Chapter 224

Due to the absence of three members, the process of extracting the tailed beasts lasted nearly half a month.

Looking at the Ten-Tails before him, now with only three eyes still closed, Li Ang's gaze flickered slightly.

He had no intention of kicking Changmen aside like Obito; after all, having the Jieciji Society visibly draw attention made it easier for him to pursue his own goals.

Whether it was later finding an opportunity to release Infinite Tsukuyomi, or using this chance to collect ninjutsu.

After continuously performing the Nine-Tailed Beast Sealing: Phantom Dragon for so long, the other Jieciji Society members showed signs of fatigue on their faces, while Li Ang appeared as if nothing had happened.

After returning to his base, Li Ang found Heijue waiting for him.

He casually pulled over a chair beside him and sat down: "What happened?"

Gazing at his powerful 'brother,' Heijue spoke in a low tone: "The Five Great Nations have formed a Ninja Alliance and are advancing toward the Land of Rain."

"Normal."

Li Ang was not surprised by Heijue's intelligence; had he been one of the Five Great Nations, he too would have crushed any small country showing signs of rebellion.

But compared to the original storyline, this outcome is far from certain.

First, Naruto and Sasuke have not yet developed their power—unless the Six Paths Sage grants them a boost.

Second, Changmen now has a chance to achieve his goal.

All weapons under heaven are gathered in Xianyang, melted down, and forged into twelve golden statues to weaken the people of the world.

What kind of Hokage Qin Shi Huang.

If he truly collects all the tailed beasts, combined with his own strength, the Five Great Nations may well grit their teeth and recognize the Land of Rain's status.

Of course, the Land of Rain might even replace Lei Zhiguo's position outright.

Unfortunately, Li Ang is not the only one the Five Great Nations are watching now.

Unaware of what Li Ang was thinking, Heijue couldn't help asking: "What are you planning to do next?"

"Simple. Help Changmen make the Ninja Alliance suffer."

Unlike the original storyline's unified Ninja Alliance, Li Ang didn't need to think hard—he knew their current state was just like the Eighteen Warlords against Dong Zhuo in the Three Kingdoms.

Each harboring secret motives.

The most desperate would surely be Cloud Village, the heavy loser, followed by Sand and Mist Villages.

As for Leaf and Stone Villages.

Neither has suffered much loss yet.

Heijue fell silent for a moment, then said: "Later, when Changmen faces the Ninja Alliance, Obito plans to find him through Konan, retrieve the Rinnegan, and take over the next phase of the plan."

Hearing this, Li Ang was momentarily speechless—just as they were being attacked, they were already turning on each other. At the very least, they should wait until the Ninja Alliance was repelled.

But he could roughly understand Obito's thinking.

The plan had gone too smoothly—so smoothly that Pain himself had paid almost no price.

Obito clearly knew Changmen would eventually turn on him; better to seize his physical body while he's occupied with the Ninja Alliance and reclaim the Rinnegan.

After all, only three tailed beasts remain—he could capture them himself.

But before Li Ang could respond, Heijue continued: "I hope you will assist Obito. As children of the same mother, I cannot bear to use you as a vessel to revive her."

Hearing Heijue's words, Li Ang couldn't help sneering inwardly.

Cannot bear to? Doesn't trust you!

This filial son clearly didn't trust him and intended to continue his original plan.

Though he had seen through Heijue's true intentions, Li Ang showed no sign of it on his face: "Fine. I'll follow your plan."

Seeing Li Ang's response, Heijue relaxed slightly, then dropped a line before vanishing: "Obito will come to you soon. Don't let anything slip."

As Heijue said, Uchiha Obito soon sought out Li Ang.

"What are your orders, Elder Ban?"

Li Ang looked at Obito, still disguised as Uchiha Ban, and couldn't help finding it amusing.

Uchiha Obito, in turn, stared at the Jieciji Society member who had displayed terrifying power during the tailed beast captures, and let out a grizzled laugh: "Heh."

"Long, in two days I need your help to deal with Konan."

Hearing this, Li Ang feigned shock and looked at Obito: "Elder Ban, this—"

Before he could finish, he saw a crimson right eye slowly spinning, coldly watching him.

Li Ang's gaze gradually grew vacant.

Seeing this, Uchiha Obito let out a cold laugh: "Fool chasing Uchiha power."

