had come to realize that his initial plan was overly simplistic. The path to achieving peace in the Shinobi world was far more intricate than he had once presumed.
Yet, what purpose would it serve to share these insights with his subordinates, especially the fool... As if prompted by a recollection, he reopened his eyes and reprimanded the nearby Zetsu, saying, "You fool! Stop collecting garbage, I don't want to eat that stuff you bring at all!"
"Understood, Madara-sama," Zetsu replied cheerfully.
…
Upon his return to the Land of Rain, Akihiko still wore a perplexed expression. He couldn't help but entertain doubts, did Uchiha Madara suffer from some form of mental instability? Or had he simply lost his grip on reality?
Amidst the chaos of war, with Konoha in disarray, they had been unable to properly guide Obito towards the path of darkness, Yet, Madara's decision was to direct the young man toward further education. Did they not realize that Obito had long since graduated? Moreover, Obito was still hailed as a hero in Konoha, did he truly require additional schooling? And as for Black Zetsu, had he abandoned any hope of rescuing his mother? One only needed to glance at the state of Madara to understand the gravity of the situation.
"Just when I thought I could enjoy a few days in the Land of Grass upon my return, they've managed to disrupt it all," Akihiko sighed. "As for White Zetsu... Well, forget it. If I were to suddenly assign him some tasks, even I, as the leader of the Land of Grass, would feel awkward making the request."
Perhaps it was wiser to establish some connections first. Then, when the time came for Madara to bid farewell, Obito would become…Obito would probably be back in school studying. In this manner, only Akihiko left who could inherit Madara's will and guide the hundred thousand White Zetsus in the future.
"Speaking of which, some time ago, I dispatched Mubuki to Kikyo Pass. I wonder how that mission turned out?" Before he could even finish the sentence, a familiar voice chimed in.
"I'm back, Leader!" Hearing that unmistakable and somewhat irritating voice, Akihiko was mildly surprised. He raised his gaze to find a dust-covered yet elated Mubuki striding in.
"Leader, I've performed a great service for the Land of Grass this time," he declared proudly, standing tall with a self-satisfied grin. "I've kept your development plan for the Land of Grass in mind all along, even during my solitary journeys. I haven't forgotten a single word you said."
Akihiko couldn't help but interrupt him, a subtle twitch forming on his lips. "Could you please explain yourself more clearly?"
"The Talent Acquisition Plan! That's the one. It's the cornerstone of your vision," Mubuki reminded Akihiko, emphasizing the pivotal role this plan had played in the Land of Grass's prosperity.
"I'm well aware of that," Akihiko affirmed. How could he forget it? He remained dedicated to seeking new talents, and White Zetsu were indeed a unique form of talent, albeit with a different role and allegiance than Grass Village. Nevertheless, Akihiko never lost sight of the plan he had meticulously crafted.
"I recall your instructions, that so long as they possess the talent and steer clear of grossly immoral deeds, whether they're Genin, Chunin, or Jonin, we should welcome them into the village," Mubuki recounted with a contented smile. "This time, I encountered two remarkably gifted individuals. Despite their previous defection, my investigation revealed their fundamentally good character, and kindness, and they are good boy and girl. They're also quite young. Once they arrive here, they can receive an education tailored to the Land of Grass."
Akihiko found himself momentarily speechless, as he had a strong inkling of who Mubuki was referring to. His lips twitched, and he uttered, "I appreciate your efforts."
"No need for gratitude, Leader. This is the duty of every Grass ninja," Mubuki assured, his hand patting his chest in a display of righteous resolve. "I went to great lengths to investigate this case. That young man is someone who aids elderly ladies in crossing the street every day."
Mubuki paused for a moment, releasing a deep sigh. "Did you know he was bestowed with the title of hero in Konoha? Quite an outstanding young man, indeed."
Once again, Akihiko found himself rendered speechless by Mubuki's manner of speaking. But he decided to let it go, what was the point of dwelling on such matters now? He was fairly certain about whom Mubuki was referring to.
Nevertheless, Akihiko rolled his eyes and responded with rather muted enthusiasm, "Alright, but how did you manage to recruit such significant talents? Did you sneak into Konoha or something?"
"Not at all. Do you remember what worked the last time we recruited?" Mubuki shook his head and explained, "I simply handed him two copies of the Grass Talent Recruitment Plan as he passed by. I believe he understood."
"Seems like he really defected," Akihiko mused, sighing. "I didn't anticipate that Konoha would ultimately make that decision."
