Makoto appraised the newly appointed Fifth Mizukage, who had only been in office for a few days. Mei had a voluptuous and well-proportioned figure.
Although not as explosive as Tsunade's, she possessed perfect curves where not adding or removing a single detail was necessary. He also recalled that Mei was still single in the Boruto era.
Makoto was somewhat curious: 'A woman this beautiful, and no one wanted her? Could it be that her dowry demands were too high?'
Suddenly, Makoto noticed Ao, whose right eye was still bleeding, and asked with great curiosity, "What happened here?"
Tsunade briefly recounted the earlier incident to Makoto.
Before Makoto could respond, Yu couldn't help but say, "Senpai, the Hyuga Clan have been getting a bit carried away lately, especially Hyuga Hiashi. He actually seems to think he's your father-in-law. Should I..."
Yu hadn't finished when Makoto raised his hand to stop him.
"Don't be like that, Ishigami. I'm different from my teacher. I have no interest in killing my own people."
Hearing Makoto tease Hiruzen like that, Tsunade couldn't help but roll her eyes. However, she also knew that that old bastard did indeed have that flaw.
…
On the other side.
The Akatsuki.
The Magic Lantern Body Technique was activated, and several phantom images appeared before the Gedo Statue.
The massive Gedo Statue was covered in black Chakra receivers embedded into its body, like an ancient, pinned-down beast. The phantom in the position originally belonging to the leader was no longer Deva Path Pain.
Instead, it was a man wearing a new white mask with only two eyeholes visible. Peeking through the mask's eyeholes was no longer a Sharingan, but a pair of purple eyes, covered in concentric circle patterns.
Rinnegan.
Deidara, Sasori, Kakuzu, Hidan, and others showed looks of astonishment. They certainly knew that the guy before them was Uchiha Obito.
Not just them... the entire Ninja World knew.
"What's going on?" The phantom of Sasuke, also in the Magic Lantern Body Technique state, asked coldly.
Obito didn't beat around the bush. His Rinnegan swept over each phantom present, his voice low and calm: "The Rinnegan is in my hands now. I am the new leader of the Akatsuki. I've finished speaking. Who agrees? Who opposes?"
Upon hearing this, everyone in the Akatsuki looked at each other, their thoughts varied.
Hoshigaki Kisame was naturally the most indifferent. He had always supported the Infinite Tsukuyomi... as long as the plan was completed, who he pledged loyalty to didn't matter.
The others had similar attitudes. They joined the Akatsuki because, as Missing-Nin, they were easily hunted by their villages, and banding together was a way to survive. It wasn't that they were particularly loyal to Nagato. So no one had any objections.
Seeing no one objecting, Obito's confidence surged once more. "Currently, the Three-Tails and Six-Tails are already in our Akatsuki's hands. There are still two Tailed Beasts in a free state."
A hint of undisguised pride tinged his voice. All the Tailed Beasts Nagato had worked so hard to collect over so long were now his.
Obito then issued orders: "Sasuke and Kisame, you will go capture the missing Four-Tails' Jinchuriki, Roshi. Hidan and Kakuzu, you will go capture the Seven-Tails' Jinchuriki of Takigakure, Fu."
A sharp light flashed in the Sharingan of Sasuke's phantom. He had no particular objection to capturing Jinchuriki, but still questioned: "Even so, there are still five Tailed Beasts in the Ninja World Government's hands. What are you going to do about that?"
Obito's response was only one sentence: "I have already thought of a way. Before that, you two capture the Four-Tails and Seven-Tails."
Sasuke asked no further questions. His phantom was the first to dissipate. Following suit, his partner Kisame's phantom also vanished.
The only one left, Obito, looked up at the ten empty eye sockets of the Gedo Statue. His purple Rinnegan reflected the statue's massive silhouette. His voice was very soft, soft enough that only he could hear:
"Soon... I'll be able to see you... Rin."
…
A few days later.
Konan, who had been sent to Makoto by Black Zetsu, woke up.
Opening her eyes, she saw an unfamiliar ceiling.
'Where is this?'
Konan sat up abruptly. A wave of soreness washed over her body. Instinctively, she guarded her chest and warily scanned her surroundings.
Just then, Mrs. Yuigahama walked in.
