Time slips by silently, and before we know it, three years have passed.
These three years in the ninja world seemed calm, but this was just the peace before the storm.
After the merger of the Land of Fire's Konoha, the Land of Water's Mist, and the Land of Wind's Sand, their military strength skyrocketed to the pinnacle of the ninja world. Especially in these three years, Uchiha Yoru's policies have brought the so-called Daimyos back to earth.
During this time, Daimyos of various countries felt endangered and secretly formed alliances, vigorously developing their military forces.
In these three years, the entire ninja world almost entered a state of exhaustive military engagement.
Especially the Rock and Cloud villages, leading the other smaller ninja villages, have combined their forces unprecedentedly under the pretense of the Daimyos, growing stronger than ever.
However, everyone could foresee the severity of the next Great Ninja War.
Rain Village.
Under the gloomy sky drizzling rain, members of the Akatsuki organization unexpectedly gathered outside the village.
In their red cloud, black cloaked uniforms, figures emerged.
"Explosions are art, Brother Sasori," exclaimed Deidara of the Artistic Faction excitedly, while Sasori remained silent and indifferent, as if not hearing the buzzing fly.
"Damn it, at this time we should be looking for sacrifices for Lord Jashin," grumbled Hidan.
"Shut up, Hidan, or I'll sew your mouth shut," threatened Kakuzu.
With Akatsuki members Zetzu, Asuma, Masked Obito, Kakuzu, Hidan, Sasori, and Deidara appearing, Deidara's eyes widened in surprise as Konan and the leader Pain made their entrance.
"What kind of operation requires the full mobilization of Akatsuki? Are we going to capture the Nine-Tails right away?" wondered Deidara.
Sasori hoarsely replied, "Perhaps."
Everyone secretly speculated about the scale of the operation, especially with the leader involved.
Pain's mysterious Rinnegan eyes emitted a mystical aura. Even his subordinates observed him closely.
The mysteries of the Rinnegan were too profound.
Under the dark, rainy sky, how long it had been, no one knew. Although the Akatsuki stood drenched and cool in the rain, they were confused and stood for over half an hour, even Hidan scratching his head and looking up at the sky.
"Kakuzu, why are we just standing here for so long? Even if it's for a commemorative photo of the organization, this seems excessive," questioned Hidan.
"Shut up, Hidan," retorted Kakuzu, with his green eyes glaring at Hidan, but he too looked towards their leader, Pain.
Even Masked Obito narrowed his eyes, contemplating Pain's intentions.
Finally, Pain reacted, lifting his head, his cold Rinnegan eyes gazing ahead.
"They're here."
In an instant, all members of Akatsuki turned their attention to the distance.
Through the hazy curtain of rain, several figures slowly appeared before the Akatsuki, shocking the rest of the members.
Many of them were on high alert.
"Is the leader going to settle the score and determine who is the true god of the ninja world?" exclaimed Hidan excitedly, while Kakuzu had no time for such talk, already on full alert.
A silhouette gradually appeared; it was the robust figure of Uchiha Yoru in front of everyone, his face bearing a faint smile.
Following behind him was a young man dressed similarly to him, Uchiha Sasuke. The only difference was a slight variation in their hairstyles.
Another person was Gaara, carrying a gourd and having a red 'love' character tattooed on his forehead, also a one-tail Jinchūriki.
There were also the white-haired Kimimaro, the burly Jugo, and Hōzuki Suigetsu with a large sword on his back.
The blonde Ino had a purple-blue seal on her forehead, a Yin Seal, indicating she had learned Tsunade's techniques over the years, and she walked beside Uchiha Yoru, along with the red-haired Uzumaki Karin.
"Lord Yoru, every member of the Akatsuki has terrifyingly unique chakra. Even the weakest, Asuma, has chakra vastly different from three years ago, containing three types of chakra, as if... as if..."
At this moment, Uzumaki Karin seemed to think of something. She pushed up her glasses, leaned closer to Uchiha Yoru, and whispered, "It's similar to Danzō's chakra. The right side of his body has Hashirama's cells, and his right eye possesses the Sharingan to keep it in check."
Uzumaki Karin, standing at 1.63 meters, appeared more mature. Wearing a crop top and black thigh-high stockings, she deliberately chose high heels, seemingly to close the height gap with Uchiha Yoru.
