Chapter 68: Don't Be Impulsive, Teacher!
Only after hearing Konan's reminder did Uehara Naraka collect his thoughts, raising his head to look at the two ninja teams appearing in the canyon.
One team wore Ame (Rain) headbands; the ninja leading them had a red mark on his face, looking somewhat fierce and savage. This should be the so-called Hanzō's right hand, Salamander Shinda.
The other team of ninjas uniformly wore animal masks and standard-issue gear, appearing much more orderly than the Ame ninjas.
Is that Konoha's Root?
Uehara Naraka silently activated the Destiny skill, wanting to check if there was anyone he knew among these Konoha ninjas.
When the Destiny skill opened, Uehara Naraka's expression instantly changed.
Among the Konoha Root ninjas was a familiar face [icon in his mind], seemed to be called Yamanaka Fū?
But why was this guy Zetsu also appearing in this area?
This guy definitely has a conspiracy going...
Beneath the negotiation area, underground.
Black Zetsu spoke sinisterly, "Konan has already taken that kid Uehara over to ambush them. As long as we wait until they start fighting fiercely, we'll use the opportunity to secretly hide the intelligence on a certain ninja's body..."
"There won't be any problems, right?"
White Zetsu spoke somewhat hesitantly, "What if Konan can't defeat them? Or what if we get discovered accidentally..."
"..."
Black Zetsu didn't want to pay attention to it.
Unfortunately, the two shared one body. Even if the other half was an idiot, Black Zetsu still had to soothe his emotions, "Don't worry, Konan's power isn't too weak!"
Besides, even Uehara Naraka could summon the Deva Path Pain; how could Konan possibly not have learned how to summon Pain?
Black Zetsu even had a faint feeling inwardly: Konan had never cared about the other members of Akatsuki. Perhaps one could speculate that Konan believed her own power surpassed these people!
According to Black Zetsu's own analysis of Konan's intelligence, this blue-haired woman didn't seem like the arrogant type!
If even she herself believed she could already defeat Akatsuki's other members, then it meant she truly possessed that kind of power.
Black Zetsu's guess was correct.
Konan was indeed very confident in her own power.
When Konan saw Uehara Naraka's expression was unusual, she gently patted his arm and comforted him, "Naraka, what's wrong? Don't be afraid, I'm here for everything..."
"..."
Uehara Naraka speechlessly shook his head.
Why on earth would Konan think he was afraid?
No matter what, he was also a ninja with a little bit of strength!
Could it be his teacher still thought he managed to retreat unscathed from the Kirigakure (Village Hidden by Mist) mission because of those one hundred million exploding tags?
He, Uehara Naraka, was very strong now!
However, watching Konan's comforting gesture, Uehara Naraka still helplessly leaned close to Konan and whispered, "Teacher, let's watch the outcome of their negotiation first! I feel this group of ninjas is a bit strange..."
"Mm."
Konan nodded.
Honestly, Konan truly thought Uehara was frightened by so many gathered ninjas. After all, the enemies they faced were different from the past.
Compared to the slacker ninjas at those outposts, these were mostly elite ninjas, with quite a few Jonin captains among them.
Jonin happened to be the vaguest concept in this ninja world.
Back then, Konoha's Sannin, the Yellow Flash—who would dare regard them as ordinary Jonin?
One versus seven? One versus ten?
The Yellow Flash could defeat fifty Jonin single-handedly without a scratch!
Seeing the Root ninjas arrive, Hattori Hirakawa looked down, gripped the ninja sword in his hand, and asked, "Aren't you going to make a move now?"
"..."
Uehara Naraka and Konan looked at Hattori Hirakawa as if looking at an idiot.
To say something perhaps unfair to Hattori Hirakawa, Konan should actually be the person present who most wanted Hanzō and Danzō to ally.
That way, she and Nagato could catch all their past enemies in one net.
The development of events clearly didn't go as Konan wished.
As time passed, the negotiations between Amegakure's Salamander Shinda and Konoha Root Captain Yamanaka Fū seemed to reach a stalemate.
