After returning to The Hidden Rain Village, Uehara Naraku's life gradually became more routine.
Every day, besides training together with Konan, Uehara would occasionally sneak over to Nagato's place to secretly give him a few doses of Star Infusion. The rest of the time was spent doing accounting for The Hidden Rain Village.
This kind of life was quite leisurely.
From time to time, he would encounter Ajisai wanting to challenge his position; Uehara could see that Ajisai really wanted to become Konan's disciple.
Uehara Naraku really didn't want to dampen her enthusiasm.
Ever since he started helping manage the accounts of The Hidden Rain Village, the people Uehara Naraku encountered the most were Kakuzu and Sasori, because Kakuzu always had channels to make money, and Sasori successfully made Rasa into a Human Puppet.
Sasori threw out a Sealing Scroll and looked at Uehara Naraku, saying, "I've come to hand over the sand gold and withdraw my experimental funds."
Kakuzu walked into Uehara Naraku's office and placed a box of money on the table: "I've come to pay and collect the sand gold for money-making."
"Alright then."
Uehara Naraku took Kakuzu's money, took about half of it, and handed the rest over to Sasori, accepting Sasori's Sand Gold Scroll: "Senior Sasori, here are your experimental funds."
Uehara Naraku took Sasori's Sand Gold Scroll and handed it over to Kakuzu: "Senior Kakuzu, here is the sand gold you wanted, remember to exchange it for more money."
This job made Uehara Naraku feel like he was being a middleman.
Sasori and Kakuzu looked at Uehara Naraku's operation and were speechless, wondering if this guy even knew how to avoid suspicion while playing the role of a middleman?
If these two ever started a private deal, Uehara Naraku might find himself unemployed, fortunately, they still followed the rules.
After Kakuzu and Sasori left, Uehara Naraku started practicing hand seals again when an unexpected guest arrived.
Zetsu's body emerged from the office.
Black Zetsu looked at Uehara Naraku and opened its mouth sinisterly, "Uehara, it seems Konan really trusts you!"
"After all, I'm Teacher Konan's disciple!"
Uehara Naraku tilted his head, scrutinized Zetsu's figure, and asked, "Senior Zetsu, did you come here to apply for funds too?"
"No."
Black Zetsu shook its head, and with a sinister smile, said, "I wish to talk with you about the future of the Akatsuki."
"…"
Uehara Naraku's eyelids twitched, looking speechlessly at Zetsu: "I'm just an intern of the Akatsuki, and Senior Zetsu is just an intelligence officer of the Akatsuki, shouldn't we not concern ourselves with so much?"
"No, it is very necessary."
Black Zetsu slowly stepped in front of Uehara Naraku and said in a deep tone, "It seems that Konan has been hiding some things from you, and it's time to tell you the truth about the Akatsuki's existence... Uehara, have you heard of the Eye of the Moon Plan?"
"…"
A bead of cold sweat appeared on Uehara Naraku's forehead, sensing that the situation was not quite right.
If he remembered correctly, Nagato and Konan were only working on reviving the Ten-tailed super weapon. Only Black Zetsu and Obito, along with Hoshigaki Kisame, knew about the Eye of the Moon Plan that extended beyond the Ten-tailed Beast.
Was Black Zetsu trying to recruit him into the small group of the Eye of the Moon?
Now, how should he respond?
Ten minutes later.
Half an hour later.
An hour later.
After Uehara Naraku finished discussing the Eye of the Moon Plan with Black Zetsu, he remarked with satisfaction, "I didn't expect that the Eye of the Moon Plan, able to create a new world, is the real essence of peace..."
"Hohohoho... peace maintained by force can never last long."
Black Zetsu, with a demeanor of being teachable, nodded to Uehara Naraku, "Although Lord Madara has passed away, I will still carry on his will and let the Ninja World achieve this flawless peace..."
"I will support Senior Zetsu."
Uehara Naraku nodded firmly, a flicker of frenzy in his eyes: "Once the Eye of the Moon Plan is completed, this Ninja World will no longer have wars, and the Akatsuki's dream, passed down from Lord Yahiko's era, will be realized in our hands!"
Truly a test of acting skills.
Since Uehara Naraku feared he might accidentally burst into laughter.
