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Chapter 301: The Akatsuki’s Plan
🕑 Added 2025-01-26 13:43:35 +0000 UTCChapter 301: The Akatsuki’s Plan
Nagato opened his eyes, the first thing in sight being the stark white ceiling above him.
The sharp smell of disinfectant lingered in the air. The room was empty, the door left ajar. Judging by the sunlight streaming warmly through the opened curtains, it seemed to be noon.
Nagato reached up to press his forehead, then sat up on the bed and walked to the mirror by the bedside. He looked up and stared at his reflection.
At this moment, his left eye had already been replaced by a Sharingan.
It was a gift from Orochimaru, imbued with powerful ocular techniques that could make up for the loss of one of his Rinnegan eyes.
Nagato gazed at the mismatched eyes in the mirror, his expression a mix of emotions.
Ever since Madara revealed that the Rinnegan was his to begin with, Nagato had been filled with conflicting feelings.
These eyes had been with him for as long as he could remember, yet now, he was told the Rinnegan belonged to Madara. What did that mean?
It meant he was nothing but a pawn to Madara!
And if he thought about it more deeply, was his entire life—his parents’ deaths at the hands of Konoha ninja—also tied to Madara?
Just as this unsettling thought took root, the door swung open. A graceful figure walked in, carrying a thermos box.
“Konan?”
“You’re awake?”
Konan placed the thermos on the table and looked at Nagato with concern. “How did the transplant surgery go? Was it successful?”
“The Sharingan’s power is excellent; I can feel it. As for Hashirama’s cells…”
Nagato frowned, carefully examining his body. He shook his head regretfully. “It’s no good. While I can sense a significant increase in chakra reserves and recovery speed, I still can’t use Wood Release like Obito. It may take more time.”
Seeing the worry in Konan’s eyes, Nagato reassured her, “According to Orochimaru, the Uzumaki and Senju clans are closely related. My chances of mastering Wood Release should be higher than those of Uchiha who’ve transplanted Hashirama’s cells.”
“Sigh, you know that’s not what I’m worried about.”
Konan sighed, shaking her head. “Is this even necessary? Madara’s intentions are clear—everything happening now is part of his plan. You don’t have to go this far for someone else’s scheme.”
“Orochimaru’s motives for joining Akatsuki are unclear. And now you’ve transplanted both Hashirama’s cells and the Sharingan, owing him a considerable debt. If he…”
“Orochimaru already got what he wanted from me. You don’t need to worry about that.”
Nagato interrupted Konan, shaking his head. He smiled faintly. “As for Obito and Madara… there’s no harmony between them. The Akatsuki members all have their own agendas. Until the final moment arrives, who can truly say who will benefit from what we’re doing?”
Konan frowned at the deeper meaning behind Nagato’s words. “Obito and Madara’s goals don’t align? That’s impossible.”
Madara was brought back by Obito and Zetsu. Based on their investigations, Obito had once been a hero of the Third Great Ninja War—a mere Chūnin, officially dead on the battlefield. But somehow, he survived, awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, and even mastered Wood Release.
Clearly, Madara had been involved.
Their connection must run deep. Perhaps Obito was also Madara’s pawn.
“No one willingly remains a pawn, especially not a powerful Uchiha. I don’t know Obito’s exact plan, but it’s certain to conflict with Madara’s.”
Nagato shook his head, his voice low but firm. “Let’s end this conversation here. Yahiko’s ideals will be carried on by us.”
With that, Nagato picked up the food Konan brought and began to eat. The aroma of the meal filled the air, but his expression remained heavy, as though he were still deep in thought.
Konan stood silently to the side, watching Nagato. She didn’t leave immediately. A hint of complex emotion flickered in her eyes.
Yahiko’s sacrifice had always been an unhealed wound in their hearts. She understood Nagato’s resolve.
But would Yahiko have wanted to see this?
And could becoming the Jinchūriki of the Ten-Tails really achieve their ideals?
At that moment, Konan felt lost.
…
“Leader, have you recovered?”
Beneath the illusionary tree, the Akatsuki members stood on the Gedo Statue, watching as Nagato arrived via the Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes Technique. Orochimaru greeted him with a sly grin.
“How’s the Sharingan I gave you?”
“Its ocular power is impressive.” Nagato nodded slightly in response. He ignored Madara’s darkened expression and looked toward the head of the statue, where two more eyes had opened.
Since the Rinnegan had been taken from him, Madara had worn the same brooding expression, which Nagato couldn’t care less about.
After all, Madara had also been defeated by Jigen. What right did he have to criticize him? Perhaps that was why Madara hadn’t pressed the issue further.
The pot couldn’t call the kettle black.
As for their relationship… it was one of mutual compromise. With powerful enemies looming, they had no choice but to cooperate temporarily to achieve their respective goals.
Feeling the abundant power within the statue, a flash of satisfaction appeared on Nagato’s face. “With this, the chakra needed should be sufficient. Hikari, are you ready?”
Nagato’s gaze shifted to the shortest member of the Akatsuki—Uchiha Hikari.
Usually hidden within a mental space, collecting chakra using her unique abilities, Hikari rarely appeared before the others. Only during full-member meetings did she show up, and today was the first time in two months.
Hikari withdrew her complicated gaze from Orochimaru and met Nagato’s eyes calmly. “No problem. The chakra collected is enough to cast a single large-scale illusion across the ninja world.”
“Good. Then we’ll proceed with the plan in two days.”
Nagato’s eyes swept across the group, his tone flat. “Until then, stay within Ideal City and keep your minds focused. If my predictions are correct, someone will come looking for us.”
Hikari’s illusions were powerful, but far from invincible. Moreover, her chakra-collecting methods had left subtle vulnerabilities, especially when using the Tsukuyomi Space to draw others in.
Obito’s eyes lit up with excitement, and he nodded first. “Understood.”
The others followed suit, each agreeing for their own reasons.
Some wished to oversee the plan’s success, some simply obeyed orders, while others feared being caught outside Ideal City and falling victim to Hikari’s technique.
Those pulled into the Tsukuyomi Space were immune to her grand illusion, a glaring flaw in the plan that Nagato couldn’t ignore.
If their enemies wanted to thwart them, they would have to come here. This would be the final battlefield.
Just as the meeting seemed about to end, Zetsu suddenly spoke.
“Jigen is dead.”
The room fell into an eerie silence.
(Chapter ends.)
