Infinite Anime [235-236] (Patreon)

Chapter 235: The Mist's Upheaval

Danzō's face stiffened. He hadn't expected Hiruzen to shame his partner in public. He also began wondering: where had the leaks sprung?

Did Hiruzen already know Shisui had died because of him?

Hiruzen withdrew his gaze from Danzō and turned a warm, encouraging look on the Anbu. "You did well. Dismissed. If the Uchiha make any new moves, report immediately."

"Yes, sir!"

The Anbu rose and vanished with the Body Flicker.

Danzō's expression eased a little. He was an old hand at politics and understood Hiruzen's position instantly.

Though he admonished Danzō, Hiruzen hadn't lifted surveillance on the Uchiha. If they did act out, Hiruzen would still move against them.

Still, Danzō found the clan's recent change bizarre—as if someone were advising them from behind the scenes.

If he waited any longer, the Uchiha probably wouldn't revolt militarily—against his interests. He pondered whether to add fuel to the fire and force them back onto the path of armed rebellion.

Unless the Uchiha were exterminated, he wouldn't sleep well. He'd killed Uchiha Shisui, and one of Shisui's eyes was still in Uchiha hands.

He didn't know where that eye was, and he lost sleep fearing some Uchiha would ambush him one day and use Kotoamatsukami to rewrite his will.

Add to that the feud between him and the Uchiha basically out in the open—unknown to the village at large, but surely etched into the clan's memory—it made him deeply uneasy.

After much thought, Danzō decided it was best if the Uchiha were wiped out. He could harvest plenty of Sharingan materials, too.

…

While undercurrents surged in Konoha, waves crashed in Kirigakure.

At dawn, sea fog blanketed the coastal city. Mist ninja moved through the streets. Many jōnin and Anbu were mobilized to first-level alert.

The strong gathered at the Mizukage's Tower, Explorers among them—some serious, some treating it like a show.

Inside, Mei Terumi, Kisame Hoshigaki, and a fourth-tier Explorer had surrounded Mizukage Yagura Karatachi.

Yagura—small as a boy—clutched his face in pain, emitting wordless groans. He staggered backward, knocking over furniture.

"Lord Mizukage, get a hold of yourself!"

Mei Terumi barked, face dark. She hadn't expected the man at her side to be telling the truth—the Mizukage had really been under control all these years!

Just yesterday, a man named Black Tech visited her at night, bringing along one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, Kisame Hoshigaki, and shared a shocking truth.

Their Mizukage had long been under genjutsu by the fabled Uchiha Madara. That was the reason for the tyranny that had driven Kirigakure's people to despair.

Skeptical, she had, this morning, joined Black Tech and Kisame to meet the Mizukage.

Catching him off guard, Black Tech produced some unknown item and struck the Mizukage with it, and the genjutsu was broken. Everything afterward led to this scene.

Once freed, Yagura seemed tormented. The deeds of these years flooded back, and he wanted to die.

He had ruined the village he loved most with his own hands and driven away so many excellent shinobi. Perhaps no other Kage in history had been more derelict than he.

After the pain, anger and hatred followed. "Uchiha Madara…"

Yagura had no will to live now. He knew his deeds, even if under control, would nail him to a pillar of shame forever.

But before stepping down and seeking death, he wanted to do one thing—make the one who had controlled him pay.

"Lord Mizukage, are you lucid now?"

Black Tech smiled, seeing Yagura stabilizing. He wore a scholar's robe, looking more like a teacher than a shinobi.

He was a fourth-tier Explorer from the Heaven's Will Space. This was his second time in the Naruto world. Some of his earlier arrangements had borne fruit, and dissolving the Fourth Mizukage's genjutsu today was the start of reeling in the net.

As for Akatsuki's response, he wasn't worried. Given his understanding of the plot and the current situation, Nagato wouldn't move.

So long as Nagato stayed put, the rest weren't worth fretting over.

Kirigakure's current power wasn't weak: Kisame, the tailless tailed beast, Mei Terumi with two kekkei genkai, and the perfect jinchūriki Fourth Mizukage, Yagura.

