Chapter 61. Split the Akatsuki organization in advance

Konan hesitated for a moment before taking a seat. However, the herbal tea before her remained untouched.

While she recognized it as a refreshing drink to combat the desert heat, the uncertainty of whether the person before her was a friend or foe prevented her from sipping it.

In contrast, Natsuki calmly indulged in a sip of the herbal tea he had brought from Konoha Village, releasing a contented sigh.

Previously, he hadn't pondered how he would face the Akatsuki. After all, the encounter was still a few years away.

Now, time had progressed, and in Natsuki's recollection, Nagato and Konan had always been cautious of Obito.

This caution led Konan to invest Kakuzu's hard-earned money in preparing the paper bombs, an effort that fell short due to her unawareness of Izanagi.

Yet, Natsuki deemed this insufficient. There were aspects of information still unclear to Konan and Nagato.

Ready to pre-emptively escalate their conflicts and introduce more hurdles for Obito, Natsuki posed a question, "Do you remember Yahiko?"

He dropped a shocking revelation, causing her to stand up in sheer disbelief.

She nearly overturned the table, but he swiftly intervened, steadying the furniture with quick reflexes.

"Who are you?" She assumed a defensive stance, paper swirling around her body.

Natsuki, however, remained composed, taking a sip of herbal tea. "I am Natsuki Uchiha. Don't you know that?"

Despite her cold expression and the flying papers, Natsuki showed no signs of hostility.

"How do you know about him?"

Pouring the untouched tea back into his own cup, Natsuki ignored her question about Yahiko.

"I have a genuine question. If you answer, not only can I join Akatsuki, but I can also share the secret recipe of [Summer Food]. Whether you answer or not, I will tell you why I know him."

Her focus shifted from recruiting him to a serious examination.

She proposed, "Okay, just ask!"

She had always been haunted by the deaths of Yahiko and others.

His confession and the belief that her actions had caused their deaths weighed heavily on her.

Natsuki questioned, "Why did you and Nagato collaborate with Zetsu and the masked man who killed Yahiko, Daibutsu, and your other companions? Why didn't you seek revenge for them?"

Konan, thunderstruck, exclaimed, "What!? They killed them!?"

"Where did you get this news?" She questioned.

He sneered, "You're truly an idiot. The enemy who killed your friends is right next to you, and yet you collaborate with them every day in your grand plans."

"When you were kidnapped, Nagato and Yahiko went to rescue you."

"Kyūsuke received intelligence and anticipated that Yahiko would be in danger, so he summoned his companions to rescue him. However, they were intercepted by Zetsu and the masked man on the way."

"In the end, Kyūsuke and Daibutsu joined forces, using secret techniques to sacrifice their lives in an attempt to eradicate the masked man and protect you."

Regretfully, her chakra became erratic after hearing Natsuki's words.

"It's a pity. In the end, Kyūsuke turned into concrete with his eyes open. He died with his eyes open."

Natsuki's tone dripped with sarcasm, revealing his disdain for him.

She couldn't remain still, shaking her head vehemently.

"No! Why would he do this?"

He mocked her, "Have you forgotten the first time he met you and how he invited you?"

"If Yahiko were here, would Nagato collaborate with them? By now, Nagato would have joined them."

"It's because of Yahiko's existence that they wanted to prevent Kyūsuke and Daibutsu from supporting you."

"Because they needed Nagato to plunge into darkness, they wanted Yahiko to die!"

Konan reflected on her past interactions with Nagato and slowly began to believe Natsuki's account.

"Isn't Nagato just following his wishes now?"

But how did he possess such detailed information?

Natsuki tossed a scroll to Konan, who instinctively caught it.

"The technique's name is [Impure World Reincarnation], a forbidden jutsu created by the Second Hokage Senju Tobirama. This technique summons the soul of a long-dead ninja, bringing them back in physical form."

"The bodies of Kyūsuke or Daibutsu can be located. If you find a living person as a sacrifice, you can ask Kyūsuke or Daibutsu yourself if what I said is true."

"Of course, if you miss Yahiko, you can also resurrect him."

"Resurrect the dead!?" Konan was horrified. Could Konoha truly possess such a terrifying technique?

With little time to dwell on the implications, she needed to verify whether Natsuki's claims were true and if resurrecting them was indeed possible.

"Why did you do this?" Konan, now 80% convinced, demanded an explanation.

Pouring another cup of herbal tea, Natsuki responded, "Because the person pretending to be Madara Uchiha is the one who instigated the Nine-Tails Attack in Konoha."

"He subjected our Uchiha clan to unjust accusations, almost causing our entire family's extinction. He wanted to play the puppeteer from the shadows and live out his delusional dreams."

"I'm going to make him pay!" He slammed the table, causing both cups to jump.

Due to Konoha's suppression of information about the Nine-Tails Attack, there was limited external knowledge.

She was aware that many had died in Konoha, including the Fourth Hokage.

"Then, do you know his identity?" She inquired as she took the teapot, poured herself a cup of herbal tea, and drank it in one gulp, feeling a refreshing coolness flowing through her body.

Seeing her pour herself water, he smiled, recognizing it as a sign of growing trust.

"He? Ha... he's just a chess piece."

After some searching, he found a scroll among the seals, unsealing its contents to reveal a pile of scrolls with written words.

"Take a look on the way. Discuss it with Nagato when you return. While you may not be able to kill him directly, you can still make an attempt."

"I won't waste more time with you, as I have other matters to attend to. Next time, ask Nagato to come directly to me, and I'll provide more information."

"If you need to find me, head to the Otogakure. If I'm not there, leave a message with Itachi."

As Konan opened the scroll, she discovered a portrait of a masked man along with an introduction: "Obito Uchiha, seriously injured at Kannabi Bridge, rescued by Madara Uchiha, became the spokesperson of his will, possessing the power of the Mangekyō Sharingan..."

He efficiently stored away the tables, chairs, and teapots into the storage scroll before heading towards Sunagakure.

Konan quickly scanned the scroll, now understanding why Natsuki claimed he couldn't personally kill Obito.

As his voice echoed from a distance, he spoke again.

"People reincarnated will not be active for too long; it's a temporary measure. Use this technique with caution."

With Natsuki's Impure World Reincarnation and the scroll introducing Obito in hand, Konan swiftly transformed her wings and ascended into the air.

'Damn Uchiha Obito, this disgusting conspirator.'