She carried a tray with several small dishes and a bowl of white congee. Seeing Konan sitting up, a warm smile immediately appeared on her face. "You're awake? How are you feeling?"
Seeing Mrs. Yuigahama's gentle smile, Konan's originally wary expression softened slightly.
"This place is... Why am I here?" Konan asked, confused.
Regarding this, Makoto had already coordinated the story with his women. Mrs. Yuigahama said kindly, "You passed out in the Land of Water. By chance, Mizukage-sama was traveling to the Ninja World Government, saw you, and brought you here."
According to Black Zetsu, Nagato had expended energy capturing the Six-Tails' Jinchuriki, Utakata, in the Land of Water, which allowed Obito to ambush and steal his Rinnegan.
Although Konan resisted desperately, she was ultimately no match for Obito. In the end, thanks to Nagato's desperate sacrifice allowing her to escape, she fled and fell unconscious along the way, where Black Zetsu found and brought her here.
In the story Makoto's group had prepared, the character 'Black Zetsu' was replaced with 'Terumi Mei'. Although somewhat far-fetched, it was barely plausible.
"This is the Ninja World Government?!" Konan was startled, her voice unconsciously rising a pitch.
She had heard far too many rumors about Makoto and his women. Annihilating Kumogakure, conquering Iwagakure, capturing Tailed Beasts, killing Jinchuriki... Even Nagato, who had considered himself a god for over a decade, probably wouldn't dare be arrogant if he met Makoto.
She instinctively tried to stand, but physical discomfort made her fall back onto the bed.
"Don't worry, you won't come to any harm." Mrs. Yuigahama placed the tray on the nightstand, helped Konan sit on the edge of the bed, and patted her back. "By the way, you were Jiraiya-sama's disciple, right?"
Konan was slightly taken aback.
Mrs. Yuigahama continued, "When you think about it, Makoto-kun is actually your junior uncle in the hierarchy."
Konan's mouth twitched involuntarily. She had almost forgotten that Makoto was also a disciple of the Third Hokage. This seniority left her momentarily speechless.
"Here, eat something first. I'll take you to see Makoto-kun afterwards."
Konan nodded, taking the bowl and chopsticks.
Afterward, Mrs. Yuigahama had Konan change into casual clothes.
Looking at herself in the mirror, no longer wearing the black cloak with red clouds, Konan took a deep breath, pushed open the door, and followed Mrs. Yuigahama out of the room.
…
In the reception hall of the Ninja World Government.
Seeing Konan walk in, Makoto didn't let his gaze linger on her curvaceous figure.
"Sit." Makoto pointed to the sofa opposite.
Konan hesitated for a moment, then sat down.
"We're about to go to war with Obito. Do you want to join?" Makoto asked with a smile.
That's right, during the days Konan was unconscious, the Akatsuki had swiftly and successfully captured the Four-Tails and Seven-Tails. The Four-Tails' Jinchuriki, Roshi, was found on the border of the Land of Earth by Sasuke and Kisame and was defeated after a fierce battle. The Seven-Tails' Jinchuriki, Fu, was ambushed and captured near Takigakure by Hidan and Kakuzu.
As a result, the distribution of the nine Tailed Beasts became... One-Tails, Two-Tails, Five-Tails, Eight-Tails, and Nine-Tails in the hands of the Ninja World Government. The Three-Tails, Four-Tails, Six-Tails, and Seven-Tails in the hands of the Akatsuki led by Obito.
The ratio was 5:4.
Thus, just yesterday, Obito delivered a challenge, proposing a decisive battle with the Ninja World Government next month.
Had Konan not woken up at this moment, Makoto's original plan was to summon the leaders of various countries to convene a Ninja World Conference to discuss how to confront the enemy.
Hearing this, Konan's expression changed drastically. Her hands clenched tightly, her nails digging into the flesh of her palms.
"I will kill him."
Nagato was dead. Yahiko had died long ago. Now, only she remained.
Seeing Konan's 'red and heated' state, Makoto recalled that in the original work, Konan's death was also quite tragic, with no one ever knowing about it.
Makoto was somewhat curious about what Konan's feelings would be if she saw Naruto, someone she had acknowledged, say the line, "Don't make fun of Obito."
Anyway, Minato said he had no objections.