Chapter 79: Kotoamatsukami
While a storm was brewing in Konoha, the Akatsuki's routine meeting convened as scheduled.
As usual, the meeting was led by Tendo Pain, a body secretly controlled by Nagato. The attending members were all present via the Demonic Statue Projection Technique, appearing as ghostly mental projections.
Seeing the sparse number of attendees, Pain's already cold voice grew even colder.
"Why are there so few of you here? Where are Hidan and Biwa Jūzō?"
Obito, who had witnessed Yusuke appear during the destruction of Root—and even carrying Hidan's severed head—had deliberately kept this information from Nagato. After all, that operation had been a private deal between him and Danzō, and he didn't want Nagato interfering.
Sasori answered flatly,
"Biwa Jūzō is dead. Hidan might as well be. The mission was a complete failure."
This ambush against Yusuke had become a stain on Sasori's career. He'd lost a large number of his prized puppets and had nearly lost his own life.
However, the ordeal had forced Sasori to acknowledge the limitations of his current puppet techniques—prompting him to seriously reflect on how to create something more powerful.
Pain turned toward Kakuzu's spectral image, his voice laced with killing intent.
"Kakuzu, I want an explanation."
"In the past, I've let it slide when you 'accidentally' killed your partners—at least the missions were still completed. But this time? Two dead, and a failed mission. Are you testing my limits?"
Kakuzu froze for a moment, then realized what Pain was implying.
Because he'd already "accidentally" killed three partners before, Pain now assumed that Hidan and Jūzō had met the same fate at his hands.
"You've got it wrong this time, Leader," Kakuzu quickly defended himself.
"The target's strength was beyond anything we expected. If he hadn't left abruptly mid-battle, both Sasori and I would've died there!"
That gave Pain pause. He hadn't expected there to be another shinobi in the world—besides himself—capable of reaching that level of strength.
"Describe the entire battle, in detail," Pain ordered, voice like ice.
Kakuzu obeyed, recounting everything from start to finish.
When he was done, a sense of disbelief spread through the meeting. Even among Akatsuki's elite, none of the members present—except Kakuzu and Sasori—could quite believe what they were hearing.
"As far as I can tell," Kakuzu concluded, "the only one in our group who might stand a chance against him… is you, Leader."
Orochimaru, silently observing, felt a chill rise up his spine.
"So Yusuke's already grown this strong?"
He had expected Yusuke to give the Akatsuki members some trouble—but not to overwhelm them with such ease, let alone kill two of them outright.
"I'll need to speed up the refinement of the first prototype of the Chimera Technique… and then make a trip to the Land of Snow."
Orochimaru mentally reorganized his future plans.
Meanwhile, even Pain began to regard Yusuke with caution. But it was only caution—no fear. As far as he was concerned, the Rinnegan placed him on a level far above any other shinobi.
"So this Uchiha Yusuke you speak of is that powerful? Are you sure you're not just exaggerating your own weakness?"
A new voice, a woman's, rang out through the spectral space.
Her silhouette revealed a tall, slender figure with her hair styled in an elegant updo.
She was the newest addition to the Akatsuki, though Pain had yet to formally introduce her.
Sasori gave a cold snort.
"And who are you supposed to be?"
"This is the organization's newest member—Pakura. I assume most of you have at least heard the name. Her codename is now 'Vermilion,'" Pain explained.
After being tipped off by Yusuke, Pakura had successfully escaped a conspiracy plotted jointly by Sunagakure and Kirigakure to eliminate her. Since then, driven by resentment, she'd abandoned the Hidden Sand and gone rogue—searching for an opportunity to take revenge on her former village.
Eventually, she was discovered while wandering by White Zetsu. Pain himself had stepped in and personally invited her into the Akatsuki.
However, since Yusuke had disguised himself during their encounter, Pakura still had no idea that it was he who had warned her back then.
"Pakura of the Scorch Release, huh? Just another second-rate shinobi with an inflated ego," Sasori sneered.
"As it happens, I'm running short on material for my human puppets. Your talents may be mediocre—but you might serve as a decent base."
Pakura, hot-tempered as ever, met the insult with a mocking smile.
"Go ahead and try—just don't cry when your remaining puppets go up in flames."
"Enough." Pain's voice, though not loud, immediately silenced them both.
Staring at the few figures before him—barely a handful of scattered cats and dogs—Pain couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.
He had just been pleased with the recruitment of Pakura, thinking they were finally gaining enough manpower to move forward with the organization's plans.
Who would've thought that gaining one would immediately be offset by losing two others—bringing everything to a standstill once again?
After a brief pause, Pain made his decision:
"Kakuzu, you'll partner with Pakura. Orochimaru, you'll team up with Sasori again."
"Your next mission is to each recruit a suitable full-fledged member for the organization."
After the meeting adjourned, Orochimaru—who had remained silent the entire time—approached Kakuzu.
"Since Hidan's head is already gone… why don't you hand over his body to me? I've always been curious about its peculiarities."
"150 million ryo. Hidan's body is yours," Kakuzu replied bluntly. He still hadn't let go of the 150 million bounty placed on Yusuke.
Orochimaru didn't respond. Without a word, he deactivated his projection.
Kakuzu, watching Orochimaru leave, turned to Sasori.
"Didn't you also have your eye on Hidan's body?"
Sasori scoffed.
"150 million? You can keep it—for your own amusement."
—
Meanwhile, in the capital of the Land of Fire, a black crow glided silently into the courtyard of the daimyō's mansion.
This was no ordinary crow—it was Gen'ya, a clone of Yusuke himself, perching motionless on the branch of a tall tree, silently awaiting the daimyō's appearance.
According to Yusuke's plan, he intended to use Kotoamatsukami to place the daimyō under his control.
He had once considered using Kotoamatsukami on the Third Hokage himself. But after careful thought, he scrapped the idea.
Controlling Hiruzen might immediately secure the Uchiha clan's foothold in Konoha, yes—but controlling the daimyō of the Land of Fire would grant him political capital far beyond that. It would lay the foundation for the Uchiha clan not only to rule Konoha, but to dominate the entire nation.
As for the Third Hokage's strength? Yusuke didn't see him as a threat at all. In his long-term vision, his three disciples were all destined to become Kage-level—or even stronger.
Although using Kotoamatsukami on the daimyō would be simple in theory, he couldn't just have Gen'ya burst into the man's chambers and cast the jutsu recklessly.
After all, the daimyō—being the highest authority in the Land of Fire—was surrounded by elite ninja.
If just any shinobi could assassinate him, the Five Great Nations would've long since descended into chaos.
Soon, the daimyō emerged from his residence, and his gaze happened to fall upon the crow on the tree branch.
In that instant, Gen'ya's eyes transformed—morphing into the distinctive pattern of Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan—and unleashed Kotoamatsukami.
The implanted suggestion was simple:
"Believe that the Uchiha clan will make the Land of Fire stronger. Place your full trust in the Uchiha clan leader, Uchiha Yusuke."
As expected of the most powerful genjutsu, Kotoamatsukami completed the manipulation in a single moment—leaving behind no trace whatsoever. Even the elite guards around the daimyō noticed nothing unusual.
Once the genjutsu was cast, Gen'ya's eyes returned to normal. With a flap of his wings, he flew off in the direction of Konoha.
Back in the village, the Third Hokage remained completely unaware…
That from this moment forward, his highest superior had already become Yusuke's puppet.