With Akatsuki's strength at this time, a frontal assault on Kirigakure would be wishful thinking—especially with him present.

What level was Yagura? In the original, when Jūzō Biwa and Itachi Uchiha passed by Kirigakure, Yagura ran into them and promptly left one dead and one wounded; Itachi only survived by sheer luck.

And that was with Jūzō sacrificing his life to save him. Otherwise both would have died at Yagura's hands.

So the combat power of a perfect jinchūriki was no joke. Yagura hadn't been controlled by a dabbling genjutsu user like Obito, but by a true Uchiha—Obito merely inherited control later.

With Madara dead, Yagura might be the strongest of the Five Kage right now—made all the easier to use, wrapped as he was in guilt and hatred.

Black Tech smiled at him. Before you shut yourself away and die, let me help you be useful.

…

"Gusion-sama, leaving already? Your Sage Arts training has only just begun…"

Tagorihime saw Gusion off, her eyes full of admiration.

Gusion had taken only two days to get started with Ryuchi Cave's Sage Arts—and his results were perfectly stable. He was the fastest learner she'd ever seen.

"There's work to do outside. I'll come visit when I can."

Gusion replied courteously. His Sage Arts training quest was complete, and the Inheritance Crystals had been delivered.

But Tagorihime had a small misunderstanding. For two days, what he'd been training wasn't Ryuchi Cave's Sage Arts—but the Dragon-Transmutation Formula.

In fact, he'd learned Ryuchi Cave's Sage Arts in just a few hours; it was laughably simple to him. He couldn't see why others struggled.

The Dragon-Transmutation Formula, though, was another matter. Perhaps because it was far beyond his current level, it was hard to get into. After two days he'd only grasped a few basics.

From his understanding, cultivating this method didn't mean turning into the dragon most people imagined.

It was a profound sage art adaptable to all races. "Dragon" here was a word for the apex of power.

In the Formula's philosophy, even perfected sage art wouldn't change one's fundamental species—only grant a wondrous, vast power to stride among the stars.

It was named the Dragon-Transmutation Formula because the highest achiever recorded had been a being who eventually took the form of a dragon.

In the murals, the dragon he saw flying into space was likely the founder of the method.

That discovery made Gusion realize the planet's native sage art once reached astonishing heights—that in primordial times, natives had reached the stars, no worse than those interstellar bandits, the Ōtsutsuki.

For now he had only scratched the Formula's foundations, so his use of it came with some dragonification.

Luckily it wasn't excessive. He'd tested it once and decided it didn't hurt his looks—so he'd keep training.

After saying goodbye to Tagorihime and the White Snake Sage, Gusion formed hand seals and ended the reverse summoning. He returned to Orochimaru's base.

In the shrine, the White Snake Sage watched Gusion vanish and murmured, "Looks like he's not the Child of Prophecy."

"But you think he's special, don't you?"

Tagorihime asked.

"Yes. He's a child I can't see through. He'll surely stir up great waves in the shinobi world…"

The White Snake Sage sighed. "Go find Garaga. I have questions."

Puzzled, Tagorihime asked no more and departed. Garaga's rampages were famous, but as one of the elders, she wasn't afraid of being eaten.

…

"Gusion-kun, back so soon?"

Orochimaru smiled at Gusion's return. "How goes the Sage Arts?"

He asked, but didn't expect results—Gusion had been gone less than three days. He figured Gusion sensed danger during training and gave up.

"Learned it. Why would I stay in that gloomy place any longer?"

Gusion answered casually, helping himself to a drink from the fridge in Orochimaru's reception room—after a quick Appraisal.

"Gusion-kun, how humorous. I didn't peg you as a joker."

Orochimaru chuckled, thinking Gusion was teasing him.

"What's there to joke about? It's just Sage Mode."

As he spoke, Gusion absorbed natural energy and entered Sage Mode.

His muscles swelled, and fine dragon scales appeared on his skin, creeping from neck upward and stopping at his cheeks, forming eerie patterns that nevertheless held a strange beauty.

