My Life as Itachi's Crow

Chapter 163: Nagato: The People in the Organization Always Give Me the Urge to Risk My Life…

Sometimes, on the battlefield, just having more people is useless…

Unless the other side has something that you also have.

Just like at the end of two great wars, two small gadgets dropped on cities made human wave tactics meaningless in warfare. At that time, everyone thought that having more people was not necessarily useful.

However, less than 20 years later, a certain cute rabbit planted mushrooms until people's scalps tingled, telling the world with facts that having more people is still useful!

This was truly a BUG that even calling the GM couldn't solve!

This thing called the Tailed Beast Bomb…

The Hidden Stone Village actually had it, and they dared to use it.

But you either don't use it, or you use it frequently…

Onoki was the type who dared to use it, but didn't dare to use it frequently. For something like infiltrating deep into enemy territory to obtain intelligence, any village leader with a brain wouldn't be willing to use it.

Kitahara had no such scruples. Even for a D-rank mission, it wouldn't mind clearing the area with a Tailed Beast Bomb!

A huge, deep pit appeared where the Hidden Stone ninjas had been ambushing. Jiraiya and the others were already used to the crow's style. Compared to the two larger artificial lakes, this was a small problem…

The old man stood at the edge, looking at the dead enemies scattered horizontally and vertically, and spread his hands, "...Let's continue forward!"

"...Yes."

This mission's journey was unprecedentedly lively.

Whenever it sensed malicious chakra, whether it was someone using sensory ninjutsu or planning a sneak attack, Kitahara would shoot a Tailed Beast Bomb from afar to send them flying. The huge fireworks went off seven or eight times, just like New Year's…

Jiraiya and Tsunade's facial expressions had gradually stiffened.

Konoha had never deployed a Jinchuriki in war, and had never enjoyed such treatment even during wartime, let alone for just an escort mission.

Thanks to this, their travel speed was very fast.

ANBU's movements were even faster. They had only dealt with the first group of infiltrating enemies. The rest of the time was spent enjoying the fireworks and collecting corpses.

An ANBU member stood before the white-haired ninja, reporting the data, "Captain, a total of thirteen people, three Hidden Stone squads, four Jonin, confirmed all dead."

Kakashi nodded and waved his hand, "Go and collect their bodies. Take them back to the village and hand them over to the Torture and Interrogation Unit."

"Captain…" The dozen or so Konoha ANBU members looked at each other. Fortunately, the masks on their faces concealed their embarrassment, "We don't have enough sealing scrolls…"

However, this group of Konoha ANBU quickly focused on the main point and began to chatter and discuss.

"This mission is too easy!"

"It's clearly because Itachi's summoned beast is too strong!"

"I heard the captain used to be in the same squad as Itachi and they often went on missions together. I'm so envious!"

Which ANBU mission wasn't a life-or-death struggle? They had thought that with ANBU dispatching five squads this time, and escorting Lord Jiraiya and Lady Tsunade's ninja squad, the mission should be even more difficult than in the past, with casualties certainly not being small.

Who would have thought that from leaving Konoha until now, they had only cleared out one reconnaissance squad, and now all they were doing was helping with the cleanup. This kind of work was simply too easy!

As soon as this was mentioned, the ANBU couldn't help but feel a bit sour towards Kakashi. The white-haired ninja before them had carried out the most missions with Uchiha Itachi, and their mission completion rate was also one hundred percent.

Back then, they thought it was because Captain Kakashi was strong…

Now, even if his Pakkun went on a mission with Itachi, the result would probably be as expected. It seemed Kakashi's promotion had some water in it…

Noticing his subordinates' gazes gradually falling on him, Kakashi Hatake patted the mask on his face, "...Are you guys thinking about some random stuff?"

"How could that be!"

"We are ANBU ninjas, we've undergone special training!"

"Obeying superiors is the rule of a ninja!"

"Forget it, submit the intelligence to the village and request assistance with the cleanup!" Kakashi Hatake didn't bother with his two subordinates who had revealed their inner thoughts. He himself didn't feel very good either…

That little brat Uchiha Itachi, when he was on missions in the ANBU squad back then, was he secretly acting? Every time, he would activate Sage Mode and look like he was trying very hard... Now there are four Hidden Stone Jonin corpses lying here, from just a casual blow from the crow.

In short, if this Land of Grass mission could end this simply, it would indeed be a good thing… However, things in the world never go as one wishes.

"Captain Kakashi, the bodies of ninjas from our village have been found on the other side!" An ANBU member who had been sent to investigate another firework release point returned with bad news, "They were attacked indiscriminately!"

"How could there be such a mistake…" Kakashi Hatake leaped up, and the other numerous ANBU members moved with him.

That place should have been a small, flattened hill.

