Chapter 165: Rebirth

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The valley below was filled with a blend of toxic smoke and dust, covering the bodies of the fallen. Those still barely alive after the battle were now succumbing to the poisonous fumes, ensuring that all of Hanzō's Rain Village forces and the remaining Akatsuki members perished. This was the inevitable outcome of their conflict.

On the plateau above the valley, Nagato stared at Ye Zi, who was wearing a mask, and at Zetsu, who appeared strange and otherworldly. Nagato's Rinnegan held a faint trace of hostility, as did Konan's nearby. The only one who showed no emotion was Yahiko, who now possessed Nagato's same eyes.

As rain poured down, Ye Zi approached Nagato. He stopped at a distance of about a hundred meters.

"Who… are you?" Nagato asked coldly.

Through the veil of rain, Ye Zi gazed at him and responded calmly, "Who I am is unimportant. What matters is that I can guide you in properly using the Rinnegan."

"Guide me? You? Someone who won't even show his face?" Nagato's tone was icy.

Ye Zi remained silent.

Konan, her expression wary, spoke to Nagato, "We can't trust this man."

Nagato nodded slightly, agreeing with her. How could he trust someone who suddenly appeared out of nowhere?

Ye Zi pondered for a moment. He wasn't good at convincing people, as it wasn't his strong suit. After a pause, he slowly raised his hand to his mask, removed it, and revealed his face to Nagato and Konan.

As the mask came off, both Nagato and Konan's expressions changed.

"It's you!" Nagato's eyes filled with cold killing intent, but he didn't act immediately. He remembered how this man had once helped him during an ambush, and Konan had later explained Ye Zi's identity to him.

"You were supposed to be dead," Konan said, her tone hostile but also tinged with confusion.

Though Akatsuki was a small organization, they had basic intelligence networks. According to their information, Ye Zi, also known as Konoha's Little White Fang., had been killed by the Iwa shinobis six months ago.

"I was lucky enough to survive," Ye Zi said calmly, as though oblivious to Nagato's killing intent. "Back then, I helped you, and the price I paid was being betrayed on a mission and nearly dying. You don't have to trust me right now, but let me finish speaking. Then you can decide whether to believe me or not."

Konan fell silent, and Nagato's killing intent eased somewhat.

Ye Zi replaced his mask and spoke in a steady voice, "Small countries, like this one, live in the shadows of larger nations, constantly struggling. The conflict between people has never ceased. Aren't you seeking to change this endless cycle of chaos? But to truly change things, you must master the true power of the Rinnegan. With that power, you can create the world you desire. And I can guide you to that power."

Nagato remained silent for a moment. The idea of unlocking the Rinnegan's true potential was enticing. To make the world experience pain and give birth to peace through suffering, he needed immense strength.

Konan noticed Nagato's hesitation, sensing that he was tempted. Whatever choice Nagato made, she would always stand behind him in silent support.

"How can I trust you?" Nagato asked, his Rinnegan expressionless.

"Let time be the judge," Ye Zi replied, a slight smile forming beneath his mask.

On that day, Nagato killed Hanzō of the Salamander in the Land of Rain.

Nagato abandoned the village he had been building and took over Amegakure directly. Ye Zi and Zetsu officially joined the Akatsuki, and the plan to gather the tailed beasts was officially set in motion.

For Nagato, gathering the tailed beasts meant creating an ultimate weapon to make the nations experience pain and thus foster peace.

For Madara, collecting the tailed beasts would revive the Ten-Tails and initiate the Eye of the Moon Plan, creating a dream world for all.

For Ye Zi, gathering the tailed beasts would provide the energy he needed to break through space-time and return to Earth.

Three individuals shared the same goal, though each walked a different path.

The tailed beasts were distributed among the great shinobi villages. Once one tailed beast was captured, the villages would be alerted, making it almost impossible to collect the rest without significant resistance.

The moment this plan was set in motion, Akatsuki would be at odds with all the major shinobi villages. To gather all the tailed beasts, Akatsuki's current strength was insufficient, especially in terms of manpower.

Understanding this, Nagato wasn't in a hurry. He knew this plan would have to be carried out step by step.

The first step was to amass a significant amount of money. The second was to establish a mercenary organization that didn't belong to any nation, taking on small wars at low costs, eventually monopolizing the smaller nations' war contracts. This would lead to an increase in the scale of wars and the breakdown of the major nations' ninja systems. The third step was to make the world realize the importance of peace.

With these clear goals in mind, the path ahead was no longer shrouded in confusion.

A few days later, Ye Zi and Zetsu left the Land of Rain, now clad in black robes with red clouds.

"The plan is on track now. What's next?" Zetsu asked as they walked through a forest trail.

Ye Zi glanced at him before summoning a scroll—the secret intelligence he had stolen from Iwagakure.

"Hm?" Zetsu looked at the scroll in Ye Zi's hand, puzzled.

"I stole this from Iwagakure. It contains their supply routes and defense plans," Ye Zi said coolly. "I'm thinking of how to maximize its value."

"Oh? Planning to reveal your identity already?" Zetsu grinned.

"Not yet," Ye Zi replied, raising an eyebrow as he put the scroll away. "I need to return to Konoha first."

Zetsu's excitement rose. "Is it happening? Are we collecting the Nine-Tails? The drama of love and betrayal!"

Ye Zi shot him a cold glare, his hand gripping the hilt of Chijin (his 'blood' sword).

"I was wrong!" Zetsu quickly raised his hands in surrender. Black Zetsu, who had been pretending to sleep with his eyes closed, probably wished he could take full control of the body at that moment.

Ye Zi released the sword hilt and continued walking.

Zetsu shrugged and followed. "What do you plan to do in Konoha?"

Ye Zi didn't bother hiding his intentions. "I'm interested in Konoha's Forbidden Scroll. When the time comes, you'll help me steal it. Also, there's someone in Konoha whose body I'm curious about."

"Tch, why should I help you with something like that?" Zetsu scoffed.

"If you're not going to help, why are you even here?" Ye Zi asked.

"To keep an eye on you."

"I don't like being watched, and you're pretty much useless anyway. I should just kill you."

"Hey now, that's cold! Don't forget who saved you."

"I've already forgotten."

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Currently on Chapter 218 - Movements on a Chessboard