https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-398-Mu-Yue-vs-The-Hero-of-Sunagakure/12558521/
Chapter 397: Konan, the Peace Lover
Chapter 397: Konan, the Peace Lover
In addition to having a shadow clone disguised as her main body leading the team, Mu Yue also had another hidden in the shadows, protecting her disciples.
Upon discovering the Akatsuki ninjas, the hidden shadow clone immediately released itself, allowing the memories to flow back to Mu Yue's main body.
Having received those memories, Mu Yue quickly created a new shadow clone to protect Kakashi and the others, while her main body followed the Akatsuki ninjas to locate their base.
Wanting to test the concealment capabilities of her transformation skill, Mu Yue molded her face to resemble that of Aizen, albeit with some differences.
The reason she didn't transform into an exact replica of Aizen was that she had previously used the Transformation Technique to disguise herself as him during a mission, and Uchiha Madara may have had that information.
Even if they couldn't see through her transformation, they might still grow suspicious due to the identical appearance.
However, with just a resemblance and the inability to discern her transformation, there shouldn't be any issues.
Mu Yue activated her Transparent World ability to conceal her aura as she quietly infiltrated the village where Akatsuki was located.
"Leader Yahiko, today we helped a village fend off three rogue ninjas," the tall and thin ninja excitedly reported to Yahiko, who was practicing taijutsu.
"The two of you managed to drive off three rogue ninjas? That's impressive," Yahiko praised with a hearty laugh.
Despite being significantly older than Yahiko, the tall and thin ninja couldn't help but smile sincerely at the compliment.
As a ninja organization, Akatsuki didn't offer the best of conditions. They could only set up camp in small villages, and there were no special perks. Ninjas who joined from Amegakure were mostly drawn to Yahiko's charismatic personality and shared his dream of changing the Land of Rain.
"We didn't do it alone. Some passing Konoha ninjas lent us a hand," the tall and thin ninja explained.
It was dangerous for a ninja to lack self-awareness. If he truly inflated his ego and took all the credit, he might end up accepting missions that far exceeded his capabilities in the future.
Hearing the words "Konoha ninjas," Longmen, who was standing next to Yahiko, subconsciously glanced at the tall and thin ninja.
"Those Konoha ninjas were incredibly strong. Although they looked to be around ten years old, they were all powerful. They took care of the three rogue ninjas in less than a minute, and there was also an excellent medical ninja among them. The wounds they heal don't even leave a scar," the tall and thin ninja marveled, recalling Kakashi's battle.
"If you work hard at your training, you can become stronger too," Yahiko smiled encouragingly.
"Yes," the tall and thin ninja nodded, feeling motivated to go practice right away.
"Are you Akatsuki?" Mu Yue asked as she jumped down from the roof, slowly approaching Yahiko and the others.
Several Akatsuki ninjas quickly assumed combat stances, warily eyeing Mu Yue.
"Yes, we are Akatsuki. What's your business here? Are you looking to hire us for a mission?" Yahiko signaled to the surrounding ninjas to lower their weapons and smiled as he spoke.
In Yahiko's eyes, although Mu Yue had infiltrated their village, the fact that she boldly revealed herself indicated that she wasn't there to cause trouble.
If she had wanted to fight, a stealth attack would have been a better option, as Akatsuki hadn't detected her presence at all.
"It's nothing," Mu Yue replied as she continued walking towards Yahiko and Longmen, addressing Yahiko's question. "I've heard that Akatsuki is a ninja organization dedicated to peace, so I wanted to see it for myself."
Most of Mu Yue's attention was focused on Longmen's face.
Previously, when they were in the Land of Rivers, Longmen had seen Mu Yue's true appearance. If Longmen's Rinnegan could see through her transformation, he would undoubtedly be surprised.
"That's right," Yahiko confirmed, thinking Mu Yue was a ninja who wanted to join Akatsuki. "Our goal in Akatsuki is to bring peace to the ninja world. Before that, we aim to bring peace to the Land of Rain." He eagerly shared his ideal with Mu Yue.