"They didn't have much of a choice. The war erupted at Kikyo Pass, and the combined forces of Suna and Iwa attacked, putting immense pressure on Konoha. Simultaneously, Kiri threatened Konoha and bolstered its border ninja numbers. In a bid to conclude the war swiftly, Konoha's inner circle pressed the Hokage to reach a decision," Mubuki explained, shaking his head as he painted a vivid picture of the mounting pressures weighing on Konoha.
Mubuki sighed deeply. This war had escalated to levels surpassing even the First Shinobi World War. Sadly, Grass Village couldn't afford to sell intelligence anymore, otherwise, it was conceivable that the Five Great Shinobi Nations would be locked in even fiercer conflict.
Upon hearing this revelation, Akihiko rose from his seat, a deep frown creasing his brow. "Wait a moment. You mentioned the Kikyo battle. Has it already begun?"
Mubuki nodded somberly. "Indeed, I was just about to brief you. It erupted suddenly, and by the time I gathered the information, it was already two or three days into the conflict. I was on the scene at the time, and it sent shivers down my spine. Is something amiss?" he inquired, noting Akihiko's perturbed expression.
"War..." Akihiko, instead of answering directly, stood up and knitted his brows. "It's drawing to a close."
The news of the Kikyo battle had led Akihiko to this realization. However, the impending end of the war posed potential dangers for Grass Village. Akihiko paused, deep in thought.
Upon hearing Akihiko's words, Mubuki responded with a startled, "What?!"
"The war... it's coming to an end," Akihiko confirmed. Before Mubuki could probe further, he continued, "I have an extremely important mission for you, Mubuki."
"Hmm?" Mubuki raised an eyebrow upon hearing the tone in his leader's voice, and without hesitation, he assured, "I pledge to fulfill this mission."
"Come closer," Akihiko beckoned, prompting Mubuki to lean in. The cautious demeanor of his leader left him feeling apprehensive; it was evident that this mission carried significant challenges. As for any hesitation, Mubuki knew that reluctance would likely result in writing numerous ideological essays.
However, after a brief pause and upon hearing Akihiko's instructions, Mubuki lifted his head, gazing at Akihiko with a quizzical expression. He voiced his concerns, "Leader, didn't you mention that we've moved beyond this sort of work and shouldn't engage in such activities anymore? Moreover..."
Pausing for a moment, he continued, "Isn't this somewhat unethical for us? Even as Grass Ninja, it feels somewhat excessive."
"Set that aside for now. Tell me... what's the value of this information?" Akihiko dismissed Mubuki's concerns with a wave of his hand.
"Well, it's worth at least 100 million," Mubuki paused briefly before providing an answer.
Upon hearing Mubuki's response, Akihiko nodded in satisfaction. "Very well, go ahead and sell it."
Mubuki regarded Akihiko with a perplexed expression, as if silently questioning, 'Are you absolutely sure about this?'
…
Several days later, In Konoha, following Uchiha Obito's defection and the outbreak of the Kikyo battle, the atmosphere within the village had grown increasingly tense.
At this moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, sat in contemplation, a cigarette smoldering in an ashtray before him, as he examined two ninja profiles resting on his desk. One bore the name of Nohara Rin, while the other displayed the identity of Uchiha Obito.
Torn by his own hesitations and the relentless village rumors, the young girl had decided to take a stand, offering herself to the Mist Village in exchange for peace and Konoha's protection. With their subsequent defection, the situation had grown infinitely more complex.
Hiruzen sighed, his hand moving to massage his furrowed brow. He muttered to himself, "At this pivotal juncture, where has Danzo disappeared to? Doesn't he comprehend the gravity of the village's circumstances? Is he running amok in every direction? What could he possibly be thinking? Has he no inkling of a shinobi's duty and responsibility?"
Following the expression of his concerns, Hiruzen shook his head, as if attempting to dispel his anxieties. He then turned his attention to the Anbu ninja nearby and declared, "Never mind; let's have Minato track down that child."
"Understood." The Anbu ninja, wearing a fox mask, accepted the orders and promptly departed. However, before they could leave the room, another Anbu ninja, this one donning a dog mask, burst in with urgency. "Hokage-sama, urgent intelligence!"
"Urgent intelligence? Could it be that the Mist or the Sand has breached our defenses?" Hiruzen Sarutobi's brow furrowed, his gaze filled with concern. He accepted the intelligence report handed to him and scrutinized it closely.
In an instant, his body trembled, his eyes widening in disbelief. The cigarette in his hand slipped from his fingers and dropped to the floor as he stared in stunned silence at the contents of the report.
Grass Village... Could they truly be involved in such a scheme like this?
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