Naruto: Escape From Konoha-Chapter 256 - 249: Arrangements

On the top of a mountain in a certain country, all surrounding trees have been neatly cut down, leaving the mountain range barren and desolate.

A cold mountain wind blew from time to time. Although it was obviously summer, the wind was icy cold and the sky gray, with little light to see.

"From now on, you are a member of Akatsuki." Nagato's rainbow-colored phantom form said calmly to the white-haired boy standing before him,

Hiruko.

Orochimaru had recognized his potential, recruited him.

Through Orochimaru, Nagato learned some information about the Chimera jutsu Hiruko had created. He thought the forbidden jutsu had a high potential for growth. As long as be quickly found five kekkei genkai ninjas for Hiruko, he believed Hiruko's strength would undergo a terrifying change.

"This is quite troublesome... but you must fulfill the promises you made to me as soon as possible. I'm not working for Akatsuki for free." Hiruko says.

Hiruko saw joining the Akatsuki as a purely transactional relationship. While Nagato revealed some of their goals, Hiruko had no interest in the so-called peace of the ninja world, it had nothing to do with him. He only desired more power to become the strongest ninja in the world.

'If i can use that eye...'

Hiruko glanced at Nagato's eyes, intentionally or unintentionally. When he first saw Nagato, he was taken aback. He couldn't believe the legendary Rinnegan actually existed. No wonder it attracted the likes of Orochimaru. Perhaps Orochimaru was also coveting the Rinnegan.

However, after his recent encounter with Hyuga Ayane and her Byakugan, he learned a valuable lesson about his own limitations. He must recognize his place in Akatsuki, or he will surely face consequences.

If Nagato hadn't come to their rescue this time, making a deal with the enemy, the three of them would have suffered heavy damages. if they wanted to escape from the territory of the Land of Bears, and there was a high probability that they would be wiped out.

So, eyeing the Rinnegan couldn't be rushed for the time being.

The Akatsuki was probably filled with a group of strange and powerful characters, and he who had just mastered his forbidden jutsu was just a minor character. If he can't even recognize his own status, it would be very fatal to him in the Akatsuki.

"One year later, when you come to Amegakure, I will prepare five kekkei genkai ninjas for you. Do you have any preferences?" Nagato paused for a moment and asked.

Capturing kekkei genkai ninjas was a difficult task, as they were rare and well-protected. Currently, Nagato was focusing on other operations, so it would take time.

"It would be even better if there are Byakugan and Sharingan among them."

Hiruko suggested. His desire for kekkei genkai far exceeded that of most, especially after witnessing Hyuga Ayane's Byakugan. He was also interested in the Sharingan, alongside the Byakugan.

"Konoha currently maintains extremely tight control over the Byakugan. After the Hyuga Ayane incident, the Hyuga clan do not leave the village easily, making it difficult to obtain..... However, acquiring the Sharingan is no problem."

As far as Nagato was aware, Orochimaru and Konoha's Danzo still maintained a cooperative relationship.

Danzo, taking advantage of the war, obscured the whereabouts of several deceased Uchiha bodies and secretly collected a few pairs of Sharingan.

It should be no problem to obtain a pair of Sharingan from Danzo through Orochimaru, provided the price is satisfactory to Danzo.

"Very well, then Sharingan it is. I want them to be at least the three-tomoe stage. This will enhance my strength and allow me to better contribute to Akatsuki's plan." Hiruko said.

Nagato nodded in agreement. The Sharingan is an incredibly powerful kekkei genkaii, and with its power, Hiruko will become a valuable asset to the Akatsuki.

"It's best if you actively seek profit for Akatsuki. When the Akatsuki's plan is completed, your goal will also be achieved."

Nagato left this cryptic message as his rainbow-colored phantom dissipated into the air.

Hiruko curled his lips in disdain as be snorted coldly. He had no interest in any peace. Yet, he was no fool. He understood the terms of his agreement and would fulfill his obligations to the organization. After all, he needed Akatsuki's resources to acquire powerful kekkei genkai for himself. This was a win-win agreement.

He knew what Orochimaru meant by "capturing cute little animals." Though in Hiruko's opinion, he found those "cute animals" anything but cute, they were undeniably dangerous. - Tailed beasts.

"Getting involved in this, sooner or later, will inevitably lead to war with the five major powers....."

Hiruko found it interesting. As a former Konoha ninja, he was well aware of the formidable power these villages possessed. He imagined the clash between Akatsuki and the five great powers, a spectacle that promised to be thrilling. Using these nations as stepping stones to become the strongest ninja in the world... that wasn't a bad idea.