As he spoke, Yahiko also began walking towards Mu Yue, intending to elaborate on his peace plan.
"Don't go over there. That person is strong," Longmen grabbed Yahiko, who was about to walk towards Mu Yue, by the arm.
He could see the powerful chakra within Mu Yue's body, and he didn't want Yahiko to get too close to this intruder.
Yahiko froze for a moment, then smiled and patted Longmen on the shoulder. "Don't worry, I have you with me," he said confidently.
The two of them then walked together to a spot about one and a half meters away from Mu Yue.
"You want to bring peace to the Land of Rain. How do you plan to achieve that?" Mu Yue asked with a smile.
"By protecting the villagers from rogue ninjas, spreading our organization's ideals, and attracting more ninjas with similar ideals to join us," Yahiko replied swiftly. "Once we become strong enough, even the five great nations won't dare to start a war with the Land of Rain."
The first three ninjas to join Akatsuki had been defeated by Yahiko, Longmen, and the others, and then inspired by Yahiko's ideal to join.
"During the Second Great Ninja War, the Rain Ninjas had thousands of members and a leader named Hanzo, who was known as a demigod. Yet, they still couldn't escape the clutches of war," Mu Yue said calmly. "With your plan, when do you think Akatsuki will surpass the Rain Ninjas of that time?"
In Mu Yue's opinion, the only chance for Akatsuki to realize their ideal currently rested with Longmen. However, Longmen had been manipulated by Uchiha Madara, and his presence might even lead to Akatsuki's downfall.
"We will..." Yahiko hesitated, unsure how to respond.
Including himself, Longmen, and Konan, Akatsuki only had about twenty ninjas at the moment. They were far from the might of the Rain Ninjas during the Second Great Ninja War, let alone the current Rain Ninjas.
"What do you think Akatsuki has that gives it an advantage over the Rain Ninjas or other ninja organizations? Why would ninjas choose to join Akatsuki instead of the Rain Ninjas or other groups?" Mu Yue continued her questioning.
Reality could be cruel. Even Uchiha Madara, despite his power, had left without a single Uchiha willing to follow him.
The allure of the peace they could enjoy in Konoha outweighed the unknowns of following Madara.
"Undoubtedly, there are many ninjas who yearn for peace. But how will you make them believe that Akatsuki can turn your vision into a reality?" Mu Yue seemed somewhat disappointed in Yahiko.
Yahiko fell silent for a moment, realizing that beyond speaking of dreams and collective effort, he didn't have much else to offer.
For the first time, Yahiko felt so keenly how far they were from their ideal.
"Leader Yahiko is a genius ninja. As he continues to grow, he will undoubtedly become a formidable force in the ninja world," one of the Akatsuki ninjas spoke up in support of Yahiko.
"Yes, although our organization is young, our reputation is already on par with groups that have been established for over a decade. This shows that we are on the right path," the tall and thin Akatsuki ninja added.
As followers of Yahiko, they firmly believed in his ability to lead them to success.
"That only proves that you stand out among ninja organizations. Most groups are motivated by money and profit. It's only natural that a group advocating love and peace would gain some notoriety," Mu Yue rebutted.
"Right now, all you have is your ideal. Even if you continue to grow, have you considered the attitude of the Rain Ninjas? What about other ninja organizations? Have you thought about how you'll generate enough funds to sustain your organization? A few dozen ninjas can get by, but what about hundreds or more? Have you considered how you'll maintain peace once it's achieved? What if, after all your efforts, peace only lasts a few years or a decade before war breaks out again? What then?"
Mu Yue's rapid-fire questions left the Akatsuki members dumbfounded, and Yahiko wore an embarrassed expression. He realized there were many things he hadn't considered.
After all, he was just a fourteen-year-old boy who had never received a formal education.