Black Zetsu's mouth curved into a smile, "Uchiha Obito was previously a participant in the Eye of the Moon Plan, but his nature was too foolish, so he wasn't well-liked by everyone."
These words were serious.
Black Zetsu really didn't like the always troublesome Uchiha Obito.
The people of the Uchiha Clan always liked to center everything around themselves, thinking the Ninja World was under their control, and what has it come to now?
They were directly kicked out of the game, weren't they!
Black Zetsu noticed Uehara's surprised look and continued, "But Obito is also a strong individual who can help us collect the Tailed Beasts in the future.
Recently, I investigated his intelligence and found that he doesn't seem to be having a smooth time, so the Akatsuki might be able to once again utilize his knowledge of the Eye of the Moon Plan and the Rinnegan."
"I think so too."
Uehara Naraku nodded with a helpless face, "Even though Senior Obito has an extreme personality, he is at least a powerful ninja... But not everyone within the Akatsuki views Senior Obito the same way I do."
Uehara Naraku bowed his head, pondering for a while before continuing, "Senior Zetsu, we can only wait for the right opportunity to mention Senior Obito's matter to Teacher Konan."
"Hmm."
Black Zetsu did not think that Uehara Naraku could succeed immediately.
As long as it gradually influences, it could regain control of the Akatsuki. At least, convincing Uehara Naraku was substantial progress no matter how one looked at it.
From then on, Uehara Naraku's daily life also included picking the right opportunity to speak ill of Uchiha Obito in front of Konan and Nagato.
Occasionally, Black Zetsu would secretly observe too.
Unfortunately, without exception, Uehara Naraku's green-tea style remarks invoked even more dissatisfaction from Konan, making Black Zetsu somewhat questioned about life.
Until one day, Black Zetsu could no longer hold back and proactively asked, "Uehara, is that Obito guy really that annoying?"
"How could that be?"
Uehara Naraku habitually displayed a smile, "Even though he attacked me, who was his comrade, over the matter of revealing his identity, I still think Senior Obito is quite good, I've already forgiven him long ago.
Even if he had mistakenly killed me at the time, it still wouldn't matter, as long as the Eye of the Moon Plan succeeds, and the Ninja World enters true peace, I wouldn't hesitate to sacrifice myself."
"…"
Black Zetsu's expression twisted slightly, it looked up at Uehara Naraku and sighed, "That fool Obito, is indeed pretty annoying."
"Not at all!"
Uehara Naraku shook his head with a smile, "Except for the part where he almost accidentally killed me, at other times, he's quite a lively senior, seems like he'd be easy to get along with."
"No, he is a chatterbox."
Black Zetsu's face was somewhat indifferent, internally cursing Uchiha Obito extensively.
Uehara Naraku, such an easy-to-manipulate pawn, and Obito's brain didn't even turn a single time before deciding to kill directly, truly a fool.
After Black Zetsu left, Uehara Naraku went to meet Hozuki Mangetsu.
Uehara Naraku immediately assigned a task to Hozuki Mangetsu: "Find an opportunity to visit the Hidden Mist Village and tell Terumi Mei that the one who has been controlling the Fourth Mizukage to enforce the Blood Mist policy is Uchiha Obito."
"Is it really him?"
Hozuki Mangetsu's face showed a bit of surprise.
Until now, Hozuki Mangetsu didn't know the truth.
This information was known only to Uehara Naraku and Hoshigaki Kisame.
"It really is him, Kisame also knows about this."
Uehara Naraku nodded, commanding seriously, "Uchiha Obito possesses the legendary Mangekyo Sharingan once owned by Uchiha Madara, making it extremely easy to control a Jinchuriki."
After finishing, Uehara Naraku handed a slip of paper to Hozuki Mangetsu: "This is information on Uchiha Obito, you can say that you gathered it all yourself."
"Understood."
Hozuki Mangetsu agreed, revealing a smile from his full set of teeth: "So I can also use this opportunity to see Suigetsu."
He has been away from the Hidden Mist Village for some time and really missed his brother.
However, Uehara Naraku glanced at him, pouring cold water, "Don't forget your plan, after returning this time you can make your brother hate you even more."
"...Alright."
Hozuki Mangetsu nodded gloomily.