At first, they thought it was the ninjutsu released by that crow that had missed the enemy. A careful ANBU member used an Earth Style ninjutsu to dig out several corpses.

They all wore swirl-patterned headbands, still had ANBU-marked masks on their heads, and wore the standard ANBU light armor.

"Did Lord Hokage dispatch other ANBU?"

"These people are disguised Hidden Stone ninjas, right?"

"It could also be those unsociable fellows from the ANBU training class!"

The right to make a decision on the spot certainly rested with the commander, Kakashi Hatake. He shook his head, "We'll investigate this matter later! The safety of Jiraiya's squad is the top priority…"

In front of everyone, Kakashi couldn't voice his own speculation.

For example, Itachi had once said that his perception could not only enhance his dynamic vision but could even allow him to be alert to some malicious chakra.

These people were indeed Root ninjas, without a doubt.

Now it seemed that Lord was probably unwilling to have his power stripped away… The problem was, he no longer had that subordinate named Zetsu under his command!

That rogue ninja named Zetsu had not made many moves in the ninja world. The few times he did, he had established a reputation, but he seemed to have gone into hiding since then, a very qualified assassin.

Danzo dared to make a move. Could it be that he had contacted Zetsu again?

Or, did he have other trump cards!

This matter was purely a misunderstanding… Danzo was just resentful about being excluded by Hiruzen Sarutobi from handling the Land of Grass matter. Sending Root was just to monitor the actions of Jiraiya's squad along the way.

After all, the Hidden Stone Village's movements this time were significant. If there was really an opportunity, Root ninjas naturally wouldn't let it go… They purely wanted to see if they could pick up any scraps.

The matter was handled very foolishly.

Danzo and Root should learn from others in this regard…

A black and white figure swiftly shuttled through the earth, finally stopping under a large tree. Its body emerged from the tree, and three people were waiting for it on the ground.

Black Zetsu.

After narrowly escaping from the Land of Hot Water, it had found a new White Zetsu clone and merged into one. This fellow didn't want to go to the Akatsuki organization anymore… Obito, of course, disagreed.

"Zetsu, have you found any intelligence?" A mature voice came from within an ugly puppet, "When can we make our move?"

It was the Akatsuki's Jade Maiden—Sasori of the Red Sand.

Black Zetsu nodded, "Besides Jiraiya and Tsunade, Uchiha Itachi and that crow are also among them, as well as a medical ninja. Moreover, there are many Konoha ANBU escorting them on the periphery…"

"I suggest we give up this mission and immediately turn back!" Orochimaru shook his head and began to pack his things on his own. If he didn't need this group of people to help him dig graves, he couldn't be bothered with their lives!

"What are you joking about!" Hiruko angrily extended the tail stinger from its back. Sasori had specially come from the Land of Rivers to participate in this mission; how could he just give up!

"Is that crow in the team? But the reward offered by the Hidden Stone Village is very high. And the organization has dispatched four people this time. Whether it's Sasori's puppets or Orochimaru's Edo Tensei army, they should be enough to gain an advantage!"

Konan raised an eyebrow. The price Onoki offered was not low. Besides, their move this time was significant. In terms of combat power alone, it was enough to easily annihilate a small country.

Orochimaru licked his own tongue and looked at Black Zetsu, "Konan, a scout has no combat power… No matter how numerous the puppet army I and Sasori form, when facing that kind of ability that directly destroys the battlefield… Heh heh heh, it's not very likely to hold up!"

"We can send Zetsu to lure that crow away from the battlefield." Konan glanced at Hiruko beside her, "Sasori's puppets will mainly be responsible for dealing with Uchiha Itachi's Sharingan…"

Sasori of the Red Sand nodded in agreement, "Don't worry, I will take that little brat's eyes and add them to my collection…"

"It would be best if you can capture him alive."

Konan glanced at Sasori's puppet, then turned her head to look at the most powerful support in the organization, "I will face Jiraiya and Tsunade with you…"

Orochimaru was indeed the current support of the Akatsuki.

This was probably due to fate. When they were young, Konan and the others needed Jiraiya to survive; now that they had grown up and wanted to realize their dreams, they needed Orochimaru as their backer.

Because Nagato in the organization had to recuperate due to massive chakra consumption, the Six Paths of Pain could not be easily dispatched. Orochimaru, relying on the characteristics of Edo Tensei, had temporarily become the strongest person in the organization. His upper limit was the highest, all depending on whether the reanimated bodies he controlled were obedient…

And Orochimaru's means of making money were countless times higher than Kakuzu's. He and his assistant Kabuto could charge high fees for performing surgery on some daimyos or nobles.

If not for the fact that this guy had mastered core technology, Konan would have long wished to wake up Pain and snatch the business!