"Is the conversation over yet?"

A chilling voice sounded from behind. Hiruko knew who it was without turning his head.

"It's over." Hiruko nodded

"Then, no problem. Congratulations on joining. We are now comrades."

"Don't speak to me affectionately. To be honest, I really hate you, Orochimaru." Hiruko said bluntly.

"That's quite alright, as long as I find you interesting."

Orochimaru said with a shrug, unfazed by the hostility. He was accustomed to being found disgusting. His body transformation and ninjutsu often causing the disgust.

But Hiruko's hatred towards him stemmed not from Orochimaru's jutsu, but from his extraordinary talent as a ninja, an envy that gnawed at him.

Not being envied by others was a sign of mediocrity, which was a different kind of praise and recognition for Orochimaru himself. Being envied was a burden that came with being a genius, Orochimaru thought narcissistically.

"What are your plans now? The organization operates in pairs, and we are currently understaffed. You are the only one in your group." Orochimaru explained.

"Didn't those strange white creatures handle that? Aren't they responsible for the intelligence work?" Hiruko didn't seem concerned.

Before Orochimaru could respond, another voice interrupted.

"I wouldn't changing and partnering with you. I've had enough of this rotten snake."

Feeling Orochimaru's lecherous gaze made Sasori disgusted.

Although Hiruko's strength was currently weak, it would undoubtedly increase dramatically once he absorbed the abilities of five kekkei genkai. This could be a promising investment.

"I have no artistic talent, and we would inevitably clash." Hiruko declined politely.

Sasori, a puppeteer who's obsessed with eternal art, was known for his artistic fanaticism. Their differences in artistic vision would surely lead to conflict.

In terms of artistic compatibility, even Orochimaru was more tolerable than Sasori.

"Ha! Rejected without hesitation." Orochimaru chuckled from the sidelines.

"Shut up!" Sasori glared at Orochimaru with murderous intent before turning and leaving.

"Then I shall take my leave as well. Looking for word to seeing you next time, Hiruko"

Hiruko kept watching Orochimaru and Sasori as they disappeared into the distance.

.....

Beside a river.

A thick fog blanketed the riverbank, transforming it into a shrouded battleground.

"Water Release - Water Shark Bullet!"

With a surge of energy, the river water churned violently, instantly forming a huge water shark with razor-sharp teeth. It lunged at the enemy, its jaws agape.

"Earth Release - Earth Flow..."

Before the defensive earth wall could solidify, the shark tore through it, crashing into the opposing ninja.

The force sent the ninja flying, and he coughed up blood as he landed. Yet, he remained standing still determined to fight.

However, his resolve was short-lived. A black figure appeared before him, wielding a massive, bandaged sword. The huge sword mercilessly struck his chest.

Kisame heard the sickening crack of the ninja's chest giving way under the Samehada's weight. As flesh and blood splattered, the blade drained every last drop of chakra from the fallen ninja.

The unfortunate ninja twitched twice upon falling to the ground, then lay motionless.

Kisame rested the heavy sword on his shoulder, his face without satisfaction.

"So, that's it."

He muttered, looking at the dozen ninja corpses sprawled around him, victims all killed alone by him.

Despite the carnage, Kisame felt no sense of accomplishment. These fallen ninjas were weak, yet they dared to attack villages in the Land of Water trying tosteal their supplies. They were nothing but desperate fools.

However,.... it was true. Recently, there were a large number of rogue ninjas who had entered the closed Land of Water.

Whispers had reached their ears. Rumors of Kirigakure's weakened military due to internal strife. Driven by greed, these roghes sought to exploit the perceived weakness to pillage the villages in the country.

There were also rumors of hidden hands at play, with certain ninja villages testing the true extent of Kiri's turmoil.

Regardless of whether the civil war had weakened them, Kirigakure wasn't a force to be trifled with. No mere group of third-rate rogue ninjas could stand against their might.

In Kisame's eyes, these people who invaded their country deserved only one fate - death.

A sound of footsteps reached Kisame's ears. A burly man adorned with cross scars and crimson stripes walked towards him with a displeased expression on his face. He carried a bloodstained heavy sword, its weight effortlessly supported in his single hand, showcasing his immense strength.

This man, like Kisame, was one of the seven remaining swordsmen of Kirigakure. The wielder of Kubikiribocho, Biwa Juzo.

Different from ninjas like Kisame, who have a history of both criminal activities and commendable deeds, Juso stood out as one of the surviving members from the previous generation of the Seven Swordsmen. His esteemed position has endured through time, remaining intact and untainted.