Her red hair and glasses, along with the same Yin Seal on her forehead, proved she had also learned Tsunade's forbidden techniques.
But even so, there was a cute contrast in height between Uzumaki Karin and Uchiha Yoru.
"Oh, so Asuma has learned from Danzō. But it seems they no longer have any more Sharingan."
At this time, Uchiha Yoru narrowed his eyes and looked at Obito, indicating that the latter was also trying to enhance Asuma's abilities, as the plan to collect the Tailed Beasts was about to begin.
Uchiha Sasuke, Gaara, Kimimaro, Jugo, Hōzuki Suigetsu, Uzumaki Karin, and Yamanaka Ino, seven young ninjas, followed behind Uchiha Yoru, their powerful aura no less than that of the Akatsuki.
Among them, Zetzu with a yin-yang face hoarsely said, "Be careful, the seven kids behind Uchiha Yoru all have strong chakra, and they each have a cursed seal on their necks."
"A cursed seal?" Hidan was obviously unaware of this and looked confused. Kakuzu then explained in a deep voice.
"It's similar to the cursed seal researched by Orochimaru. According to reports, releasing the cursed seal significantly increases a ninja's speed, strength, and the power of their ninjutsu."
Hearing Kakuzu's report, everyone became wary. These seven 'kids' were so young, yet they already posed a threat.
"Wow, should our team have a cool name too? Look at Akatsuki, even their uniforms are cool."
Sure enough, every team has a chatterbox. On one side, Hōzuki Suigetsu excitedly pointed at the uniforms of Akatsuki, and then looked at their own, which were quite unique.
"What should we call our team? Snake organization? No, that's not good! Since we're following the boss, how about calling it the 'Divine Team'?"
"Shut up, Suigetsu!"
Uchiha Sasuke, who had been deliberately maintaining his composure, couldn't help but grunt. He had worked hard to learn from Teacher Yoru, but Hōzuki Suigetsu was just dragging them down.
"Hey, hey, Sasuke, you might be stronger than me, but you're not the boss of this team."
At this moment, Hōzuki Suigetsu stared with wide eyes, clearly not willing to listen to Sasuke. However, Uzumaki Karin, who was at the front, enjoying her time walking in the rain with Uchiha Yoru, was suddenly disrupted by Hōzuki Suigetsu.
"Shut up!"
In the moment she turned, Uzumaki Karin's chilling gaze instantly made Hōzuki Suigetsu cover his mouth.
But he still sulkily said, "You might be stronger than Sasuke, but you're not my boss."
Looking at Hozuki Suigetsu who is still stubborn, the others are used to it and remain calm, while Yamanaka Ino, with her blonde hair, teases: "So, Suigetsu, who is your boss? Lord Yoru doesn't take kindly to the weak."
Teased like this, Hozuki Suigetsu snorted coldly, showing a proud expression, "Don't underestimate me. I have almost mastered the secret techniques of the Second Mizukage."
"Second Mizukage's secret technique?" Everyone looks serious upon hearing this, but only Uzumaki Karin mocks, "How close is almost? Haven't you learned it yet?"
Suddenly, everyone realizes, remembering Hozuki Suigetsu's character, and shows a look of disdain.
Hozuki Suigetsu feels wronged, "You wait! I will definitely learn the strongest secret techniques of our Hozuki clan."
Now, with the merging of the Mist Village and Konoha, the ninjutsu records of the Second Mizukage Hozuki Gengetsu are naturally available. This is different from the original story where Hozuki Suigetsu, as a rogue ninja, had no place to learn his clan's techniques.
The Second Mizukage Hozuki Gengetsu's special water-style ninjutsu with oil is very powerful.
As the two sides confront each other outside the Rain Village, Uzumaki Karin, with the strongest sensory ability, has lost her shyness. She is only serious and ready to go all out at the first sign of trouble.
"Be careful, the people opposite are veteran S-rank rogue ninjas, powerful enough to threaten the Kages of the great ninja villages."
In the original story, Uzumaki Karin is a sensory ninja with outstanding analytical ability. With better guidance in this life, she is even more outstanding.
As the ninjas from both sides are on guard, Uchiha Yoru and the leader of the Akatsuki organization, Pain, slowly step forward.
"Mr. Yoru."
