Divide the Akatsuki in Advance

Konan hesitantly sat down.

However, she didn't touch the iced tea in front of her. Although it was clear the drink was meant to cool and refresh, she couldn't trust it since she didn't know if the person across from her was a friend or foe.

Summerwood took a leisurely sip of the iced tea he had brought from Konoha Village and sighed, satisfied.

Previously, Summerwood had not considered how to confront the Akatsuki, believing the confrontation would be years away. But now, the timeline has advanced.

In Summerwood's memory, Nagato and Konan have always been wary of Obito. This was why Konan had prepared explosive tags with Kakuzu's money. Unfortunately, Konan was unaware of Izanagi's existence, which led to her ultimate failure.

Summerwood felt Konan and Nagato needed to be aware of some crucial information. He intended to ignite their internal conflict early and cause trouble for Obito.

"Do you remember Juzo?" Summerwood's words startled Konan so much that she stood up, almost toppling the table. Fortunately, Summerwood quickly stabilized it.

"Who are you?" Konan demanded, entering a combat stance as paper sheets began to flutter around her. However, Summerwood remained seated, showing no hostility.

Taking another sip of iced tea, Summerwood calmly replied, "I'm Uchiha Summerwood. You know that, don't you?"

Konan dismissed the paper sheets, her face cold. "How do you know Juzo?"

Seeing Konan wasn't drinking the iced tea, Summerwood poured her cup back into his own, not wanting to waste it in the arid Land of Wind.

Summerwood still needs to answer Konan's question. "I have a real question. If you can answer it, not only will I join the Akatsuki, but I'll also give you the secret recipe for 'Chinese Cuisine.' Regardless of whether you answer correctly, I'll tell you why I know Juzo."

Konan's focus shifted from recruiting Summerwood to scrutinizing him intently. "Fine. Ask your question."

Konan had always been troubled by Juzo's and others' deaths, not just because Juzo confessed to her but because he died trying to rescue her from being kidnapped. She felt responsible for their deaths.

Summerwood spoke clearly and slowly, "Why do you and Nagato work with Zetsu and the masked man who killed Juzo, Daibutsu, and your other comrades? Why haven't you avenged Juzo and Daibutsu?"

Konan felt as if she'd been struck by lightning. "What!?"

"Juzo and Daibutsu were killed by them!?" she exclaimed. "Where did you hear that?"

Summerwood sneered, "Fool. You plot with your friends' killers every day without realizing it."

"When you were kidnapped, Nagato and Yahiko went to save you. Juzo received intel suggesting Yahiko was in danger, so he gathered your comrades to rescue him. They were intercepted by Zetsu and the masked man."

"Juzo and Daibutsu used a secret technique, sacrificing themselves to eliminate the masked man and protect you. But Juzo died with his eyes wide open, unable to rest in peace."

Konan's chakra fluctuated wildly as she recalled Juzo's secret technique, which involved spitting cement. Only Juzo knew this.

"Unfortunately, the people Juzo tried so hard to protect ended up collaborating with his murderers," Summerwood mocked. "How did the masked man recruit you when he first met you? Would Nagato have joined them if Yahiko were alive? They killed Juzo and Daibutsu to ensure Nagato would fall into darkness and to get rid of Yahiko."

Konan remembered the masked man's words to Nagato when they first met, gradually believing Summerwood.

"Isn't Nagato exactly what they wanted him to become now?"

But how did Summerwood know all this?

Summerwood threw a scroll to Konan. She instinctively caught it.

"This technique is called 'Edo Tensei,' invented by the Second Hokage Senju Tobirama. It can summon the souls of deceased shinobi back to the living world in physical form."

"Find Juzo's or Daibutsu's body, use a living person as a sacrifice, and you can ask them yourself if what I said is true. If you miss Yahiko, you can revive him too."

"Revive the dead!?" Konan was shocked that Konoha had such a terrifying technique. But she needed to verify if Summerwood was telling the truth and if she could indeed revive Juzo and Yahiko.

"Why are you doing this?" Konan was already eighty percent convinced.

Summerwood poured himself another cup of iced tea. "Because that man posing as Uchiha Madara caused the Kyuubi incident in Konoha."

"He made our Uchiha clan suffer endless misunderstandings and hatred, almost leading to our extinction. He dreams of being a behind-the-scenes manipulator. Dream on."

"I want him to pay!" Summerwood slammed the table, making the cups jump.

Konan knew the Kyuubi incident caused many deaths in Konoha, including the Fourth Hokage.

"Do you know his identity?" Konan poured herself a cup of iced tea, drinking it in one gulp. The refreshing drink cooled her down completely.

Summerwood saw Konan pour herself tea, indicating she was starting to trust him. He smiled.

"Him? He's just a pawn." Summerwood rummaged through his sealed scrolls, finding one and unsealing its contents.

Inside were several scrolls with writing. Summerwood selected one. "Read this on your way back. Discuss it with Nagato. Although you can't kill him, you can try."

"I have other matters to attend to, so I won't keep you. Have Nagato find me next time, and I'll tell him more. If you need me, you can find me in Otogakure. If I'm not there, leave a message with Itachi."

Konan opened the scroll, seeing a drawing of the masked man with details below: "Uchiha Obito, severely injured at Kannabi Bridge, saved by Uchiha Madara, became his will's spokesperson, Mangekyou Sharingan abilities..."

Summerwood packed his table, chairs, and teapot into his storage scroll and headed toward Sunagakure.

Konan scanned the scroll, understanding why Summerwood said Obito couldn't be killed.

Summerwood's distant voice echoed, "The Edo Tensei doesn't last long. Use it wisely."

Holding the Edo Tensei scroll and Obito's information, Konan quickly flew into the air with paper wings.

"Damn you, Uchiha Obito, vile manipulator."