Just as Uchiha Kaede slowly stepped into the Land of Rain, within the core territory of the nation, Nagato—manifested as the Deva Path Pain—was gazing intently at everything in the distance.
"If we further strengthen our cooperation with the Stone shinobi, then we will inevitably be forced to completely confront Sunagakure."
Although Konan unconditionally supported Nagato's decisions, directly going to war with Sunagakure carried a risk that was simply too high.
However, these years of cultivation had given Nagato immense confidence in his own strength, even leading him to believe he was fully capable of matching the Fifth Kazekage.
It was precisely because of this that he had established the broad strategic framework of cooperating with the Stone shinobi.
"Konan, you have to understand, the matter of the One-Tail must eventually be resolved."
Compared to the other Tailed Beasts, Sunagakure—possessing the One-Tail—was like a thorn stuck deep in Akatsuki's throat. Only by plucking it out could Akatsuki's current predicament be truly solved.
That was exactly why Nagato had decided to cooperate with the Stone shinobi, deliberately wading into the muddy waters of the Shinobi World War.
"When others inflict suffering upon us, if we wish to avoid conflict, the only way is to make the perpetrators shed the same tears and understand our pain. Only then can peace be created. But if we rely solely on negotiation, even if they understand, what of it?"
Others cannot feel your pain. Therefore, if you wish to truly achieve mutual understanding, you must make them experience the exact same suffering and pay the exact same price. Only when people experience suffering will they truly cherish peace.
Sunagakure was currently the greatest source of war on this continent. Nagato's objective was simple: to make the Kazekage feel a sudden, sharp pain so that he would comprehend the value of peace, rather than engineering one Shinobi World War after another.
It was glaringly obvious that as the geopolitical landscape of the shinobi continent shifted, Nagato had come to view Sunagakure as his greatest enemy.
This was also the core reason why Nagato's personality differed from Obito's. Now that he had gradually begun to deem himself a God, he naturally wished to battle Shiraishi in an open, upright manner to fulfill his own ideals.
"Furthermore, Uchiha Madara has recommended a new partner to join us."
"Is it Uchiha Itachi?"
Konan recalled Obito mentioning earlier that Uchiha Itachi would soon join Akatsuki. Yet, after all this time had passed, Itachi showed no signs of joining and was actually thriving even better within Konoha.
"No... it is Uchiha Kaede."
"He's still alive..."
The burning of Konoha was an event far too shocking for the shinobi world, and Uchiha Kaede had been branded as the most sinister rogue ninja in history. Even Nagato could not help but admire this man's sheer audacity and strength.
Konan's brows knit together as she articulated the intelligence she had gathered: "Yes. It is said that his strength has recovered substantially, and that Madara is currently on his way here with him."
Slowly extending his hand to feel the changing rain, the Deva Path Pain stated calmly: "They have already arrived."
The moment the words left his mouth, Uchiha Obito and Uchiha Kaede materialized outside the high tower of the Land of Rain, slowly walking toward the core area of the Akatsuki organization.
After a long moment, Uchiha Kaede and Obito could be seen ascending the stone steps one pace at a time, looking at Nagato, the nominal leader of Akatsuki, before them.
Standing to the side, Konan looked at Uchiha Kaede with extreme caution.
The deeds this guy had pulled off in Konoha had already sent shockwaves through the entire shinobi world. Coupled with his bizarre Red Sun technique, it was universally regarded as the most lethal, mass-destructive ninjutsu in existence.
Now, such a dangerous entity had appeared in the Land of Rain intending to join Akatsuki. Even for an organization that specialized in sheltering rogue ninjas, they had to be on absolute, serious alert.
Nagato, however, harbored no particular emotional turbulence. Having long since regarded himself as a God, he naturally did not believe he could be intimidated by a mere mortal.
Obito didn't seem particularly accustomed to Pain's daily routine of contemplating the meaning of life either. He coughed a few times and stepped forward: "Pain, this is our new partner."