With the Dragon-Transmutation Formula's Sage Mode active, his attributes spiked—standard Sage Mode buffs.

But since he was only casually demonstrating, he didn't ramp it to the max. He absorbed a little natural energy, then halted the dragonification and dispelled Sage Mode.

Orochimaru stared at the obviously inhuman traits—and at how easily they appeared and vanished—struck speechless.

The truth was right there. In under three days, Gusion had learned Sage Arts!

And judging by the ease of control, he wasn't some flaky half-bucket—he'd truly gotten in the door!

"Gusion-kun… you really are a rare kind of genius."

Orochimaru praised, tongue flicking across his lips, eyes harboring a certain desire.

Gusion couldn't stand the snakelike stare. "Don't look at me like that. If you want my cells, just say so."

A raspy laugh. "Hahaha—then I won't be polite. Gusion-kun, please give me some of your tissue samples. If you want results tailored for you, I'll need to test your compatibility with the First's cells as well."

Gusion had no objection. If Orochimaru wanted to, he could collect Gusion's blood from any battle anyway.

In Gusion's era, cloning technology was advanced and used by the rich for medical treatment. He didn't mind his blood or cells getting out.

He was himself; any clone wasn't him. Personal will has never been determined by mere flesh.

Besides, he wanted Orochimaru to study advanced eyes suitable for him. Without his samples, what if the results were incompatible?

"Then let's—"

Gusion was about to discuss custom requirements when he felt the ring's summons.

Orochimaru did too. The Akatsuki ring on their hands functioned as a communicator and recall device.

"Gusion-kun, looks like the organization has a mission for us."

Orochimaru licked his lips.

Sensing the pull through the ring, Gusion was thoughtful. Were they sending him to collect tailed beasts? Or was it a mercenary job?

Chapter 236: Akatsuki's Movements

Time rewinds a little.

Land of Rain, Akatsuki headquarters.

In this land of ceaseless drizzle, a visitor stepped across the border, and Nagato—who sensed the entire country through the Rain Tiger at Will Technique—opened his eyes.

"Nagato, what's wrong?"

Konan, ever at his side, noticed the change in his expression.

"He's here."

Nagato's voice was low; he clearly wasn't welcoming the visitor.

"Uchiha Madara? He hasn't meddled in our affairs for quite a while. What's he here for this time?"

Konan frowned as well. Back when the original Akatsuki was wiped out by Danzō and Hanzo of the Salamander, they soon met a man who claimed to be Uchiha Madara and offered them a new path.

Konan had always found that so-called Uchiha Madara deeply suspicious—not a good partner.

"Not sure. He's already outside."

Nagato turned toward the door, and a knock sounded at that exact moment.

The "Uchiha Madara" space-time ninjutsu was inscrutable even to Nagato—a technique hard to counter. Over the years he'd wanted to tear off that mask more than once, but never found a good chance.

"Nagato, you're looking well."

The masked Obito stepped into the room. Taking in the black chakra receivers protruding from Nagato's back, he smiled.

Nagato frowned slightly. His body had only been worsening; he couldn't tell if that was a taunt or a considerate greeting. "What are you here for? I've followed the plan—we've already had Zetsu collecting intel. We're about to begin hunting the Tailed Beasts."

"I'm not here to change the plan, merely to alter the order. There's been an unexpected development."

Ignoring Konan's openly hostile gaze, Obito casually found a place to sit.

"What do you mean?"

Nagato disliked changing established plans. Back then, Akatsuki's destruction and Yahiko's death had both stemmed from a last-minute plan.

"Something happened in Kirigakure. The Fourth Mizukage has slipped out of our control. We need to deal with him first."

Obito had just learned this and had a raging headache.

Originally, the Fourth Mizukage was to be Akatsuki's dark piece, coordinating with them to stir up the ninja world. Now that the piece had slipped his grasp, it felt awful.

After taking over the Mizukage's control from the real Uchiha Madara, he'd driven Yagura to ruin Kirigakure even worse than before, all because he believed Kiri had killed the girl he loved most—Rin—and he wanted Kiri to suffer.