His relatively untarnished political background has earned him trust from the current Mizukage. This trust was the reason he was assigned to work alongside Kisame. On one hand, it serves the purpose of mentoring Kisame, guiding him to become an excellent member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. On the other hand, it serves as a precautionary measure, ensuring close surveillance to prevent any potentially dangerous actions from him.

Given Kisame's checkered past, the need for close monitoring was only natural. Despite this, Kisame retained his place among the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, leaving Juzo confused about the thoughts of the dwarf Mizukage.

While Kisame proved adept at managing affairs and, at times, handles tasks even more proficiently than his superior, there was an underlying dissatisfaction. It wasn't because of jealousy or the fact that Kisame has surpassed his predecessor within a mere two years.

The difference in Kenjutsu was just one aspect, the crucial factor was Kisame's monstrous chakra volume. His compatibility with his Samehada surpassed even Fuguki. It appears inevitable that Kisame's status will soon eclipse that of his boss.

"The current mission was too easy, Jūzō-senpai."

"Of course." Jūzō replied nonchalantly, "they are but a band of homeless rogue ninjas, not even defectors. This level of challenge is to be expected."

"Byt, the banditry in the Land of Water has become increasingly problematic. I wonder who might be behind it all." Kisame added thoughtfully

"It doesn't matter who it is. It's just another underhanded conspiracy, no doubt. That short Mizukage isn't as simple as he seems. He's a schemer himself, he remains the only one in history to rise to the position of one of the five Kage through a coup."

"If Mizukage-sama heard that statement, Jūzō-senpai, wouldn't you be in trouble?" Kisame asked with a smile.

"I am a man of blunt words."

"I see. Is this the unique way Senpai and Mizukage-sama get along? I've learned well."

Kisame replied. He was aware that the Mizukage wouldn't take Jūzō's secret criticisms seriously.

Jūzō's talkativeness, while sometimes risky, earned him immense trust and responsibility. Few other ninjas possessed such initiative to call Mizukage-sama dwarf. After all, their Mizukage-sama was indeed a "dwarf" as Jūzō says.

"I feel like you're having impolite thoughts... well, never mind. Let's return to our respective commands as soon as possible. Chasing these weaklings all day has become tiresome."

Jūzō sighed, turning towards Kiri's direction.

Kisame followed closely, his ever-present smile masking any hidden thoughts. A new power was rising in the ranks of the Seven Swordsmen.

.....

"Akatsuki... I never anticipated such organization would gather so many dangerous people in just two or three years."

Yagura held a piece of confidential information, and after reviewing its contents, his brows furrowed slightly.

After the coup in Kirigakure and his ascension as the Fourth Mizukage, Shiraishi had revealed certain important information.

He learned that Akatsuki, originally a Land of Rain organization dedicated to their country's salvation, had undergone a dramatic transformation. Following the death of their leader Yahiko, a new figure assumed control.

This new leader of Aktsuki not only took advantage of the Nine Tails disaster to greatly damage Konoha but also pulled the strings behind Amegakure, spearheading a complete rebellion against the Land of Fire and Konoha.

Furthermore, this leader possessed the legendary Rinnegan, granting him immense power. According to Shiraishi, no one in the current ninja world stood a chance against him in a one-on-one battle.

Facing such a powerful enemy, Yagura recognized the futility of fighting alone. He understood the critical need for unity. He generally held Shiraishi's judgment in high regard.

The Sharingan and the Byakugan are already considered powerful kekkei genkai in the ninja world. But it seems like they both paled in comparison to the Rinnegan's ability.

There were already a few known ninjutsu the doujutsu had, a jutsu that when centered on the user it repelled all attacks, and another that could attract unsuspecting victims. These two jutsu alone were very powerful, ordinary ninjas will be wiped out if they encounter him.

The rest of Akatsuki's abilities remained shrouded in fog, waiting to be revealed.

Yagura believed that no matter how serious the countermeasures implemented against such an organization, they would never be enough.

To make matters worse, Akatsuki had become a haven for S-ranm rogue ninjas. Allowing them to grow without restrictions would only make the situation more troublesome.

However, it would be difficult to impose these restrictions. Akatsuki's core members were elusive, making them difficult targets.

A failed ambush could invite a huge trouble for Kirigakure, which was still recovering from the recent civil war, remained vulnerable, particularly in its economy.

While Kirigakure enjoyed the secret support of the Land of Demons in its pursuit of economic independence, the endeavor was still in its early stages. Developing a viable system would take several years.

