122 Chapter 122: Lantern magic projection Technique

Following a quick introduction by Mei, a few of the shinobi came to say hello.

"What's up. I'm Ohto Shiro, I heard you're a jinchuriki, what's it like having a tailed beast? I heard that they torment their hosts for as long as they live."

"That's true. But hasn't the Cloud managed to weaponize them somehow?"

"Yeah, they call the hosts perfected jinchurikis."

While the introduction didn't make much of an impact for most shinobi, a certain white haired shinobi with a mask looked at the teenager contemplatively.

Trying to hide his gaze, he looked back at the orange book his hand with thoughts racing through his mind.

Kumo had taken over Konoha. It didn't seem like the end of their ambitions, was Suna next? There's also the involvement with the other two villages... damn, this situation has devolved into a mess.

With suspicions, weighing heavily on his mind, Kakashi thought up several plans and actions he should take going forward.

Unfortunately, with the recent demotion and lack of knowledge on individual shinobi, he didn't know anything about Pakura and the Sand's dire need for a new leader.

That crucial point alone, would render the majority of his careful planning useless.

With a friendly face, Hachiro came back over with a woman trailing behind him.

"This is Yugito, she'll be the one to teach you about tailed beasts. Try to get along."

Gaara stared at her and recalled the vague memories, he had of the massive cat demon that seemed to contain just as much rage as the blue flames forming its body had.

The horrific scenes where the giant feline unintentionally caused more destruction than he had caused him to feel slightly nervous.

Unlike his turbulent emotions, Yugito calmly stretched out a hand and said, "I'll be your sensei in the future. It's nice to meet you."

He continued to dig his line of sight into her before slowly raising his own hand to accept the handshake.

However, the second they made physical contact, he heard a familiar, high pitched and shrew voice in his head.

"Matatabi, have you seriously surrendered to humans?!"

The sudden angry cry startled him as another more feminine voice appeared.

"It's been so long, and yet you are still the same. Wouldn't it easier to get along with your jinchuriki? It would make your life more comfortable."

Still sounding extremely angry, Shikaku roared.

"Hmph! You idiotic weak willed cat. I'm different from you, I will never beg anyone!"

Yugito noted how Gaara reacted and began to sate his surprise by explaining it.

"An ability of the tailed beasts is to communicate with each other. As for as I'm aware, it requires their chakra to be in contact with each other though..."

They both went silent and listened in on Matatabi and Shikaku's seemingly endless quarrel.

A few minutes later, they twisted their gazes over to the raised ground with a few people announcing the details to do with their next mission.

"Despite, one of the key objectives of this mission being to take over the Mist, Kirigakure is unlikely to be the main problem. Our primary opponents will be the Rock shinobi who have also led an invasion on the Land of Water."

A shinobi stood up and asked, "How far can we go?"

One of the individuals on stage stepped forward and answered, "We would like to keep destruction to a minimum, and although, we would prefer to avoid starting another war, you are permitted to use or act in anyway you would like with the Rock Shinobi..."

Hachiro zoned out and noticed that Mei was clenching her fists hard enough that she drew a thin stream of blood.

He looked away and decided to ignore it for now.

It wasn't hard to guess that she was angry with the current Mizukage, Yagura.

However, he couldn't tell her that it wasn't actually him making all the 'horrible' decisions and creating the hell known as the 'bloody mist'.

After all, Obito was written down in the Konoha record books as an unremarkable genin.

If he told her about the real masterminds identity, then she would probably take him to a mental institution or tell others about his creativity.

Now, that he thought about it.

He probably would be crazy if he decided to reveal his knowledge of the future.

...

...

The Land of Water, Kirigakure.

The meeting room in the Mizukage's residence.

The ten current members of the organisation were gathered together using the Magic Lantern Body Technique.

Naturally, they had been discussing the commotion caused by the sudden invasion by the Cloud and Sand.

The fact that Konoha fell in one day was enough for even the most thoughtless members to give the situation a second thought.

They marvelled over the new information on the combatants from the village hidden in the clouds and ultimately, attributed the one sided victory to the surprise attack factor.

Kumogakure had launched a series of relentless attacks on the Land of Fire during the Third World War and yet failed to win a single battle so overwhelmingly.

Even so, they didn't really care all that much as whoever was in power made no difference to them.

Well, aside from one certain ninja. Out of all the present mercenaries, he was probably the only one that cared a little for Konoha's well being.

"With this recent commotion, the ninja world has changed a lot. We need someone to investigate any negatives changes that have taken place and may get in the way of executing our next few plans."

Kazuku asked, "How much are we being payed?"

Without even blinking, the half white plant creature replied, "Nothing."

The answer made the money grubber groan and go back to flicking through the new bingo book issue.

A few other inquired about sacrifices or art venues but their replies made it apparent that getting a volunteer for this mission was going to be difficult.

...Or so the black blob thought. "I'll do it."

The black creature glanced at around trying to find who said it, before he finally realised that it came from the right of him.

He stared then blinked doubtfully.

Itachi? He was taking the initiative? Was it raining crows and eagles today?

The others shared similar thoughts wondering if Itachi had somehow been replaced by a spy.

This was the guy who had joined the Akatsuki six years ago and to this day, never spoke a word unless spoken too.

In his mind, however...

I have to go check up on Sasuke. Hachiro Raiden is a troublesome shinobi and if he's still the same as back then, he might try to control me through Sasuke.

I'm almost a dead man now, so it doesn't matter what happens to me, but I can't allow Sasuke to be in danger.

Unfortunately, his daydreaming was broken up by the indifferent and cold voice of their leader, pain.

"No. Soon, Ohnoki of Iwagakure and Hachiro Raiden will arrive leading an army. They are currently approaching us from two different directions."

"Tobi, you and Diedara will be responsible for retrieving the Three Tails. Itachi and kisame will come along and escort the beast to avoid any accidents. Any questions?"

There was a silence and when it seemed there was nothing, Kisame asked in a way that made it hard for others to tell what he was feeling.

"Are we giving up Kirigakure?"

Pain squinted his eyes in reply and selected to ignore that question by dully saying.

"We have already completed a majority of the plans we needed to here, Kirigakure's value has run dry. With this foreboding attack, their is no point in staying here any longer."

Once, he had finished his piece, the projection distorted before disappearing altogether.

Soon, the others faded into nonexistence until only the shark, Tobi and White Zetsu was left.

Ignoring, Kisame, the plant looked at Tobi as the whiter half of it said.

"The attacking cohesion is led by Hatake Kakashi.

Like a playful and clueless kid, Tobi looked at them blankly.

"Huh~~? So~?"

The other black half stated. "Don't get emotional."

Zaaapp~!

Tobi's avatar outline lost its form and disappeared.

________________________

Whenever the original refers to tobi it calls him Afei, lol.