The Akatsuki's financial sources currently, apart from the accumulation from some ordinary war missions, were from connecting some nobles and daimyos with Orochimaru. They had also witnessed the strict hierarchy of the ninja world.

The mansions of the daimyos reeked of meat and wine, while on the road, Nagato starved to death.

It was estimated that when Nagato recovered, Konan would pick a time to discuss other matters, such as whether to sublimate their dreams…

Orochimaru couldn't be bothered with those trivial matters. He glanced at the sweating Black Zetsu and said softly, "Your plan is very good, but it's based on one foundation. Can Zetsu really hold off that crow named Kitahara…"

Konan stared intently at Black Zetsu, "To be honest, do you really not know the Flying Thunder God Technique?"

Looking at Black Zetsu's appearance, you knew this fellow had already backed down… Once on the battlefield, if Black Zetsu fled, it would be a catastrophic disaster for them!

"I can't use the Flying Thunder God Technique, but…" Black Zetsu thought for a moment, then grimly revealed the intelligence it had obtained from Obito's mouth, "That crow can!"

Speaking so righteously made one's anger rise!

Orochimaru: "..."

It's possible!

After all, the Second Hokage is in the crow's hands. Who knows if his idol's soul has ascended to heaven, or was buried by that crow, or if the crow dug up a pile of forbidden jutsus…

This is so enviable for a snake!

However, learning that Kitahara could use the Flying Thunder God Technique meant Konan's plan was completely bankrupt. If the spendthrift's plan continued, it would be suicide…

"I have another new plan!"

Black Zetsu glanced at the crowd and laughed in a low voice, "Since we can't destroy the alliance between the Land of Grass and Konoha… then, after their alliance is concluded, can't we just destroy the Land of Grass and the Hidden Grass Village?"

"At that time, when the Land of Grass is without a master, Konoha will have brought a big trouble upon itself! They will have to find a way to clear their name and also face questioning from other ninja villages about the destruction of the Land of Grass…"

"I think Onoki will definitely agree to this plan!"

The eyes of the others instantly lit up. This plan seemed feasible! Although Black Zetsu's combat power was not good and its courage was small, its brain worked quite well!

If this continued, it might just trigger a war!

Konan, however, had some different thoughts, "The Land of Grass is our friendly neighbor. If Konoha really annexes the Land of Grass, it would almost form a semi-encirclement of the Land of Rain…"

"So, we have to make Onoki add more money!"

Black Zetsu sneered, "This way, the Land of Earth and the Land of Fire will no longer have the Land of Grass as a buffer zone. The two countries might even go to war over the land of the Land of Grass, and other great nations won't just sit by and watch them carve up the Land of Grass…"

Hearing these words made the paper flower tremble slightly.

The fuse for the next ninja world war might very well be in her hands right now. Konan suddenly lowered her head, "Why start a ninja world war now…"

"Konan." Orochimaru looked at the still-conflicted woman and softly proposed another suggestion, "You can also choose to give up this mission… Perhaps Onoki won't agree to this suggestion either."

Black Zetsu nodded, "We should hope he agrees. In the future, even if Konoha finds out that the destruction of the Land of Grass was our doing, we can also guide their investigation towards the Hidden Stone Village… This way, war will be inevitable."

Konan gritted her teeth, "We can't decide this matter alone. I will report this to the leader… Besides, our organization is in the Hidden Rain Village; we will definitely become the center of the battlefield."

Fortunately, she could still realize that once a ninja world war broke out, the Hidden Rain Village, at the core of the battlefield, couldn't possibly develop peacefully as it was now and would definitely become a battlefield between the great nations.

These great lords were just bullying her, a weak woman! But she didn't accept Orochimaru's suggestion, instead leaving the decision on this matter to Pain…

This matter was a hot potato!

War was undoubtedly all harm and no benefit to the Hidden Rain Village, but for the Akatsuki organization, it was simply a godsent opportunity.

Even Pain, upon hearing Konan's report, couldn't help but be stunned. The subordinates he had recruited clearly didn't share his ideology… Can't you just honestly save money?

This was a choice between the present and the future.

Nagato was even tempted to dispatch the Six Paths of Pain! Why think so much? If it doesn't work, I'll risk my life to deal with Jiraiya's group and help you complete the mission…

However, the final result of the Akatsuki's discussion was…

"The time he gave was wrong, which caused us to miss the Konoha ninja squad! As for whether to destroy the Land of Grass and the Hidden Grass Village, let Onoki choose! We are just war ninjas for hire!"

(End of this chapter)

☆☆☆

-> SUPPORT ME WITH POWER STONE

-> FOR EVERY 200 PS = BOUNS CHAPTER

☆☆☆

-> 20 Advanced chapters Now Available on Patreon!!

-> https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Inkshaper

(Just remove the hyphen (-) to access patreon normally)

If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that's help the story a lot Thank you