https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-267-The-Only-Choice-Left-is-Sasuke-s-Path/12553621/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-269-Konoha-in-Anxious-Anticipation/12553628/
Chapter 268: Blackmail
Chapter 268: Blackmail
On the battlefield shrouded in smoke and scarred by battle, Kakuzu, now with only two lives left, and Hidan, with a severed arm, stood battered and disheveled, their gazes fixed on the figure clad in the black and red uniform of the Akatsuki.
"Ah Fei! You've kept this hidden so well!" Hidan grit his teeth in anger.
Of course, he recognized Ah Fei. The other man had joined Akatsuki before him but had always been considered a provisional member due to his lack of strength.
But now, as he looked at Ah Fei, who had just pushed him and Kakuzu to the brink of defeat, he questioned that assessment.
Was this what they called weakness?
"Spacial Ninjutsu!"
Kakuzu, ever knowledgeable, understood the source of Ah Fei's power. With a grave expression, he said, "I never expected there to be someone like you in the organization. It seems we all misjudged you."
"Only those of you who were unaware have misjudged me," replied Obito Uchiha, standing tall and unharmed. "Pain is well aware of my existence. After all, I am the one who founded the Akatsuki and its true leader."
"What??"
Kakuzu and Hidan's faces twisted in shock at the revelation.
Ah Fei was the true leader of the Akatsuki?
Obito Uchiha smiled coldly and continued, "Now, what should I do with you two traitors of the Akatsuki?"
Kakuzu and Hidan had no time to think, their faces hardening as they prepared for battle once more.
To their surprise, Obito made no move to attack. Instead, he looked at them and said calmly, "In light of the contributions you have made to the Akatsuki in the past, I will give you a chance to live."
"Go back and tell Huyi Xuan Yue that if he wants the Jinchuriki of the Two-Tails, he must meet me in person, in front of the Outer Path Statue that he stole from me."
"Otherwise, he will never obtain the Two-Tails."
Obito provided the location for the meeting and then departed, taking the Two-Tails Jinchuriki, who had served as bait, with him. The spiral-shaped space-time distortion that emanated from his eyes signaled his disappearance.
Kakuzu and Hidan breathed a sigh of relief as they watched him leave.
Hidan picked up his severed arm from the ground and had Kakuzu reattach it before asking, "Now what?"
They had intended to impress their new leader on their first mission from him, but things had not gone as planned.
Hidan, whose life was still in the leader's hands, wore a troubled expression.
Kakuzu, emotionless, retracted the Earth Grudge Fear, and said, "What else can we do? We tell the leader the truth."
Hidan resigned himself to their fate, "Ai! Why are we so unlucky?!"
If it weren't for Ah Fei's intervention, their strength would have been more than sufficient to capture the Two-Tails Jinchuriki.
Now, they could only return and beg for forgiveness.
Not long into their journey back, Huyi Xuan Yue received news of the successful captures of the One-Tail and the Eight-Tails.
Before he could even express his satisfaction, word reached him of the Two-Tails Jinchuriki being taken by Ah Fei, or rather, Obito Uchiha, along with a message.
Huyi Xuan Yue furrowed his brows and coldly hmphed, "The rat has finally shown himself."
Obito Uchiha had remained hidden ever since he had taken the Akatsuki from under Huyi's nose.
Given his character, it was only a matter of time before he made his move.
Huyi had expected Obito to appear at the crucial moment, vying for control of the Moon Eye Plan.
Currently, with the two-tails jinchuriki captured, he didn't even have the two-tails chakra in his possession.
To replicate the imperfect Ten-Tails, as depicted in the original story, by barely substituting with the eight-tails' severed tail and the nine-tails chakra within the Gold and Silver Brothers was impossible.
"Looks like I have no choice but to agree to Uchiha Obito's demands."
"As for meeting in front of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path... Heh heh."
Without a doubt, Huyi Xuan Yue could surmise that Uchiha Obito was plotting something, and it had to do with the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
Perhaps Obito had left a secret backdoor within the statue, intending to betray them at the critical moment, or something else entirely.
Huyi Xuan Yue had only acquired the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path recently, and the Rinnegan eye ultimately wasn't his own.
His understanding of the statue fell short compared to the knowledge possessed by Black-and-White Zetsu and Uchiha Obito, who had inherited Uchiha Madara's legacy.
Thus, it was entirely possible for them to succeed in their scheme.
However, if a problem couldn't be solved, then the best course of action was to eliminate the person causing the problem.
Huyi Xuan Yue took out a container that held Uchiha Obito's other Mangekyo Sharingan.
In fact, he had also prepared a special surprise for his opponent.
Let's see whose surprise would be greater and who would be more "touched."
Whoosh!
After Huyi Xuan Yue's departure, a torrential downpour drenched the remains of Mount Myoboku, washing away the smoke and residue of battle. As time passed, the rainwater accumulated in the massive pit, forming a small lake.
If the rain continued for another two or three days, a new lake would likely form on the site of Mount Myoboku.
Shizuma and Fukasaku, who had just returned with the surviving toads, hoped that this wouldn't be the case.
If that happened, the last traces of Mount Myoboku would be erased.
"The Great Elder is gone. And so is Naruto..."
Shizuma, who had carefully inspected the site, said with a sorrowful expression.
Fukasaku sighed deeply and was about to say something to comfort everyone.
At that moment, Gamahiro, the toad whose lower body was a scroll, stepped forward with a solemn expression. "The Great Elder is no longer with us. According to his prior arrangements, it's time for me to fulfill my task."
He spat out a scroll and handed it to Fukasaku. "This is a message from the Great Elder, which he instructed me to give to you."
"Great Elder..."
Fukasaku unfurled the scroll and recognized the handwriting as that of the Great Elder.
In the scroll, the Great Elder, Gamagrande, explained that after his death, this scroll would be delivered to Fukasaku. It contained the address of the new Mount Myoboku and appointed Fukasaku as the new leader of Mount Myoboku. He instructed Fukasaku to lead the remaining toads to their new home and to never seek vengeance again.
At the end of the scroll, Gamagrande emphasized that the new Mount Myoboku should maintain neutrality and not interfere in the affairs of humans or the ninja world.
This was the lesson and experience that the Great Elder had learned at the cost of his life.
"I understand, Great Elder," Fukasaku said solemnly, nodding. He carefully kept the scroll and, without delay, led the remaining toads to their new home, never again involving themselves in the affairs of the outside world.
The Great Elder had done all he could, and there was no need for them to risk their lives further.
Gamahiro did not join them.
He explained, "I still have another scroll from the Great Elder that I need to deliver to Konoha."
With that, Gamahiro quickly set off on his mission.
(End of Chapter)
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