Just like the Fourth Mizukage of Kirigakure, he had always been controlled by Obito's genjutsu, until the Fourth Great Ninja War began when Aoi, a Konoha ninja, used his stolen Byakugan to discover chakra traces of another person in his brain.
It was only then that Kirigakure realized their Mizukage was controlled. Aoi obtained the Byakugan more than ten years ago, during the Third Great Ninja War. For over a decade, no one had bothered to check the Mizukage's brain.
Most people wouldn't do something like that. So Nagato replied, "No, I haven't done that."
A faint smile appeared at the corner of Obito's mouth. Konan's influence on Nagato was still too great. If he hadn't just rushed back this time, Nagato might have directly decided to abandon the Tailed Beast capture plan, and by then, it would have been much harder to change his mind.
"Then, should we kill Konan?"
No, Konan's Dance of the Shikigami could ignore physical attacks and wasn't so easy to kill. So it was better to first weaken her influence in Nagato's heart.
Thinking of this, Obito exaggerated the threat and said to Nagato, "We don't know how long Konan has been controlled, and the other party can use genjutsu of this level. What is their identity? What is their purpose? We don't know any of this."
"If you startle Konan now, no one knows what the person hidden behind her will do. If that unknown enemy directly attacks Konan, can you guarantee that you can stop the other party? Or, can you be sure that the person hasn't left a fatal trap on Konan?"
Nagato's eyebrows furrowed. He was swayed by Obito, so he stopped and asked Obito, "What's your plan?"
Obito smiled slightly at the corner of his mouth, then continued, "Since Konan doesn't know how long she's been controlled, then we'll pretend we know nothing. Whatever the other party wants to do, as long as they're still using Konan, they won't harm her for the time being. Let's see how things develop. Besides, if this is true, it can explain why she questioned our plan, because it wasn't her idea at all!"
It must be said, Obito's explanation was not wrong. Konan was indeed controlled.
Nagato's brows furrowed tightly. He said to Obito, "The one who found the loophole in the Tailed Beast capture plan is that Uzumaki sibling."
Indeed, it was Uzumaki. But do they have such strong genjutsu abilities? Or do they have other companions behind them? Obito thought for a moment, then shook his head, "For now, it's better not to assume them as the target, otherwise, once Konan is 'rescued,' Nagato might still be influenced by them."
"However, from now on, it's best not to believe Konan's words. No one knows if what she's doing is out of her own will or if she's being controlled by genjutsu. Let's send someone to monitor her. Once we discover the traces of the mastermind, we can safely rescue Konan!"
Nagato hesitated a bit. Once it involved Yahiko and Konan, he couldn't remain calm. So he asked Obito, "Will this be bad for Konan?"
Obito smiled and said, "It doesn't matter. Everything we do… is for her own good. Once we catch the mastermind and release her from the genjutsu, she will understand our hard work. After all, you are her most important family, aren't you?"
Nagato slowly fell into contemplation. For a long time, Konan had silently supported him behind his back, never uttering a complaint. And this time's surveillance was also for her better protection. So Nagato nodded and agreed with Obito's idea.
Obito also nodded with satisfaction. "Just like that, gradually push Konan out of your heart. Your life should be dedicated to a more noble cause!"
The two watched Konan's back disappear from their sight.
Nagato mused, after he used bitter pain to forge peace, everyone in the world would live happily in his glorious age.
Obito, meanwhile, was pondering the situation with Naruto. He disliked this unknown change.
As for Konan, she was thinking about where to investigate Mugetsu and those words he had spoken...
By the afternoon, Mugetsu and Karin had already returned to Kusagakure. The two of them made a simple plan for what they were going to do next.
First, they would digest what they had recently acquired and quickly convert it into tangible strength.
Second, they would begin to promote the development of the Land of Whirlpools, preparing for the remnants of the ninja world to fight against them in the future.
Third, they would try to consume more ninjas in the Great Ninja War as much as possible, to weaken the power of ninjas.
Fourth, send Kusagakure to hell.
After the general plan was made, Mugetsu began to summon his Kusagakure subordinates.
The most recent matter was the commission he gave to Kakuzu. He wanted to build a fleet to cooperate with Kakuzu to plunder the craftsmen of Takumi Village. Those craftsmen would then be sent to the Land of Whirlpools and become its permanent residents.
