Chapter 293

Dak no longer wanted to spend time understanding the current situation in the Ninja World.

Walking across the blood-stained earth, he suddenly crouched down and picked up a tail from a pool of blood.

It was the tail of an Aipom.

Judging by the length and the size of the palm, it seemed to be a young Aipom, not long out of infancy.

Yet, such a cute Pokémon had died here on the battlefield.

"I made a grave mistake," Dak muttered.

He looked around at the severed limbs and remains scattered across the battlefield, his breathing growing rapid and strained.

Though he may not have met these children, they were all released from his own hands.

He was the one who sent them here.

He was the one responsible for these Pokémon's deaths.

"Dak."

'Change it.'

Darkrai could not remain silent, fearing Dak might lose his mind and make an even worse decision.

He had lived over seven thousand years and knew all too well the depths of human desire and the dangers of losing control. Though he hadn't seen it firsthand, he had heard stories from other Pokémon.

The departure of Ho-Oh, Lugia's descent into the Whirlpool Islands, the betrayals of Zekrom and Reshiram—all because of humans, or even their own trainers, succumbing to desire and losing themselves.

Darkrai didn't want Dak to do something he would regret, so he stepped forward.

Dialga, meanwhile, was still only a year old, unable to grasp these subtleties or sense Dak's distress.

If Dak wanted to destroy the Ninja World, Dialga would simply comply, without questioning why.

"I… what should we do, Darkrai? I need your help."

Dak seemed lost, the heavy scent of blood clouding his mind.

This time, Dak wasn't instructing Darkrai on what to do—instead, he needed Darkrai to guide him.

They were partners, there to help each other in times of need.

"Dak."

'Go back in time, change history.'

Darkrai motioned toward Dialga.

"But…"

Dak's initial reaction was to resist.

Going back in time would mean changing everything, making the future uncertain and out of his control.

But he didn't immediately refuse because, as it stood, everything was already spiraling out of control.

He had to correct the mistake he had made.

"Alright."

After a moment of hesitation, Dak finally nodded.

No matter what, he would go back in time to change it all.

Whatever the future would bring, he would face it step by step.

Fortunately, the exchange between Pokémon Island and the Ninja World had only lasted two months, so the connection was minimal. Even if the Ninja World's past was drastically altered, the impact on Pokémon Island would be limited.

He wondered if Naruto, Hinata, and Sasuke would still have their families in this altered future.

"Dak."

'Stay calm. Think about how you once conquered the Grand Line.'

"Conquer…?"

Hearing that word, Dak's rationality gradually returned.

Although Dak had never thought of himself as having conquered the Grand Line, always viewing it as guiding the world into a new era, others saw it differently.

Wasn't the Pokémon Alliance the undisputed authority in the Grand Line?

The laws, themes, and daily lives of everyone were under the rule of the Pokémon Alliance. How was that not conquest?

Dak had merely allowed the islands and nations a semblance of autonomy due to the geography of the Grand Line. But he ensured that the Pokémon Alliance stood above all forces.

That was conquest.

"Yes, I should conquer."

Dak nodded, recalling what he had accomplished.

Destroying the oppressive World Government and pirates who disturbed the peace, establishing a new order.

Subduing the Navy and Garp's forces, cementing his influence.

Spreading the influence of Pokémon worldwide, creating a society where everyone relied on the Pokémon Alliance, ensuring its irreplaceable position.

Thus, a new era of peace and Pokémon was born.

Now calm, Dak had a clear plan.

Reflecting on his actions in the Ninja World, he realized how careless he had been, leading to this catastrophe.

"From now on, all plans will be delayed until I fully resolve the situation in the Ninja World. I'll leave the other two worlds to them for now."

Dak raised a hand, bit his thumb, then turned to Dialga.

"Dialga, open the timeline of this world and take us to a point in time you think is right."

The chaotic state of the Ninja World left Dak uncertain about which point in history to target. It was better to let Dialga choose.

Dak trusted Dialga, the "Deity of Time," to make a suitable decision.

Dialga nodded, and a vortex of blue energy appeared before them.

