Chapter 213: Are You Worried About Me?
On a distant cliff overlooking the canyon, Black Zetsu stood at the edge, his gaze sweeping across the battlefield.
He turned to look at Obito beside him.
"That masked fellow... judging by his technique, he's the same culprit who used Chidori to pierce Rin's chest," Black Zetsu said, intentionally dragging out his words to gauge Obito's reaction.
Obito watched the receding figure in the distance and remained silent.
"Mm," he responded curtly.
Seeing this reaction, a flicker of disappointment flashed in Black Zetsu's eyes, but he continued to feign confusion. "Weren't you supposed to intercept the members of Akatsuki? Why did you come back empty-handed?"
Obito withdrew his gaze. "Akatsuki had no intention of providing support. Killing a few small fry wouldn't have changed anything."
He paused. "It's just..."
Obito looked across the canyon once more. "That masked man's strength is a problem. If I faced him now, I wouldn't be certain of a kill."
"Once we clash, the intel on Kamui will be exposed. That would be detrimental to the next phase of the plan."
Black Zetsu thought for a moment. "Then what about the current plan? Things aren't unfolding as ideally as we hoped, which makes it harder to get close to Nagato. The Rinnegan is still with him."
Obito let out a cold sneer. "As long as the eyes exist, I can take them back at any time."
He turned around. "If the pieces are scattered, I'll just reset the board. Madara's plan can still be executed; it will simply take a bit more time."
The space around Obito began to warp.
"Where are you going?" Black Zetsu asked.
Obito stopped, the swirling space reflecting his single Sharingan. "To the Land of Water. Although Rin volunteered to protect Konoha..."
"The real culprits who stuffed the Three-Tails into her body were Kirigakure. It's time to settle that debt."
The spatial distortion accelerated, and Obito vanished completely.
Black Zetsu remained on the cliff. The confusion on his face slowly faded as he looked across the canyon, his eyes landing on another masked man among the Akatsuki members—Fu.
He began to calculate silently.
'Obito is starting to develop too many of his own ideas.'
The Rinnegan could absolutely not fall out of his control; his mother's resurrection depended entirely on those eyes.
'It seems it's time for Fu to find an opportunity to make a move.'
Black Zetsu's body slowly sank into the ground.
***
Hidden Rain Village.
In the corner of an izakaya, Kitahara Kaede had changed back into his ordinary clothes and sat alone in a booth. A cup of hot tea sat on the table.
He hadn't touched it; his mind was still reviewing the battle in the canyon.
The curtain was pushed aside, and Pakura walked in. She scanned the room and immediately spotted Kitahara Kaede in the corner. She walked straight over and sat opposite him.
Just as she picked up the teapot to pour some water, Kitahara Kaede spoke.
"Didn't I tell you to evacuate early? Why were you still on the battlefield?"
Kitahara Kaede looked at her, his brow furrowed.
Pakura stopped pouring. She looked up and met his gaze.
She could tell he was angry. But this wasn't anger because the plan had been disrupted; it was because she hadn't listened to him and had placed herself in danger.
Deep down, Pakura actually felt a hint of happiness. She picked up her teacup and took a sip.
"What? Do you think I couldn't handle those Rain ninja?"
Kitahara Kaede's frown deepened. "Is this a question of whether you could handle them or not?"
"Hanzo's poison is impossible to guard against. The scene was so chaotic; if something had happened..."
Pakura interrupted him. "If something had happened what?"
Kitahara Kaede was momentarily speechless.
Pakura set down her cup and leaned forward slightly, closing the distance between them. She looked directly into his eyes.
"Besides, with you there, what danger could I possibly be in?"
Kitahara Kaede froze. He looked at Pakura. Her eyes were bright and unwavering. That absolute, total trust caused the lecture he had prepared to jam in his throat.
He opened his mouth to speak, but in the end, he could only let out a helpless sigh.
"Forget it." He looked away, deciding not to dwell on the matter. "How is the situation with Yahiko?"
Seeing that she had won this round, Pakura shifted to reporting official business. "Akatsuki has begun absorbing Hanzo's remnants. Yahiko is being cautious; he doesn't dare swallow too many people at once."
"However, the core membership of Akatsuki is too small. If it isn't handled correctly, the Hidden Rain Village could easily spiral out of control. Right now, they're facing an awkward shortage of capable personnel."
Kitahara Kaede nodded. This was within his expectations. With Hanzo dead, the power vacuum in the Land of Rain was too vast. Yahiko and his small circle simply couldn't manage it alone.
Pakura looked puzzled. "Since you saved them in the canyon, why didn't you directly propose an alliance between Konoha and the Hidden Rain to Yahiko? Given the situation, if you had spoken up, he definitely would have agreed."
Kitahara Kaede shook his head. "There was no need. I was wearing a mask; my identity was unknown."
"Even if I had revealed my true face, my current status isn't suitable for representing Konoha in peace negotiations." He picked up his tea and took a sip. "If I had proactively proposed an alliance, they would have agreed at the time."
"But afterward, they would feel that my saving them was a calculated trade. They might even suspect that Hanzo's death was a Konoha conspiracy."
"Then what do you plan to do next?" Pakura asked.
Kitahara Kaede looked at her, a slight smile playing on his lips. "The peace talks must continue. However..."
"You'll be the one to propose them."
Pakura blinked and pointed to herself. "Me?"
"Yes," Kitahara Kaede nodded. "The Hidden Rain Village is currently in ruins. They are desperate for manpower and supplies."
"If they don't quickly find a powerful ally, the moment the surrounding great nations realize what's happening, the Land of Rain will be torn apart and devoured."
Kitahara Kaede tapped the table twice. "Go to Yahiko now. Help him analyze the pros and cons, and suggest an alliance with Konoha."
"He will naturally realize that this is currently the only way out for the Hidden Rain Village."
Pakura listened intently.
Kitahara Kaede continued, "When you talk to Yahiko, emphasize Konoha's current situation. The Third Hokage is preparing to step down, and the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, is about to take office."
"The new Hokage needs achievements and a stable perimeter. Konoha is currently facing financial constraints, so they will need the Land of Rain as an ally for mutual development."
"Lay these interests clearly on the table. Yahiko isn't stupid; he'll understand that an alliance built on mutual benefit is far more reliable than empty promises of peace."
"When that happens, everything will fall into place naturally."
Pakura had a sudden realization, understanding Kitahara Kaede's calculation. If the suggestion came from her—a "member of Akatsuki"—it would be much easier for Yahiko to accept. Furthermore, this allowed Konoha to maintain the upper hand at the negotiating table.
Pakura nodded solemnly. "Alright, leave it to me."
With the official business concluded, the two spoke in low voices about the details of the Hidden Rain Village's defenses. After checking the time, Kitahara Kaede stood up.
"I have to go back." He looked at Pakura. "Stay safe. Send intelligence reports through the post office regularly. As for that man named 'Fu,' just keep an eye on him from time to time."
With that, Kitahara Kaede pushed aside the curtain and stepped out into the rainy night.
Pakura remained in her seat, watching the swaying curtain. A thought suddenly flashed through her mind.
'If the Hidden Rain and Konoha form an alliance, they will definitely send an envoy to Konoha for negotiations.'
She was now a member of Akatsuki; she could absolutely fight for the position of that envoy. And once the negotiations succeeded, wouldn't she be able to go to Konoha and find him openly?
At that thought, Pakura picked up her teacup, hiding the upward curve of her lips.
Now, she had something she wanted to do, and someone she wanted to see.