Nodding his head expressionlessly, the moment Pain looked toward Uchiha Kaede, an incredibly vast wave of chakra pressure rushed forward, surging directly at Kaede.
A remarkably powerful aura...
Uchiha Kaede had already donned the red-cloud black cloak of the Akatsuki organization. Though this was not the first time he had worn it, his expression remained entirely detached when facing Pain's domineering chakra aura.
Compared to Uchiha Itachi, who had joined Akatsuki in the original history, Uchiha Kaede was clearly not very popular among the Akatsuki high command—such as Konan, Nagato, and even Obito, who had been crossed by Itachi multiple times.
Perhaps from the very beginning, the partner Pain and Obito had truly hoped to recruit was Uchiha Itachi, rather than this Mr. Uchiha Kaede who had seemingly emerged out of nowhere.
During their mutual gaze, Uchiha Kaede noticed that Nagato's personal ocular power did not seem nearly as overbearing and ferocious as it had been when he first saw him in the Land of Rain.
Although the various secret techniques and strength Nagato developed were growing by the day, his very life force was continuously being overdrawn just to maintain the consumption demands of the Rinnegan.
After locking eyes for several seconds, the Mangekyo Sharingan snapped open within Uchiha Kaede's eyes. A crackling aura of spark energy violently collided with the Deva Path Pain's presence, causing the atmosphere on the scene to turn intensely volatile in an instant.
As the standoff concluded, Nagato nodded, speaking with absolute coldness: "You possess exceptional ocular power. As expected of the man who heavily crippled Konoha."
Feigning immense shock upon witnessing the Rinnegan, Uchiha Kaede took several steps back: "Leader, it is your Rinnegan that has truly given me quite a fright..."
Completely ignoring Uchiha Kaede's compliment, Pain pulled out a ring bearing the kanji for "Suzaku" and handed it over to him: "From today onward, your codename shall be Suzaku."
Uchiha Kaede's codename was Suzaku, and his designated partner was Hoshigaki Kisame.
Watching Uchiha Kaede's departing silhouette in the distance, Konan let slip a trace of worry: "This individual seems like he will be incredibly difficult to control."
"It matters not."
The meeting process between Uchiha Kaede and Hoshigaki Kisame was exceptionally straightforward. Having remained in hiding all these years, Hoshigaki Kisame—who had lost everything, including his core convictions, in the Hidden Mist Village—had become a very uncomplicated person.
He was a simple and pure ninja; therefore, he did not care what kind of person his partner was, so long as they could smoothly execute their missions.
To introduce Uchiha Kaede, Pain deliberately utilized the Magic Lantern Body Technique to gather all members of the Akatsuki organization together.
This forbidden technique allowed the ring holders to emit thought waves converted from their chakra. As the leader, Pain would receive these waves, amplify them, and project their illusions onto a specific location.
These illusions differed from ordinary projected images; with Pain acting as the central medium, they could even unleash various types of ninjutsu!
Uchiha Kaede's notoriety had long since permeated the entire shinobi world. Upon learning that such a ruthless character was joining Akatsuki, several members—including Sasori—harbored no objections whatsoever.
Orochimaru alone shot a deeply greedy gaze toward Uchiha Kaede. Licking his lips in the process, he let out a raspy, cackling laugh.
"Uchiha Kaede... compared to Itachi, just how spectacular and exquisite will your Sharingan turn out to be?"
Clearly, Orochimaru still held a substantial amount of anticipation regarding Uchiha Kaede, particularly toward those Sharingan eyes that commanded fire.
After all, this Uchiha Kaede was the entity that had slain his own master. At this exact moment, Orochimaru desperately wanted to test hands with him to witness just what staggering heights his true strength had reached.
🌟 The story is already written… waiting to be unleashed. Claim early access on Patreon: Patreon.com/kazama677
🔓 You hold the keys to bonus chapters:💬 10 reviews ignite 1 bonus chapter🔷 100 Power Stones summon another
🔥 Your power determines how fast the tale unfolds.