"First, the construction of a medical system."
Kai looked toward Tsunade.
"After the Divine Court unifies the shinobi world, there will inevitably be a massive amount of integration work. During that process, medical ninja will play an extremely important role."
"I want you to establish a complete medical ninja training system and cultivate enough medical personnel."
Tsunade thought for a moment.
"That isn't particularly difficult. But it will require a large investment of resources."
"Resources aren't a problem."
Kai turned toward Jiraiya.
"Teacher Jiraiya, what I need you to do is even more important."
"Let's hear it."
"Intelligence gathering."
Kai's expression became serious.
"I need you to use your network to gather any information related to the Ōtsutsuki Clan."
"At the same time, monitor the internal movements of each village and ensure that no large-scale resistance emerges."
Jiraiya nodded.
"I can do that. However..."
"What?"
"Are you truly certain the threats you mentioned actually exist?"
Jiraiya's gaze was serious.
"If it turns out this was all a misunderstanding in the end, how do you plan to clean up the aftermath?"
That question made Kai fall silent for a moment.
Indeed.
If it turned out the Ōtsutsuki Clan did not exist, or that their threat had been exaggerated, then everything he was doing now would truly become pure dictatorship.
But he could not gamble.
"Teacher Jiraiya, there are some things we would rather believe than dismiss."
Kai finally spoke.
"Even if I am wrong, the worst result is only that the shinobi world becomes unified a few hundred years early."
"But if I am right, and we do nothing, then the entire planet may be destroyed."
"That reason is quite convincing."
Tsunade gave a bitter smile.
"Fine. Since things have already reached this point, we can only believe you."
At that moment, someone knocked on the office door again.
"Come in."
Uchiha Itachi pushed the door open, holding a document in his hand.
"Kai, there is an emergency report."
"What happened?"
"According to our hidden informants planted across the villages, the Three Great Shinobi Villages are secretly contacting the ninja villages of smaller nations."
"They appear to be planning some kind of joint operation."
Hearing that, both Jiraiya and Tsunade's expressions changed.
"A joint operation?"
Kai, however, remained calm.
"Which villages are confirmed to be involved?"
"Currently confirmed participants include Kusagakure, Takigakure, Amegakure, and several smaller ninja villages."
Itachi opened the document.
"Their contact person is... Nagato."
"Nagato?"
Jiraiya cried out.
"That child from Amegakure? Isn't he already..."
"He's still alive."
Kai replied calmly.
"And from the looks of it, he isn't pleased with what I've been doing."
The office fell silent once again.
Nagato.
The man who possessed the Rinnegan.
Jiraiya's disciple.
The former leader of Akatsuki.
If he truly was planning something from the shadows, then the situation had become complicated.
"What do you intend to do?"
Tsunade asked.
Kai stood up and walked to the window, looking down at Konoha below.
"If they want to play, then I'll play along."
His voice was soft.
But the killing intent within it made everyone present feel a chill.
"It just so happens that I also want to see how many disobedient voices still exist in this world besides the Five Great Shinobi Villages."
Amegakure.
At the top floor of a towering steel building that pierced the clouds.
Nagato sat in his wheelchair, quietly gazing through the massive glass window at the endless curtain of rain outside.
His pale, emaciated face held no expression.
But within his Rinnegan burned raging fury.
"Pain, how is the situation?"
Konan entered from outside, her face filled with concern.
Ever since learning that Uchiha Kai intended to forcibly unify the shinobi world, Nagato's emotions had become extremely unstable.
"The responses from the villages have arrived."
Nagato's voice was calm.
But Konan, who knew him well, could hear the suppressed anger beneath it.
"Other than Iwagakure, Kumogakure, and Sunagakure, who are unable to participate openly because they were forced to sign humiliating agreements, most of the smaller ninja villages have expressed willingness to join our alliance."
"Is this... truly necessary?"
Konan hesitated.
"You should understand Uchiha Kai's strength better than anyone. If we confront him head-on, our chances of victory are..."
"Victory?"
Nagato sneered.
The wheelchair slowly turned to face Konan.
"Konan, do you think I'm fighting for victory or defeat?"
Konan did not answer.
She understood Nagato's current state of mind.
The former leader of Akatsuki.
Pain, who possessed power akin to a god.
And yet, before Uchiha Kai, he had suffered such a complete defeat.
That humiliation was worse than death for the proud Nagato.
"I admit that in terms of pure strength, I am indeed no match for him."
Nagato's voice grew low.
"But a contest of power has never been limited to individual strength alone."
He guided his wheelchair toward the center of the room.
There, a massive map of the shinobi world had been spread out.
Dense clusters of small flags in various colors marked the map.
"Red represents villages that have fully submitted to the Divine Court."
"Blue represents those with ambiguous attitudes."
"Green represents those openly opposed."
Nagato pointed at the map.
"Do you see it?"
"Although the Five Great Shinobi Villages have already submitted, nearly sixty percent of the shinobi world's forces still do not accept his rule."
Konan walked over and carefully studied the map.
Indeed, just as Nagato said, there were quite a number of green flags.
"These forces may not be strong individually."
"But if they can be united, the power they form cannot be underestimated."
Nagato continued analyzing.
"More importantly, although Uchiha Kai's momentum is now overwhelming, the foundation of his rule is actually very fragile."
"Fragile?"
Konan did not quite understand.
"But he even suppressed three Kage..."
"Precisely because he forced unification through violence, the backlash will be even more intense."
Nagato interrupted her.
"Fear can make people submit temporarily, but it cannot make them sincerely support him."
"Given enough time, resistance will inevitably arise."
At that moment, knocking came from outside the door.
"Come in."
The one who pushed open the door was a tall middle-aged man wearing an Amegakure forehead protector.
He was Amemiya, one of Amegakure's jonin and a capable subordinate once serving under Hanzō of the Salamander.
"Lord Nagato, the leader of Kusagakure requests a secret meeting with you."
"Let him in."
Very soon, a man wearing a sedge hat and green shinobi attire entered the room.
He was Kusano, the leader of Kusagakure.
"Lord Pain."
Kusano bowed deeply to Nagato.
"On behalf of all shinobi of Kusagakure, I offer you our highest respect."
"No need for formalities."
Nagato waved his hand.
"Tell me your thoughts."
Kusano straightened himself.
"To be honest, Kusagakure is extremely dissatisfied with Uchiha Kai's actions."
"Why should a teenage brat decide the fate of the entire shinobi world?"
"Why must small villages like ours bow our heads to him?"
"So you are willing to participate in this operation?"
"Of course!"
Kusano's tone was firm.
"We have already contacted Takigakure, Otogakure, and more than a dozen smaller ninja villages."
"Everyone shares the same view."
"We absolutely cannot allow one person to rule the entire shinobi world as a dictator!"
Nagato nodded in satisfaction.
"Good."
"Then, regarding the specific operation, what suggestions do you have?"
"Our plan is to first unite and form an alliance opposing the Divine Court."
"Then, when the opportunity is right, we strike Uchiha Kai heavily and show the entire shinobi world that he is not invincible."
"A heavy blow?"
A dangerous light flashed in Nagato's eyes.
"How do you plan to do that?"
Kusano took out a scroll from his robes, unrolled it, and handed it to Nagato.
"We received news that Uchiha Kai has ordered the Three Great Shinobi Villages to hand over their jinchūriki within one week."
"This is an opportunity."
Nagato accepted the scroll and began reading it carefully.
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