https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-412-Hanzo-s-Conspiracy-Mu-Yue-s-Suicide-Part-1-/12558536/
Chapter 411: Identity Exposed
Chapter 411: Identity Exposed
"I need to discuss this with my companions before giving an answer." Mu Yue did not immediately agree, preferring to deliberate with her team first.
The Amegakure ninja expressed understanding and retreated to a respectful distance.
"Uncle Souzou, I think this is a great opportunity to quickly spread our Ninjutsu principles throughout the Land of Rain and bring our dream of peace closer to reality," Yahiko said excitedly, sharing his thoughts.
His enthusiasm wasn't born of admiration for Hanzo or a desire to collaborate with him; Yahiko genuinely believed this was an opportunity not to be missed.
Amegakure was the strongest ninja force in the Land of Rain, and even among the Five Great Shinobi Countries, they were considered a formidable power. Hanzo, the leader of Amegakure, was a top-tier ninja in his own right. The prospect of a partnership, as outlined in Hanzo's scroll, presented a qualitative leap in influence for the Ninjutsu Sect.
After all, Amegakure was the official power of the Land of Rain. A deep collaboration between the Ninjutsu Sect and Amegakure would effectively grant them semi-official status, implying recognition by the Land of Rain itself.
If Hanzo had invited Yahiko's Akatsuki organization instead of the Ninjutsu Sect, Yahiko might have readily accepted without hesitation.
"Indeed, we're talking about Hanzo, the demigod," a Ninjutsu Sect ninja beside Yahiko agreed.
Yahiko's perspective resonated with the vast majority, who saw this as a beneficial opportunity for both the Ninjutsu Sect and themselves.
Nearby, Kakuzu wore a mocking expression as he observed the excited Ninjutsu Sect ninjas. His extensive experience immediately alerted him to the potential pitfalls of this so-called collaboration—he was certain that there was a hidden agenda at play.
"While this seems like a positive development, I can't shake the feeling that something is amiss," Chikushodo said thoughtfully, voicing his doubts. "If we liken our Ninjutsu Sect to a child with extraordinary talents, then Amegakure is a renowned and established power. No matter how highly a strong ninja regards a gifted child, it's implausible that he would directly place the child on equal footing and propose a collaboration, isn't it?"
If Amegakure were to offer some subsidies to the Ninjutsu Sect, Chikushodo wouldn't think much of it, attributing it to Hanzo's foresight in recognizing their potential. However, the message in Hanzo's scroll implied treating the Ninjutsu Sect as an equal, seeking to jointly maintain peace in the Land of Rain. This level of trust and respect seemed too good to be true for the Ninjutsu Sect in its current state.
At present, the Ninjutsu Sect had yet to reach even a hundred members, and the internal strength of its members varied greatly. Setting aside exceptional individuals like Mu Yue, the Ninjutsu Sect could only be considered promising for the future.
Chikushodo's words gave the Ninjutsu Sect ninjas pause, as his logic was clear, reasonable, and persuasive.
"Now that you mention it, this does seem too good to be true for us," some of the vagrant ninja-turned-Ninjutsu Sect members agreed, sensing that something was amiss.
After all, when something seemed too good to be true, it often turned out to be a trap disguised as an enticing opportunity.
"I think that analogy belittles both our Ninjutsu Sect and Hanzo's magnanimity," Yahiko countered. "Perhaps Hanzo intends to accelerate our growth through this approach, hastening the path to peace in the Land of Rain."
Yahiko was not easily swayed; he had his convictions. While he acknowledged the validity of Chikushodo's concerns, he believed that excessive caution could sometimes cause one to miss out on valuable opportunities. Bold advancement, he felt, could lead to unexpected gains.
During the battle between the Sannin and Hanzo, most people had kept their distance, fearful of being caught in the crossfire of such powerful ninjas. But Yahiko, along with Nagato and Konan, had chosen to seek out the Sannin.
In the end, they had learned invaluable skills from Jiraiya, gaining the strength to pursue their dreams.
As Yahiko shared this anecdote, the atmosphere shifted once more.
"Well done, Boss! That was a great speech," Fu Yamanaka exclaimed, giving Yahiko a thumbs-up. Yahiko's words had stirred his blood, and he was eager to accept Hanzo's offer, envisioning a fast-forward to their dream of peace in the Land of Rain.
"Even towards enemy ninjas, Hanzo showed remarkable grace. If they demonstrated exceptional qualities, he would not only let them go but also help them gain recognition in the ninja world," Fu continued.
"We may not be ninjas of Amegakure, but we are ninjas of the same country as Hanzo—would he really treat us more harshly than enemy ninjas from another land?" Yahiko added, his eyes sparkling with conviction as he spoke with passion and sincerity.