After a while, the two actually started arguing.
The sound of their dispute grew louder and louder. Salamander Shinda and Yamanaka Fū each stepped back, shouting loudly, "All units, on alert!"
Clang!
The sound of ninja swords being drawn echoed continuously!
One by one, Ame ninjas revealed themselves, standing atop the canyon!
However, from the opposite side of the canyon, a group of Konoha ninjas suddenly emerged, watching here warily, facing off against the Ame ninjas!
Neither side particularly trusted the other.
Yamanaka Fū looked at Salamander Shinda and shouted sternly, "Amegakure has lost its credibility! You have absolutely no sincerity for an alliance!"
"Clearly, it's you Konoha ninjas trying to shift the blame!"
Salamander Shinda, not showing weakness, pointed and accused loudly, "If not for Shimura Danzō and the Konoha ninjas fleeing in the face of the enemy back then, the current Akatsuki would have already been eliminated!"
"..."
The two quickly started fiercely accusing and blaming each other.
Actually, this was just a basic tactic in negotiations between the two sides, wanting to pursue responsibility for the previous cooperation failure, thereby gaining an advantage in this negotiation by playing the victim.
The condition proposed by the Konoha Root ninjas was: Hanzō of the Salamander must first support Shimura Danzō in becoming Konoha's Hokage. At that time, he [Danzō] would, as Konoha's Hokage, dispatch ninja troops to support Hanzō in eliminating the Akatsuki organization in the Land of Rain.
The condition proposed by the Ame ninjas was: Shimura Danzō must first send people to support Hanzō in annihilating the Akatsuki organization, then discuss how to support Danzō in becoming Hokage.
Everyone had the intention of getting something for nothing.
The Konoha Root ninjas had suffered from the previous cooperation; Shimura Danzō clearly brought people to show support, but Hanzō of the Salamander didn't honor the agreement afterward...
So Danzō instructed his subordinates that the premise for cooperation this time was that Hanzō must first clearly state his stance and endorse him [Danzō].
As long as Amegakure and Konoha reached a friendly alliance, using the influence of a Ninja Demigod to try and change the attitude of Konoha's higher-ups...
The Ame ninjas were naturally not too happy.
Who knew when Shimura Danzō could become Hokage?
Couldn't it be like the last cooperation?
Konoha Root comes forward to assist Amegakure in annihilating Akatsuki. After successfully eliminating Akatsuki, Lord Hanzō would naturally support Danzō!
The first round of talks between the two sides definitely wouldn't conclude so simply.
Konan watched the two sides below cursing and accusing each other, her mood somewhat unpleasant. She asked, "Naraka, what's happening? Have their talks... broken down?"
"Obviously."
Uehara Naraka nodded.
Konan couldn't help frowning, her face slightly darkening, "Is Shimura Danzō not coming?"
"Probably not coming?"
Uehara Naraka was also a bit confused.
According to his memory, it seemed Shimura Danzō and Hanzō of the Salamander only cooperated once. Until Hanzō was later killed by Pain, Danzō's shadow was never seen.
"Then what are we waiting for!"
Konan's face darkened. Gritting her teeth, she whispered, "Then let's kill everyone present first and collect some interest!"
"Huh?"
Uehara Naraka looked somewhat bewilderedly at his teacher.
But this didn't affect Uehara's judgment. Seeing Konan about to rush out, Uehara Naraka quickly grabbed Konan's wrist, pulling her back beside him!
"Teacher, don't be impulsive!"
Uehara Naraka hastily held Konan back. Meeting her puzzled gaze, he explained softly, "Teacher, let's observe the situation first. Perhaps we can still try another plan."
If nothing else, at least we can't let Black Zetsu's hidden conspiracy succeed just to collect a little interest!
Although Uehara still didn't know what Black Zetsu's conspiracy was...
But!
As someone wanting to seize the positions of Akatsuki's Best Actor and Mastermind, disrupting a competitor's plan was the most important thing!
(End of Chapter)
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