In truth, Obito had wondered: since the Mizukage had previously been under Madara's control, could Rin's death have been connected to Madara?

But after a moment's thought, he cast the idea aside. In the end, he didn't really care who the mastermind behind Rin's death was—he just needed somewhere to vent.

And even if the Rinnegan could bring Rin back, he didn't want to do it. Deep down, though he wouldn't admit it, he knew that even if Rin were revived, the person she loved wouldn't be him.

So he would create a world where Rin existed!

Things had been going smoothly for years—Nagato wasn't easy to manage, but overall he'd been following the plan.

But before they'd even begun the crucial phase, the Mizukage broke free of genjutsu. A real headache.

With his own genjutsu skill, re-ensnaring a perfect jinchūriki like Yagura was out of the question. To prevent the Fourth Mizukage from rallying Kirigakure to retaliate against Akatsuki, he felt they had to strike first—before Yagura could consolidate hearts and forces.

"The Fourth Mizukage? Wasn't he under your genjutsu? Even if it's been dispelled, can't you just put him back under?"

Nagato eyed the "Uchiha Madara" dubiously. This wasn't the sort of thing Madara should be flustered about.

Obito fell silent. He couldn't exactly admit that he'd been a bottom-of-the-class genjutsu user, could he?

After a few seconds, he said, "Kirigakure is already on alert. Even if I genjutsu him again, it won't help. To keep the plan on track, we should eliminate him first."

"Eliminate? Not capture him alive?"

Konan asked.

"The Tailed Beasts must be sealed in order. Otherwise, the Gedo Statue won't tolerate it. We haven't captured the first two yet, so we can't seal the Three-Tails."

"And imprisoning a perfect jinchūriki like Yagura is too risky."

"But when a jinchūriki dies, it takes two or three years for the Tailed Beast to re-manifest. That will delay our timetable."

Nagato frowned. The masked man's words were full of holes. If they could capture the Fourth Mizukage, why not simply keep him under genjutsu in confinement?

Obito seemed to realize his argument was off. He amended, "You can send someone to take him alive—if you're confident you can keep a tight enough lid on him until the other Beasts are in place."

"And what will you be doing during that time?"

Konan asked. Since "Madara" knew about it already, coming over to tell them was odd. Why not grab the Mizukage himself?

"I have other matters—a trip to Konoha."

Obito improvised a reason, though he did plan to go. He had recently learned that the Uchiha clan's situation had deteriorated and they were about to revolt. He had his eye on a promising seed he wanted to draw into Akatsuki.

To that end, he would personally wipe out his own clan.

Nagato wanted to ask more, but the masked man vanished into a vortex of space-time, deepening Nagato's frown.

"Nagato, do we do as he says?"

Konan asked.

"Even if it feels suspicious, we can't sit by and watch the Mizukage regain power—especially on the eve of our move. We have to nip the risk in the bud."

Nagato concluded. "Summon the members."

…

After the Magic Lantern Body Technique was activated, Gusion and Orochimaru's consciousnesses entered the space where the Gedo Statue stood.

Attendance was excellent this time: Sasori within Hiruko; Kakuzu; Zetsu; Jūzō Biwa and his teammate; Konan; the Deva Path; Orochimaru; and Gusion—nine in all.

"You're calling us now—are we starting to collect Tailed Beasts?"

Sasori spoke from inside Hiruko. "If it's Sunagakure, it's best to leave it to me."

The Deva Path glanced at Sasori. "Then Suna is yours. According to intel, One-Tail is still a child, but it's prone to going berserk. Be prepared to face a Tailed Beast head-on."

Konan shot Pain a surprised look but said nothing.

Nagato's thinking was simple: he didn't want to delay his plan because of the unstable factor that was the Mizukage. His body was still holding up; the Gedo Statue was ready. Who knew what things would look like after three more years?

So he decided to have the organization start collecting Tailed Beasts at once, and to capture the Fourth Mizukage too. Then they could directly extract One through Three.

"Going on a business trip to that barren dump Suna, huh? Really cuts into my profits."