Though he had never met Hanzo, the tales of his deeds were enough for Yahiko to know that Hanzo was a ninja worthy of respect. Thus, Yahiko was willing to believe that Hanzo was offering them a genuine opportunity.
"I don't idolize Hanzo, but his character is indeed impeccable," a Ninjutsu Sect ninja affirmed.
Hanzo's fame in the ninja world wasn't solely due to his strength and battle record; his conduct and demeanor played a significant role as well.
Chikushodo opened his mouth to speak but found himself at a loss for words. He couldn't refute Yahiko's points, as he had essentially conceded that their situation defied conventional logic, yet Hanzo was someone they could believe in.
The only way Chikushodo could counter Yahiko's argument was to prove that Hanzo wasn't trustworthy, and that was something he couldn't do. The only blemish on Hanzo's record was the recent war, which had plunged the Land of Rain into chaos. However, Hanzo had performed admirably in the war; it was the other Amegakure ninjas who had been defeated. Thus, even this potential black mark didn't hold much weight.
Kakuzu's face wore a mocking smile, his contempt for Yahiko's naivete barely veiled. Yahiko's innocence struck him as almost comical.
"Nagato, what do you think?" Mu Yue suddenly turned to Nagato and asked.
The other Ninjutsu Sect ninjas instinctively looked at Nagato as well, their gazes filled with anticipation.
Suddenly, the spotlight was on Nagato, and he felt a momentary fluster.
"I think it's fine," Nagato replied after a moment of hesitation, his voice steady.
His agreement didn't stem from simply following Yahiko's lead but from his own contemplation.
The path of pain wasn't about inflicting unbearable agony on others or seeking revenge through torturous means. It was about communication and understanding, about sharing each other's pain to find common ground.
Nagato believed that this opportunity could serve as a bridge for the Ninjutsu Sect and Amegakure to understand each other, marking a significant step towards peace in the Land of Rain.
"Nagato, it seems we're of the same mind!" Yahiko exclaimed, excitedly throwing an arm around Nagato's shoulders.
He had been concerned that his enthusiasm might have influenced Nagato's judgment, so he had remained silent when Nagato was asked for his opinion.
"Since we have differing views, let's hold an anonymous vote to decide whether to accept Hanzo's offer of collaboration," Mu Yue suggested after a moment's thought.
The Ninjutsu Sect ninjas nodded in agreement.
Each of them wrote their decision on a piece of paper and placed it in a simple wooden box crafted by Mu Yue herself. She then tallied the votes and announced the results.
"The number of people in favor of collaborating with Hanzo is forty-five, while the number opposed is twenty-nine.
In fact, they could all guess the outcome to some extent, and it was clear that many had been persuaded by Yahiko's speech.
Mu Yue approached the Amegakure ninja, "Our Ninjutsu Sect is willing to work with the Amegakure ninja to safeguard the peace of the Land of Rain."
"That's wonderful! I'll report this to Leader Hanzo right away," the Amegakure ninja replied without lingering further.
Chikushodo drew closer to Mu Yue, and even with the decision to collaborate with Amegakure finalized, he still felt that something was amiss.
"Teacher Souzou, call me overly cautious, but I truly feel that this collaboration may be a plot," Chikushodo said in a low voice.
Mu Yue didn't refute Chikushodo's words. Instead, he smiled and said, "Caution is not a bad thing. Even as we collaborate, we must remain vigilant."
Chikushodo's heart eased slightly as he saw that Mu Yue wasn't being impulsive. After all, Mu Yue was the core and soul of the Ninjutsu Sect.
"Can't even see through such a simple plot? Looks like you're right, I did overestimate you," Kakuzu said bluntly as he joined them.
Regardless of Hanzo's reputation, Kakuzu believed that he definitely had ulterior motives.
"Are you starting to take an interest in the Ninjutsu Sect's well-being?" Mu Yue paid no mind to Kakuzu's tone and smiled in response.
"The fate of your sect is none of my concern, but if you die, who will release the seal on me?" Kakuzu retorted with a scowl.
He had tried countless methods to break the seal, but all had failed.
Kakuzu had to admit that although Mu Yue was naive, his strength was not to be underestimated, and he was also a top-notch seal master.
"You don't need me for that. Just wait for the power of the seal to be exhausted, and it will release automatically," Mu Yue casually revealed a drawback of his sealing technique.
"How long will that take?" Kakuzu asked directly.
"Probably around fifteen years," Mu Yue replied with a smile.
Kakuzu's face darkened further. Being sealed for fifteen years was no small matter; survival was a concern, let alone making money.
