Chapter 121: The Shadow of Akatsuki! (Subscription and Monthly Pass Requested)
Land of Rain.
A cave.
Zetsu emerged from underground and looked at Uchiha Obito in front of him. White Zetsu said, "Namikaze Minato has become the Fourth Hokage, and Konoha's forces in the Land of Rain have all withdrawn."
"Danzō probably can't be used by us."
Black Zetsu then said gloomily, "Yahiko is our stumbling block, someone who must be eliminated."
"Without Yahiko, Nagato will be used by us."
Looking at the drizzling rain outside, Uchiha Obito's thoughts were pulled from his memories, and he said faintly, "If not Konoha, then there are the Stone Ninja!"
"Control the Stone Ninja, provoke bad relations between Akatsuki and Hanzō, the effect is the same."
"No matter who it is, we just need to let Hanzō know that Akatsuki has threatened his position!"
Black Zetsu laughed upon hearing this, "Thinking of it that way, it's not wrong."
The rain outside poured even harder.
Konohagakure.
Senju Ancestral Home.
Sarutobi Asuma was doodling with his head bowed, while Jiraiya sat opposite him, saying, "News from the Land of Rain indicates that the Stone Ninja are in contact with Hanzō."
"Furthermore, Yahiko's Akatsuki seems to have gained Hanzō's favor."
"I just have a bad feeling about this."
Sarutobi Asuma, without looking up, said, "It's normal for the Stone Ninja to contact Hanzō, after all, Danzō has always wanted to bring the Amegakure into our camp."
"It's not strange for Hanzō to accept Akatsuki either, their reputation is growing."
"But Hanzō, though he no longer has ambition, is said to be extremely tight with his guards."
"If someone were to sow discord between him and Akatsuki at this time, he would undoubtedly eliminate anyone who might threaten him, like Akatsuki."
Jiraiya nodded, he also realized this.
But this was a difficult point.
Even he wasn't confident he could persuade Yahiko and the others not to cooperate with Hanzō, because given his identity, speaking out would put him on Konoha's side.
He understood Yahiko and the other two, understood their dreams, so he couldn't stop them from pursuing them.
Even the optimistic Jiraiya couldn't help but frown.
At this moment, Sarutobi Asuma finally finished writing and looked up, "Why don't we just get rid of Hanzō?"
"Ah?"
Jiraiya was startled, not immediately understanding.
"Get rid of Hanzō?"
Jiraiya confirmed, seeing Sarutobi Asuma's serious expression, he couldn't help but ponder.
"Eliminate Hanzō and support Yahiko and the others to rule the Land of Rain?"
"But if we do that, not only will the Iwagakure not stand by, but the Sunagakure probably won't be on our side either."
"A new round of war will erupt!"
Sarutobi Asuma shook his head and chuckled, "I just said get rid of Hanzō, I didn't say Konoha would send troops."
"The three of them, Yahiko, are your disciples. If your disciples are in trouble, as their teacher, it's only natural to help, right?"
"Then as the son of Yahiko and the others' teacher's teacher, it's only natural for me to help my seniors, right?"
Jiraiya's eyes widened.
Sarutobi Asuma continued, "From the Obito incident, it seems Uchiha Madara, or rather the mastermind behind the scenes, will use similar tactics."
"In the Akatsuki organization, Yahiko is the core."
"If he dies, will this organization possibly head down another path!"
Jiraiya's heart was greatly shaken, and then he nodded solemnly, "That's indeed the case."
"If Nagato didn't have Yahiko, with his Rinnegan power, I'm afraid..."
As he spoke, he immediately got up, "I need to go to the Land of Rain!"
"Let's go together, Jiraiya-sama, you're too slow!"
Sarutobi Asuma also stood up.
Jiraiya was speechless, he never expected someone would find him slow one day.
Leaving a Shadow Clone behind, Sarutobi Asuma and Jiraiya immediately left Konohagakure and headed straight for the Land of Rain.
Around 2 PM, the two arrived outside Amegakure, looking down at the village from the sky, which exuded a scent of decay.
"Hanzō has indeed grown old!"
Jiraiya sighed.
"Let's go, I don't sense Yahiko's or the others' Chakra."
Sarutobi Asuma said.
The two left in the rain and arrived outside the Akatsuki's base, still hidden in the sky.
Sensing Yahiko's and the others' Chakra, Sarutobi Asuma secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, they hadn't missed them.
Finding a place to land, Sarutobi Asuma went to the Akatsuki's base alone again.
This time, he didn't hide, so Nagato immediately discovered him.
Although wary, Yahiko still invited Sarutobi Asuma inside.
"May I ask the reason for your visit, sir?"
Yahiko looked at Sarutobi Asuma and asked politely.
Glancing at the three, Sarutobi Asuma smiled and said, "I'm here on behalf of Lord Jiraiya!"
"He heard that Stone Ninjas were in contact with Hanzō, so he was worried about you."
Yahiko frowned and said, "Is Teacher Jiraiya worried that the Stone Ninjas will target us?"
Sarutobi Asuma shook his head. "Any ninja village doesn't want Amegakure to become stronger!"
"A powerful Land of Rain and Amegakure does not align with the interests of the great nations and the great ninja villages."
Konan listened and said angrily, "So, for the sake of your great nations' interests, you're going to sacrifice the interests of our small nation?"
"Konan!"
Yahiko said softly, then apologized to Sarutobi Asuma before explaining, "Teacher Jiraiya reminded us to be careful of Lord Hanzō!"
"What?"
Konan and Nagato's expressions changed.
Yahiko continued, "The great nations don't want the Land of Rain to become strong, and as our Akatsuki continues to grow and is accepted by Lord Hanzō, I fear the Stone Ninjas will try to drive a wedge between us and Lord Hanzō."
Looking at Sarutobi Asuma, Yahiko asked, "Am I correct?"
"That's right!"
Sarutobi Asuma nodded.
At this moment, Nagato asked, "Doesn't your Konoha want the Land of Rain to be weak?"
"Teacher Jiraiya shouldn't be someone who would harm the village's interests!"
Sarutobi Asuma smiled and said, "Because for me, even if you ally with Hanzō, you pose no threat."
The three of Yahiko felt indignant upon hearing this, but they had to admit that Sarutobi Asuma indeed had the right to say that.
He hadn't lost in battles against three Kage, had captured the One-Tails Jinchuriki, and even captured the Three-Tails of Kirigakure some time ago.
Just hearing these achievements, one would almost think the Ninja God had been reborn.
"You indeed have such strength, sir."
Yahiko said firmly, "However, I believe in Lord Hanzō!"
"I believe Lord Hanzō won't be so short-sighted!"
Sarutobi Asuma inwardly shook his head. They were still too naive.
If it were ten years ago, Hanzō might have had full confidence and no fear of challenges, but now...
However, Sarutobi Asuma didn't try to persuade them further. Instead, he took out a specially made kunai and handed it to Konan. "This is a gift from Lord Jiraiya for you."
Konan hesitated for a moment before finally accepting it.
"I hope you are right!"
Sarutobi Asuma said, and then his figure disappeared.
Despite their declaration of faith in Hanzō, Sarutobi Asuma's visit had cast a shadow over the hearts of the three of Yahiko.
-----------
Machine Translation by: beta.randomtranslator.com
Read 1400+ original & fanfic translations and Translate for Free at: www.randomtranslator.com