"Tomorrow, find an opportunity to lure Konan out and assist me in capturing her."

Hearing his command, Li Ang replied in a stiff tone: "Understood, Elder Ban."

"Hmph."

Having achieved his goal, Uchiha Obito didn't linger—only a cold snort escaped him before he left the room.

After his departure, the room fell into brief silence.

Only after a long while did a voice, devoid of emotion, laugh.

"Heh."

It was Li Ang—he certainly wasn't under Uchiha Obito's control.

With his current mental strength, Obito's kind was laughable if he thought he could control him.

Moreover, his Mangekyō had awakened the Tsukuyomi technique.

Li Ang had merely suppressed his countermeasure just now—if he hadn't, Obito would've suffered a nasty surprise.

But since both Heijue and Obito had their own agendas, he had no qualms about choosing another path.

Thinking of this, he formed hand seals and contacted Changmen's controlled Pain through the ring.

In the pitch-black space, Changmen looked at the Jieciji Society member who had contributed greatly and asked in a low voice: "... Long, what is it?"

Hearing this, Li Ang curved his lips slightly: "Leader, I have a big secret to tell you."

A big secret that would make the already chaotic situation even more chaotic.

……

As the ninja coalition drew closer, the atmosphere within the Border of the nation grew increasingly tense.

But because of the so-called "God," my lord Pain, the fear in the hearts of the nation's citizens could be eased somewhat.

Two days earlier, the Six Paths of Pain had all been dispatched, leading the ninja of Rain Hidden Village to confront the ninja coalition at the front lines.

Comparing the lower- and mid-tier strength of both sides, Rain Hidden Village was clearly weaker by more than a notch, but because of Pain's existence, the ninja coalition was also somewhat wary of acting rashly.

After all, the horrific state of Cloud Hidden Village was still fresh in everyone's mind; no one wanted to be the first to stick their neck out.

The situation thus deadlocked for the time being.

But everyone understood this state of affairs couldn't last more than a few days; ultimately both sides would still have a real fight.

The rear, Rain Hidden Village.

Rainwater carrying a hint of coolness dripped continuously down from the eaves.

Inside a tavern lit with orange-yellow lamplight, a youth wearing a black cloak with red clouds took a small sip of the clear sake before him.

'. Tastes a bit like hotpot water.'

He set down his cup with an expressionless face, picked up a small piece of chikuwa, and put it in his mouth.

Meanwhile, the boss behind the counter was secretly sizing up the youth's outfit; glancing at the "Blue" ring on the other's left hand, he couldn't help thinking:

'Same outfit as my lord Pain and Teacher Da Mi.'

Just as he was thinking this, a mature woman wearing a pale-blue paper flower in her hair pushed aside the curtain and walked into the room.

"T-Teacher Da Mi!?"

The boss was stunned for a moment, then immediately grew nervous.

The mature woman nodded at him, then looked toward the youth at the bar: "You were looking for me, Ryū."

The two were naturally Li Ang and Konan.

Hearing the voice, Li Ang finished off all the food still steaming in front of him in two or three bites, leaving only the cup of clear sake that tasted like hotpot water.

"Let's step outside to talk."

As his words fell, he turned and left the tavern.

Seeing this, Konan placed a draft on the table, then followed him out.

The two thus arrived together at the lake outside Rain Hidden Village.

Li Ang looked at the overcast sky and suddenly spoke: "Teacher Da Mi, do you think the organization's goal can be achieved?"

"." Konan was silent for a moment. "It will be achieved."

"World peace."

Li Ang sighed casually.

The two fell into silence, the lake water by their feet rising and falling.

Suddenly, a voice rang out.

"Sorry, Teacher Da Mi."

The next instant, blue-red energy stirred up waves on the water's surface.

Looking at the scene before her, Konan said expressionlessly: "So you really did betray us, Ryū."

Just then, the space on the water's surface not far away suddenly twisted, and then a figure wearing a spiral single-eyed mask revealed himself.

"Little girl, tell me where Changmen is, and I can spare your life."

It was Uchiha Obito.

Hearing his words, Li Ang's expression couldn't help but turn somewhat strange.

Fun fact: Konan is thirty-six, Uchiha Obito is thirty-one.

'This guy really goes all out to play Uchiha Madara.'