Suspecting that Mu Yue was toying with him, Kakuzu coldly huffed and walked away to ponder his situation.
However, Kakuzu soon found himself back by Mu Yue's side, as Mu Yue had begun teaching sealing techniques that day.
Kakuzu wanted to learn Mu Yue's sealing techniques in hopes of finding inspiration to break free of his own seal.
That evening, Mu Yue summoned Nagato to a house filled with various formations.
Nagato curiously inspected the peculiar room.
"This is a barrier I set up to prevent accidents," Mu Yue briefly explained.
Nagato nodded, not giving it much thought.
"Let's eat first. It's better to practice on a full stomach," Mu Yue said, pointing to the bowl of ramen on the table.
Nagato had wanted to say that he had already eaten grilled fish with Yahiko and the others, but upon remembering the indescribable deliciousness of Mu Yue's ramen, he silently swallowed his words and quickly devoured the bowl of ramen.
Nagato found it fascinating. Usually, no matter how delicious the food was, once he was full, he wouldn't feel like eating, and even if he did, it wouldn't taste as good.
But Mu Yue's ramen was different; even when he wasn't hungry, he wanted to eat it, and it always tasted just as amazing.
"Actually, my name isn't Souzou," Mu Yue said as he took away Nagato's empty bowl and suddenly changed the subject.
Nagato froze, looking at Mu Yue in confusion.
He didn't think it was a big deal, as names were just aliases, and people were what mattered.
"My name is Mu Yue, and I'm a ninja from the Hidden Leaf Village," Mu Yue said as he dropped his disguise, revealing his true appearance.
Obtaining trust through deception wasn't true trust. If it weren't for various complications, Mu Yue wouldn't have wanted to use an alias to teach and recruit disciples in the first place.
So, from the start, Mu Yue had planned to reveal his true identity to Nagato once the disciple quota was met.
Mu Yue believed that the more Nagato trusted him, the more hurt he would feel upon discovering the truth, and while being deceived by a stranger might only lead to temporary anger, being deceived by someone you trusted could potentially push a fragile person over the edge.
Nagato's expression turned perplexed as he processed the influx of new information from Mu Yue.
His trusted teacher from the Ninjutsu Sect had suddenly transformed into a Konoha ninja, and even his face had been fake.
"Why?" Nagato wanted to ask a lot of questions, but they all boiled down to this simple confusion.
"I know you have a lot of questions, and I'll answer each one," Mu Yue began, sharing his story.
"First, my actions have nothing to do with Konoha. This is a personal endeavor, whether it's my journey to the Land of Rain or the establishment of the Ninjutsu Sect."
"My reasons for coming to the Land of Rain are just as I've said—I want peace. In Konoha, it's difficult for me to put my peace plan into action."
"This isn't to say that Konoha or the Fire Country is bad. Konoha and the Fire Country are peaceful places, but Konoha's strength is overwhelming. If I tried to implement the Ninjutsu Sect in the Fire Country, Konoha would undoubtedly strike us down."
Mu Yue wasn't exaggerating. Even with his current strength, it would be challenging to create significant waves in the Fire Country.
The Fire Country was just too powerful, not only because of Konoha but also due to other formidable ninja forces.
"If I were to operate in the Land of Rain as a Konoha ninja, not only would Konoha take action against me, but Amegakure would also view it as a provocation. That's why I chose to conceal my identity and create the Ninjutsu Sect as Souzou. I didn't want to deceive you all with a fake identity, but my real identity is just too complicated." Mu Yue sighed.
He didn't mention anything about Uchiha Madara's intelligence, as it wouldn't do Nagato any good to know at this point. It would only dampen his spirits and, if he showed any signs of abnormal behavior, alert Uchiha Madara to their presence.
"Nagato, I hope you can keep this secret for now. I really want to interact with the members of the Ninjutsu Sect as myself, but it's not the right time yet," Mu Yue said, looking intently into Nagato's eyes, his gaze filled with sincerity.
Nagato's expression shifted through various emotions, as his heart was in turmoil.
He didn't mind Mu Yue's alias, but when Mu Yue dropped his disguise, Nagato had become angry and suspicious, leading him to doubt whether everything about 'Souzou' was fabricated.
However, as Mu Yue explained everything and then asked him to keep it a secret, Nagato felt that there was no real difference between 'Mu Yue' and 'Souzou'. Although the face had changed, the person who stood before him still gave him the same feeling as the gentle and erudite Teacher Souzou.
The fact that Mu Yue was entrusting him with this secret made Nagato feel a deep sense of trust from Mu Yue.
(End of Chapter)
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