Chapter 356: Pain: Haneda, Konan and I Have Prepared Six Trillion Explosive Tags
Tobi stared at Kakashi with confusion. Suddenly, he crossed his arms and, in a bashful tone, said:
"Kakashi-san~ I know you have a crush on me, but I already like someone else."
???
Now it was Kakashi's turn to be utterly baffled.
Pointing to the sun overhead, his face darkened as he replied, "What I meant is, it's almost noon. I'm going home to cook. You're invited."
Hearing this, Tobi immediately adopted a more serious demeanor. He held his chin, pondering, as if hesitating.
After a few seconds, he said:
"Hehe, I've heard the Captain of the Hokage's Anbu is also skilled in cooking. Looks like I'm in for a feast!"
With that, Tobi eagerly started running in the direction ahead.
But…
"You're running the wrong way, Tobi!"
"Oh! Oh! I swear this was the way!" Tobi muttered as he turned around.
He followed Kakashi, wondering where Kakashi was leading him.
He clearly remembered that Kakashi's house was in the direction he had just run!
After walking for about ten minutes, the surroundings became increasingly familiar.
In recent years, Konoha had changed dramatically. The closer they got to the center of the village, the more apparent the changes were.
Buildings were being torn down and rebuilt everywhere, with various modern structures rising tall from the ground.
However, one place stood out—it had never been touched by the wave of renovations.
That was the Uchiha Clan's district.
"We're here."
Kakashi stopped at a small courtyard and pushed open the gate. Turning around, he saw Tobi still standing at the entrance and chuckled.
"What's the matter? Don't like entering a stranger's house?"
Tobi didn't respond. A flash of blood-red shone in his right eye as he stared at Kakashi.
The sharp wind adjusted Kakashi's tilted forehead protector, revealing his Mangekyō Sharingan.
After a brief silence, Tobi shifted his mask slightly and, with his previously cheerful voice now darkened, said:
"This is my home."
"And by the way, your eye is nearly blind."
Kakashi maintained his usual smile. "I know."
"Come on. You've been riding trains for days. It's been a while since you've had a proper meal. Follow me."
Kakashi entered the house.
Kakashi had been to Obito's house many times in the past, so he knew it well.
He led Obito inside with practiced ease, guiding him to the kitchen and putting on an apron that hung behind the door.
From who knows where, he pulled out two river fish.
Skillfully, he gutted the fish, bled them, prepared the ingredients, and lit the stove.
Unfortunately, the stove hadn't been used in years and was slightly broken. Kakashi fiddled with it for quite a while before managing to ignite the fire.
Just like the fish, various vegetables and seasonings seemed to appear magically in his hands.
As the river fish sizzled in the oil, a rich aroma filled the room.
Obito stood at the kitchen door, one hand resting against the wall, his fingers pressing into the white surface.
Familiar memories flooded his mind.
"Pan-fried river fish, Kakashi-style."
"You should sit down. I'm going out to buy drinks."
Kakashi walked past Obito, who instinctively stepped aside to let him through.
Obito glanced at the table, where the pan-fried river fish had been served, and then looked at Kakashi's retreating figure.
It wasn't until he heard the sound of the door opening and closing that Obito slumped into the chair by the table.
He stared at the river fish in front of him, lost in thought.
...
In the Hokage's office, only Haneda, Pain, and Konan were present.
The doors and windows were tightly shut, and the corridors were eerily silent.
ANBU operatives stood guard around the office, making this the most secure place in Konoha.
"If there's something important, just say it here. I've used detection jutsu to ensure there's no Zetsu around."
"You can rest assured—I'm very familiar with them. They wouldn't dare come near me."
Haneda's voice echoed in the office.
Pain sat across from Haneda, his arms resting on the table, hands clasped together.
"Konan and I have prepared six trillion explosive tags. We're planning to take action against Madara."
"What?" Haneda, who had just taken a sip of tea to soothe his throat, nearly spat it out on Pain's face.
"Six trillion explosive tags? That many? That's absurdly expensive—it's unnecessary!"
"Fifty thousand explosive tags can barely fit on a cart. Six trillion could cover an entire ocean. You could win a war or destroy a country with that amount!"
"Why not sell them instead and use the funds for development? Wouldn't that be better?" Haneda tried to reason.
Six trillion explosive tags! Six trillion!
Kakuzu would cry if he heard this.
Spending this much just to deal with Obito? Was it really necessary?
What had Obito done to deserve being bombarded with six trillion explosive tags?
Pain shook his head. "Madara is too dark and too dangerous. I have no other way to handle him. Konan is the only one with a chance."
"Do you know what a puppeteer is, Haneda?"
Haneda nodded. "Yes, someone who fights from behind the scenes using puppets. Sasori was one of them."
Pain continued, "That's what I am—a puppet. Pain is just a code name. This body belonged to Yahiko. The real me is Nagato."
Haneda had known this for a while, but he appropriately feigned a shocked expression as he looked at Pain.
Pain gave a bitter smile. "The real me is just a cripple, worse than a cripple, even. I rely on a summoned creature called the Gedo Statue to keep me alive."
"There are six Pains in total, called the Six Paths of Pain. Each one has unique abilities, and their power comes from the Rinnegan, the legendary eyes of the Sage of Six Paths."
"Yahiko is the strongest of the Pains. He's called the Deva Path and can manipulate gravity and repulsion."
"But Pain poses no real threat to Madara. He could appear before me at any moment and kill me."
"That's why Konan has been stockpiling explosive tags to prepare for him."
"It would have taken ten more years to gather six trillion tags, but certain events sped up the process."
"Konan and I have decided to support you in killing Madara and building a bridge to peace. We'll be your pillars!"
Konan added, "That's right. Nagato and I trust you, Haneda!"
"All along, you've worked tirelessly for peace and happiness, for both shinobi and ordinary people alike."
"Hybrid rice and high-yield wheat have eradicated hunger in the Land of Fire and alleviated it in neighboring countries."
"The railways have truly united the Land of Fire and brought prosperity to the Land of Rain and the Land of Bears."
"The Ox-leg mushroom eliminated famine in the Land of Rain, and the trains have brought a bright future."
"Konoha thrives because of you, the Land of Fire prospers because of you, the Land of Rain develops because of you, and the Land of Rain has stopped crying because of you."
"You are the true Child of Prophecy, the one Jiraiya-sensei said would save the world!"
"Madara is darkness. In a world of light, he will only wither. We must help you eliminate him!"
"This is the unanimous will of Nagato, Yahiko, and the entire Akatsuki organization!"
Actually…
It wasn't necessary.
Haneda didn't say this out loud. Instead, he nodded in agreement.
"I understand, but I plan to use him."
"A long time ago, I made a plan to start the Fourth Great Ninja War, establish a federation, and unite the world."
???
Nagato and Konan simultaneously looked at him with utter confusion.
Had they been too conservative?