"Let's go."

Konoha Year 21

The First Ninja War had just ended. The Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, and the Second Raikage, A, had been ambushed and killed by Kinkaku and Ginkaku. The Second Tsuchikage and Mizukage had also perished in battle, and the nations, heavily damaged, had signed peace treaties.

The world was about to enter a nearly two-decade period of peaceful development.

Uchiha Madara had left Konoha nineteen years ago, now at the age of fifty-three.

He had implanted Hashirama's flesh in his own wounds to obtain Hashirama's cells.

Believing in the inscription on the Uchiha Stone Tablet, "Conflicting forces, united as one, give rise to all creation," he was puzzled why nothing had happened yet.

At this time, Madara had not awakened the Rinnegan. It would only manifest when he neared the end of his life. Only then would he see the final part of the tablet's inscription at Naka Shrine, although this section had been altered by Black Zetsu.

After reading this final part, Madara would initiate the "Infinite Tsukuyomi" plan, convinced he had found "true peace."

This stone tablet, left by the Sage of Six Paths to guide Indra's reincarnations back to the right path, had been twisted by Black Zetsu to manipulate Madara, the ultimate pawn.

"So, the key to this time period lies with… Uchiha Madara."

Dak pondered, "Whether it's now or any other time, Madara is the pivotal figure."

Dak stood in what would later become the base of the Akatsuki.

For now, it was just an ordinary cave behind a waterfall.

Dak frowned, counting each major character he'd eliminated and analyzing the situation.

"Yahiko cannot die. If he lives, the Akatsuki will remain a group striving for peace, similar to Garp's forces. Yahiko hasn't been born yet, so I'll need to address this from a different angle."

"Uchiha Obito and Uchiha Itachi also don't need to die. Like Madara, they initially longed for peace. If they aren't led astray, they'll become valuable assets in promoting peace."

"The most critical figure is Madara. He mustn't be misled by Zetsu."

Dak realized that eliminating Zetsu would prevent countless future schemes from unfolding.

Kaguya Ōtsutsuki wasn't a concern; she was just a sealed "monster."

If Zetsu were eliminated…

The Uchiha clan could be liberated, sparing many of their prodigies.

Who could deny it?

From Uchiha Madara to Uchiha Obito, Uchiha Itachi, and even Uchiha Sasuke, each had been manipulated by Zetsu.

Zetsu had twisted Madara.

Madara had used the Three-Tails and Rin to manipulate Obito.

Obito incited the Nine-Tails' attack, leading to the Uchiha clan's coup attempt.

This chain of events led to Shisui's death, Itachi's awakening of the Mangekyo Sharingan, and the massacre of his clan under Danzo's manipulation.

Finally, Sasuke was left in a state of anger and despair.

Beyond Madara, even Nagato wouldn't have been transplanted with the Rinnegan or drawn into Danzo's schemes against Hanzo and Yahiko.

"Dak?"

'Do you have a plan?'

"Yes."

Dak nodded, his strategy now clear. "This time, I'll personally build the Akatsuki."

Unlike the Navy or Garp's forces, there was no equivalent organization in the Ninja World. So Dak would establish one himself.

He already had someone in mind to lead the Akatsuki—a tragic figure.

Uchiha Madara.

And it had to be the Madara who had seen the true inscription at Naka Shrine.

No one was more suited for this position.

Madara was the strongest person in the Ninja World and the one with the clearest view of its state.

He knew the difference between true peace and mere appearances.

The past peace existed only because other nations feared Hashirama and Madara. Hashirama couldn't see this, but Madara could. He also knew that after Hashirama became Hokage, Tobirama would become the Second Hokage.

Tobirama lacked the power to unify the Ninja World and would continue sending the Uchiha to the frontlines because he never trusted them.

So Madara had wanted to lead his clan away to continue fighting until he united the Ninja World.

But the Uchiha, having finally achieved peace, no longer wanted to fight, unwilling to follow Madara into battle.

To them, Madara was just a warmonger, so none followed him.

The more Dak understood, the more he appreciated Madara's character.

(End of Chapter)

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