A Sage's Pursuit of Power

Itachi had begun implementing Aoba's plan to split the Akatsuki organization.

Without Nagato's authority to suppress them, it was inevitable that this group of dangerous rogue ninjas would splinter. Itachi's task was to control the extent of this fragmentation.

According to Aoba's plan, Itachi would orchestrate the division himself and recruit some of the rogue ninjas, gradually transitioning leadership to Shin.

Shin's strength was sufficient, but his short time in Akatsuki and lack of reputation meant he needed Itachi to serve as a transitional figure.

Within Akatsuki, though Itachi was reserved, his strength was undeniable, and his seniority and reputation were solid.

The remaining members, while powerful, were not suited for leadership. Sasori, Deidara, Kisame Hoshigaki, Shin, and Hiruko were all exceptional in combat but lacked the qualities of a leader.

Although Itachi wasn't the ideal leader either, he was the best fit for the role.

With a bit of persuasion, Itachi easily convinced the others to form a new version of Akatsuki.

As for Kakuzu, he chose to remain in Amegakure to assist Konan in stabilizing the village. Kakuzu's story was actually quite rich, though it had been cut short in the original timeline without being fully explored.

Kakuzu's reasons for staying were many. First, he wasn't a rogue ninja in the traditional sense, his village had betrayed him long ago. Deep down, Kakuzu had always longed for a purpose that could give meaning to his existence.

During his lengthy career as a bounty hunter, he chose money as his guiding principle. After joining Akatsuki, he became responsible for funding the organization. Over time, he had unconsciously invested heavily in Akatsuki and Amegakure.

Leaving now would mean too much sunk cost. Furthermore, Amegakure was unlike the village he had left. Konan genuinely treated him as a comrade.

Though Kakuzu never said it aloud, he had already come to accept the village in his heart.

As for Hiruko, he felt some regret. His time in Amegakure had been the most relaxed in his life. The village had done its utmost to provide him with research resources, allowing him to complete his Chimera Technique.

However, when he learned that Akatsuki's leader had lost the Rinnegan, he wavered.

Unlike Kakuzu, who had been forced into betrayal, Hiruko was a true egotist. His loyalty to Nagato had been based on the fact that Nagato possessed the "eyes of a god," the closest thing to divinity in the world. But when Nagato lost the Rinnegan, Hiruko immediately withdrew his allegiance.

His philosophy was simple: loyalty was flexible.

Initially, Hiruko had little regard for Itachi and the others. Their methods were incompatible with his research and thus of no benefit to him.

However, he knew he was still wanted by Konoha. And the current Konoha was not the peace-loving village of old.

If he revealed himself in any shinobi village, their first instinct would be to capture him and hand him over to Konoha.

Thus, staying with these powerful rogue ninjas offered him some level of protection.

The new Akatsuki now had six members, but their strength was formidable. With Itachi's intelligence, they successfully located the trail of Obito Uchiha.

"The previous leader losing the Rinnegan proves he wasn't a true god. It also shows that the 'eyes of a god' have no inherent allegiance. If we are strong enough, we too can wield them.

Reclaiming the Rinnegan will allow us to initiate the Eye of the Moon Plan ourselves and fulfill Akatsuki's true goal."

Itachi's proposal was persuasive. Even among these eccentric Akatsuki members, the allure of the legendary eyes of a god was irresistible.

After all, each member had joined Akatsuki largely due to the Rinnegan's overwhelming power.

The prospect of mastering such power was something none of them could refuse.

The Akatsuki members mobilized in full force, prompting Konoha to respond accordingly.

"Our primary targets in this battle are Sasuke and Itachi. Once the fight begins, we will create an opportunity for Sasuke to face Itachi one-on-one.

As for the rest, although they are rogue ninjas, each has unique value. Capture them alive whenever possible."

The remaining Akatsuki members were all invaluable assets. Sasori was the pinnacle of puppet techniques, Deidara was unmatched in explosive ninjutsu, and Hiruko was a master of bloodline research.

Even Kisame, the most straightforward among them, was a unique ninja capable of merging with Samehada.

Konoha was in a period of rapid development, and growth required accumulation. Not just in population but also in ninjutsu, secret techniques, and scientific research.

Every one of these individuals represented an opportunity for Konoha's progress.

Although Aoba had used his foreknowledge to lay a solid foundation for Konoha, the storyline had now completely deviated from its original course. He had lost the advantage of knowing future events, leaving him with no choice but to rely on traditional methods to strengthen Konoha's foundation.

In truth, he wasn't the only one doing this. Madara Uchiha was doing the same. Not long ago, Madara annexed Kumogakure to bolster Kirigakure's capabilities.

In a sense, Kirigakure and Konoha were now engaged in a full-scale arms race.

This mission was of an exceptionally high level. While the current Akatsuki members' strength didn't pose much of a threat to Konoha, the mission carried enormous significance. Aoba couldn't afford to take it lightly, leading him to personally oversee the operation.

Tsunade noticed Aoba's unease. As his partner, she understood him better than anyone.

No matter the situation, Aoba always appeared confident, as if nothing could truly challenge him. Her comfortable tenure as Hokage was largely thanks to Aoba's competence.

"With your current strength, this mission shouldn't be as challenging as it seems. But I sense you have some unspoken concern. Aoba, what's worrying you?"

Tsunade's question brought Aoba back to his senses.

"Simply put, I'm trying to nurture Sasuke. He has just awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan, and his ocular power is incredibly strong. Moreover, his body hasn't shown any adverse effects, making this a perfect awakening.

According to the plan, he'll soon obtain Itachi's Mangekyō and achieve the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. When that happens, he'll gain an opportunity."

Tsunade immediately understood what Aoba meant.

"You're planning to cultivate a new pair of Rinnegan in Sasuke?"

"Exactly."

"I don't understand. Why are you worried about this? Madara succeeded back then. By your explanation, Sasuke is Indra's reincarnation. He should have every chance to succeed as well. Even if he doesn't, wouldn't you have accounted for that?"

"No. Based on my plan, I'm at least 70% confident I can awaken the Rinnegan in Sasuke. What I'm worried about isn't my ability to achieve it, it's that it doesn't want me to succeed."

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Currently on Chapter 292 - The Intruder