In a concealed chamber, Nagato shared his philosophy of peace with Deidara and Sasori, hoping for their agreement.
But their responses were far from supportive.
"Naive!"
"Unrealistic."
Deidara and Sasori dismissed his ideals outright.
"Peace achieved through power is fleeting," Sasori said, his tone calm but cutting. "It's like the era of Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha. Once they died, the shinobi world descended into war again."
"Leader, your methods treat the symptoms, not the cause," Deidara added with a shrug.
"Then, Deidara, what's your brilliant idea?" Konan asked, her voice edged with curiosity and challenge.
"Unify the Five Great Shinobi Villages," Deidara said confidently. "End the current one village, one nation system and establish true unification. Only then can peace be sustained. Even if occasional conflicts arise, the periods of peace will far outweigh the times of war. That's the only way to achieve lasting results."
"This..." Konan frowned, uncertain.
"If you want to go head-to-head with the Five Great Nations, it won't be easy," she said carefully, mindful of Nagato's feelings.
"Don't worry, Konan! God is invincible!" Nagato replied, his confidence radiating.
Deidara couldn't help rolling his eyes. Seriously? Can you be any less self-aware? he thought.
That scrawny body of yours, how many times can you even use the Six Paths of Pain?
Take the Super Shinra Tensei from the original timeline—looks impressive, but it barely managed to kill any skilled opponents. Konoha only suffered because they didn't have prior intel. If they knew about your condition, they'd outlast you, leaving you a wreck.
And don't forget the other four Great Nations!
"Leader," Deidara said, his tone biting. "Maybe gain a few pounds before claiming invincibility. Might make you more convincing."
"Shinra—!"
"Leader, I was wrong! Please, save your strength for the real battles ahead!"
Nagato, ever the idealist, often displayed a naivety that left Konan exasperated. In many ways, she felt more like an older sister taking care of an impulsive younger brother.
"Nagato, let Deidara finish," Konan urged. "Even the Sage of Six Paths needed the help of allies."
Deidara continued, unfazed. "We've talked about forming a unified shinobi village. You already have Amegakure, don't you? With the recent addition of rogue Mist shinobi, Amegakure's strength has grown significantly."
"And the Land of Rain, being at the crossroads of the Fire, Wind, and Earth nations, is the perfect staging ground. Expand from there, and you could control the entire continent."
"Isn't that destiny?"
"Destiny, huh?" Nagato mused, the idea appealing to his god complex.
"But the Five Great Nations harbor deep hostility toward Amegakure," Konan reminded them. "Just recently, Sunagakure and Konoha joined forces to ambush us. It's likely the work of Madara behind the scenes. Under such pressure, developing Amegakure will be incredibly difficult."
"Simple. Find a powerful ally and let them tear each other apart first," Deidara suggested.
"Which ally? Iwagakure?" Konan asked. Given Deidara's relatively mild departure from his home village, it seemed like a logical choice.
"Of course not. I know my old master, Ōnoki," Deidara said, waving off the suggestion. "That cautious and cunning old man would only exploit Amegakure."
"Then the Wind Nation? But Sunagakure is too weak," Konan pondered.
"No, it has to be the Fire Nation," Deidara declared.
"The Fire Nation?!"
"So, you let those Konoha shinobi go on purpose?" Konan asked, perplexed.
"Of course. If Hiruzen Sarutobi remains Hokage, it's impossible to form an alliance. But Konoha has a wildcard: Danzo Shimura. Ambitious and egotistical, he'd leap at the chance to gain an advantage."
Think about the original timeline. Danzo tried to fight a Susanoo with a kunai, used Kotoamatsukami recklessly in a single meeting, and wasted Izanagi as if he had infinite lives. If he becomes Hokage, Amegakure will have its opportunity!
"But Sarutobi won't step down so easily," Konan said. Replacing a village leader was no simple task.
"Leave that to me. We'll need Orochimaru's help," Deidara revealed.
"Didn't you say he escaped and couldn't be found?" Nagato interjected, finally catching a flaw in the conversation.
Why does it feel like I'm just a figurehead here? My subordinates discuss plans I barely understand.
"Ah! Haha!" Deidara laughed awkwardly, realizing he'd let something slip.
"I've been working with Orochimaru a bit. Leader, someone like him is too valuable to kill outright. He's still researching Hashirama's cells. I'll bring some back to strengthen your body so you don't look like you're on your deathbed all the time."
"Get out!" Nagato snapped.
The next day, the long-awaited Akatsuki meeting convened. This time, Nagato shared his true vision for peace. While his methods were criticized, his conviction won approval.
Itachi Uchiha felt conflicted. He had always viewed Akatsuki as a dark, evil organization. But now, it seemed they were pursuing a noble cause.
He, too, yearned for peace. Otherwise, why would he have made such an unfathomable choice between his village and clan? Now faced with a greater vision, he wondered: Should he dedicate himself to this cause or continue upholding the narrow ideals of his village?
Hoshigaki Kisame found himself similarly torn. The plan sounded as promising as Madara's vision. Which side should he support?
Kakuzu dismissed the ideals outright. "I only believe in money. Is there truly something worth pursuing more than wealth?"
Hidan scoffed. "I don't care about any of this! I just want to pray to Jashin!"
"If you kill indiscriminately again, Hidan," Kakuzu warned, "don't blame me if I kill you first."
"Ha! You think you can kill me?"
As their usual bickering filled the room, Kisame turned to Deidara.
"By the way, that explosive blade, Shibuki, is still with me. We're in the Land of Birds now—come pick it up."
The explosive blade!
Good fortune seemed to keep coming Deidara's way.
(End of Volume 1. As seen, Volume 2 will delve deeper into conquest and expansion, with new elements introduced. With Danzo as Hokage, what twists await Konoha? Stay tuned—everything is for Konoha!)
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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