Despite being put on the spot, Yahiko felt even more inclined to invite Mu Yue to join Akatsuki. He believed that Mu Yue could bring about a breakthrough for their organization.
"You're absolutely right. We do have many shortcomings. That's why I want to invite you to join us. Together, we can work to turn these weaknesses into strengths and bring peace to the Land of Rain and the ninja world!" Yahiko said earnestly.
"If you're willing to join Akatsuki, your position will be equal to mine," Yahiko offered, presenting what he believed to be the most enticing deal.
In his heart, he wanted to offer Mu Yue the position of leader, but Akatsuki was the fruit of his and his companions' labor. Giving up the leadership role to someone he had just met would seem like he didn't value the efforts of his like-minded companions.
However, if Mu Yue could provide solutions to the issues raised, Yahiko would willingly step aside and let Mu Yue become the sole leader.
Yahiko longed for peace, and if Akatsuki could bring peace to the Land of Rain and the ninja world, he didn't mind who led them.
"Leader Yahiko, that might not be appropriate," the surrounding Akatsuki members exclaimed in surprise.
"There's nothing inappropriate about it. We're all striving for the same ideal, and having a leader is simply to better guide us on our path," Yahiko smiled as he spoke.
"That doesn't appeal to me. If I wanted to, gathering a few dozen ninja subordinates wouldn't be difficult," Mu Yue refused Yahiko's offer.
"Then what would it take for you to join Akatsuki?" Yahiko persisted, unwilling to give up.
He didn't doubt Mu Yue's words, as even Longmen had acknowledged Mu Yue's strength.
For a powerful ninja, amassing a following of several dozen ninjas was indeed feasible.
Mu Yue smiled but remained silent, turning to leave.
"At least tell me your name," Yahiko called out.
Mu Yue paused but didn't turn back, "Sou Yukai."
With that, Mu Yue quickly departed from the village where Akatsuki was stationed.
Watching Mu Yue's retreating figure, Yahiko's eyes held a hint of regret.
He believed that Sou Yukai was also a ninja who longed for peace; otherwise, he wouldn't have gone to such lengths to find them.
However, their performance had fallen short of Sou Yukai's expectations, which was why he chose not to join.
"We need to work harder so that more talented individuals will be willing to join us," Yahiko encouraged the Akatsuki ninjas.
The Akatsuki ninjas nodded, each resolving to improve themselves. The encounter with Mu Yue was something they would likely remember for a long time.
"The Rinnegan is still insufficient," Mu Yue muttered as he reviewed the information he had scanned from Longmen.
He wasn't overly disappointed, as the Rinnegan was considered one of the most powerful abilities in the ninja world. Even after millennia of effort, only Uchiha Madara and Uchiha Sasuke had successfully unlocked the Rinnegan.
Mu Yue didn't hold high expectations for the Rinnegan, as it wasn't meant for ordinary individuals. Longmen, with his vast chakra reserves, struggled to utilize it, and even Obito, with a large number of Hashirama cells in his body, dared only to transplant one eye.
After glancing at Longmen's information, Mu Yue deleted it entirely.
Longmen's data was extensive and overlapped with a significant portion of the Third Hokage's information, as Longmen also possessed a wide range of ninjutsu.
"The hidden ability is quite useful, as it wasn't seen through by the Rinnegan," Mu Yue mused, recalling Longmen's reaction and confirming the effectiveness of his transformation technique.
Given his identity as a Konoha ninja, Longmen should have at least heard of him, but Longmen's reaction indicated that he didn't recognize Mu Yue at all.
Having achieved his objective, Mu Yue returned to his team and replaced his shadow clone before continuing with their mission.
While Longmen was important to him, a potential source of vast chakra, his current disciples took precedence.
Moreover, Mu Yue already had a concrete plan in mind. If all went well, he would not only take Longmen as his disciple but also earn numerous rewards in the Land of Rain.
(End of Chapter)
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