Chapter 146: Chapter 146 – Joining Forces with Nagato
You contacted Amado from a street-side phone booth.
Amado said he was currently in the Land of Lightning, using the equipment provided there for his research while also helping Kumogakure develop a chakra compression device.
You suddenly mentioned that you might have a way to alleviate his daughter's illness.
〖Fifth Year〗
You teleported to the Land of Lightning using Flying Thunder God and met with Amado.
You discovered that his daughter's condition had worsened dramatically—her bloodline disease, which resembled the Uchiha's mysterious illness, now manifested in dense black blotches throughout her body, nearly ten times more than two years ago!
If her condition two years ago was equivalent to suffering from the bloodline disease of ten Uchiha Itachis at once...
Then now, it was as if the disease itself had grown a person on top of it!
This bizarre phenomenon left you completely baffled.
You attempted to use your Mangekyō Sharingan's ocular technique to remove the black blotches. However, they felt unimaginably heavy—like trying to move a thousand-ton boulder—making them extremely difficult to extract and taxing your Ocular Power significantly.
And after removing one black blotch and sealing it along with the black liquid previously collected as a symbol of the disease, her condition immediately worsened, to the point she even began coughing up blood.
Fortunately, it was only temporary. After some time, her body showed signs of stabilizing, and Amado reported a slight recovery.
But you knew this was only treating the symptoms, not the root cause.
The Ocular Power required to remove even a single black blotch couldn't keep up with the rate they proliferated. Worse still, trying to remove too many at once could endanger her life.
Still, this bought Amado—who was desperate to save his daughter—a bit more time…
Seizing the opportunity, you handed over a copy of the "Fission Technique" and asked him to translate it into a usable version and begin developing an improved one.
Previously, you had given the same task to Orochimaru.
The reason for splitting the technique into two parts was to avoid the risk of sabotage.
At the same time, by having both of them work separately, you could later merge their improvements and supplement them with your own understanding to produce a perfected version.
It wasn't paranoia.
After all, both of your researchers were far from trustworthy.
Orochimaru had yet to fully submit to you—his ambition was still alive—and Amado was shrouded in mystery.
Meanwhile, your own research institution was still in its early stages. Despite Gato throwing money at it like crazy, it hadn't produced anything worthwhile yet!
That's why, in your quest to fuse the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan and unlock its ocular techniques—to test your theories—you had no choice but to delegate this critical part of the work to them.
Just as you were about to leave, Amado suddenly called out to you.
He revealed that two years ago, as he was leaving Kirigakure, a monk named Jigen had approached him, given him some strange materials, and requested he research them—promising to cure his daughter in return.
But two years had passed, and although Amado had made some progress, Jigen kept stringing him along.
You told him directly that you weren't that kind of person. If you couldn't cure his daughter completely, it was because your ability wasn't there yet—but you'd do your best to extend her life.
You asked if you could take a look at his research results.
Amado just shook his head vaguely. Then, staring at the "Fission Technique" copy in his hands, he said he wouldn't share the information and asked you not to speak of what happened today to anyone else.
You smiled faintly. This guy might seem stiff, but he's no fool.
Then you activated Flying Thunder God and returned to the Floating Island.
...
Some time later, while meeting with Gato to receive a project report, you learned that Kakuzu had brought news: the leader of the Akatsuki wanted to speak with you.
The meeting location was set for the Land of Rain.
Nagato first met you through the Six Paths of Pain.
After a round of probing, Nagato realized that without resorting to overpowered techniques like Almighty Push or Planetary Devastation, or summoning the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, the Six Paths of Pain were no threat to you whatsoever.
Worse, they risked being destroyed outright.
As for you, you hadn't even used your Mangekyō Sharingan techniques or activated your Susanoo—you had means in reserve that could threaten Nagato too.
Both sides were holding back weapons that could kill.
But you weren't here to fight. You came to cooperate.
After stating that you could clear up his doubts regarding Uchiha Madara and the Tailed Beast collection plan, you were permitted to enter Amegakure's central tower.
Upon meeting in person, you got straight to the point and told him the truth about Obito and Uchiha Madara: the so-called "Madara" was really Obito.
Nagato used the Human Path of the Rinnegan to shake your hand, attempting to verify the truth of your words.
You stepped forward willingly, though you remained cautious, hiding the Transcription Seal in your eye, ready to counter any soul-based attack from the Rinnegan.
Both sides kept their guard up, but your honesty held firm.
A chill seemed to rise behind Nagato.
Without a flicker of emotion, you continued—starting from when Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan met Jiraiya and became his students, to the unexpected awakening of the Rinnegan, the founding of Akatsuki, and Yahiko's death at Hanzo's hands.
And behind it all—the hidden manipulations of Uchiha Madara.
Nagato's entire life had been under someone else's control.
And behind the so-called Madara... was a being that had existed since the ancient era—Black Zetsu.
Behind Black Zetsu... was a story of sacrificing everyone to release the progenitor of chakra...
Given your future plans required Nagato's assistance, you laid all the cards on the table.
You told him everything you knew and attempted to recruit him, aiming to unify the shinobi world and create a truly new one.
You did intend to use Nagato...
But when it came to exposing Black Zetsu, taking down Madara, and unifying the shinobi world to establish peace—you were both entirely aligned.
Genuine sincerity met with genuine sincerity.
Faced with such a massive influx of information, Nagato's worldview shattered.
He would need time to process the truth of his past and rebuild his perspective on the world—and figure out how to shape the future.
But he tacitly agreed with your plan:
Akatsuki would carry out the mission on the surface.
You would work from the shadows to ensure success.
Before Black Zetsu or Uchiha Madara could realize anything was off, you'd gather all the Tailed Beasts—and in return, receive a portion of their chakra as payment...
Ultimately, Nagato would obtain the Ten Tails' power, and the two of you would eliminate Black Zetsu—
Then unify the shinobi world and forge a new era of peace together.
You agreed the first operation would target Shukaku and Matatabi—the One-Tail and Two-Tails.
At the moment, Akatsuki hadn't recruited many Kage-level shinobi.
Nagato only had Konan, Kakuzu, Zetsu, Sasori of the Red Sand, a few Pain bodies...
And several S-rank rogue nin, who, in reality, weren't Kage-level—just powerful elite jōnin. At best, they could serve as bait or sacrifices. Thinking they could capture a Tailed Beast through teamwork was pure fantasy.
On top of that, Zetsu's true identity was now exposed, so he couldn't be trusted with a mission this important.
Konan also had to stay close to Nagato at all times to ensure the mobility of his real body.
That left only one option—you.
With power rivaling Nagato himself and superior stealth capabilities, you were the perfect choice to ensure mission success from the shadows.
So, the first Tailed Beast capture operation began—with Sasori, who knew Sunagakure inside and out, and Konan's Paper Clone sent to deal with Shukaku…
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
+100 chapters and support me on Patreon(.)com/Jixo