The opening scene confuses everyone in the Akatsuki organization. Pain, the cool and mysterious leader with the revered Rinnegan, shows such respect to someone, as if a student meeting a teacher.
Even Masked Obito is confused, wondering when the two became so close. Deidara and Hidan are even more shocked.
"Mr. Yoru, now holding half of the ninja world in his hands, was too modest back then."
Years later, upon meeting again, Pain can't help but sigh. Who would have thought that a young man, just a regular Jonin back then, now holds the power to change the ninja world?
Even Pain and Konan thought that Uchiha Yoru, despite his ambitions, lacked the power to change the ninja world, so he wrote his ideal world in a book.
But now, he has almost achieved half of his dream.
"You're not bad either. The Akatsuki organization has accumulated countless wealth over the years, and even set their sights on the Tailed Beasts."
Uchiha Yoru's light words make everyone in the Akatsuki tense, especially since the Nine-Tails and One-Tail are now in their hands.
However, Pain nods seriously, "As Mr. Yoru said, the path to peace is also full of sacrifices."
"If we join forces, I'll control the Tailed Beasts, the weapons of war that intimidate the ninja world, to help you unify it and reduce bloodshed."
Masked Obito becomes nervous inside, seeing Pain's plan.
However, Uchiha Yoru just laughs, "You're right, peace does require bloodshed. But you should have read my book. The ninja world, with such a small territory for expansion, do you think it can accommodate two gods?"
Uchiha Yoru's casual remark is full of explosive implications.
However, Pain nods calmly, "True, the throne of the god of ninja can only hold one person, but before that, perhaps we can cooperate."
"I want the Tailed Beasts, you want the ninja world. Just like the final battle between Hashirama and Madara Uchiha that determined the fate of the ninja world."
Pain also had his own pride, but the cold-hearted Konan was filled with sorrow. Nagato, had you foreseen your own death?
At that moment, Uchiha Yoru and Pain locked eyes, and a smile gradually appeared on Uchiha Yoru's face.
He saw composure and determination. However, in the next moment, Uchiha Yoru's pupils emitted a crimson light, and the Mangekyō Sharingan was revealed.
In an instant, the two entered a genjutsu world.
In a world of peace and beauty, they faced each other with no one else around, and all secrets remained unexplored.
"Mr. Yoru."
With no one else around, Pain lowered his stance and respectfully nodded.
"My Rinnegan, as you said, Mr. Yoru, is indeed part of a conspiracy, but the unification and peace of the ninja world cannot be delayed."
Over the years of secret experiments, he realized that his Rinnegan, which he took pride in, was not truly his, meaning he had been living in a conspiracy from a young age.
In the illusion, Uchiha Yoru was also calm, and with so many secrets already leaked, he no longer worried about others.
In Pain's astonished eyes, Uchiha Yoru's Mangekyō Sharingan slowly transformed into a purple Rinnegan, filling him with ecstasy.
"Mr. Yoru, you! You've awakened the Rinnegan!"
Seeing the excited Pain, Uchiha Yoru nodded slightly and said solemnly, "Indeed, with the awakening of the Rinnegan, I can see further. This conspiracy might involve the entire ninja world."
"So, Mr. Yoru, the Tailed Beasts!"
Uchiha Yoru raised his hand to stop Pain, saying solemnly, "The person hiding in the shadows has not yet emerged. We will proceed quietly and slowly, and I have also discovered many secrets."
"Naruto and Sasuke, both of their chakras contain a certain terrifying and powerful will. However, through research over the years, the will within Sasuke has been suppressed."
"But Naruto's will is more terrifying and firm, so remember, when capturing the Nine-Tails, do not act personally."
"I understand, Mr. Yoru. What about the weapon to seal the Tailed Beasts?"
After realizing he was part of a conspiracy, Pain had prepared for the worst and did not want the terrifying Gedo Statue to fall into others' hands.
Upon hearing this, Uchiha Yoru simply smiled, "Don't worry, this is key to luring out the person behind the scenes."
…
In the world of illusion, a long time may have passed, but for those outside, it was just a moment.
Both sides saw only a flash of crimson light in Uchiha Yoru's eyes, and then the next moment, after exchanging glances, both of them smiled.
Clearly, both sides knew that the two had reached some sort of cooperation in the world of illusion.