Chapter 97: Hardworking Nagato

[Uchiha Obito has joined the Akatsuki organization. You have gained Three Tomoe Sharingan, Uchiha Bloodline, Basic Fire Release, and Uchiha Throwing Techniques.[

After hearing the pleasant system notification sound, Byakuya retracted his gaze from outside the village.

As expected of Obito, the benefits of having him join the Akatsuki organization were considerable. Although he didn't manage to obtain a pair of Mangekyō Sharingan, gaining the Three Tomoe Sharingan and Uchiha bloodline was still quite good.

After receiving the system rewards, Byakuya took out the short sword he carried with him.

Through the reflection in the mirror, Byakuya saw his own pair of blood-red Three Tomoe Sharingan, emitting an eerie and ominous aura.

So, this is the Three Tomoe Sharingan.

Starting today, he was also a member of the Uchiha clan. His body now harbored the bloodlines of both Uzumaki and Uchiha. He wondered if these bloodlines could be upgraded and integrated, after all, they both originated from the Sage of Six Paths.

However, compared to the Uzumaki bloodline, the Uchiha bloodline didn't add much chakra.

So far, his chakra level was on par with Nagato's, far from reaching the level of a Tailed Beast, still somewhat weak.

Wasting no time, Byakuya began familiarizing himself with the Sharingan.

The Sharingan came with two innate abilities: enhanced dynamic vision and increased genjutsu potency. The genjutsu enhancement wasn't very useful to him since he wasn't skilled in using genjutsu and had a high resistance to it.

But the advantage of dynamic vision was significant, making up for his shortcomings in taijutsu.

After all, he could dominate Chūnin and Genin in combat techniques, but was somewhat lacking against elite Jōnin and Kage-level opponents, always relying on sheer strength to achieve miracles.

As for the special secret techniques of the Three Tomoe Sharingan, Byakuya hadn't mastered them yet.

He would need to find a Uchiha Jōnin to ask, or recruit new Uchiha members. After all, there were many rewards to be gained from the Uchiha.

After executing a few sword techniques and landing smoothly using Uchiha-style body techniques, Byakuya nodded in satisfaction.

In the following time, Byakuya began practicing the basics of Fire Release, which included several Fire Release techniques that the Uchiha excelled at. Although the level wasn't high, the destructive power was considerable, though the accuracy was somewhat lacking.

However, unlike other ninjutsu, once a Fire Release hit, the outcome was almost decided.

After spending a few hours familiarizing himself with his new abilities, Byakuya left the Akatsuki base, sensing the chakra around him, and prepared to seek out Nagato.

The Mangekyō Sharingan Obito had given him a large amount of rewards.

Nagato, who possessed the Rinnegan, couldn't afford to be idle. He had to train diligently and improve his strength to provide significant feedback to himself. There was no way he could just laze around.

Byakuya found Nagato at a construction site, working with Earth Release ninjas on a water management project.

The Land of Rain experienced constant rainfall, leading to frequent floods and soil erosion. During the early years of Hanzō's rule, he managed these water issues with the help of his ninja subordinates, but in his later years, he neglected these responsibilities.

However, this was typical of most ninja villages.

Ninja villages essentially functioned as mercenary groups for their respective countries, performing missions only when there were commissions and compensation. They were responsible primarily for the villagers within the ninja village itself. Intervening too much in external matters not only lacked financial rewards but also risked backlash from nobles and daimyos.

Although the Akatsuki was nominally chosen by Hanzō as his successor, in reality, they did not follow the orders of the daimyo. The daimyo of the Land of Rain had been subdued during Hanzō's era and had become a mere figurehead.

Thus, after the Akatsuki took over the Rain Village's mess, they were free to reform the Land of Rain.

In a few months, they managed to repair many of the roads within the country, allowing ordinary people to travel smoothly within the Land of Rain. Despite being involved in the development of the Rain Village, Nagato remained a core high-ranking member of the village.

Seeing Nagato using Banshō Ten'in to move bricks and Shinra Tensei to block water flow, Byakuya found it somewhat surreal, as these were abilities meant to make the world experience pain.

Upon seeing Byakuya, Nagato first directed the Rain ninjas to continue working, then walked over and said, "Byakuya, I heard you had a fight with Yahiko. What were you arguing about this time?"

"Just the usual ideological differences... the same old stuff," Byakuya replied, then continued in a slightly melancholic tone, "But Nagato, don't you think using the Sage of Six Paths' Rinnegan for this is a huge waste?"

Nagato shook his head, then said with a peculiar expression, "Isn't this what you suggested? You said it would help me train my control... and you didn't even pay me."

Byakuya's face darkened. He did recall fooling Nagato about this in the past.

Nagato then chuckled softly and said, "But I find this life quite good. I can help ordinary people and gain their recognition. I believe the Sage of Six Paths must have thought the same back then, which is why I obtained the Rinnegan."

Seeing the positivity in Nagato, Byakuya felt a bit dark-hearted.

After pondering for a moment, Byakuya continued, "What I mean is, your efficiency is too low. If you could create puppets and control them from behind the scenes, wouldn't you be able to help more people?"

"Moreover, in the books Hanzō left behind, there's a technique called the Rain Tiger at Will Technique. It can manipulate the weather, allowing you to control sunny and rainy days freely, and sense enemies within a barrier. Don't you think you should consider it?"

Nagato paused for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

His thinking was indeed not as active as Byakuya's, lacking so many ideas. However, if he could truly implement Byakuya's suggestions, it would indeed help more people.

'But, Byakuya, are you sure this is about developing Amegakure and not just enhancing its combat power? Having me control puppets with the Rinnegan and the Rain Tiger at Will Technique can certainly improve killing efficiency and prevent enemy ninja from invading the village. These seem like military applications.' Nagato rubbed his chin.

Noticing Nagato's thoughts, Byakuya frowned, "I'm talking about jutsu related to civilian life, so don't overthink it. Without me, could Amegakure have developed this quickly?"

"That's true," Nagato conceded.

Nagato never doubted Byakuya's abilities but was wary of his ambitions.

With Amegakure's current capabilities, it was more than capable of self-defense. They could even reduce some military forces to focus on economic development. However, Byakuya's plans clearly seemed to be heading towards starting a new ninja world war.

Moreover, although Byakuya verbally dismissed concerns about the Land of Whirlpools, who could truly know what Byakuya was cooking right now?

At this moment, Nagato suddenly remembered something and said, "By the way, last time when Konan and I were helping at the orphanage, someone was spying on us. Was that one of your subordinates?"

Someone spying on Nagato? It must be Black Zetsu.

After pondering for a moment, Byakuya shook his head slightly, "I don't have such subordinates. But if someone is secretly watching you and Konan, they are trying to challenge the Akatsuki. I will find out who they are."