Speaking of the Land of Whirlpools, Mugetsu sighed silently.
Because in the Land of Whirlpools, there was nothing. After the destruction of the Uzumaki Village, only a group of fishermen who depended on fishing for a living remained there. A fishing village with a hundred people gathered together was already a large village. This country had no technical personnel besides fishermen.
Oh, no, that's not right, there was also a bridge-building expert who couldn't be used for anything.
So if the Land of Whirlpools wanted to develop, everything had to rely on bringing in fresh blood from outside.
The source of craftsmen for manufacturing was already secured. The fleet they were assembling in Kusagakure this time, after completing their mission, would also be directly integrated into the Land of Whirlpools' system.
With these ninjas as the backbone, coupled with those ninjas from Cardot who had gone missing, the Land of Whirlpools could directly open a sea route for smuggling. Once the war began, this would be a golden path to continuously earn money!
When he planned to summon Kakuzu's old subordinates, he had already started selecting people. So after the summoning order was given, a hundred ninjas quickly arrived at the Elder Hall.
Among these people, the strongest was Long She, a special Jonin from the Anbu. She was also the only special Jonin; the rest were all Chunin and Genin. Long She was a female ninja from the Flower Faction. She had lived in Onigiri Castle since childhood and rarely returned to Kusagakure.
It is worth mentioning that her clan is a bloodline clan, possessing the secret bloodline art of Dragon Life Reincarnation. This allows them to revive a recently deceased person by sacrificing their own life. It can be simply understood as life transfer. Information about this ninjutsu was once used by Mugetsu as a chip to trade with Orochimaru for Konan's chakra.
At this moment, there were only three Elders in the Elder Hall. One of them, a Kage Bunshin transformed by Mugetsu, said to everyone before him, "Everyone has gathered. Now, there is a long-term mission to be given to you. The current master of the Land of Waves is a legend of the ninja world, Lord Minato, Konoha's Yellow Flash. We have accepted his commission to establish a fleet for the Land of Waves. You are the members chosen by the village, and the time limit is temporarily set for ten years. This is a long-term mission, so everyone should be mentally prepared."
Upon hearing the Elder's words, everyone was instantly stunned. However, these people were all carefully selected by Mugetsu, and their characteristic was their obedience, so no one actively jumped out to question the village's decision. Even if they were unwilling in their hearts.
At this moment, Long She, as the only Special Jōnin, boldly asked the Elders, "Please, Elders, are we not leaving the village for at least ten years?"
The Elder nodded, "Yes, and from now on, you will act as Lord Minato's subordinates and obey her orders. This is not a request, but an order. Pack up and depart tonight. The village has already prepared merchant ships for you. Oh, right, before you go to the Land of Waves, you still have one more mission to carry out."
Saying that, the Elder handed a mission scroll to Long She. "Long She, from now on, you are the fleet captain. The detailed information about the mission is all here."
Sea smuggling is not a safe business. Pirates, black markets, and armed groups pose countless dangers on the open sea. Harsh weather can also take lives.
But...
All of this is for ordinary people.
Once they become ninjas, even if they fall into the sea, they can rely on their water-walking techniques to return to the ship. There's even less need to worry about things like pirates; they're just mobile treasure chests. If they encounter them, who knows, they might even open some good things.
Long She took the mission scroll, then hesitated for a moment. She then asked the Elder, who had always been a thorn in her side, "Elder, aren't we from the Flower Faction always against opening the Pure Land Box? Why are we actively participating this time?"
"Because the Flower Faction is completely dependent on me," the Elder thought, then fabricated, "Because the research on the Pure Land Box has yielded no results before, and the village has only been sacrificing companions. We are against this. But now it's different. The village has already achieved research results. Even we, the Flower Faction, want to see Kusagakure rise again! Long She, you are someone we think highly of. You must perform well in this long-term mission. Lord Minato is a legend of the ninja world. You can learn many things under her command. Don't let us down."
Saying that, the Elder patted her shoulder.
Long She heard this, then collected herself and said solemnly, "I understand. I will complete the village's mission."
The Elder nodded with satisfaction, "Mm, very good, very spirited!"
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