Unlike the Third Ninja World War, which gave in an a chance of convenience and opportunity, the current climate offered no such luxury.

The Land of Demons' economic prosperity was both inevitable and lucky. The Third Ninja World War served as the catalyst, with various ninja villages demanding large quantities of medicine and medical supplies, resulting in the Land of Demons reaping a huge amount of profits from the war.

So, after comprehending the information provided by Shiraishi, Yagura refrained from formulating an immediate strategy against Akatsuki.

While he acknowledged the looming threat Akatsuki posed, he conceded that Kirigakure lacked the capacity to counter them at the present time. However, one thing remained certain: an unprecedented war involving both Akatsuki and himself, alongside Shiraishi, was inevitable.

This impending war would become known as the Fourth Ninja World War.

It was an unavoidable consequence.

But before then, all necessary preparations had to be carefully planned and implemented.

Since the Akatsuki was beyond his immediate reach, Yagura prioritized gathering additional information about the organization to prepare for the future Fourth Ninja World War.

Possessing this information, while the Akatsuki remained oblivious to their activities, would grant Kirigakure a significant advantage in the coming Fourth Ninja War, enabling them to overwhelmed their enemy.

This strategic approach was of paramount importance.

While Yagura pondered over the problem at hand, a knock interrupted his thoughts.

The office door creaked open and a figure strolled in, a wide grin plastered on his face.

"Mizukage-sama, I'm back, the mission has been completed successfully."

Juzo effortlessly put down Kubikiribocho from his shoulder, holding the sword with both hands, his imposing figure radiating a nonchalant confidence.

"Didn't I forbid you from entering without permission, Juso?" Yakura looked at Juzo helplessly.

"I'm sorry, I'll pay more attention next time."

"You said the same thing last time, and the time before that..." Yagura trailed off, his exasperation evident. "Honestly, I don't expect much from you anyway."

He couldn't decide whether Juzo was feigning ignorance or genuinely clueless, but it hardly mattered. As long as Juzo completed his assigned missions, his personality quirks were irrelevant.

"I'm grateful. What are the next orders? Do you want me to wipe out the banditry problem of the country?"

"Those rogue ninjas? They likely have a master pulling their strings behind the scenes. They're probably trying to gauge Kiri's current strength. Just be careful.."

Yagura remained uncertain whether it was Iwa, Kumo, Konoha, or even Suna who were lurking behind these rogue elements.

It was impossible for a large number of rogue ninjas to gather within the Land of Water. While individually weak, they posed a significant threat both to security and public perception of Kirigakure's effectiveness.

Among the potential culprits, Iwa and Kumo seemed most likely. The former, led by the cunning and aged Tsuchikage, and the latter, ruled by the aggressive Raikage, neither of them was easy to get along with.

"Since you have a strategy, It should be no problem."

"Leave the following operations to the Anbu. Ringo will oversee the village's security while you lead a border patrol. However, leave Kisame behind this time."

"Kisame?"

The mention of Kisame surprised Juzo. Patrolling the borders was part of his usual duties, and being one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen meant he was frequently tasked with such missions. However, the unusual exclusion of Kisame, who had always shadowed Juzo on every mission, raised questions.

"Kisame will be separated from your team from now on. I have other missions for him to handle."

"Well, I understand, I'll inform him."

Juzo nodded, accepting the decision. He couldn't help but wonder if Kisame was being transferred to the Anbu. Such a move would be a risky gamble.

The Blood Mist faction's negative impact on Kirigakure led many ninjas and villagers to strongly resist it. Despite the faction's dominance at that time and the previous Mizukage's leniency, people had no choice but to endure.

When Yagura assumed power, he revamped Kiri, implementing reforms in the ninja academy, garnering support from many. For most in the village, the blood mist wasn't a compliment but a shameful reminder of the past.

Kisame, formerly under Fuguki, belonged to the Blood Mist faction, unlike Yagura. So, when Kisame was invited to join the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, Yagura faced pressure to deal with Kisame's identity issues.

If Kisame joined the Anbu now, it could lead to disruptions in high-level meetings. Anbu held more importance than the position of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, representing Kirigakure's elite force and serving as Yagura's trusted guard. Only a ninja with a clean record and absolute loyalty to the village could serve in the Anbu.

Common sense dictates that ninjas with bad records like Kisame could not join Anbu.

Yet, Yagura offered no explanations.

The missions to be assigned to Kisame and everything that followed up are top secret, with no one unrelated allowed access.

Yagura focused on the documents on the desktop containing Akatsuki's information, deep in thought.

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