https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-222-The-Bijuu-Capture-Plan-Continues/12553564/
Chapter 223: What About My Akatsuki?
Chapter 223: What About My Akatsuki?
Obito Uchiha had just returned from a trip to the Land of Lightning.
His mission: to gather information on the whereabouts of the Jinchuriki of the Two-Tails and the Eight-Tails.
Unlike Konoha and other hidden villages known for producing S-rank talents, Kirigakure was renowned for its lack of rogue ninjas.
Over the years, not a single ninja from Kirigakure had joined the ranks of the Akatsuki, a group comprised mostly of rogue ninjas.
Without any inside connections, the Akatsuki had the least amount of intelligence on Kirigakure.
Even with the exceptional infiltration and information-gathering abilities of the White Zetsu, the heavily fortified and militaristic nature of Kirigakure made it difficult to obtain core intelligence.
The movements of the Jinchuriki were among this critical intelligence.
Obito Uchiha's personal involvement in this mission wasn't solely for the immediate capture of the Two-Tails and Eight-Tails.
After all, he was waiting for the five great ninja villages and Hagoromo Otsutsuki to stir up chaos, providing him and the Akatsuki with an opportunity to profit from the turmoil.
This trip was merely a preliminary step to gather information and facilitate the smooth execution of their future Beast capture plans.
The mission proceeded without incident.
With Obito's unpredictable Spatial Jutsu and the White Zetsu's floating technique, they managed to avoid raising any alarms and successfully discovered the habits and frequent locations of the Jinchuriki of the Two-Tails and Eight-Tails.
Just as Obito returned to Amegakure, brimming with satisfaction and ready to share the intelligence with Pain, he found the highest tower of Amegakure, their usual meeting place, empty.
Obito glanced around the deserted tower, unconcerned at first, and casually asked, "Is Pain out on another mission?"
"It would be best to ask the White Zetsu here about this matter," replied Black Zetsu, who had accompanied Obito to the Land of Lightning.
Soon, a White Zetsu slowly rose from the ground, grinning as it spoke, "Pain has left to capture the Jinchuriki of the Six-Tails."
"News about the Six-Tails' Jinchuriki already? Excellent," Obito nodded in satisfaction.
Pain's dedication meant that his Project Tsuki no Me was one step closer to success.
If Pain, or rather Nagato, survived until the end, Obito, as the mastermind behind Infinite Tsukuyomi, wouldn't mind letting him live in the world as he envisioned, achieving peace in the ninja world in the way he desired.
This was a manifestation of his benevolence.
"However..."
The White Zetsu, who had just finished speaking, scratched its head, its smile fading slightly as it continued.
Obito and Black Zetsu immediately turned their attention to it.
"What is it?" Black Zetsu asked.
Having lived for a millennium, he disliked words like "however" and "but," as they often signaled unforeseen variables.
True to his suspicions, the White Zetsu shrugged and said, "It's just that the White Zetsu accompanying Pain hasn't sent any messages in the past two days. We don't know if they're slacking off or if something unexpected happened."
"No news from the White Zetsu?"
Obito's eyebrows furrowed.
This implied that Pain had been out of contact for two to three days.
While the White Zetsu were adept at infiltration, they had encountered troubles from time to time over the years.
After all, the ninja world was filled with all sorts of strange and dangerous creatures, and it was inevitable that the White Zetsu, who often walked a thin line, would occasionally go missing.
However, this time, Pain was with the White Zetsu.
Obito didn't think anyone could eliminate a White Zetsu under his watch.
Unless someone had defeated Pain? Obito shook his head, dismissing the thought.
Impossible.
With Pain's Rinnegan, he had few equals in the ninja world.
The only possible exception was Hagoromo.
Obito's expression darkened as he paused, his thoughts taking a troubling turn.
Based on his understanding, the most likely scenario he could think of was Yuyi Xuan Yue accidentally encountering Pain and taking his Rinnegan.
At this moment, Obito desperately hoped that his speculation was wrong.
In a hurried tone, he instructed Black Zetsu, "Black Zetsu, use the ring to contact Pain."
Obito, going by the alias Tobi, was not yet an official member of the Akatsuki and did not possess one of their rings.
Black Zetsu, fused with White Zetsu and encased in a pitcher plant, was one of the Four Symbols of the Akatsuki and naturally had a ring.
Black Zetsu nodded. He had an idea of what Obito was thinking and the possibility he feared.
'Could it really be Yuyi Xuan Yue's doing? Is his ability to act so extraordinary?' Black Zetsu wondered.
With a frown, Black Zetsu channeled chakra into the ring, sending out a thought wave.
If Pain wished to respond, he could receive the thought wave and manifest himself in a lantern-like form beside them for communication.
One second... five seconds... ten seconds... a minute passed.
There was no response from Pain.
"Something unexpected has happened!" Black Zetsu said in a low voice.
Obito fell silent.
The Rinnegan was an indispensable part of his plan.
If something happened to it, his carefully laid plans over so many years, his dream of creating a world with Rin, would all be reduced to bubbles.
He couldn't allow that to happen!
Obito forced himself to calm down and quickly gave instructions: "Send another team of White Zetsu to investigate the area where we lost contact! Don't leave any stone unturned!"
"Also, notify the other Akatsuki members to temporarily halt all missions and assemble at Base A3."
"Yes!"
Understanding that "Lord Madara" was in a bad mood, White Zetsu didn't dare to be careless and quickly acknowledged the order before sinking into the ground.
Instead of waiting idly, Obito immediately set out for the Secret Base of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
Black Zetsu, who had been pondering how this turn of events would affect him, saw Obito's sudden departure and followed suit.
Soon...
Inside the secret base, where the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path should have been, there was now an empty space.
Obito's spirit sank.
The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path was gone.
Without needing to wait for a report on the investigation, Obito knew that his speculations were mostly correct.
But that wasn't the end of it.
After some time, when the White Zetsu reported that all Akatsuki members were out of contact and presumably missing, Obito's hands trembled.
It had only been a few days since he had last returned.
Where was his Rinnegan?
Where was the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path?
What about his entire Akatsuki organization???
At the same time, Black Zetsu, who had also received the news, watched Obito's stunned state and stroked his chin, unable to resist thinking: "Speaking of which, is it still possible to switch sides now?"
(End of Chapter)
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