Kakuzu grumbled, but seeing Pain's resolve, let it drop.

"Jūzō, your cell knows Kirigakure best, and you're close. Head over and recon the situation."

Pain said, "Don't act rashly."

Hearing the first half, Jūzō Biwa's heart clenched—"Me, fight the Mizukage?"—but he relaxed at "don't act rashly."

So it was only intelligence gathering. Not too dangerous.

"Orochimaru, Gusion—your pair will capture the Two-Tails, then head south by ship to support the Kiri operation."

Pain issued new orders. For the first few Tailed Beasts, he didn't need to go in person.

The Fourth Mizukage was very strong; he didn't think Jūzō's team could take him down, hence the instruction to infiltrate only.

He rated Gusion and Orochimaru's combined strength highly. Gusion had once rampaged through Kumogakure and fought his way out; paired with Orochimaru, grabbing a target in Kumo should be feasible.

"The Two-Tails, hm. But Kumo has two jinchūriki. If we bump into the Eight-Tails, should we snag him too?"

Orochimaru licked his lips as he spoke, though he hadn't actually decided to help Akatsuki capture Beasts.

With Gusion funding his research lavishly, Akatsuki was no longer a necessary backer. Going to Kumo—this warlike great village—to seize a Tailed Beast was far too risky.

"If it's not doable, you can withdraw. Priority is reclaiming Kiri's jinchūriki."

The Deva Path thought for a moment. "If you don't succeed, I'll go to Kumo myself."

Gusion had stayed quiet, pondering why Nagato was so eager to handle Kiri's issue.

Akatsuki members were allowed to retreat when outmatched; otherwise, if people died and you had to recruit replacements, it would be bad for the organization.

In that sense, Akatsuki was more enlightened than the Great Villages. Konoha wasn't short on people nailed to the pillar of shame—or punished—for running when they couldn't win. As for Kiri, say no more: Jūzō Biwa had defected over that very thing.

Back during the war, Jūzō encountered Might Guy's father, Might Duy, and was beaten to pieces by the Gate of Death from the Eight Gates, fleeing in disarray. He was sentenced for it and eventually became a rogue-nin.

Even if it had been because the Mizukage was being manipulated that such punishments were handed down, it was still baffling that others accepted it.

Was Jūzō's behavior desertion? It was clearly a strategic retreat. The other guy had opened the Gate of Death—did you really want to go up there and trade lives?

Since Nagato had spoken, Gusion had of course already worked out how to slack off.

With his current strength, if he brought Orochimaru, could he capture Yugito Nii, the Two-Tails?

He definitely could, and he was confident he could get out intact. But why should he bust his back for Akatsuki?

He hadn't received any side or hidden mission this time. Picking a fight in Kumo to grab Yugito would be thankless—at best, it would just feed the Soul Devourer ring.

And once he tore his face with Kumo, they'd stop providing him any production value, and an enraged Raikage would expose his role as a mole.

Even if by then he'd already captured the Two-Tails and Nagato might not believe Kumo's claims, it would still cause him plenty of trouble.

In short, it cut too much into his interests. So Gusion decided to sell a big chunk of intel first—squeeze Kumo dry before anything else.

"Any objections? If not, we're adjourned."

The Deva Path's gaze swept the room.

Silence. 

He dispelled the Magic Lantern Body Technique, and the long-distance teleconference ended.

…

Back at the base, Gusion and Orochimaru returned to their bodies. They exchanged a glance and saw the same ulterior motives in each other's eyes.

"Gusion-kun, do you feel any sense of belonging to Akatsuki?"

Orochimaru asked. He wanted to pull Gusion to quit together. Large-scale Tailed Beast hunts offended too many; he just wanted to be a quiet researcher.

Charge Kumo with Gusion? Pain, why aren't you going yourself?

"A sense of belonging? Not really. But I'm a bit interested in the Tailed Beasts, so I'm planning to head north to take a look."

Gusion could guess Orochimaru's thoughts, and added, "If you don't want to go, Orichimaru, focus on your research. I can handle it alone."